Extemporaneous musings, occasionally poetic, about life in its richly varied dimensions, especially as relates to history, theology, law, literature, science, by one who is an attorney, ordained minister, historian, writer, and African American.
Friday, October 12, 2018
JOHN MILTON
"But say I could repent, and could obtain, by act of grace , my former state; how soon could highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay what feigned submission swore ? Ease would recant vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow, where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep : which would but lead me to a worse relapse and heavier fall: so should I purchase dear short intermission bought with double smart. This knows my Punisher; therefore as far from granting he, as I from begging , peace; all hope excluded thus, behold, instead of us outcast, his new delight, mankind created , and for him, the world. So farewell , hope; and with hope , farewell, fear; Farewell remorse! All good to me is lost; evil, be thou my good; by thee at least divided kingdom by Heaven 's King, I hold by thee , and more perhaps than half will reign ; as man ere long and this new world shall know."
P. 36, PARADISE LOST by John Milton (1667, 2015)