Text of Paradise Lost Book 1 ( M.A Eng. 1st sem.)

Text
OF MAN’S first disobedience, and the fruit		Hey there Muse, can you tell me about Man's first Sin? It had something to do with that fruit, right?
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste		I know it was forbidden, but in Adam and Eve's case it was for-biting.
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,		It brought the possibility of sin and death to our world, it was a rotten apple!
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man		It made our Paradise Lost (Hey...that's the title of this thing!), until Jesus Christ came to the rescue
Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,	5	To help us get better.
Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top		So Muse, let me have some inspiration, like you gave
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire		Moses inspiration. Give me whatever you gave him.
That Shepherd who first taught the chosen seed		Moses was a pretty cool guy, he taught a lot of people
In the beginning how the heavens and earth		And I want to do the same.
Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill	10
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God, I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous song,		I need your help in creating this epic
That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues	15
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.		I want to create something that has never been done before
And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer		And I want to learn from you
Before all temples the upright heart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou know’st; Thou from the first		You were there in the beginning
Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread,	20	Your wings were spread and
Dove-like sat’st brooding on the vast Abyss,		You were like a dove who turned
And mad’st it pregnant: what in me is dark		the darkness into light. And you can do the same for me.
Illumine, what is low raise and support;		I want to be enlightened where I am ignorant and I want to reinforce and strengthen my abilities
That, to the highth of this great argument,		So I can properly explain what has happened
I may assert Eternal Providence,	25
And justify the ways of God to men.		I want to explain God's great plan and purpose
Say first—for Heaven hides nothing from thy view,		Since you probably know everything about Heaven
Nor the deep tract of Hell—say first what cause		as well as what happens in Hell, I want to know...
Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state,		Why and how did Adam and Eve screw things up? I mean they must have been so happy in Eden
Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off	30	Heaven was really into them and gave them everything they needed
From their Creator, and transgress his will		from God, but they couldn't do ONE SMALL THING
For one restraint, lords of the World besides.		They only had one rule that they just had to follow
Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?		Who made them drop the ball? Of course I can't blame them, they just didn't know what they were doing!
The infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile,		It was that snake! He's quite the trickster
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived	35	He was driven by jealousy and revenge, and went after
The mother of mankind, what time his pride		our beloved Eve. That snake's blind pride
Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host		got him kicked out of Heaven along with his entourage
Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring		of rebel Angels. Those Angels followed Satan
To set himself in glory above his peers,		and his blind ambition. Satan was able to convince them to support him in his quest to glorify himself above everyone,
He trusted to have equalled the Most High,	40	and even to the extent of waging war against Heaven
If he opposed, and, with ambitious aim
Against the throne and monarchy of God,
Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud,		The inevitable result was war
With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power		But Satan's quest for victory was already decided, and he was meant to fail.
Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky,	45	He falls from grace
With hideous ruin and combustion, down		Ruined and on fire
To bottomless perdition, there to dwell		Down to his prison in Hell
In adamantine chains and penal fire,		Imprisoned in fire
Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms.		Why bother fighting someone who already knows the outcome? Get better, Satan! Sit down and have a beer and stop complaining!
Nine times the space that measures day and night	50	Satan and his homies were lying defeated in Hell.
To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew,
Lay vanquished, rowling in the fiery gulf,		They were sore losers
Confounded, though immortal. But his doom		Confused, angry, and a multitude of other bad feels. Even though they can't really die, just living with these feelings sucked.
Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought		This just made Satan even madder and bitter
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain	55	as he thought of all the pleasures he may never have and the never-ending pain
Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes,		He looked at the Hell around him and he saw
That witnessed huge affliction and dismay,		All the suffering that his gang was going through,
Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate.		But he was feeling even more hatred.
At once, as far as Angel’s ken, he views		Everywhere he looked
The dismal situation waste and wild.	60
A dungeon horrible, on all sides round,
As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames		was fire and the fire didn't burn like ordinary flame does
No light; but rather darkness visible		it burned with a dark fire instead of light
Served only to discover sights of woe,		and they only revealed more
Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace	65	suffering
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes		and hoplessness
That comes to all, but torture without end		and unending torture
Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed		It's like a roaring fire
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.		that doesn't seem like it will ever go out
Such place Eternal Justice had prepared	70	This place was made for people like Satan and anyone
For those rebellious; here their prison ordained		else who decides they want to try to fight Heaven.
In utter darkness, and their portion set,		They are sent to this fiery darkness
As far removed from God and light of Heaven		Which is the furthest away from Heaven and the light of Heaven
As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole.
Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell!	75	This place is the complete opposite of where they fell. No kidding!
