Now incorporating The Sudbury Hill Harrow and Wherever End Times

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Eyeless in Gaza

Put to the labour of a Beast, debas't
Lower than bondslave! Promise was that I
Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver;
Ask for this great Deliverer now, and find him
Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves,
Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke;

[...]

O impotence of mind, in body strong!
But what is strength without a double share
Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom,
Proudly secure, yet liable to fall
By weakest subtleties, not made to rule,
But to subserve where wisdom bears command.


From Samson Agonistes: John Milton (1608-1674)

No comments: