John Milton on Night
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“Sable-vested Night, eldest of things.”
“Darkness now rose, As daylight sunk, and brought in low'ring Night Her shadowy offspring.”
“* * * And when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.”
“Where eldest Night And Chaos, ancestors of nature, hold Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise Of endless wars, and by confusion stand.”
“... For now began Night with her sullen wings to double-shade The desert; fowls in their clay nests were couch'd, And now wild beasts came forth, the woods to roam.”
“O thievish Night, Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end, In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars, That nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps With everlasting oil, to give due light To the misled and lonely traveller?”