There the companions of his fall, o’erwhelmed		This is where he and his defeated followers have to
With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire,		live, they have to live with fire.
He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side,		Satan finds a familar face next to him
One next himself in power, and next in crime,		His "2nd in command/assistant"
Long after known in Palestine, and named	80
Beëlzebub. To whom the Arch-Enemy,		His main man: Beëlzebub.
And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words		Satan finally spoke
Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:—		You can call it an ice-breaker
“If thou beest he—but Oh how fallen! how changed		"Hey! Is that you? Oh man, you've changed a lot!
From him!—who, in the happy realms of light,	85	You lost your shine, that 'Heavenly shine,'
Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine		You were brighter than
Myriads, though bright—if he whom mutual league,		everyone else!
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope		You joined me and helped me plan
And hazard in the glorious enterprise,		in my attempt to overthrow Heaven,
Joined with me once, now misery hath joined	90	But now we're here, together again in misery
In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest		and defeat
From what highth fallen: so much the stronger proved		We fell pretty far though, and I guess we were a little over our heads
He with his thunder: and till then who knew		Who would have known how strong they could be?
The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those,		But it's whatever to me,
Nor what the potent Victor in his rage	95	I don't care that we lost.
Can else inflict, do I repent, or change,		Heaven can throw everything at me, but I'm not going to change
Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind,		I may look different now, but my mind is still the same.
And high disdain from sense of injured merit,
That with the Mightiest raised me to contend,		I still have fight in me
And to the fierce contention brought along	100	I still have the same confidence
Innumerable force of Spirits armed,		that stirred up everyone to join me
That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring,		to fight the unfair Heaven
His utmost power with adverse power opposed
In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven,
And shook his throne. What though the field be lost?	105	So what if we lost?
All is not lost—the unconquerable will,		Nothing is lost, I still have my free will
And study of revenge, immortal hate,		my revenge and hate
And courage never to submit or yield:		my courage to never to give up
And what is else not to be overcome.		I still have all that! What did Heaven win?
That glory never shall his wrath or might	110
Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace		I'll never bow down,
With suppliant knee, and deify his power		and kneel for mercy and forgiveness from him
Who, from the terror of this arm, so late		I just made it known through my aggressions
Doubted his empire—that were low indeed;		that his empire really can be challenged.
That were an ignominy and shame beneath	115	To beg for mercy and forgiveness would be the worst shame than the defeat we just had.
This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods,
And this empyreal substance, cannot fail;		We can't really die anyway,
Since, through experience of this great event,		but through such an experience
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,		we have definitely learned a lot from this.
We may with more successful hope resolve	120
To wage by force or guile eternal war,		We can keep fighting forever, through battle or some more devious and sneaky way.
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs’, and in the excess of joy		Heh, I bet they're all up there in Heaven, just celebrating with their party hats and streamers"
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven.”
So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain,	125	Satan said these things even though he was in pain
Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair;		and deep despair
And him thus answered soon his bold Compeer;—		Beëlzebub responded
“O Prince, O Chief of many thronèd Powers		"Oh Prince, my brave Prince,
That led the embattled Seraphim to war		you rallied the rebel Angels together for war,
Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds	130	with your leadership,
Fearless, endangered Heaven’s perpetual King,		against the tyrant in Heaven
And put to proof his high supremacy,
Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate!		But we were defeated, due to Heaven's greater strength or good luck
Too well I see and rue the dire event		Now this is where we are.
That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat,	135	Wallowing in defeat.
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host		We've lost Heaven and all of our comrades are in bad shape
In horrible destruction laid thus low,		Our pride is hurt
As far as Gods and Heavenly Essences		But we are like Gods and we cannot die,
Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains		Our minds and spirits cannot be destroyed
Invincible, and vigour soon returns,	140	We are invincible, and our courage and strength will return
Though all our glory extinct, and happy state		even though our glory and joy are probably gone forever
Here swallowed up in endless misery.		while we're stuck in this miserable place.
But what if He our Conqueror (whom I now		Now I just think Heaven
Of force believe Almighty, since no less		really is almighty, I mean,
Than such could have o’erpowered such force as ours)	145	how else could he have defeated an army like ours?
Have left us this our spirit and strength entire,		Maybe he just left us alive to let us suffer
Strongly to suffer and support our pains,		So that we can live with misery
That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,		and he can be satisfied with our suffering
Or do him mightier service as his thralls		or make us slaves to do whatever
By right of war, whate’er his business be,	150	he wants us to do down here in Hell
Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire,
Or do errands in the gloomy Deep?
What can it then avail though yet we feel		What good is it if
Strength undiminished, or eternal being		we remain alive by Heaven's hand and immortal if it's
To undergo eternal punishment?”	155	only to live in suffering?"
