Original Text of PARADISE LOST

PARADISE LOST (BOOK-1)
PARAPHRASE LINE 1 TO 25
O Divine Muse, sing about man’s first disobedience and the fruit of the
forbidden tree, whose fatal taste brought death into the world and caused
mankind’s woe and the loss of Eden, until Christ restored us, and regained
Heaven, that on Mount Sinai inspired the shepherd Moses, who first taught
the Jews in the beginning how the heavens and earth came out of Chaos: or,
if Mount Zion appeals more to you, and the spring near the Temple where
Christ cured a blind man (NAoEL page 1818, footnote #4); I therefore ask for
your aid to my epic poem, that doesn’t intend to go only halfway, but instead
will soar over the Helicon, the home of the classical muses (NAoEL page
1818, footnote #5), and surpass Homer and Virgil in my attempt to do things
as of yet not done in prose or rhyme.
And mainly you, O Holy Spirit, who prefers above all temples the righteous
and pure heart, instruct me, because you know; from the beginning you were
present, and spreading your wings, dove-like sat brooding on the chaos and
impregnated it: what in me is dark make illuminated, what is low raise up and
support; so that I can raise this great subject to the highest heights and assert
Eternal Providence, justifying what God does so man can understand.
First say, because Heaven doesn’t hide anything from you, nor does the deep
depths of Hell, first say what made Adam and Eve in their pure and happy
state, so privileged by Heaven, to become estranged from their Creator, and
go against his will because of one forbidden thing, although they were in
charge of the world otherwise, who first tempted them to rebel against God?
The Hellish Serpent; it was he whose terrible cleverness aroused envy and
thoughts of revenge, deceived Eve, after his arrogance had caused him to be
thrown out of Heaven, with his followers of rebel angels, with whose help he
wanted to set himself above his fellows, and hoped to equal God himself; and
with this ambitious goal against God’s authority he agitated an unholy war in
Heaven and fought vainly. God threw him flaming from the divine Heavens in
miserable ruins to Hell, there to exist in chains of extreme hardness and
punishing fire, he who dared to defy God with violent intentions.
Nine times the extent of distance that measures day and night to humans he
and his rebel followers lay beaten, falling in Hell confused even though they
were immortal: but his doom made him more angry; now the memory of lost
happiness and eternal pain tortured him; he rolls his hateful eyes around,
eyes that had seen awful and discouraging scenes combined with obstinate
pride and everlasting hate. All at once as far as angels can see he views the
disheartening situation of godforsaken wastes, a horrible prison, surrounded
on all sides by fire, but there was no light from those flames, but instead a
visible darkness which only made possible the sights of suffering, places of
sorrow, sad shadows, where serenity and rest can’t exist, hope which is in
everyone is not here; but only an everlasting torment that continually
provokes, and a fiery flood, fed with eternally burning sulfur that doesn’t go
out.
The poem then focuses on Satan as he lies dazed in a lake of fire that is
totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan’s second-in command, and
Satan speaks to him, finally breaking the “horrid silence.” Satan laments their
current state, and how far they have fallen from their previous glorious state
as angels. He admits that he has been defeated, but he does not regret his
war against God (though he never calls God by name). He claims that his
heavenly essence cannot be killed, and as long as his life and will remains
Satan vows to keep fighting against the “tyranny of Heav’n.”
Satan doesn’t contradict this, but he remains resolved to “ever do ill” and try
to pervert God’s works into evil, especially when God “out of our evil seek[s]
to bring forth good.” Satan then suggests they leave the burning lake and find
shelter on a distant shore.
LINES 190 TO 195
Milton describes the terrible size and appearance of Satan’s body, which is
like a whale or a Greek Titan floating on the waves. Slowly Satan drags
himself from the “liquid fire.” Beelzebub follows, and they spread their wings
and fly over the lake to a place of dry land. They are pleased that they can do
this of their own strength and “Not by the sufferance of supernal power.”
LINES 243 TO 263
As they fly Satan laments the desolation of Hell as compared to the glory of

Heaven, but he accepts that “The mind is its own place, and in itself / Can
make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n,” so he would no longer be satisfied in
Heaven anyway. He resolves to make the best of the situation, and declares
that it is “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.” Beelzebub then
suggests that Satan summon his armies, as they will answer their leader’s
voice.
LINES 283 TO 302
Satan takes up his terrible armor, and he calls to his legions to join him on
land and take up the fight again. The rebel angels obey and pull themselves
from the fiery lake despite their pain and shame. Milton says that all these
angels have had their names erased in Heaven, but they are later given new
names by humans and some will be worshipped as false gods.
LINES 310 TO 337

Satan is encouraged by the sight of his glorious army, which is far more
magnificent than any of the famous human armies of later wars. Satan feels a
moment of remorse for causing the suffering of so many millions by leading
them into rebellion, but then he is strengthened in his resolve. He addresses
his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God – his only
question now is whether to go back to open war or use more deceitful tactics.
He mentions that God had spoken of creating a new world, and that the devils
might escape there and make a new home.
At Satan’s words the rebel angels all draw their flaming swords and reaffirm
their defiance against Heaven. They then fly to a nearby hill and begin to dig
into the earth, unearthing gold and other raw minerals. Milton warns the
reader about admiring the rich minerals of Hell, as they are nothing but vanity.
LINES 588 TO 615
With their supernatural powers the devils construct a massive temple in a

short amount of time. This temple is larger and more magnificent than the
pyramids of Egypt or any temple humans ever built.
LINES 794 TO 797
The devils can change in size and shape, so they shrink from giants into
dwarfs and then all the hundreds of thousands enter “Pandaemonium”. They
sit on golden seats and then begin their debate.

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PARADISE LOST (BOOK-1)

PARAPHRASE LINE 158 TO 165

LINES 190 TO 195

LINES 243 TO 263

As they fly Satan laments the desolation of Hell as compared to the glory of

LINES 283 TO 302

LINES 310 TO 337

With their supernatural powers the devils construct a massive temple in a

LINES 794 TO 797

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