Paradise Lost, Book IV 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 Heav’nly Muse, that on the secret night Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed In the Beginning how the Heav’ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos; or if Sion Hill Delight thee more, and Siloa’s Brook that flow’d Fast by the Oracle of God, I thence Invoke thy aid to my advent’rous 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, the morning stars, admired Thee, and thou, the daily nurtwith sweetest food, prepare For all that live, and bright wings impart. Thus I invoke; and now, thy light expound to me, That I may sing of nature’s law divine.

• John Milton