Whereto with speedy words the Arch-Fiend replied:—		Satan the a.k.a. the Arch-Fiend replied with
“Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable,		"I know it sucks right now, and we're pretty miserable down here
Doing or suffering: but of this be sure—		but hear me out:
To do aught good never will be our task,		We will never do good deeds again
But ever to do ill our sole delight,	160	We will instead do evil deeds and gain pleasure from doing that
As being the contrary to His high will		We will do the opposite of what he wants
Whom we resist. If then His providence		And if Heaven
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,		tries to turn our evil deeds into something good,
Our labour must be to pervert that end,		we will work hard to find another way
And out of good still to find means of evil;	165	to turn them evil again.
Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps		We'll succeed sometimes and
Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb		that will upset God even more
His inmost counsels from their destined aim.		We can do these things to thwart his plans
But see! the angry Victor hath recalled		But look at our enemy! He called back
His ministers of vengeance and pursuit	170	his troops
Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail,		and went back to Heaven
Shot after us in storm, o’erblown hath laid		so right now we're in the calm of the storm
The fiery surge that from the precipice
Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder,
Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage,	175
Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now		They're probably regrouping at the moment and waiting
To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep.
Let us not slip the occasion, whether scorn		I think we should take advantage of this opportunity, whether our enemy is ignoring us or if
Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe.		their anger has been quenched
Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild,	180	Look at that dark plain over there
The seat of desolation, void of light,
Save what the glimmering of these livid flames		Let's get out of these flames over here and
Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend		find a spot over there because it has less flames (there's just a lot of fire down here!)
From off the tossing of these fiery waves;
There rest, if any rest can harbour there;	185	Let's just go over there and see if it's a bit better than this spot, yeah? It's worth a shot
And, re-assembling our afflicted powers,		We can gather everyone up
Consult how we may henceforth most offend		and talk about how we can recover and see what we can do
Our Enemy, our own loss how repair,		to mess with our enemy more
How overcome this dire calamity,		I'm sure we can get better.
What reinforcement we may gain from hope,	190	We still have some 'hope' left to muster
If not what resolution from despair.”		And maybe we can also come up with a way to make our current situation tolerable."
Thus Satan, talking to his nearest Mate,		Satan replied
With head uplift above the wave, and eyes		with his head and eyes above the flames
That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides		sparkling and blazing bright
Prone on the flood, extended long and large,	195
Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge		His body was large; he's apparently a huge deal down here in Hell.
As whom the fables name of monstrous size,		Imagine a really large bouncy house, like the ones at children's parties, only this one is made of fire and envy and lies.
Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove,
Briareos or Typhon, whom the den
By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast	200
Leviathan, which God of all his works
Created hugest that swim the ocean-stream.
Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam,
The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff,
Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell,	205
With fixèd anchor in his scaly rind,
Moors by his side under the lee, while night
Invests the sea, and wishèd morn delays.
So stretched out huge in length the Arch-Fiend lay,		Anyway, Satan is pretty high and mighty and huge.
Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence	210	Satan may have never gotten out of the burning lake of fire,
Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will		or even lifted his head up,
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven		if God didn't decide to allow it.
Left him at large to his own dark designs,		Satan can do whatever he wants
That with reiterated crimes he might		like more crimes and stuff like that
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought	215	because it would only damn him more
Evil to others, and enraged might see		by being evil and horrible to others
How all his malice served but to bring forth		Satan would only find that the result would be God's goodness in the end
Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn		grace, and mercy given
On Man by him seduced, but on himself		to man. While Satan must suffer God's punishment
Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured.	220	over and over again.
Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool		So Satan got up out of the fiery lake
His mighty stature; on each hand the flames		His large person separating the flames around him
Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and, rowled		leaving an empty void where he had been lying
In billows, leave i’ the midst a horrid vale.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight	225	He then spread his wings and flew
Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air,		up into the polluted air
That felt unusual weight; till on dry land		until he landed onto dry land
He lights—if it were land that ever burned
With solid, as the lake with liquid fire,
And such appeared in hue as when the force	230
Of subterranean wind transports a hill
Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side
Of thundering Ætna, whose combustible
And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire,
Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds,	235
And leave a singèd bottom all involved
With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole		This was the kind of land meant for
Of unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate;		those who are unblessed.  Satan followed Beelzebub
Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood		praising each other about getting out of the lake of fire
As gods, and by their own recovered strength,	240	because of their strength and power,
Not by the sufferance of supernal power.		and not because God had let them.
