John Milton on Light
← Back to John Milton Profile
“Dark with excessive bright.”
“With thy long levell'd rule of streaming light.”
“Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom.”
“There swift return Diurnal, merely to officiate light Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot.”
“And from her native east, To journey through the aery gloom began, Spher'd in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun Was not.”
“He that has light within his own clear breast May sit i' th' centre and enjoy bright day; But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts Benighted walks under the mid-day sun.”
“But let my due feet never fail To walk the studious cloisters pale, And love the high embowed roof, With antique pillars massy proof, And storied windows richly dight; Casting a dim religious light.”
“Hail, holy light! offspring of heaven firstborn! Or of th' eternal co-eternal beam, May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, Bright effluence of bright essence increate!”