Hidden acrostics in Paradise Lost
- Searching for acrostics
- Searching for upside-down acrostics
- Searching for telestiches
- Another hidden “satan”
- Conclusion
- References
-
Appendices
- Words formed by the initial letters of each line
- Words formed by the initial letters of each line, reading bottom-to-top
- Words formed by the last letters of each line
- Words formed by the last letters of each line, reading bottom-to-top
- Words formed by looking at the starting and ending letters of each line
- Words formed by looking at the starting and ending letters of each line, reading backwards
- Words formed by looking at the middle letters of each line
- Words formed by the initial letters of each line, but repeated letters are allowed
TLDR: There is a famous acrostic spelling “SATAN” in John Milton’s Paradise Lost. By systematic computer search, it’s possible to find other acrostics people have noticed, quantify how likely they are to be by chance, and spot some dubious but new hidden words.
Paradise Lost is an epic poem written in the 17th century by John Milton, considered to be his magnum opus and a true masterpiece of English literature. In twelve books and ten-thousand lines of blank verse, Milton carefully weaves a dramatic interpretation of the biblical story of Genesis and the corresponding fall of man.
Given its length, Milton had a large canvas to experiment with all manner of wordplay and hidden messages, and one of the places this is most apparent is towards the end of the epic. Here, Milton is describing Satan trying to catch the eye of Eve while in serpent form – see if you can spot a hidden message.
Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed,
Hermione and Cadmus, or the god
In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen;
He with Olympias; this with her who bore
Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique
At first, as one who sought access, but feared
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought
Nigh river’s mouth or foreland, where the wind
Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail:
So varied he, and of his tortuous train
Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,
To lure her eye; …
(Book IX, Line 505)
If you read along the right-hand side, you can see that the first letters of each of the lines spell out “SATAN”. Given the context (and slightly strange phrasing), it seems quite likely that this was deliberately put in the text by Milton.
But this is not the only acrostic in the poem – in fact, there are several. Earlier on in the poem, as Milton is describing Satan’s travel from Hell to Earth and his view of the night sky, you can find “STARS” by reading along the right hand side again.
With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned,
Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams:
Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen,
The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised,
At sight of all this world beheld so fair.
Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling canopy
Of night’s extended shade,) from eastern point
Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears
Andromeda far off Atlantick seas
Beyond the horizon; …
(Book III, Line 550)
While it is quite reasonable to assume these were deliberate by Milton, people have also found acrostics which are a little more dubious. As recently as 2019, the following was pointed out in Book IX:
By us? who rather double honour gaine
From his surmise prov’d false, find peace within,
Favour from Heav’n, our witness from th’ event.
And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid
Alone, without exterior help sustaind?
Let us not then suspect our happie State
Left so imperfet by the Maker wise,
As not secure to single or combin’d.
Fraile is our happiness, if this be so,
And Eden were no Eden thus expos’d.
(Book IX, Line 332)
The hidden word here is… “FFAALLAF”. While this looks like nonsense, the interpretation by its discoverer was:
“This acrostic entwines the double fall of man (FFAALL) with the fall of Satan (a single FALL, read from bottom to top), perhaps commenting on their shared inciter—Satan—or their shared root—pride.”
This was enough to get this discovery published in the journal “Milton Quarterly”, and even became a scary-sounding news article “DEVIL’S WORK: Hidden message about ‘humanity’s fall to Satan’ uncovered in famous 350-year-old English Bible poem” for The Sun.
Searching for acrostics
Given this, it’s a reasonable question to ask whether there are any acrostics that haven’t been found yet, deliberate or accidental. Using a computer, it’s straightforward to search the whole text and enumerate all the words that appear from the first letters of each line. Here’s a small portion of the results – the full list is available in the appendix.
| Word | Matched line |
|---|---|
| abash | “And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised…” |
| … | … |
| catch | “Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night…” |
| … | … |
| plot | “Palpable darkness, and blot out three days…” |
| … | … |
| satan | “Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique…” |
| … | … |
| stars | “Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen…” |
| … | … |
| toast | “To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth’s hallowed mould…” |
As you can see, this finds the well-known acrostics in the text, as well as a few ones that are hard to find people discussing online. The only problem is that it’s very unlikely that Milton deliberately hid “toast” in the text, not only because it is thematically irrelevant, but because “toast” as a word only really became popular after the 18th century.
