John Milton Quotes And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield.

Source: Bartlett, John. Familiar Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 105.
Quotations, 10th ed. 1919. 9
To be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering.
1 Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 157.
Of Man’s first disobedience, and the 10
fruit And out of good still to find means of
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste evil.
Brought death into the world, and all our Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 165.
woe. 11
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 1. Farewell happy fields,
2 Where joy forever dwells: hail, horrors!
Or if Sion hill Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 249.
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook, 12
that flow’d A mind not to be chang’d by place or
Fast by the oracle of God. time.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 10. The mind is its own place, and in itself
3 Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of
Things unattempted yet in prose or heaven. 2
rhyme. Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 253.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 16. 13
4 Here we may reign secure; and in my
What in me is dark choice
Illumine, what is low raise and support, To reign is worth ambition, though in
That to the height of this great argument hell:
I may assert eternal Providence, Better to reign in hell than serve in
And justify the ways of God to men. 1 heaven.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 22. Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 261.
5 14
As far as angels’ ken. Heard so oft
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 59. In worst extremes, and on the perilous
6 edge
Yet from those flames Of battle.
No light, but rather darkness visible. Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 275.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 62. 15
7 His spear, to equal which the tallest
Where peace pine
And rest can never dwell, hope never Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the mast
comes Of some great ammiral were but a wand,
That comes to all. He walk’d with to support uneasy steps
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 65. Over the burning marle.
8 Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 292.
What though the field be lost? 16
All is not lost; th’ unconquerable will,
 Thick as autumnal leaves that strow
the brooks
In Vallombrosa, where th’ Etrurian
shades
High over-arch’d imbower.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 302.
17
Awake, arise, or be forever fallen!
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 330.
18
Spirits when they please
Can either sex assume, or both.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 423.
19
Execute their airy purposes.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 430.
20
When night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth
the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and
wine.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 500.
21
Th’ imperial ensign, which full high
advanc’d
Shone like a meteor, streaming to the
wind. 3
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 536.
22
Sonorous metal blowing martial
sounds:
At which the universal host up sent
A shout that tore hell’s concave, and
beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old
Night.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 540.
23
Anon they move
In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and soft recorders.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 549.
24
His form had yet not lost
All her original brightness, nor appear’d
Less than archangel ruin’d, and th’
excess
Of glory obscur’d.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 591.
25
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight
sheds
On half the nations, and with fear of
change
Perplexes monarchs.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 597.
26
Thrice he assay’d, and thrice in spite
of scorn
Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 619.
27
Who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 648.
28
Mammon, the least erected spirit that
fell
From heaven; for ev’n in heaven his
looks and thoughts
Were always downward bent, admiring
more
The riches of heaven’s pavement,
trodden gold,
Than aught divine or holy else enjoy’d
In vision beatific.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 679.
29
Let none admire
That riches grow in hell: that soil may
best
Deserve the precious bane.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 690.
30
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rose, like an exhalation.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 710.
31
From morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
—
A summer’s day; and with the setting
sun
Dropp’d from the Zenith like a falling
star.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 742.
32
Fairy elves,
Whose midnight revels by a forest side
Or fountain some belated peasant sees,
Or dreams he sees, while overhead the
moon
Sits arbitress.
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 781.
33
High on a throne of royal state, which
far
Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of
Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest
hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and
gold,
Satan exalted sat, by merit rais’d
To that bad eminence.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 1.
34
Surer to prosper than prosperity
Could have assur’d us.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 39.
35
The strongest and the fiercest spirit
That fought in heaven, now fiercer by
despair.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 44.
36
Rather than be less,
Car’d not to be at all.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 47.
37
My sentence is for open war.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 51.
38
That in our proper motion we ascend
Up to our native seat: descent and fall
To us is adverse.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 75.
39
When the scourge
Inexorable and the torturing hour
Call us to penance.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 90.
40
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 105.
41
But all was false and hollow; though
his tongue
Dropp’d manna, and could make the
worse appear
The better reason, 4 to perplex and dash
Maturest counsels.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 112.
42
Th’ ethereal mould
Incapable of stain would soon expel
Her mischief, and purge off the baser
fire,
Victorious. Thus repuls’d, our final hope
Is flat despair. 5
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 139.
43
For who would lose,
Though full of pain this intellectual
being,
Those thoughts that wander through
eternity,
To perish rather, swallow’d up and lost
In the wide womb of uncreated night?
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 146.
44
His red right hand. 6
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 174.
45
Unrespited, unpitied, unrepriev’d.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 185.
46
The never-ending flight
Of future days.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 221.
47
Our torments also may in length of
time
Become our elements.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 274.
48
With grave
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem’d
A pillar of state; deep on his front
engraven
Deliberation sat, and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet
shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his
look
Drew audience and attention still as
night
Or summer’s noontide air.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 300.
49
The palpable obscure.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 406.
50
Long is the way
And hard, that out of hell leads up to
light.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 432.
51
Their rising all at once was as the
sound
Of thunder heard remote.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 476.
52
The low’ring element
Scowls o’er the darken’d landscape.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 490.
53
Oh, shame to men! devil with devil
damn’d
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 496.
