Paradise Lost.
Manuscript of Book I, in the hand of an amanuensis, ca. 1665.
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1904
[ ]n while the winged Haralds by [ ]mmand
[ ] sovran power, with awfull ceremony
[ ] trumpets sound throughout the host proclaime
[ ]olemn councell forthwith to be held
[ ] Pandæmonium, the high Capitall
[ ] Satan and his peers: thir summons call'd
[ ]om every band and squared regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
[ ]ith hundreds and with thousands trooping came
Attended: all accesse was throng'd, the gates
And porches wide, but chiefe the spacious hall
(Though like a cover'd feild, where champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair
Defy'd the best of Paynim chivalry
To mortall combat or carreer with lance)
Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air,
Brusht with the hisse of russling wings. As bees
In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides,
Poure forth thir populous youth about the hive
In clusters, they among fresh dews and flowers
Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed plank,
The suburb of thir straw built cittadell,
New rub'd with baume, expatiate and conferr
Thir state affairs. So thick the aerie crowd
Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the signall giv'n
Behold a wonder! they but now who seemd
Paradise Lost. Manuscript of Book I, in the hand of an amanuensis, ca. 1665.