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
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
art heavy thou
But O the heavy change, now thou art gone, / Now thou art gone, and never must return!
dangers days evil mortal mute safe sing though unchanged
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged / To hoarse or mute though fall'n on evil days, / On evil days though fall'n, and evil tongues; / In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, / And solitude.
angel golden hovering thou welcome
O welcome pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope, / Thou hovering angel girt with golden wings.
ambition choice heaven hell reign serve though worth
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven
god happiest thou thy
God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more / Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise.
dost heart prefer pure temples thou upright
Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure
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
flat moon radiant sea sun though virtue
Virtue could see to do what Virtue would / By her own radiant light, though sun and moon / Were in the flat sea sunk.
dear fame great heir son thou thy weak witness
Dear son of memory, great heir of fame, / What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name?
against borne cause far fought god mightier multitudes servant single testimony thou truth universal word worse
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the Cause Of Truth, in word mightier than they in Arms; And for the testimony of Truth hast borne Universal reproach, far worse
fight fought servant thou
Servant of God, well done; well hast thou fought The better fight
evil farewell good hope thou
So farewell Hope, and with Hope farewell Fear, Farewell Remorse: all Good to me is lost; Evil be thou my Good