54
In discourse more sweet;
For eloquence the soul, song charms the
sense.
Others apart sat on a hill retir’d,
In thoughts more elevate, and reason’d
high
Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and
fate,
Fix’d fate, free-will, foreknowledge
absolute;
And found no end, in wand’ring mazes
lost.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 555.
55
Vain wisdom all and false philosophy.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 565.
56
Arm th’ obdur’d breast
With stubborn patience as with triple
steel.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 568.
57
A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old,
Where armies whole have sunk: the
parching air
Burns frore, and cold performs th’ effect
of fire.
Thither by harpy-footed Furies hal’d,
At certain revolutions all the damn’d
Are brought, and feel by turns the bitter
change
Of fierce extremes,—extremes by
change more fierce;
From beds of raging fire to starve in ice
Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to
pine
Immovable, infix’d, and frozen round,
Periods of time; thence hurried back to
fire.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 592.
58
O’er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp,
Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens,
and shades of death.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 620.
59
Gorgons and Hydras and Chimæras
dire.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 628.
60
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.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 666.
61
Whence and what art thou, execrable
shape?
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 681.
62
Back to thy punishment,
False fugitive, and to thy speed add
wings.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 699.
63
So spake the grisly Terror.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 704.
64
Incens’d with indignation Satan stood
Unterrify’d, and like a comet burn’d
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
In th’ arctic sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 707.
65
Their fatal hands
No second stroke intend.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 712.
66
Hell
Grew darker at their frown.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 719.
67
I fled, and cry’d out, DEATH!
Hell trembled at the hideous name, and
sigh’d
From all her caves, and back resounded,
DEATH!
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 787.
68
Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim Death, my son and foe.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 803.
69
Death
Grinn’d horrible a ghastly smile, to hear
His famine should be fill’d.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 845.
70
On a sudden open fly,
With impetuous recoil and jarring sound,
Th’ infernal doors, and on their hinges
grate
Harsh thunder.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 879.
71
Where eldest Night
And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold
Eternal anarchy amidst the noise
Of endless wars, and by confusion stand;
For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four
champions fierce,
Strive here for mast’ry.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 894.
72
Into this wild abyss,
The womb of Nature and perhaps her
grave.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 910.
73
To compare
Great things with small. 7
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 921.
74
O’er bog or steep, through strait,
rough, dense, or rare,
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues
his way,
And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps,
or flies.
 Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 948.
75
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 995.
76
So he with difficulty and labour hard
Mov’d on, with difficulty and labour he.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 1021.
77
And fast by, hanging in a golden
chain,
This pendent world, in bigness as a star
Of smallest magnitude, close by the
moon.
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 1051.
78
Hail holy light! offspring of heav’n
first-born.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 1.
79
The rising world of waters dark and
deep.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 11.
80
Thoughts that voluntary move
Harmonious numbers.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 37.
81
Thus with the year
Seasons return; but not to me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of even or
morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom or summer’s
rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face
divine;
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me; from the cheerful ways of
men
Cut off, and for the book of knowledge
fair
Presented with a universal blank
Of Nature’s works, to me expung’d and
raz’d,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut
out.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 40.
82
Sufficient to have stood, though free
to fall.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 99.
83
See golden days, fruitful of golden
deeds,
With joy and love triumphing.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 337.
84
Dark with excessive bright.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 380.
85
Embryos and idiots, eremites and
friars,
White, black, and gray, with all their
trumpery.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 474.
86
Since call’d
The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 495.
87
And oft, though wisdom wake,
suspicion sleeps
At wisdom’s gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness
thinks no ill
Where no ill seems.
Paradise Lost. Book iii. Line 686.
88
The hell within him.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 20.
89
Now conscience wakes despair
That slumber’d,—wakes the bitter
memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must
be
Worse.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 23.
90
At whose sight all the stars
Hide their diminish’d heads. 8
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 34.
91
A grateful mind
By owing owes not, but still pays, at
once
Indebted and discharg’d.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 55.
92
Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat’ning to devour me, opens
wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a
heaven.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 73.
93
Such joy ambition finds.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 92.
94
Ease would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 96.
95
So farewell hope, and with hope
farewell fear,
Farewell remorse; all good to me is lost.
Evil, be thou my good.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 108.
96
That practis’d falsehood under saintly
shew,
Deep malice to conceal, couch’d with
revenge.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 122.
97
Sabean odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the Blest.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 162.
98
And on the Tree of Life,
The middle tree and highest there that
grew,
Sat like a cormorant.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 194.
99
A heaven on earth.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 208.
100
Flowers worthy of paradise.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 241.
101
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn
the rose. 9
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 256.
102
Proserpine gathering flowers,
Herself a fairer flower.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 269.
103
For contemplation he and valour
form’d,
For softness she and sweet attractive
grace;
He for God only, she for God in him.
His fair large front and eye sublime
declar’d
Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Round from his parted forelock manly
hung
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders
broad.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 297.
104
Implied
Subjection, but requir’d with gentle
sway,
And by her yielded, by him best
receiv’d,—
Yielded with coy submission, modest
pride,
And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 307.
