John Milton

Far off his coming shone.

Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve.

Abashed the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined

His loss.

They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet

Quaff immortality and joy.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good.

Freely we serve,

Because we freely love, as in our will

To love or not; in this we stand or fall.

Back to thy punishment,

False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings.

For contemplation he and valor formed,

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.

Their fatal hands

No second stroke intend.

So spake the grisly Terror.

And on the Tree of Life,

The middle tree and highest there that grew,

Sat like a cormorant.

Thoughts that voluntary move

Harmonious numbers.