Luís’s Reviews > The Complete Poetry > Status Update

(...)
The base degree to which I know am fall'n,
These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base
As was my former servitude, ignoble,
Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,
True slavery, and that blindness worse then this,
That saw not how degenerately I serv'd.

Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek
Sung Victor, and from Heav'nly Feast refresh
Brought on his way with joy; hee unobserv'd
Home to his Mothers house private return'd.

(...)
Many a fair Edifice besides, more like
Houses of Gods (so well I have dispos'd
My Aerie Microscope) thou may'st behold
Outside and Inside both, pillars and roofs
Curv'd work, the hand of fam'd Artificers
In Cedar, Marble, Ivory or Gold.
(...)

(...)
Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature,
Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment.
Great Julius, whom now all the world admires
The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd
With glory, wept that he had liv'd so long
Inglorious: but thou yet art not too late.

So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh
Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill
To thir fixt station, all in bright array
The Cherubim descended; (...)

Here Adam interpos'd. O sent from Heav'n,
Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things
Thou hast revealed, those chiefly which concern
Just Abraham and his Seed: now first I find
Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd,
Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would become
Of mee and all Mankind; (...)

Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold
Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In some to spring from thee, who never touch'd
Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspir'd,
Nor sinn'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive
Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.

She ended heer, or vehement despair
Broke off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts
Had entertaind, as di'd her Cheeks with pale.
But Adam with such counsel nothing sway'd,
To better hopes his more attentive mind
Labouring had rais'd, and thus to Eve repli'd.

(...) down thir arms,
Down fell both Spear and Shield, down they as fast,
And the dire hiss renew'd, and the dire form
Catcht by Contagion, like in punishment,
As in their crime. Thus was th' applause they meant,
Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame
Cast on themselves from thir own mouths. (...)