ThisfirstBookproposes,firstinbrief,thewholeSubject,Mansdisobedience,andthelossthereuponofParadisewhereinhewasplac't:Thentouchestheprimecauseofhisfall,theSerpent,orratherSatanintheSerpent;whorevoltingfromGod,anddrawingtohissidemanyLegionsofAngels,wasbythecommandofGoddrivenoutofHeavenwithallhisCrewintothegreatDeep.Whichactionpastover,thePoemhastsintothemidstofthings,presentingSatanwithhisAngelsnowfallenintoHell,describ'dhere,notintheCenter(forHeavenandEarthmaybesuppos'dasyetnotmade,certainlynotyetaccurst)butinaplaceofutterdarkness,fitliestcall'dChaos:HereSatanwithhisAngelslyingontheburningLake,thunder-struckandastonisht,afteracertainspacerecovers,asfromconfusion,callsuphimwhonextinOrderandDignitylaybyhim;theyconferofthirmiserablefall.SatanawakensallhisLegions,wholaytilltheninthesamemannerconfounded;Theyrise,thirNumbers,arrayofBattel,thirchiefLeadersnam'd,accordingtotheIdolsknownafterwardsinCanaanandtheCountriesadjoyning.TotheseSatandirectshisSpeech,comfortsthemwithhopeyetofregainingHeaven,buttellsthemlastlyofanewWorldandnewkindofCreaturetobecreated,accordingtoanancientProphesieorreportinHeaven;forthatAngelswerelongbeforethisvisibleCreation,wastheopinionofmanyancientFathers.TofindoutthetruthofthisProphesie,andwhattodeterminthereonhereferstoafullCouncel.WhathisAssociatesthenceattempt.PandemoniumthePalaceofSatanrises,suddenlybuiltoutoftheDeep:TheinfernalPeerstheresitinCouncel.