歌颂人类最初的不服从，歌颂那棵禁树的果实，它的凡人的味道给世界带来了死亡，带来了我们所有的痛苦，使我们失去了伊甸园，直到有一个更伟大的人来拯救我们，使我们重新获得幸福的座位，天上的缪斯，歌唱吧，在俄立伯山或西奈山的神秘山顶上，是你激励了那位牧羊人，那位牧羊人起初教导被拣选的种子，天地是如何从混沌中诞生的;或者，如果锡安山和西罗亚的小溪在上帝的神谕旁奔流得更使你高兴，那么我就请你帮助我的冒险之歌，这首歌要追求散文和韵脚中未曾尝试过的东西，决不中途飞行，跃上奥尼亚山。圣灵啊，你看中正直纯洁的心，胜过一切的殿，求你指教我，因为你知道;你从一开始就在那里，展开有力的翅膀，像鸽子一样，坐在浩瀚的深渊上沉思，让它疯狂地怀孕:在我身上，是黑暗的光明，是卑微的养育和支撑;在这场伟大的辩论中，我可以断言永恒的天意，并为上帝对人类的所作所为辩护。先说——因为天堂和地狱的深渊，什么也挡不了你的视线——先说，是什么原因使我们的祖辈们，在那幸福的状态中，受到上天的厚爱，离开了他们的造物主，违背了他的意志，为了一个约束，世界的领主们。是谁首先引诱他们进行这场邪恶的反抗?地狱之蛇;正是他的诡计，激起了嫉妒和报复，欺骗了人类的母亲，当他的骄傲把他从天堂赶出去的时候，他带着他所有的反叛天使，在他们的帮助下，他渴望自己的荣耀超过他的同伴，他相信可以与至高者相提并论，如果他反对，雄心勃勃地反对上帝的宝座和君主，在天上挑起不敬虔的战争，骄傲地战斗，徒劳的企图。他是全能的力量，把火焰从虚无缥缈的天空，连同可怕的毁灭和燃烧，扔到无底的毁灭中，住在坚固的锁链和刑罚的火中，谁敢违抗全能的力量，拿起武器。 Nine times the space that measures day and night To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal. But his doom Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. At once, as far as Angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild. A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Such place Eternal Justice has prepared For those rebellious; here their prison ordained In utter darkness, and their portion set, As far removed from God and light of Heaven As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, One next himself in power, and next in crime, Long after known in Palestine, and named Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:-- "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed From him who, in the happy realms of light Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise Joined with me once, now misery hath joined In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved He with his thunder; and till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Nor what the potent Victor in his rage Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, And high disdain from sense of injured merit, That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, And to the fierce contentions brought along Innumerable force of Spirits armed, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 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?