Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub
[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[graphic]

Or Men's, Gut diabe
Of that forbidden
Brought death idd
With loss of Eden,

Rostoré us, and regis
Sing, heavenly Mis
Of Oreb, or of Sul,
That Shepherd, wha
In the beginning
Rose out of Chaos:

[graphic]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small]

OF Man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,

Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire

That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed,
In the beginning, how the Heavens and Earth
Rose out of Chaos: or if Sion hill

B

Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd

Fast by the oracle of God: I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous song,

That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.
And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, 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, fat'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 highth of this great argument
I may assert eternal Providence,

And justify the ways of God to Men.

Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides ? Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt?

« ForrigeFortsæt »