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Christ and Satan, lines 1-124

The poet begins by praising God and giving a brief catalogue of all creation (sun, moon, earth, seas, etc.).  God also created Adam and the leader of the angels, who led his followers in a revolt that ended with their being imprisoned in hell.  That leader (Satan) laments that hell is dark, fiery and unpleasant and that he must endure there in chains for the crime of pride.  His minions complain that it is Satan’s fault that they are in hell.

Satan then tells the story of the revolt of the angels, how he thought to overthrow God’s throne and seize power.  But he was banished now down to hell, the doors of which are guarded by dragons.  Having declared himself ruler of heaven, Satan says, “turned out the worse for me.”

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