What in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support, That to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. 1 Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 22.

Pleas'd me, long choosing and beginning late.

Smiles from reason flow, To brute deny'd, and are of love the food.

For books are as meats and viands are; some of good, some of evil sub-stance.

Nor turned I ween Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Of purity and place and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded.

Methought I saw my late espoused saint.