105
Adam the goodliest man of men since
born
His sons, the fairest of her daughters
Eve.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 323.
106
 And with necessity,
The tyrant’s plea, 10 excus’d his devilish
deeds.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 393.
107
As Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the
clouds
That shed May flowers.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 499.
108
Imparadis’d in one another’s arms.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 506.
109
Live while ye may,
Yet happy pair.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 533.
110
Now came still evening on, and
twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad;
Silence accompany’d; for beast and bird,
They to their grassy couch, these to their
nests,
Were slunk, all but the wakeful
nightingale;
She all night long her amorous descant
sung;
Silence was pleas’d. Now glow’d the
firmament
With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the
moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen unveil’d her peerless
light,
And o’er the dark her silver mantle
threw.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 598.
111
The timely dew of sleep.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 614.
112
With thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons, and their change,—all
please alike.
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising
sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the
sun
When first on this delightful land he
spreads
His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and
flower,
Glist’ring with dew; fragrant the fertile
earth
After soft showers; and sweet the
coming on
Of grateful ev’ning mild; then silent
night
With this her solemn bird and this fair
moon,
And these the gems of heaven, her starry
train:
But neither breath of morn when she
ascends
With charm of earliest birds, nor rising
sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit,
flower,
Glist’ring with dew, nor fragrance after
showers,
Nor grateful ev’ning mild, nor silent
night
With this her solemn bird, nor walk by
moon
Or glittering starlight, without thee is
sweet.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 639.
113
Millions of spiritual creatures walk
the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when
we sleep.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 677.
114
In naked beauty more adorn’d,
More lovely than Pandora. 11
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 713.
115
Eas’d the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we
wear.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 739.
116
Hail wedded love, mysterious law,
true source
Of human offspring.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 750.
117
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of
Eve.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 800.
118
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch’d lightly; for no falsehood can
endure
Touch of celestial temper.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 810.
119
Not to know me argues yourselves
unknown,
The lowest of your throng.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 830.
120
Abash’d the devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovely.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 846.
121
All hell broke loose.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 918.
122
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 987.
123
The starry cope
Of heaven.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 992.
124
Fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the
shades of night.
Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 1014.
125
Now morn, her rosy steps in th’
eastern clime
Advancing, sow’d the earth with orient
pearl,
When Adam wak’d, so custom’d; for his
sleep
Was aery light, from pure digestion bred.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 1.
126
Hung over her enamour’d, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or
asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 13.
127
My latest found,
Heaven’s last, best gift, my ever new
delight!
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 18.
128
Good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 71.
129
These are thy glorious works, Parent
of good!
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 153.
130
Fairest of stars, last in the train of
night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 166.
131
A wilderness of sweets.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 294.
132
Another morn
Ris’n on mid-noon.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 310.
133
So saying, with despatchful looks in
haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 331.
134
Nor jealousy
Was understood, the injur’d lover’s hell.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 449.
135
The bright consummate flower.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 481.
136
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms,
Virtues, Powers.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 601.
137
They eat, they drink, and in
communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 637.
138
Satan; so call him now, his former
name
Is heard no more in heaven.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 658.
139
Midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to sleep and silence.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 667.
140
Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the
sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 745.
141
So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful
found;
Among the faithless, faithful only he.
Paradise Lost. Book v. Line 896.
142
Morn,
Wak’d by the circling hours, with rosy
hand
Unbarr’d the gates of light.
Paradise Lost. Book vi. Line 2.
143
Servant of God, well done; well hast
thou fought
The better fight.
Paradise Lost. Book vi. Line 29.
144
Arms on armour clashing bray’d
Horrible discord, and the madding
wheels
Of brazen chariots rag’d: dire was the
noise
Of conflict.
Paradise Lost. Book vi. Line 209.
145
Spirits that live throughout,
Vital in every part, not as frail man,
In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,
Cannot but by annihilating die.
Paradise Lost. Book vi. Line 345.
146
Far off his coming shone.
Paradise Lost. Book vi. Line 768.
147
More safe I sing with mortal voice,
unchang’d
To hoarse or mute, though fall’n on evil
days,
On evil days though fall’n, and evil
tongues.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 24.
148
Still govern thou my song,
Urania, and fit audience find, though
few.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 30.
149
Heaven open’d wide
Her ever during gates, harmonious
sound,
On golden hinges moving.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 205.
150
Hither, as to their fountain, other stars
Repairing, in their golden urns draw
light.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 364.
151
Now half appear’d
The tawny lion, pawing to get free
His hinder parts.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 463.
152
Indu’d
With sanctity of reason.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 507.
153
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.
Paradise Lost. Book vii. Line 577.
154
The Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear
So charming left his voice, that he
awhile
Thought him still speaking, still stood
fix’d to hear.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 1.
155
There swift return
Diurnal, merely to officiate light
Round this opacous earth, this punctual
spot.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 21.
156
And grace that won who saw to wish
her stay.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 43.
157
And touch’d by her fair tendance,
gladlier grew.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 47.
158
With centric and eccentric scribbled
o’er,
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 83.
159
Her silent course advance
With inoffensive pace, that spinning
sleeps
On her soft axle.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 163.
