John Milton - Paradise Lost (1667)

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The other shape, If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, For each seem'd either,--black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell, And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now at hand.

John Milton
Nor from hell One step no more than from himself can fly By change of place.

John Milton
Immediate are the acts of God, more swift than time or motion.

John Milton
But that from us aught should ascend to Heav'n So prevalent as to concern the mind Of God, high-bless'd, or to incline His will, Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer.

John Milton
The hasty multitude Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise And some the architect: his hand was known In heaven by many a tower'd structure high, Where scepter'd angels held their residence, And sat as princes.

John Milton
If by prayer
Incessant I could hope to change the will
Of him who all things can, I would not cease
To weary him with my assiduous cries;
But prayer against his absolute decree
No more avails than breath against the wind
Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth:
Therefore to his great bidding I submit.

John Milton
Heaven, the seat of bliss, Brooks not the works of violence and war.

John Milton
Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay Carnation, Purple, Azure, or specked with Gold hung drooping unsustained.

John Milton
Knowledge cannot defile, nor consequently the books, if the will and conscience be not defiled.

John Milton
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, And pavement stars,--as stars to thee appear Seen in the galaxy, that milky way Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest Powder'd with stars.

John Milton
The conquer'd, also, and enslaved by war, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose.

John Milton
I fled, and cry'd out, Death; Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd From all her caves, and back resounded, Death.

John Milton
Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell,.... And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain?

John Milton
And to thy husband's will
Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule.

John Milton
From that high mount of God whence light and shade Spring both, the face of brightest heaven had changed To grateful twilight.

John Milton
Death Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear His famine should be fill'd.

John Milton
Well observe The rule of Not too much, by temperance taught In what thou eat'st and drink'st.

John Milton
In the Beginning, how the Heav'ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos.

John Milton
Necessity and chance Approach not me, and what I will is fate.

John Milton
Each tree Laden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' eye Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eat.

John Milton
Nor did there want Cornice or frieze with bossy sculpture graven.

John Milton
Back to thy punishment, False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings.

John Milton
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield To fickle Chance, and Chaosjudge the strife.

John Milton
Heaven open'd wide Her ever during gates, harmonious sound, On golden hinges moving.

John Milton
Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field Call us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove, What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed, How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee Sits on the Bloom, extracting liquid sweet.

John Milton
To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory.

John Milton
O Conscience, into what abyss of fears
And horrors hast thou driven me, out of which
I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged.

John Milton
Arms on armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd: dire was the noise Of conflict.

John Milton
And now without redemption all mankind Must have been lost, adjudged to death and hell By doom severe.

John Milton
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought Mosaic; underfoot the violet, Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone Of costliest emblem: other creature here Beast, bird, insect, or worm durst enter none; Such was their awe of man.

John Milton