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Printed for T. OSBORNE, in Gray's-Inn, and
J. HILDYARD, at York.

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اصل

PREFACE.

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1

O Poem has had greater, or juster Praise from the most eminent Judges of Literature, PARADISE Lost, as well for the Sublimity of the Subject and Sentiments, as the profound and extenfive Learning it is enrich'd with. It comprehends almost every Thing within the Extent of human Knowledge; but being wrote in the highest Stile of heroick Poetry, and the Thoughts, many of them express'd by Figures of Grammar and Rhetoric, being full of Digressions and Sentences tranfpesed, as well as difficult Terms in the Mathematicks, History, Aftronomy, Aftrology, Geography, Architecture, Navigation, Anatomy, Alchymy, Divinity, and all other human Arts and Sciences, it hath fo happened, that many Readers have been unable to see the Beauties of the Poem, for Want of being able to come at the proper Explication of those Things, which have been out of their Reach; and this must happen to a great many; for how few are there who have had Leisure or Opportunity to be Master of all the Sciences? besides which it is necessary they should understand the Hebrew, Chaldee, Arabic, Syriac, Phoenician, and Egyptian, and all the dead Languages, with the living and modern ones, in all their different Dialects: So that it has been a frequent Complaint of the Readers of MILTON, that he has not calculated bis Poem for common Eyes who passing by the most instructive Passages, or elfe uncertainly guessing at their Meaning and Reading altogether doubtfully, lose the Pleasure and Benefit which might arise from the thorough Understanding of the improving Lecture, and the moral and philosophical Instructions which are to be found in this inimitable Book; of which may be affirm'd, what cannot be said of any other Book in the World beside, that is, it never has been read and rightly understood by any, who have not given it the highest Encomiums. Therefore, that alt English Readers may have the like Pleasure, the following Work was taken in Hand; and to help Foreigners, whose small Acquaintance with our Language, might otherwise prevent their Intelligence of the finest Poem that ever was wrote. It was not thought fufficient to pick out Lines here and there, and explain them only, for it is impossible to know which Part may be difficult to each Reader; for which Reason, the whole is render'd into plain and intelligible Profe, the Sense preferv'd, and nothing omitted that may make it clear to all Readers: Care being taken not to let any Word pass, whether proper Names of Men or Places, or technical Words, without a Note, to make them appear plain, and doing the fame by all the Mythology or Fables of the Antients. It must certainly be a great Ease, to have Recourse to fuck a Transcript in Profe, and the Help of such a Number of explicit Notes: For this Work is not done to infinuate, that it is superior or any Way equal to the Poetry of PARADISE LOST; but, on the contrary, design'd only to make it more universally intelligible, being fully affured, that it will then be always held in Admiration; and if through my Means this should happen, I shall think I have been of general Service; which is a Confideration that would be my Reward, if no other should arife from it, for then my chief End would be answered.

THE

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

P

The ARGUMENT.

Pa

ROPOSES the whole Subject, Man's Disobedience, and the Lofs thereupon of radise wherein he was plac'd. Then touches the prime Cause of his Fall; which was Satan in the Serpent; who revolting from God, and drawing to his Side many Legions of Angels, was by the Command of GOD, driven out of Heaven with all his Crew into the great Deep. Which Action pass'd over, the Author haftes into the midst of Things, presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell, defcrib'd, not in the Centre (for Heaven and Earth may be suppos'd as not yet made, certainly not yet accurs'd) but in a Place of utter Darkness, most fitly call'd Chaos : Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning Lake, thunder-ftruck and astonish'd, after a certain Space recovers, as from Confufion, calls up

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