160
Be lowly wise:
Think only what concerns thee and thy
being.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line
161
To know
That which before us lies in daily life
Is the prime wisdom.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 192.
162
Liquid lapse of murmuring streams.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 263.
163
And feel that I am happier than I
know.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 282.
164
Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 383.
165
Grace was in all her steps, heaven in
her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 488.
166
Her virtue and the conscience of her
worth,
That would be woo’d, and not unsought
be won.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 502.
167
She what was honour knew,
And with obsequious majesty approv’d
My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower
I led her blushing like the morn; all
heaven
And happy constellations on that hour
Shed their selectest influence; the earth
Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle
airs
Whisper’d it to the woods, and from
their wings
Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy
shrub.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 508.
168
The sum of earthly bliss.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 522.
169
So well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest,
best.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 548.
170
Accuse not Nature: she hath done her
part;
Do thou but thine.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 561.
171
Oft times nothing profits more
Than self-esteem, grounded on just and
right
Well manag’d. 12
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 571.
172
Those graceful acts,
Those thousand decencies that daily
flow
From all her words and actions.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 610.
173
With a smile that glow’d
Celestial rosy red, love’s proper hue.
Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 618.
174
My unpremeditated verse.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 24.
175
Pleas’d me, long choosing and
beginning late.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 26.
176
Unless an age too late, or cold
Climate, or years, damp my intended
wing.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 44.
177
Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 171.
178
The work under our labour grows,
Luxurious by restraint.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 208.
179
Smiles from reason flow,
To brute deny’d, and are of love the
food.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 239.
180
For solitude sometimes is best society,
And short retirement urges sweet return.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 249.
181
At shut of evening flowers.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 278.
182
As one who long in populous city
pent,
Where houses thick and sewers annoy
the air.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 445.
183
So gloz’d the tempter.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 549.
184
Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his crest.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 633.
185
Left that command
Sole daughter of his voice. 13
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 652.
186
Earth felt the wound; and Nature from
her seat,
Sighing through all her works, gave
signs of woe
That all was lost.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 782.
187
In her face excuse
Came prologue, and apology too prompt.
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 853.
188
A pillar’d shade
High overarch’d, and echoing walks 197
between. Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what
Paradise Lost. Book ix. Line 1106. thou liv’st
189 Live well: how long or short permit to
Yet I shall temper so heaven. 14
Justice with mercy, as may illustrate Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 553.
most 198
Them fully satisfy’d, and thee appease. A bevy of fair women.
Paradise Lost. Book x. Line 77. Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 582.
190 199
So scented the grim Feature, and The brazen throat of war.
upturn’d Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 713.
His nostril wide into the murky air, 200
Sagacious of his quarry from so far. Some natural tears they dropp’d, but
Paradise Lost. Book x. Line 279. wip’d them soon;
191 The world was all before them, where to
How gladly would I meet choose
Mortality my sentence, and be earth Their place of rest, and Providence their
Insensible! how glad would lay me down guide.
As in my mother’s lap! They hand in hand, with wand’ring steps
Paradise Lost. Book x. Line 775. and slow,
192 Through Eden took their solitary way.
Must I thus leave thee, Paradise?— Paradise Lost. Book xii. Line 645.
thus leave 201
Thee, native soil, these happy walks and Beauty stands
shades? In the admiration only of weak minds
Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 269. Led captive.
193 Paradise Regained. Book ii. Line
Then purg’d with euphrasy and rue 220.
The visual nerve, for he had much to see. 202
Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 414. Rocks whereon greatest men have
194 oftest wreck’d.
Moping melancholy Paradise Regained. Book ii. Line
And moon-struck madness. 228.
Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 485. 203
195 Of whom to be disprais’d were no
And over them triumphant Death his small praise.
dart Paradise Regained. Book iii. Line
Shook, but delay’d to strike, though oft 56.
invok’d. 204
Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 491. Elephants endors’d with towers.
196 Paradise Regained. Book iii. Line
So may’st thou live, till like ripe fruit 329.
thou drop 205
Into thy mother’s lap. Syene, and where the shadow both
Paradise Lost. Book xi. Line 535. way falls,
Meroe, Nilotic isle. Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 327.
70. 213
206 As children gath’ring pebbles on the
Dusk faces with white silken turbans shore.
wreath’d. Or if I would delight my private hours
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line With music or with poem, where so soon
76. As in our native language can I find
207 That solace?
The childhood shows the man, Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line
As morning shows the day. 15 330.
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 214
220. Till morning fair
208 Came forth with pilgrim steps in amice
Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of gray.
arts Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line
And eloquence. 426.
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 215
240. O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of
209 noon,
The olive grove of Academe, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse
Plato’s retirement, where the Attic bird Without all hope of day!
Trills her thick-warbled notes the Samson Agonistes. Line 80.
summer long. 216
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line The sun to me is dark
244. And silent as the moon,
210 When she deserts the night
Thence to the famous orators repair, Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.
Those ancient, whose resistless Samson Agonistes. Line 86.
eloquence 217
Wielded at will that fierce democratie, Ran on embattled armies clad in iron,
Shook the arsenal, and fulmin’d over And, weaponless himself,
Greece, Made arms ridiculous.
