John Milton

God so commanded, and left that command

Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live

Law to ourselves, our reason is our law.

Those graceful acts,

Those thousand decencies that daily flow

From all her words and actions.

With a smile that glow'd

Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue.

Henceforth I learn that to obey is best,

And love with fear the only God; to walk

As in his presence; ever to observe

His providence; and on him sole depend,

Merciful over all his works; with good

Still overcoming evil.

The evening star,

Love's harbinger.

Pandemonium, city and proud seat

Of Lucifer.

Moping melancholy

And moon-struck madness.

O fairest of creation! last and best

Of all God's works! creature in whom excelled

Whatever can to sight or thought be formed,

Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!

How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,

Defaced, deflowered, and now to Death devote?

The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.

She what was honour knew,

And with obsequious majesty approv'd

My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower

I led her blushing like the morn; all heaven

And happy constellations on that hour

Shed their selectest influence; the earth

Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;

Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs

Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings

Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub.

Her rash hand in evil hour

Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat:

Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat,

Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe

That all was lost.

A dismal universal hiss, the sound

Of public scorn.