“Is this the region, this the soil, the clime,”		Satan then said, "Hmm, so this land of fire that we get
Said then the lost Archangel, “this the seat
That we must change for Heaven?—this mournful gloom		in exchange for Heaven? This gloomy desolation
For that celestial light? Be it so, since He	245	in place of Heaven's light? That's fine by me! God
Who now is sovran can dispose and bid		can have his dictatorship and reign of tyranny up there
What shall be right: fardest from Him is best,		and the further away from him the better!
Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme		We had equal rights, but the power of his force was stronger, so he gets to be 'king'
Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields,		So farewell Heaven
Where joy forever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail,	250	and hello horrors of Hell! Hail!
Infernal World! and thou, profoundest Hell,		This is our world and we (I mean 'I') can do anything!
Receive thy new possessor—one who brings		Welcom your new master, the one who brings
A mind not to be changed by place or time.		a mind that does not change by place or time
The mind is its own place, and in itself		As long as you have the attitude,
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.	255	you can make Heaven feel like Hell or Hell feel like Heaven!
What matter where, if I be still the same,		Why does it matter where I am if I'm still the same ol' Satan?!
And what I should be, all but less than he		I'm as great as God in every way except for his power.
Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least		Here we can be free.
We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built		God didn't build this place for anything else!
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:	260	I doubt he can drive us out of here
Here we may reign secure; and, in my choice,		so we can call this place our new home. And for me,
To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:		to be a ruler is a worthwhile ambition, even if it is Hell to rule.
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.		I'd rather be a king in Hell than to be a slave in Heaven.
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,		But hey, let's not leave the rest of our buddies
The associates and co-partners of our loss,	265
Lie thus astonished on the oblivious pool,		over there in that burning lake.
And call them not to share with us their part		We might as well have them join us
In this unhappy mansion, or once more		in our misery and
With rallied arms to try what may be yet		regroup to see what we can salvage
Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?”	270	from our fall from Heaven, or whatever bad news still waits for us here in Hell."
So Satan spake; and him Beëlzebub		Beëlzebub replied to Satan
Thus answered:—“Leader of those armies bright		"You know, nothing less than Heaven could have beaten this army!
Which, but the Omnipotent, none could have foiled!
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge		If our fallen can hear your voice, the same voice that gave them
Of hope in fears and dangers—heard so oft	275	hope during battle
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge		and our struggles
Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults
Their surest signal—they will soon resume		I'm sure it will renew their strength
New courage and revive, though now they lie		and courage. Talk to them! Give them strength!
Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire,	280	No wonder they're all still lying around in this lake of fire
As we erewhile, astounded and amazed;		all confused and flustered from defeat
No wonder, fallen such a pernicious highth!”		and falling from Heaven!
He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend		Beëlzebub didn't even finish speaking when Satan
Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield,		started heading towards the shore with his huge shield
Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,	285	that was large and round,
Behind him cast. The broad circumference		on his back
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb		It looked like the moon
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views
At evening, from the top of Fesolè,
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,	290
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
His spear—to equal which the tallest pine		Satan's spear that was long
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast		and seemed like the mast of
Of some great Ammiral, were but a wand—		a ship,
He walked with, to support uneasy steps	295	He used it to help balance himself
Over the burning marle, not like those steps		as he walked on the fiery ground of Hell that was so
On Heaven’s azure; and the torrid clime		different than the ground of Heaven. The air
Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire.		was hot and it burned him as he walked towards the shore.
Nathless he so endured, till on the beach		Satan stood on the beach,
Of that inflamèd sea he stood, and called	300	and he called out to his fallen army
His legions—Angel Forms, who lay entranced		His army was lying about
Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks		like autumn leaves on a shady brook
In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades
High over-arched imbower; or scattered sedge		or like seaweeds floating
Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed	305
Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o’erthrew
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry,
While with perfidious hatred they pursued
The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
From the safe shore their floating carcases	310	next to the corpses of fallen soldiers
And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown,		and broken chariot wheels. The fallen angels were just
Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,		scattered everywhere,
Under amazement of their hideous change.		in a state of shock. Their bodies just covered the lake.
He called so loud that all the hollow deep		Satan called out, and his voice echoed and reverberated around.
Of Hell resounded:—“Princes, Potentates,	315	He announced, "Rebel angels, Princes, and Warriors!
Warriors, the Flower of Heaven—once yours; now lost,		You were once rulers of Heaven! You guys better act like it!
If such astonishment as this can seize		Look at all of you! What happened to you?
Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place		Are you just going to lie around and accept where you are?
After the toil of battle to repose		Is this where you choose to rest after battle?
Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find	320	Maybe you find this place to be comfortable enough
To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?		to rest as you did in Heaven?
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn		Or maybe you just want to kneel to your conqueror
To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds		in Heaven? And then he'll just see you
Cherub and Seraph rowling in the flood		in this weakened state and take advantage