Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were, in the eye.

The strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair.

Reason also is choice.

Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost.

Suffering for truth's sake Is fortitude to highest victory, And to the faithful death the gate of life.

I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend.

Evil on itself shall back recoil.