So you might be a little bit suspicious about the other hidden acrostics. In fact, we can check how likely it is that any word of a given length appears as an acrostic in the text.
This plot says that around 85% of two letter words occur as acrostics, 40% of three letter words, 6% of four letter words, and around 0.3% of five letter words.
Searching for upside-down acrostics
Likewise, we can also search for acrostics where you read bottom-to-top rather than top-to-bottom. But note that the more complicated the procedure we use, the less likely that Milton used it deliberately, and so the more likely that the word only appears accidentally.
| Word | Matched line |
|---|---|
| carot | “They passed, and many a region dolorous…” |
| … | … |
| fall | “Let us not then suspect our happie State…” |
| … | … |
| satin | “Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught…” |
| … | … |
| stars | “Served only to discover sights of woe…” |
| … | … |
| toads | “Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:…” |
So with this technique, we can also recover the “FFAALLAF” noticed in 2019. “STARS” also appears again, but checking the surrounding context, it seems very unlikely that it was deliberate.
Searching for telestiches
Normal acrostics use the first letters of each line to spell out a word. A telestitch is where the last letters of each line are used instead. It’s also possible to search for these:
| Word | Matched line |
|---|---|
| deeded | “Not me. They therefore, as to right belong’d…” |
| … | … |
| elder | “My sudden apprehension: But in these…” |
| … | … |
| eyess | “His flight precipitant, and winds with ease…” |
| … | … |
| melts | “And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm…” |
| … | … |
| seeds | “Poured out by millions her victorious bands…” |
| seeds | “To human sense the invisible exploits…” |
| … | … |
Nothing all that interesting appears, it’s very likely that all the words found are just by chance. In fact, around 0.6% of all 5-letter words appear as acrostics this way, so it’s around twice as likely that any given 5-letter word appears compared to the top-to-bottom acrostics.
Another hidden “satan”
What if you consider the letters at the start and the end of each line? This isn’t a standard type of acrostic, so it’s almost certain that any word that appears this way was not intentional by Milton. But doing this, you can find another “SATAN” in a place where it seems thematically relevant!
Here’s a selection of the found words:
| Word | Matched line |
|---|---|
| aedes | “Above them all th’ Archangel: but his face…” |
| … | … |
| feast | “Far otherwise the event; not death, but life…” |
| … | … |
| pests | “Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire…” |
| … | … |
| satan | “Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns…” |
| … | … |
| seaport | “So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete…” |
| … | … |
| seine | “Some easier enterprise? There is a place…” |
| … | … |
The corresponding “satan” passage is:
Drew after him the third part of Heaven’s host.
Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discernS
Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mounT,
And from within the golden lamps that burN
Nightly before him, saw without their light
(Book V, Line 710)
Conclusion
It’s a shame that it’s difficult to spot any other obvious acrostics in Paradise Lost, and that it’s even more difficult to determine if they were deliberate by Milton. Hopefully the amount of irrelevant words that do appear is enough to encourage some healthy skepticism when it comes to any apparent secret messages in the text.
