stem. There were
many reasons why Milton, in the composition of an imaginative poem,
should have chosen the Ptolemaic system of the universe rather than the
Copernican. This form of astronomical belief was adopted by all the
authors whose works he perused and studied in his younger days,
including his favourite poet, Dante; and his own poetic imaginings, as
indicated by his early poems, were in harmony with the doctrines of this
astronomical creed, a long acquaintance with which had, without doubt,
influenced his mind in its favour. This system of revolving spheres,
with the steadfast Earth at its centre, and the whole enclosed by the
Primum Mobile, constituted a more attractive and picturesque object for
poetic description than the simple and uncircumscribed arrangement of
the universe expressed by the Copernican theory. It also afforded him an
opportunity of localising those regions of space in which the chief
incidents in his poem are described--viz. HEAVEN, or THE EMPYREAN,
CHAOS, HELL, and the MUNDANE UNIVERSE. Milton's Ptolemaism, with its
adjuncts, may be understood by the following:

All that portion of space above the newly created universe, and beyond
the Primum Mobile, was known as HEAVEN, or THE EMPYREAN--a region of
light, of glory, and of happiness; the dwelling-place of the Deity, Who,
though omnipresent, here visibly revealed Himself to all the multitude
of angels whom He created, and who surrounded his throne in adoration
and worship.

Underneath the universe there existed a vast region of similar
dimensions to the Empyrean, called CHAOS, which was occupied by the
embryo elements of matter, that with incessant turmoil and confusion
warred with each other for supremacy--a wild abyss--

The womb of Nature and perhaps her grave.--ii. 911.

The lower portion of this region was divided off from the remainder, and
embraced the locality known as HELL--the place of torment, where the
rebellious angels were driven and shut in after their expulsion from
Heaven.

As far removed from God and light of Heaven
As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole.--i. 73-74.

The NEW UNIVERSE, which included the Earth and all the orbs of the
firmament known as the Starry Heavens, was created out of Chaos, and
hung, as if suspended by a golden chain, from the Empyrean above; and
although its magnitude and dimensions were inconceivable, yet, according
to the Ptolemaic theory, it was enclosed by the tenth spher