Religion again?

Yet another religious based story my friends. Honestly I am beginning to get tired of them. Throw in a few witches here and there. Take my stories for example, I became very successful and I didn't always need to use God and the Devil or religion at all. You need variety in your stories to keep the audience interested. Throw in something about your king or queen, they love that. Work with your audience, entertain them!

Milton, your story is very good and entertaining, along with very descriptive. My problem is not with you. My problem is with the whole niche of writers who only wrote about religion. It begins to get boring. Yes everyone who could read at your time was usually religious but mix it u. They've heard these stories already. Give them something new, something out of the ordinary.

OED Post

My friends,

While reading the first book of Paradise Lost I came across an intriguing word: Baleful, found in line 56. Upon further investigation into the meaning of this word I found that baleful means malignant, destructive, injurious, and mischievous. Another meaning is subjectively as: Full of pain or suffering, painful; unhappy, wretched, miserable, distressed, sorrowful, or mournful.

What a great word and how well it fits into the content. This book is about humankind's disobedience towards God. Both meanings of baleful fit into the story of Adam and eve eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge and disobeying God's wishes. Adam was definitely destructive and mischievous in that he disobeyed God's orders. But also he was sorrowful, mournful, and full of pain because as a result of disobeying God he and Eve were sent out of paradise to live in the regular world and compared to paradise that was suffering and terrible.

Dictionary Exercise

Word: Cherub
Part of Speech: Noun

1plural : an order of angels

2plural usually cherubs a: a beautiful usually winged child in painting and sculpture b: an innocent-looking usually chubby and rosy person

While deciding on which word to use in book one the word cherub stuck out for me because I realized it's used quite a bit. I counted it to be at least four times or more. When I looked the word up I was surprised to find it meant an order of angels. Due to the collection of demon's recent fall It seems still appropriate to refer to them as "angels". However the second meaning intrigued me because these angels were by no means innocent. I believe Milton uses this word to remind the reader of the change in status Satan and his followers had just gone through.

OED

Line 53: “Confounded though immortal: but his doom
Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain
Torments him…”

*Discomfited, abashed, put to shame, or mental confusion; confused disordered, etc.
*Applied by way of execration to any person or thing strongly objected to.

Both definitions fit well into this passage. The person that is being talked about is going through some sort of pain and he is being tormented. The first definition is about being discontent and shamed and this could represent the character in the poem. The second definition is a curse on someone or something, and it is possible that the torment the character is going through is from a curse of some sort.

OE exerise

Line 6-8 "Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire that sheperd, who first taught the chosen seed...

Sheperd:a. a man who guards, tends and herds
b. a spiritual guardian or pastor of a "flock"

Thinking of a sheperd as a man who tends to the sheep seemed to be irrelevant to this passage so that is why I decided to look it up. When I did, I found that it could also be a pastor or spiritual guardian. In the context of the line, this makes more sense. It also goes along with the words following..."who first taught the chosen seed." Since these were such religious times, a priest or pastor would be one of the first to teach you about things including the "chosen seed" which could be the birth of Christ and so forth.

Oxford English Dictionary Exercise

Line 14: "That with no middle flight intends to soar". Flight: a. The action or manner of flying or moving through the air with or as with wings. b. Power of flying. c. The time when young birds first fly. When read book one, this passage stood out to me. Flight and soar correspond to one another and I wanted to see the relation that flight had to the passage. When looking the word up, I notice that it only imposed its literal meaning and their was any hidden meaning behind it. In relation to the poem, the "flight" that is being taking is man in conjunction with God.

Paradise Lost

While reading this fine poem known as Paradise Lost a particular excerpt that caught my eye. Know this, to find something attractive in such a complex work is far from my desire. Still I had to admire this fragment that went as such: ..."But his doom Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes That witness'd huge affliction and dismay Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate At once as far as Angels kenn he views The dismal Situation waste and wilde, A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round..."
What my eyes feel upon in particular was something with which all men struggle. Pride can devour your very soul. But this pride is not of an ordinary suit. No, this is call pride called obdurate is what caught my eye.
To the extend of my knowledge this word comes from a similar form that means to harden. And futher searching revealed obdurate has a couple meanings: hardened in feelings especially against moral or mollifying influence.
Stubburnly persistent in wrong doing
Resistant to persuasion of softening influences
Hard and resistant
All of these ideas seem to go hand in hand with the pride of these foolish men and their refuting of the moral standings I hold dear. I hope God on high may show them the great mercy so few of us truly deserve. Not the company I would search out that is certain.

