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 flowed
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.