PARADISE LOST. Book I. And chiefly thou 0 Spirit, that dolt prefer Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, Inftrua me, for thou know'ft : thou from the firft Waft prefent, and with mighty wings out-fpread, 20 Dove-like fafft brooding on the vaft Abyfs, And mad'it it pregnant what in me is dark Illumine, what is low mile and fupport ; That to the height of this great argument I may affst eternal Providence, And juflify the ways of God to Men. Say tuft, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of hell, fay firft what cattle Mov'd our grand Parents, in that happy ftate Favour'd of heav'n fo highly, to fall off 30 From their creator, and tranfgrefs his will For one reftraint, lords of the world betides Who firft feduc'd them to that foul revolt ? Th' infernal ferpent ! he it was, whole guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd 35 The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had caft him out from heav'n, with all his heft Of rebel Angels, by whole aid afpiring To let himfelf in glory above his Peers, He trufted to have equall'd the Molt High, if he oppos'd ; and with ambitious aim, 4gainft the throne and monarchy of God Ilais'd impious war in heav'n and battel proud, With vain attempt. Him the almighty power littri'd headlong flaming from tit' ethereal flay, 45 With hideous ruin and combuftion, down To bottenaleis perdition, there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durft defie th' Omnipotent to arms. me times the fpace that meafitres day and night so id
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