2. “ON HIS BLINDNESS”
(1655) ?
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere(1) half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith(2) my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide(3);
“Doth(4) God exact day-labor, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Either man’s work or His own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o’er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.”1. Before
2. With that
3. Reprimand
4. Does
3. THREE PERIODS
1. The years before the Great
Rebellion
11. The years from the beginning of
the Rebellion to the Restoration
111. The years after the restoration
love
4. 1. The years before the Great
Rebellion
December 9, 1608 (London)
Educational influence of his father
St. Paul’s School, private tutors. Christ’s College,
Cambridge, 1625 (Charles I) «Lady of Christ’s»
1632, M.A degree Cum Laude
Anglican orders vs. Rebellion against corruption
Cambridge abandoned for joining his father in Horton
5. Horton solitude
Comus (1634)
Lycidas (1637)
L’allegro and II penseroso (1645)
1635, M.A by Oxford
April, 1637 his mother died.
1638, journey Florence, Galileo
War rumors from home, 1639
10. 11. The years from the beginning
of the Rebellion to the Restoration
11. 1641 Of the Reformation Touching
Church Discipline in England
1643 He married Marry Powell
1649 He became foreign tongues mister
1652 Marry Powell died
1653 He became totally blind
1656 He married Catherine Woodcock
1658 Oliver Cromwell died
16. A treatise of Civil Power
1663 He married Elizabeth Minnshell
1667 He wrote Paradise Lost
Paradise Regained (1671)
Samson Agonistes (1671).
19. Book I
A brief introduction mentions the fall of
Adam
and Eve caused by the serpent.
20. Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,
Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire
That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed
In the beginning how the heavens and earth
Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God, I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song,
That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.
Book I
21. Book II
A debate is held whether or not to
attempt
recovery of heaven.
22. Book III
God sees Satan flying towards this
world and foretells the success of his
evil mission to tempt man.
24. Book V
Eve relates to Adam a troublesome
dream, and is comforted by him.
25. Book VI
Raphael continues to relate how
Michael was sent to lead the faithful
angels into battle against Satan (then
called Lucifer) and his army.
26. Book VII
Raphael then relates to Adam how God
sent his son to create a new world and
new creatures to fill the place left by
the fallen angels.
27. Book VIII
Adam, desiring to extend the
pleasurable visit with the angel,
relates to Raphael what he
remembers of his own creation, his
first impressions of the world and its
creatures, the Garden of Eden, and
his first meeting and marriage to Eve.
29. Book X
The guardian angels return to heaven,
sad for man's failure, and the Son of
God descends to earth to judge the
sinners.
30. Book XI
God sends Michael and his band to
expel the sinning pair from Paradise,
but first to reveal to Adam future
events, resulting from his sin.
31. Book XII
Michael continues in prophecy from the
flood by degrees to explain who the
Seed of woman shall be, the Savior
which was promised, who shall
redeem mankind.