John Milton
John Milton
John Miltonwas an English poet, polemicist, and man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost, written in blank verse...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth9 December 1608
surprised unjust virtue
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, / Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled.
dancing youth
To many a youth and many a maid, / Dancing in the chequered shade.
land ocean post serve stand thousands wait
Thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait
came fair forth morning pilgrim steps till
Till morning fair / Came forth with pilgrim steps in amice grey.
daily lies life prime wisdom
To know that which before us lies in daily life is the prime wisdom.
daily fond lies prime
To know That which before us lies in daily life, Is the prime Wisdom; what is more, is fume, Or emptiness, or fond impertinence
busy cities hum please
Towered cities please us then / And the busy hum of men.
astray behold head highest led near riding wandering wide
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 bowed, / Stooping through a fleecy cloud.
ambition reign serve though worth
To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'n
hath love offense regain strange though
Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, After offense returning, to regain Love once possess'd
darkness discover flames hope peace rather regions rest served shades sights visible
Yet from those flames / No light, but rather darkness visible / Served only to discover sights of woe, / Regions of sorrow, doleful shades where peace / And rest can never dwell, hope never comes / That comes to all.
obscure palpable uncouth
Through the palpable obscure find out / His uncouth way.
dost heart prefer pure temples thou upright
Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure
might shape
The other shape, / If shape it might be called that shape had none.