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 Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flow’d Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues Things unattempted yet, in prose or rhyme. And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples, th’ 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 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 Moved our grand parents, in that happy state Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress His will. For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? Th’ infernal serpent: he it was whose guile, Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host Of rebel angels; by whose aid, aspiring To set himself in glory ’bove his peers, He trusted to have equalled the Most High, If He opposed; and, with ambition’s aim Against the throne and monarchy of God, Raised impious war in Heaven, and battle proud With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power Hurled headlong flaming from th’ ethereal sky, With hideous ruin and combustion, down To bottomless perdition; there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to arms. _Milton._ Nor can this be But by fulfilling that which thou didst want-- _Obedience_ to the law of God, imposed On penalty of death. _Milton._ Flatter not folly with an idle faith, Nor let earth stand upon her own desert; But show what wisdom in the Scripture saith The fruitful hand doth shew the fruitful heart; Believe the word, and thereto bend thy will, And teach _obedience_ for a blessed skill. _Nicholas Breton._