To Macedon, and Artaxerxes’ throne. Samson Agonistes. Line 129.
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 218
267. Just are the ways of God,
211 And justifiable to men;
Socrates… Unless there be who think not God at all.
Whom well inspir’d the oracle Samson Agonistes. Line 293.
pronounc’d 219
Wisest of men. What boots it at one gate to make
Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line defence,
274. And at another to let in the foe?
212 Samson Agonistes. Line 560.
Deep vers’d in books, and shallow in 220
himself.
 But who is this, what thing of sea or 226
land,— Above the smoke and stir of this dim
Female of sex it seems,— spot
That so bedeck’d, ornate, and gay, Which men call earth.
Comes this way sailing Comus. Line 5.
Like a stately ship 227
Of Tarsus, bound for th’ isles That golden key
Of Javan or Gadire, That opes the palace of eternity.
With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Comus. Line 13.
Sails fill’d, and streamers waving, 228
Courted by all the winds that hold them The nodding horror of whose shady
play, brows
An amber scent of odorous perfume Threats the forlorn and wandering
Her harbinger? passenger.
Samson Agonistes. Line 710. Comus. Line 38.
221 229
Yet beauty, though injurious, hath I will tell you now
strange power, What never yet was heard in tale or
After offence returning, to regain song,
Love once possess’d. From old or modern bard, in hall or
Samson Agonistes. Line 1003. bower.
222 Comus. Line 43.
He ’s gone, and who knows how he 230
may report Bacchus, that first from out the purple
Thy words by adding fuel to the flame? grape
Samson Agonistes. Line 1350. Crush’d the sweet poison of misused
223 wine.
For evil news rides post, while good Comus. Line 46.
news baits. 231
Samson Agonistes. Line 1538. These my sky-robes spun out of Iris’
224 woof.
And as an ev’ning dragon came, Comus. Line 83.
Assailant on the perched roosts 232
And nests in order rang’d The star that bids the shepherd fold.
Of tame villatic fowl. Comus. Line 93.
Samson Agonistes. Line 1692. 233
225 Midnight shout and revelry,
Nothing is here for tears, nothing to Tipsy dance and jollity.
wail Comus. Line 103.
Or knock the breast, no weakness, no 234
contempt, Ere the blabbing eastern scout,
Dispraise, or blame,—nothing but well The nice morn, on th’ Indian steep
and fair, From her cabin’d loop-hole peep.
And what may quiet us in a death so Comus. Line 138.
noble. 235
Samson Agonistes. Line 1721. When the gray-hooded Even,
Like a sad votarist in palmer’s weed, 243
Rose from the hindmost wheels of I took it for a faery vision
Phœbus’ wain. Of some gay creatures of the element,
Comus. Line 188. That in the colours of the rainbow live,
236 And play i’ th’ plighted clouds.
A thousand fantasies Comus. Line 298.
Begin to throng into my memory, 244
Of calling shapes, and beck’ning It were a journey like the path to
shadows dire, heaven,
And airy tongues that syllable men’s To help you find them.
names Comus. Line 303.
On sands and shores and desert 245
wildernesses. With thy long levell’d rule of
Comus. Line 205. streaming light.
237 Comus. Line 340.
O welcome, pure-ey’d Faith, white- 246
handed Hope, Virtue could see to do what virtue
Thou hovering angel, girt with golden would
wings! By her own radiant light, though sun and
Comus. Line 213. moon
238 Were in the flat sea sunk. And Wisdom’s
Was I deceiv’d, or did a sable cloud self
Turn forth her silver lining on the night? Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,
Comus. Line 221. Where with her best nurse
239 Contemplation
Can any mortal mixture of earth’s She plumes her feathers and lets grow
mould her wings,
Breathe such divine enchanting That in the various bustle of resort
ravishment? Were all-to ruffled, and sometimes
Comus. Line 244. impair’d.
240 He that has light within his own clear
How sweetly did they float upon the breast
wings May sit i’ th’ centre and enjoy bright
Of silence through the empty-vaulted day;
night, But he that hides a dark soul and foul
At every fall smoothing the raven down thoughts
Of darkness till it smil’d! Benighted walks under the midday sun.
Comus. Line 249. Comus. Line 373.
241 247
Who, as they sung, would take the The unsunn’d heaps
prison’d soul Of miser’s treasure.
And lap it in Elysium. Comus. Line 398.
Comus. Line 256. 248
242 ’T is chastity, my brother, chastity:
Such sober certainty of waking bliss. She that has that is clad in complete
Comus. Line 263. steel.
 Comus. Line 420. Comus. Line 560.
249 255
Some say no evil thing that walks by That power
night, Which erring men call Chance.
In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, Comus. Line 587.
Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid 256
ghost If this fail,
That breaks his magic chains at curfew The pillar’d firmament is rottenness,
time, And earth’s base built on stubble.
No goblin, or swart fairy of the mine, Comus. Line 597.
