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Paradise Lost

@paradise-lost.bsky.social
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Random lines from Paradise Lost

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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 1h
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Desirous; all in circles as they stood, Tables are set, and on a sudden piled With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. V, 630-635
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 3h
Or is it envy? and can envy dwell In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more Causes import your need of this fair fruit. Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! He ended; and his words, replete with guile, IX, 729-733
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 5h
With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse VI, 859-863
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 7h
And to realities yield all her shows: Made so adorn for thy delight the more, So awful, that with honour thou mayest love Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind Is propagated, seem such dear delight VIII, 575-580
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 9h
Who meet with various objects, from the sense Variously representing; yet, still free, Approve the best, and follow what I approve. To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest, Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; VIII, 609-613
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11h
Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son, I, 576-580
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13h
And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come On their impenitence; and shall return Of them derided, but of God observed The one just man alive; by his command Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, To save himself, and houshold, from amidst XI, 815-820
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 15h
The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, Here in the dark so many precious things Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? Here matter new to gaze the Devil met Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; III, 610-615
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 17h
Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter to descry the distant foe, Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in halt: Him soon they met Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow VI, 529-533
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 19h
Or sympathy, or some connatural force, Powerful at greatest distance to unite, With secret amity, things of like kind, By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade Inseparable, must with me along; For Death from Sin no power can separate. X, 246-251
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 21h
His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, Upborne with indefatigable wings Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, Through the strict senteries and stations thick II, 407-412
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 23h
Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, That with extended wings a bannered host, Under spread ensigns marching, might pass through With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth II, 884-888
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, And opportune excursion, we may chance Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, Secure, and at the brightening orient beam II, 395-399
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Strength added from above; new hope to spring Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. Eve, easily my faith admit, that all The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; XI, 138-142
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, XI, 646-650
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Light issues forth, and at the other door Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold VI, 9-13
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
To me shall be the glory sole among The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days Continued making; and who knows how long Before had been contriving? though perhaps IX, 135-139
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Who out of smallest things could, without end, Have raised incessant armies to defeat Thy folly; or with solitary hand Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest VI, 137-142
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Upon the wing or in swift race contend, As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields; Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: As when, to warn proud cities, war appears II, 529-533
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, I, 280-284
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, Disporting, till the amorous bird of night Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought VIII, 517-521
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
On this side nothing; and by proof we feel Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, And with perpetual inroads to alarm, Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." He ended frowning, and his look denounced II, 101-106
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree Impart against his will, if all be his? Or is it envy? and can envy dwell In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more IX, 726-730
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
All his deliverance, and to none but me. Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, Elect above the rest; so is my will: The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd Their sinful state, and to appease betimes The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace III, 183-188
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, At sight of all this world beheld so fair. Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood So high above the circling canopy III, 553-557
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered To fortify thus far, and overlay, With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained X, 369-373
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon Who after came from earth, failing arrived Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake III, 518-522
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed The breath of life; in his own image he Created thee, in the image of God Express; and thou becamest a living soul. Male he created thee; but thy consort Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said, VII, 525-530
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, And like a devilish engine back recoils Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract IV, 14-18
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Unalterably firm his love entire, Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy Your fill what happiness this happy state Can comprehend, incapable of more. To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, V, 502-507
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired Impress the air, and shows the mariner From what point of his compass to beware IV, 555-559
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar VI, 582-586
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew Transformed: but he my inbred enemy Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! II, 783-787
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Under this ignorance of good and evil, Of God or death, of law or penalty? Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? IX, 774-779
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; And none but such from mercy I exclude. But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, III, 200-204
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Abominations; and with cursed things His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, And with their darkness durst affront his light. First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; I, 389-393
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Keep residence; if all I can will serve That little which is left so to defend, Encroached on still through our intestine broils Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; II, 999-1003
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love Express they? by looks only? or do they mix Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, VIII, 615-619
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; That all may see who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, and with open breast Stand ready to receive them, if they like VI, 557-561
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
With God, who called him, in a land unknown. Canaan he now attains; I see his tents Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain Of Moreh; there by promise he receives Gift to his progeny of all that land, From Hameth northward to the Desart south; XII, 134-139
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; Atonement for himself, or offering meet, Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; Behold me then: me for him, life for life I offer: on me let thine anger fall; Account me Man; I for his sake will leave III, 234-239
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Against the day of battle, to a field, Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured With scent of living carcasses designed For death, the following day, in bloody fight: So scented the grim Feature, and upturned His nostril wide into the murky air; X, 275-280
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Fit entertainment to receive our King, The great Messiah, and his new commands, Who speedily through all the hierarchies Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused Bad influence into the unwary breast V, 690-695
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, Whom else no creature can behold; on thee Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein III, 387-391
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, Fled ignominious, to such evil brought By sin of disobedience; till that hour Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, VI, 394-399
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
I in thy persevering shall rejoice, And all the Blest: Stand fast; to stand or fall Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. Perfect within, no outward aid require; And all temptation to transgress repel. So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus VIII, 639-644
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: I, 256-260
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
I named them, as they passed, and understood Their nature, with such knowledge God endued My sudden apprehension: But in these I found not what methought I wanted still; And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. VIII, 352-356
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Of him so lately promised to thy aid, The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed In glory of the Father, to dissolve Satan with his perverted world; then raise XII, 542-547
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Paradise Lost @paradise-lost.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: Under his great vice-gerent reign abide United, as one individual soul, For ever happy: Him who disobeys, Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls V, 608-613
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