Paradise Lost, Book IV, Lines 639–652 by John Milton

Eve speaks to Adam

With thee conversing I forget all time;
All seasons, and their change, all please alike.
Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun,
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night
With this her solemn bird and this fair moon,
And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:
But neither breath of Morn when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night
With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon,
Or glittering star-light without thee is sweet.

Did Milton really write this bawdy verse?

An EXTEMPORE upon a Faggot

Have you not in a Chimney seen
A Faggot which is moist and green;
How coyly it receives the Heat,
And at both ends do’s weep and sweat?
So fares it with a tender Maid,
When first upon her Back she’s laid;
But like dry Wood th’ experienc’d Dame
Cracks and rejoices in the Flame.

by Milton (maybe)

Follow the discussion here: http://digitalmiscellaniesindex.blogspot.com/

(Thanks for the address, Max Richards)

The Wife of Bath and Other Gems

The Telegraph newspaper, in United Kingdom, has a week-long series on classic English poets: Chaucer, Milton, Shelley and Rosetti. A worthy quartet indeed. If you would like to see what it says, go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/03/10/bopoetschaucer110.xml