John Milton

My latest found,

Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight!

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved.

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.

Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.

The bright consummate flower.

What if earth

Be but the shadow of heaven, and things therein

Each to other like, more than on earth is thought?

Good, the more

Communicated, more abundant grows.

Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow,

Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.

The wakeful nightingale,

She all night long her amorous descant sung;

Silence was pleased: now glowed the firmament

With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led

The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,

Rising in clouded majesty, at length

Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light,

And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

Arms on armour clashing bray'd

Horrible discord, and the madding wheels

Of brazen chariots rag'd: dire was the noise

Of conflict.

Another morn

Ris'n on mid-noon.

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,

The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.