Sabrina fair, Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, In twisted braids of lilies knitting The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair.
John MiltonNone But such as are good men can give good things, And that which is not good, is not delicious To a well-govern'd and wise appetite.
John MiltonNo worthy enterprise can be done by us without continual plodding and wearisomeness to our faint and sensitive abilities.
John MiltonSuch as the meeting soul may pierce, In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness long drawn out.
John MiltonInnumerable as the stars of night, Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
John MiltonThere swift return Diurnal, merely to officiate light Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot.
John MiltonIn those vernal seasons of the year when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.
John MiltonLeaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north - wind's breath, And stars to set; but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!
John MiltonSon of Heav'n and Earth, Attend: that thou art happy, owe to God; That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
John MiltonIs it just or reasonable, that most voices against the main end of government should enslave the less number that would be free? more just it is, doubtless, if it come to force, that a less number compel a greater to retain, which can be no wrong to them, their liberty, than that a greater number, for the pleasure of their baseness, compel a less most injuriously to be their fellow-slaves. They who seek nothing but their own just liberty, have always right to win it and to keep it, whenever they have power, be the voices never so numerous that oppose it.
John MiltonThat space the Evil One abstracted stood From his own evil, and for the time remained Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed, Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge .
John MiltonThese two imparadised in one another's arms, the happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill of bliss on bliss.
John MiltonSport, that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides. Come and trip it as ye go, On the light fantastic toe.
John MiltonWith eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd. Imparadised in one another's arms. With thee conversing I forget all time. And feel that I am happier than I know.
John MiltonHe that can apprehend and consider vice with all her baits and seeming pleasures, and yet abstain, and yet distinguish, and yet prefer that which is truly better, he is the true wayfaring Christian. I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race, where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat. Assuredly we bring not innocence into the world, we bring impurity much rather: that which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary.
John MiltonFor other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.
John MiltonWhat wisdom can there be to choose, what continence to forbear without the knowledge of evil? He that can apprehend and consider vice with all her baits and seeming pleasures, and yet abstain, and yet distinguish, and yet prefer that which is truly better, he is the true wayfaring Christian.
John MiltonWe read not that Christ ever exercised force but once; and that was to drive profane ones out of his Temple, not to force them in.
John Milton