...Above the Aonian mount while it pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. And chiefly Thou, 0 Spirit that dost prefer Before all temples the upright...Dove-like, sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, And niad'st it pregnant : What in me is dark, Illumine ; what is low, raise and support ; That to the height...

...prefer Before all temples the upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou knuwest; Thou from the fir* Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread. Dove-like,...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....

...intends to soar Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues 15 Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before...first Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, 20 Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, And mad'st it pregnant : what in me is dark, 9. What...

...higher. In this spirit Mr. Buckle proceeds to his task — not so John Milton : — ' And chiefly Thou, 0 Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples the upright...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.'...

...poem, where he prays for inspiration from the same creative power that performed the original Creation: Thou from the first Wast present, and with mighty...me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support . . . [1.19-23] For the poet himself is about to embark upon his own heroic work of building. Furthermore,...

...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;...brooding on the vast abyss, And mad'st it pregnant: What is in me dark, Illumine; what is low, raise and support; That, to the height of this great argument,...

...audience for that first question "What cause?" now emerges, for Milton had asked the Muse of Creation. Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first...brooding on the vast Abyss And mad'st it pregnant: (I. 19-22) Only one who made the abyss pregnant, who thereby redeemed chaos, can instruct Milton on...

...me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first Was present, and with mighty wings outspread Dove-like sat brooding on the vast Abyss And mad'st it pregnant:...may assert eternal Providence And justify the ways of God to men. [1-26] — and here Milton is off into his subject, the relation of the literal fall,...

...Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread 20 Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss And mad'st...to the highth of this great Argument I may assert th'Eternal Providence 25 And justifie the wayes of God to men ... Thus Satan talking to his neerest...

...Paradise Lost, where after a long preamble Milton finally beseeches a divine informer of conscience: . . . chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all...outspread Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss And made it pregnant: what in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the highth of...