John Milton

Paradise Lost

What in me is dark

Illumine, what is low raise and support,

That to the heighth of this great Argument

I may assert Eternal Providence,

and justify the ways of God to men.

Fall'n Cherub, to be weak is miserable

Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure,

To do aught good never will be our task,

But ever to do ill our sole delight,

As being contrary to his high will

Whom we resist. If then his Providence

Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,

Our labour must be to pervert that end,

And out of good still to find means of evil.

Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heav'n.

_______Farewell happy fields Where joy forever dwells: Hail horrors, Hail Infernal world., and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new possessor: one who brings A mind not to be changed by place or time. The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. bk 1 paradise lost lns 250-255

But from the Author of all ill could spring

So deep a malice, to confound the race

Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell

to mingle and involve, done all to

spite the great Creator? But their spite still serves

His glory to augment.

A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured upon purpose to a life beyond life.