Hath hurtful power o’er true virginity. 257
Comus. Line 432. The leaf was darkish, and had prickles
250 on it,
So dear to heav’n is saintly chastity, But in another country, as he said,
That when a soul is found sincerely so, Bore a bright golden flow’r, but not in
A thousand liveried angels lackey her, this soil;
Driving far off each thing of sin and Unknown, and like esteem’d, and the
guilt, dull swain
And in clear dream and solemn vision Treads on it daily with his clouted
Tell her of things that no gross ear can shoon.
hear, Comus. Line 631.
Till oft converse with heav’nly habitants 258
Begin to cast a beam on th’ outward Enter’d the very lime-twigs of his
shape. spells,
Comus. Line 453. And yet came off.
251 Comus. Line 646.
How charming is divine philosophy! 259
Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools This cordial julep here,
suppose, That flames and dances in his crystal
But musical as is Apollo’s lute, 16 bounds.
And a perpetual feast of nectar’d sweets Comus. Line 672.
Where no crude surfeit reigns. 260
Comus. Line 476. Budge doctors of the Stoic fur.
252 Comus. Line 707.
And sweeten’d every musk-rose of the 261
dale. And live like Nature’s bastards, not
Comus. Line 496. her sons.
253 Comus. Line 727.
Fill’d the air with barbarous 262
dissonance. It is for homely features to keep home,
Comus. Line 550. —
254 They had their name thence; coarse
I was all ear, complexions
And took in strains that might create a And cheeks of sorry grain will serve to
soul ply
Under the ribs of death.
The sampler and to tease the huswife’s Lycidas. Line 3.
wool. 270
What need a vermeil-tinctur’d lip for He knew
that, Himself to sing, and build the lofty
Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the rhyme.
morn? Lycidas. Line 10.
Comus. Line 748. 271
263 Without the meed of some melodious
Swinish gluttony tear.
Ne’er looks to heav’n amidst his Lycidas. Line 14.
gorgeous feast, 272
But with besotted base ingratitude Under the opening eyelids of the
Crams, and blasphemes his feeder. morn.
Comus. Line 776. Lycidas. Line 26.
264 273
Enjoy your dear wit and gay rhetoric, But oh the heavy change, now thou art
That hath so well been taught her gone,
dazzling fence. Now thou art gone and never must
Comus. Line 790. return!
265 Lycidas. Line 37.
His rod revers’d, 274
And backward mutters of dissevering The gadding vine.
power. Lycidas. Line 40.
Comus. Line 816. 275
266 And strictly meditate the thankless
Sabrina fair, Muse.
Listen where thou art sitting Lycidas. Line 66.
Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, 276
In twisted braids of lilies knitting To sport with Amaryllis in the shade,
The loose train of thy amber-dropping Or with the tangles of Neæra’s hair.
hair. Lycidas. Line 68.
Comus. Line 859. 277
267 Fame is the spur that the clear spirit
But now my task is smoothly done, doth raise 17
I can fly, or I can run. (That last infirmity of noble mind)
Comus. Line 1012. To scorn delights, and live laborious
268 days;
Or if Virtue feeble were, But the fair guerdon when we hope to
Heav’n itself would stoop to her. find,
Comus. Line 1022. And think to burst out into sudden blaze,
269 Comes the blind Fury with th’ abhorred
I come to pluck your berries harsh and shears
crude, And slits the thin-spun life.
And with forc’d fingers rude Lycidas. Line 70.
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing 278
year.
 Fame is no plant that grows on mortal Flames in the forehead of the morning
soil. sky.
Lycidas. Line 78. Lycidas. Line 168.
279 284
It was that fatal and perfidious bark, He touch’d the tender stops of various
Built in th’ eclipse, and rigg’d with quills,
curses dark. With eager thought warbling his Doric
Lycidas. Line 100. lay.
280 Lycidas. Line 188.
The pilot of the Galilean lake; 285
Two massy keys he bore, of metals To-morrow to fresh woods and
twain pastures new.
(The golden opes, the iron shuts amain). Lycidas. Line 193.
Lycidas. Line 109. 286
281 Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with
But that two-handed engine at the thee
door Jest and youthful Jollity,
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no Quips and Cranks and wanton Wiles,
more. Nods and Becks and wreathed Smiles.
Lycidas. Line 130. L’Allegro. Line 25.
282 287
Throw hither all your quaint Sport, that wrinkled Care derides,
enamell’d eyes And Laughter holding both his sides.
That on the green turf suck the honied Come and trip it as ye go,
showers, On the light fantastic toe.
And purple all the ground with vernal L’Allegro. Line 31.
flowers. 288
Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.
dies, L’Allegro. Line 36.
The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine, 289
The white pink, and the pansy freakt And every shepherd tells his tale
with jet, Under the hawthorn in the dale.
The glowing violet, L’Allegro. Line 67.
The musk-rose, and the well-attir’d 290
woodbine, Meadows trim with daisies pied,
With cowslips wan that hang the pensive Shallow brooks and rivers wide;
head, Towers and battlements it sees
And every flower that sad embroidery Bosom’d high in tufted trees,
wears. Where perhaps some beauty lies,
Lycidas. Line 139. The cynosure of neighboring eyes.
