ABSTRACT
Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree1 whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man2 Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing heavenly Muse,3 that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, did inspire That shepherd,4 who first taught the chosen seed,5 In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of chaos; or if Sion6 hill Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook7 that flowed Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above the Aonian mount,8 while it pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.9 And chiefly thou, O Spirit,10 that dost prefer Before all temples the upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou know’st; thou from the first Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread Dove-like sat’st brooding on the vast abyss And mad’st it pregnant. What in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the height of this great argument11 I may assert12 eternal providence, And justify13 the ways of God to men.
