John Milton (1608-1674)

2. John Milton (1608-1674) • Illustration to Paradise Lost by William Blake, (1757–1827): 'Satan Watching the Caresses of Adam and Eve'

3. 1642, the Long Parliament put an end to theatrical performances • Civil war, rise of Oliver Cromwell • 1649-1660 Commonwealth • After, power held by parliament, Whigs and Tories • 1660-1713 Restoration period • John Milton, 1608-1674

4. Milton, from The Reason of Church Government Urged Against Prelaty (1642) I must say therefore, that after I had from my first years, by the ceaseless diligence and care of my Father, whom God recompence, been exercised to the Tongues, and some Sciences, as my age would suffer, by sundry Masters and Teachers both at home and at the schools, it was found, that whether aught was imposed me by them that had the overlooking, or betaken to of mine own choice in English, or other tongue, prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter, the style, by certain vital signs it had, was likely to live. But much latelier in the private Academies of Italy, whither I was favoured to resort, perceiving that some trifles which I had in memory, composed at under twenty or thereabout (for the manner is, that every one must give some proof of his Wit and and Reading there) met with acceptance above what was looked for, and other things which I had shifted in scarcity of Books and conveniences to patch up among them, were received with written encomiums, which the Italian is not forward to bestow on Men of this side the Alps, I began thus far to assent both to them and divers of my friends here at home and not less to an inward prompting which now grew daily upon me, that by labour and intent Study, (which I take to be my portion in this Life) joined with the strong propensity of Nature, I might perhaps leave something so written to aftertimes, as they should not willingly let it die.

5. Paradise Lost published in 12 books in 1667 Story of the Fall Then wrote Paradise Regained Jesus as Hero

6. Genisis Book 2 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. ... 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

7. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

8. William Blake’s illustration: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Blake,_William_(English,_1757%E2%80%931827),_%27Satan_Watching_the_Caresses_of_Adam_and_Eve%27_(Illustration_to_%27Paradise_Lost%27),_1808,_pen%3B_watercolor_on_paper,_50.5_x_38_cm,_Museum_of_Fine_Arts,_Boston,_US.jpg Image of Paradise Lost: http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/paging-dr-sawaya-milton-is-hip-again/