283 L’Allegro. Line 75.
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, 291
And yet anon repairs his drooping head, Herbs, and other country messes,
And tricks his beams, and with new- Which the neat-handed Phillis dresses.
spangled ore L’Allegro. Line 85.
292
 To many a youth and many a maid
Dancing in the chequer’d shade.
L’Allegro. Line 95.
293
Then to the spicy nut-brown ale.
L’Allegro. Line 100.
294
Tower’d cities please us then,
And the busy hum of men.
L’Allegro. Line 117.
295
Ladies, whose bright eyes
Rain influence, and judge the prize.
L’Allegro. Line 121.
296
Such sights as youthful poets dream
On summer eves by haunted stream.
Then to the well-trod stage anon,
If Jonson’s learned sock be on,
Or sweetest Shakespeare, Fancy’s child,
Warble his native wood-notes wild.
L’Allegro. Line 129.
297
And ever against eating cares
Lap me in soft Lydian airs,
Married to immortal verse, 18
Such as the meeting soul may pierce,
In notes with many a winding bout
Of linked sweetness long drawn out.
L’Allegro. Line 135.
298
Untwisting all the chains that tie
The hidden soul of harmony.
L’Allegro. Line 143.
299
The gay motes that people the
sunbeams.
Il Penseroso. Line 8.
300
And looks commercing with the skies,
Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes.
Il Penseroso. Line 39.
301
Forget thyself to marble.
Il Penseroso. Line 42.
302
And join with thee calm Peace and
Quiet,
Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet.
Il Penseroso. Line 45.
303
And add to these retired Leisure,
That in trim gardens takes his pleasure.
Il Penseroso. Line 49.
304
Sweet bird, that shun’st the noise of
folly,
Most musical, most melancholy!
Il Penseroso. Line 61.
305
I walk unseen
On the dry smooth-shaven green,
To behold the wandering moon
Riding near her highest noon,
Like one that had been led astray
Through the heav’n’s wide pathless way;
And oft, as if her head she bow’d,
Stooping through a fleecy cloud.
Il Penseroso. Line 65.
306
Where glowing embers through the
room
Teach light to counterfeit a gloom.
Il Penseroso. Line 79.
307
Far from all resort of mirth
Save the cricket on the hearth.
Il Penseroso. Line 81.
308
Sometime let gorgeous Tragedy
In sceptred pall come sweeping by,
Presenting Thebes, or Pelops’ line,
Or the tale of Troy divine.
Il Penseroso. Line 97.
309
Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing
Such notes as, warbled to the string,
Drew iron tears down Pluto’s cheek.
Il Penseroso. Line 105.
310
Or call up him that left half told
The story of Cambuscan bold.
 Il Penseroso. Line 109.
311
Where more is meant than meets the
ear.
Il Penseroso. Line 120.
312
When the gust hath blown his fill,
Ending on the rustling leaves
With minute drops from off the eaves.
Il Penseroso. Line 128.
313
Hide me from day’s garish eye.
Il Penseroso. Line 141.
314
And storied windows richly dight,
Casting a dim religious light.
Il Penseroso. Line 159.
315
Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.
Il Penseroso. Line
316
Such sweet compulsion doth in music
lie.
Arcades. Line 68.
317
Under the shady roof
Of branching elm star-proof.
Arcades. Line 88.
318
O fairest flower! no sooner blown but
blasted,
Soft silken primrose fading timelessly.
Ode on the Death of a fair Infant,
dying of a Cough.
319
Such as may make thee search the
coffers round.
At a Vacation Exercise. Line 31.
320
No war or battle’s sound
Was heard the world around.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
53.
321
Time will run back and fetch the age
of gold.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
135.
322
Swinges the scaly horror of his folded
tail.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
172.
323
The oracles are dumb,
No voice or hideous hum
Runs through the arched roof in words
deceiving.
Apollo from his shrine
Can no more divine,
With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos
leaving.
No nightly trance or breathed spell
Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the
prophetic cell.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
324
From haunted spring and dale
Edg’d with poplar pale
The parting genius is with sighing sent.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
184.
325
Peor and Baälim
Forsake their temples dim.
Hymn on Christ’s Nativity. Line
197.
326
What needs my Shakespeare for his
honour’d bones,—
The labour of an age in piled stones?
Or that his hallow’d relics should be hid
Under a star-y-pointing pyramid?
Dear son of memory, great heir of fame,
What need’st thou such weak witness of
thy name?
Epitaph on Shakespeare.
327
And so sepúlchred in such pomp dost
lie,
That kings for such a tomb would wish And post o’er land and ocean without
to die. rest;
Epitaph on Shakespeare. They also serve who only stand and
328 wait.
Thy liquid notes that close the eye of On his Blindness.
day. 19 337
Sonnet to the Nightingale. What neat repast shall feast us, light
329 and choice,
As ever in my great Taskmaster’s eye. Of Attic taste?
On his being arrived to the Age of To Mr. Lawrence.
Twenty-three. 338
330 In mirth that after no repenting draws.
The great Emathian conqueror bid Sonnet xxi. To Cyriac Skinner.
spare 339
The house of Pindarus, when temple and For other things mild Heav’n a time
tower ordains,
Went to the ground. And disapproves that care, though wise
When the Assault was intended to in show,
the City. That with superfluous burden loads the
331 day,
That old man eloquent. And when God sends a cheerful hour,
To the Lady Margaret Ley. refrains.
