SOURCE: “On Paradise Lost,” in The Critical Response to John Milton's Paradise Lost, edited by Timothy C. Miller, Greenwood Press, 1997, pp. 28-29.

In the following dedicatory poem, which first appeared in the second edition of Paradise Lost, the poet Andrew Marvell praises his contemporary's bold and original effort that has “not miss'd one thought that could be fit” and whose greatness is in no way diminished for being in blank and not rhyming verse.

When I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, In slender Book his vast Design unfold, Messiah Crown'd, God's Reconcil'd Decree, Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument Held me a while misdoubting his Intent, That he would ruine (for I saw him strong) The sacred Truths to Fable and old Song (So Sampson groap'd the Temples Posts in spight) The World o'rewhelming to revenge his sight.                     Yet as I...