My Writings

Many have taken due notice to my words. Written no for someone putting coins in my pocket. But for the better of people that might read it and know what I know, see what I see and believe what I believe.
I come from humble beginnings and could not spend my life there. My father, may his soul be blest, knew that it was his. And I knew it was not to be mine.
Nevertheless the impact is evident in my simple words that are scrawled on each page. The details are not as significant as the message within. Therefore look to that message and not what I have left out. Perhaps you can find the comfort I have within in the simplest things. Where the true lies deepest.

Be True to The One

Mr. John Suckling, I urge you to take the chance with this woman you speak of. The women before are not of importance anymore. Find your true soul mate and you shall ever love one another. Give her your life and stay true to this one and in the end you will find great pleasure.

Oh, I hope I've made myself clear
That I don't show my loyalty
To the king, puritans. No fear,
Instead I loathe their royalty.
An independent mind I am
To see through their lies and foul scam.

I hope this works to inspire
Free thought's perks amongst the masses.
Trust what I say, you'll be higher.
You wont even mind your taxes!
A new world you'll see in thinking
Well through life, you wont be sinking.

Like a free bird you'll have no bounds
That inhibit your own action.
Freedom's yours when your mind is sound
And united as one faction.
Because when you live for the day
It's yours. There's not much more to say.

Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson,
you write very beautifully
Write your stories with such little detail,
but very meaningfully.

You write though so simple,
your sonnets and poems,
maybe it's what you know,
giving you no problems

You should open your eyes
maybe to a woman,
I don't think you'd be simple
You'd be a true man.

For instance, Aemilia Lanyer
whom, like you is quite religious,
With a woman's help,
You could become more prostegious.

Sonnets. What a beautiful thing.

My dear friends,
I hope you all enjoyed reading my sonnets and if you have not, please do. I urge you to write your own as well. Sonnets are a beautiful thing. They allow you to show your passion and love for whatever it is that you are passionate about or love. That is at least what I wrote them for. Many say that i was very skilled at writing and that my sonnets are a perfect example of that but I do not feel that way. I do not like to as they say nowadays "tute my own horn". I just wrote what i felt like writing. I wrote what i felt. I wrote about what inspired me. I just loved to write. If you enjoy them then great and thank you. If not then tell me. There is always room for improvement.

A Concerned Request

Shakespeare, I do admire thee.
It is to you, we all owe thanks.
For thee sought the depths of the sea,
to return treasures to the banks.

Of course, your work inspires me.
when I scorn thee I am in jest
and I pray'st you see this be
truth-for Shakespeare, I know ye best!

Your sonnet's speak of chains of time,
binding you to hell with the cruel-
faces of dark souls, not benign.
Please see friend, will is the tool.

Years since you've last wrote with passion,
poets, my contemporaries,
have with commendable fashion
changed with time, you'd find it scary.

If you're willing to accept
the advice I'll give you Shakespeare,
Carpe Diem! Don't mind you wept.
Time free, you're conscious will be clear.

I am the Queen Elizabeth. You may have herd of me, for I hold great power as a ruler as I am a women, but bear the stomach and heart as a leading king. In comparison, I feel I do quite well, if not better. I reign with all possibilities, for I can lead an army to victory or simply help a small town on their way to liberty. I am a different kind of woman, who sees life as a way to put forth ones opinions and be in command of an empire with ease and grace. I will survive this lifetime with many accomplishments as ruler and no one will get in the way of my path of success.

Elizabeth

This queen Elizabeth — a woman like her never have I seen. It a time when men rule men and women a like she stands above all else. She not only commands power and respect but is willingly given it as all bow before her. She is carried to and fro where she desires and he words never fall on deaf ear for all await her next.

Men come in homes of wooing her into their grasps but like babies they are sent home crying at the hands of this woman ruler. There is more to her than other women though, some part of her is that more of a man. Of this I am certain.

She denies the suitors because she can. But for how long shall this power stand? Queen I think you should better think, how my time you have on this earth. Before your grace and all shall leave you without all that you hold so dear.

Ghostly Sights

It was after my first child, I felt the Devil’s pain.
I knew a life of commitment to my Lord was the only way.
First I had to convince my husband to live a life of ceibacy.
It was not until I birthed my 14th child, I had devoted my entire life.