332 Sonnet xxi. To Cyriac Skinner.
That would have made Quintilian 340
stare and gasp. Yet I argue not
On the Detraction which followed Against Heav’n’s hand or will, nor bate
upon my writing certain Treatises. a jot
333 Of heart or hope; but still bear up and
License they mean when they cry, steer
Liberty! Right onward.
For who loves that must first be wise and Sonnet xxii. To Cyriac Skinner.
good. 341
On the Detraction which followed Of which all Europe rings from side to
upon my writing certain Treatises. side.
334 Sonnet xxii. To Cyriac Skinner.
Peace hath her victories 342
No less renown’d than war. But oh! as to embrace me she inclin’d,
To the Lord General Cromwell. I wak’d, she fled, and day brought back
335 my night.
Ev’n them who kept thy truth so pure On his Deceased Wife.
of old, 343
When all our fathers worshipp’d stocks Have hung
and stones. My dank and dropping weeds
On the late Massacre in Piedmont. To the stern god of sea.
336 Translation of Horace. Book i.
Thousands at his bidding speed, Ode 5.
344
For such kind of borrowing as this, if
it be not bettered by the borrowers,
among good authors is accounted
Plagiarè.
Iconoclastes, xxiii.
345
Truth is as impossible to be soiled by
any outward touch as the sunbeam. 20
Doctrine and Discipline of
Divorce.
346
A poet soaring in the high reason of
his fancies, with his garland and singing
robes about him.
The Reason of Church
Government. Introduction, Book ii.
347
By labour and intent study (which I
take to be my portion in this life), joined
with the strong propensity of nature, I
might perhaps leave something so
written to after times as they should not
willingly let it die.
The Reason of Church
Government. Introduction, Book ii.
348
Beholding the bright countenance of
truth in the quiet and still air of
delightful studies.
The Reason of Church
Government. Introduction, Book ii.
349
He who would not be frustrate of his
hope to write well hereafter in laudable
things ought himself to be a true poem.
Apology for Smectymnuus.
350
His words, like so many nimble and
airy servitors, trip about him at
command.
Apology for Smectymnuus.
351
Litigious terms, fat contentions, and
flowing fees.
Tractate of Education.
352
I shall detain you no longer in the
demonstration of what we should not do,
but straight conduct ye to a hillside,
where I will point ye out the right path
of a virtuous and noble education;
laborious indeed at the first ascent, but
else so smooth, so green, so full of
goodly prospect and melodious sounds
on every side that the harp of Orpheus
was not more charming.
Tractate of Education.
353
Enflamed with the study of learning
and the admiration of virtue; stirred up
with high hopes of living to be brave
men and worthy patriots, dear to God,
and famous to all ages.
Tractate of Education.
354
Ornate rhetorick taught out of the rule
of Plato…. To which poetry would be
made subsequent, or indeed rather
precedent, as being less suttle and fine,
but more simple, sensuous, and
passionate.
Tractate of Education.
355
In those vernal seasons of the year,
when the air is calm and pleasant, it
were an injury and sullenness against
Nature not to go out and see her riches,
and partake in her rejoicing with heaven
and earth.
Tractate of Education.
356
Attic tragedies of stateliest and most
regal argument.
Tractate of Education.
357
As good almost kill a man as kill a
good book: who kills a man kills a
reasonable creature, God’s image; but he
who destroys a good book kills reason
itself.
Areopagitica.
358 365
A good book is the precious life-blood By this time, like one who had set out
of a master-spirit, embalmed and on his way by night, and travelled
treasured up on purpose to a life beyond through a region of smooth or idle
life. dreams, our history now arrives on the
Areopagitica. confines, where daylight and truth meet
359 us with a clear dawn, representing to our
Seasoned life of man preserved and view, though at a far distance, true
stored up in books. colours and shapes.
Areopagitica. The History of England. Book i.
360 366
I cannot praise a fugitive and Such bickerings to recount, met often
cloistered virtue, unexercised and in these our writers, what more worth is
unbreathed, that never sallies out and it than to chronicle the wars of kites or
sees her adversary, but slinks out of the crows flocking and fighting in the air?
race where that immortal garland is to be The History of England. Book iv.
run for, not without dust and heat.
Areopagitica.
361
Who shall silence all the airs and
madrigals that whisper softness in
chambers?
Areopagitica.
362
Methinks I see in my mind a noble
and puissant nation rousing herself like a
strong man after sleep, and shaking her
invincible locks; methinks I see her as an
eagle mewing her mighty youth, and
kindling her undazzled eyes at the full
midday beam.
Areopagitica.
363
Though all the winds of doctrine were
let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth
be in the field, we do ingloriously, by
licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt
her strength. Let her and Falsehood
grapple: who ever knew Truth put to the
worse in a free and open encounter? 21
Areopagitica.
364
Men of most renowned virtue have
sometimes by transgressing most truly
kept the law.
Tetrachordon.