UDGE not what is best

By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end,

Holy and pure, conformity divine.

Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant were the tents
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race
Who slew his brother: studious they appear
Of arts that polish life, inventors rare ;
Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit
Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none.
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;
For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seem'd
Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,
Yet empty of all good wherein consists
Woman's domestic honour and chief praise;
Bred only and completed to the taste
Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye;
To these that sober race of men, whose lives
Religious titled them the Sons of God,
Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame,
Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles
Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy
(Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which
The world erelong a world of tears must weep.

Michael to Adam, PARADISE Lost, Book XI.

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, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
By simply meek; that suffering for truth's sake
Is fortitude to highest victory,

And, to the faithful, death the gate of life.

HO best

Adam, PARADISE LOST, Book XII.

WHO Can suffer best can do, best reign who first

Well hath obey'd.

PARADISE REGAINED, BOOK III.

THIS

'HIS having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars Thou knew'st by name, and all the ethereal powers, All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Or works of God in heaven, air, earth, or sea, And all the riches of this world enjoy'dst, And all the rule, one empire. Only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, By name to come called charity, the soul Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier far.

Michael, PARAdise Lost, Book XII.

EPENT the sin; but if the punishment Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids; Or the execution leave to high disposal, And let another hand, not thine, exact Thy penal forfeit from thyself. Perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt; Who ever more approves and more accepts (Best pleased with humble and filial submission) Him who imploring mercy sues for life Than who self-rigorous chooses death as due; Which argues over-just, and self-displeased For self-offence, more than for God offended. Reject not then what offer'd means who knows But God hath set before us to return thee Home to thy country and his sacred house, Where thou may'st bring thy offerings, to avert His further ire, with prayers and vows renew'd.

SAMSON AGONISTES

Go, and the Holy One

Of Israel be thy guide

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his

name

Great among the heathen round;

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand
Fast by thy side, who from thy father's field
Rode up
in flames after his message told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield
Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee
In the camp of Dan,

Be efficacious in thee now at need!

SAMSON AGONISTES