On my pilgrimage to Jerusalem, I saw the ghosts of Lady St. John and Mary Magdalene,
And I wept in sorrow.
Anytime I see the Crucifix or someone being beat,
I envision my Lord being beat in the same manner and weep.

And every Palm Sunday and Good Friday,
I see these ghostly sights.
I feel my Lord’s pain and suffer.
But he is worth the pain and suffering.

Women Writers? This is great!

Julian or Norwich and Margery Kempe are such great women. Pioneers if I may call them. If only I could have used women in my works to actually play my female characters or give me the insight from a woman's point of view. Many consider my works great but if I had the input of women like Julian of Norwich or Margery Kempe then they would have been better. Yes I pushed th bar with some of my subjects but women talking of God and religion is the ultimate and i applaud you two. But I must warn you, be safe! Society still ooks down on you and great thinkers such as you need to be around for as long as possible.

My section of the story, finally,
the best part of it, logically.

Yes I've five husbands,
no longer any of them stand.
I did it as my others done,
Abraham, Jacob and Solomon.
What is good for them is also for me,
Why have one, when I can have three?

I had the three good,
To be with me, they should.
They were old and rich,
Does that make me a.... witch?
They stayed and I treated them bad,
Of course, they knew what they had.
Who cares about the other two,
Dumped 'em and got a new.

As for my tale you see,
You can learn a thing from me.
The knight had a lesson to learn,
Some honorable qualities to earn.
What women really want to choose,
Not have men win, and me lose.
They should trust and honor us,
If not, they can bite the dust.

The Miller's Tale

If only more tales were told like mine, than this so called Pilgrimage would be more worth my time. Uptight Knights and bitter Reeves, are enough to make me drink, but then again what does not make me drink. Who needs to sit tight a horse with a trusty stead like my to keep me up right and in the right direction. Though I digress but who can blame with these disagreeable traveling companions. My tail easily quits all with out a doubt. Who could ask for more? Intrigue and deceit, love and hate, sex and farts, and of course a burnt arse and a crazy ass. Nicholas for sure was the most clever of clerks. Tricking the carpenter to think a flood, and not just any flood but that of Noah's. All just to bed the carpenter's wife, she must have been one fine catch, but worth the trouble? Though I'm not going to lie I have know idea who had the beard and how it came up in relation to kissing Alisoun. Did Absolon have a beard, did Nicholas, or did Alisoun just have a hairy arse? Any comments would do really.

To a new Beginning

I shall agree with you of the blissfulness of the first spring. As one awaits for the sad winter to end, spring arises with a fresh new beginning. I hope this new spring sets forth a grand pilgrimage that you desire. It seems that each member in your group will offer something extraordinary to your journey. Good luck on you religious journey, I hope you and your great company of travelers find your innermost desire. Safe travels.

Losing my father as a child and watching my son die from the plague tragedy is ever present in my life. Therefore, Sir Gawain, your story has a place right in my heart. I know what a burden must reside within, while you seen the emerald knight. But honor you carry so proudly, like my father you act. Insuring the name of Arthur remains unblemished, a man of you word you are. Surely the Lord on High is watching you daily. His hand was upon you when the stranger rode in during your festive celebration. Watching him covered in green head to toe upon a steed of the same you would not let your king risk his life but yours instead would be offered. The Almighty's hand remained true as you too up his ax and landed it into his flesh. What happened next none could predict. Realizing what you had committed yourself to as you watched the green being carry off his head, you knew what was to come. Those of your table sulking also knew your fate. Partake in all there was you did preparing for your departure. A better case I'd never thought. May your armor emblazoned with the honorable pentangle hold strong and your swift blade hit true. Drink often but take heed of what lies before you if ever it you find.

Listen up I tell you,
And give me your full attention too.
And speak up if you must do,
Since only one ear will be open to you.

The wife of Arthur, the most beautiful one
Admired by women, father, and son.
She's said to have a shapely figure,
I bet that I'm better then her.
I have flaws that make me lusty,
As opposed to just being busty.

She is willing to be unfaithful,
Such a sinner of sorts is distasteful.
As Eve was with Adam,
That's not right, madame.

Although I know how she feels,
Having men bowing at my heels.
She's said to be the most admired,
It's from me, she was inspired

I wonder if what she says is true,
About the boys Lanval pursued.
I wouldn't be all that surprised,
Not wanting what is fantasized.

Welcome My Quitting Classmates

Lords, ladies, and servants,
I'm happy to see you around my round table.