References
- “Student Discovers Secret Acrostic in Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’”, Smithsonian Magazine
Appendices
Here are the raw results from several searches through the full text. In all cases, I’ve only considered words with more than 4 letters, since otherwise there’s too many. The amount of words that show up here might convince you that these acrostics are more likely to be formed by chance rather than deliberate craft. I doubt that Milton had “TOAST” on his mind as he composed these lines:
To whom thus Eve:—”Adam, earth’s hallowed mould,
Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store,
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal storing firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes…”
Words formed by the initial letters of each line
| Word | Matched line | | —— | —————————————————— | | abash | “And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised” | | abear | “As may express them best; though what if Earth” | | absit | “A Goddess among Gods, adored and served” | | allot | “Aid us, the work under our labour grows” | | amias | “And with obsequious majesty approved” | | artha | “And grace that won who saw to wish her stay” | | attal | “And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth” | | aweto | “And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear” | | batad | “Build in her loveliest, and create an awe” | | batea | “Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him” | | baths | “Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides” | | boost | “But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems” | | boost | “But to my own conviction: first and last” | | boosts | “But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems” | | brott | “By Astracan, over the snowy plains” | | catch | “Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night” | | chatta | “Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm” | | dales | “Disparted, and between spun out the air” | | dowie | “Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons” | | fatwa | “Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night” | | fatwa | “From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased” | | garad | “Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day” | | giber | “Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons” | | gobbe | “Giver of all things fair! but fairest this” | | hacht | “His violence thou fearest not, being such” | | hoast | “Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh” | | hooks | “High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit” | | massy | “Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come” | | matti | “Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come” | | moats | “Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell” | | neath | “Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn” | | nitta | “Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain” | | norma | “Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines” | | oaths | “Of anger shall remain, but peace assured” | | plott | “Palpable darkness, and blot out three days” | | salol | “Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost” | | salols | “Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost” | | satan | “Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique” | | slows | “So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud” | | snuff | “Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end” | | staab | “Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously” | | stars | “Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen” | | stats | “Such grace shall one just man find in his sight” | | stold | “Squared in full legion (such command we had” | | stott | “So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus” | | stowp | “Shot after us in storm, o’erblown hath laid” | | swots | “So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain” | | tapit | “The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines” | | tarts | “Though hard and rare: Thee I revisit safe” | | tatoo | “Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat” | | tatoo | “To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within” | | tatta | “That spot, to which I point, is Paradise” | | tatta | “To give light on the Earth; and it was so” | | teart | “The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed” | | tempi | “Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven” | | thats | “Thus far his bold discourse without controul” | | thoft | “The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field” | | timor | “That day, as other solemn days, they spent” | | titar | “To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek” | | toast | “To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth’s hallowed mould” | | twats | “To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin” | | vasts | “Visibly, what by Deity I am” | | wants | “What in an age they, with incessant toil” | | warth | “With lowliness majestick from her seat” | | whata | “With borrowed light her countenance triform” |
Words formed by the initial letters of each line, reading bottom-to-top
| Word | Matched line | | —— | ——————————————————- | | abassi | “In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun” | | aboil | “Let us make now Man in our image, Man” | | acate | “Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused” | | admit | “There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand” | | afars | “Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand” | | afoot | “Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff” | | asian | “Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee” | | assis | “Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid” | | assisi | “Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep” | | assot | “Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned” | | asteam | “Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed” | | awarn | “Nightly before him, saw without their light” | | babloh | “He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side” | | baboo | “Of circuit inexpressible they stood” | | bafta | “Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps” | | balow | “Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell” | | bassi | “In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun” | | basso | “Of three that in mount Ida naked strove” | | batel | “Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied” | | batts | “She first his weak indulgence will accuse” | | battu | “Upon the temple itself: at last they seise” | | battue | “Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings” | | bungs | “Such high advantages their innocence” | | carot | “They passed, and many a region dolorous” | | casas | “So hardy as to proffer or accept” | | colas | “Slowly descended, and with right aspect” | | dasht | “Tempest the ocean: there leviathan” | | falla | “Alone, without exteriour help sustained” | | hanse | “Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven” | | imcnt | “To me alike, it deals eternal woe” | | matti | “If Adam aught perhaps might interpose” | | mebos | “Some such resemblances, methinks, I find” | | oompah | “His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train” | | orlos | “Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish” | | otate | “End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine” | | patao | “Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon” | | pohna | “All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule” | | potto | “Of various influence foment and warm” | | saeta | “As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn” | | satai | “In their triple degrees; regions to which” | | satin | “Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught” | | shado | “Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades” | | sifts | “Silence, and with these words attention, won” | | slots | “Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring” | | snows | “So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high” | | staff | “For each seemed either—black it stood as Night” | | stars | “Served only to discover sights of woe” | | stats | “Such grace shall one just man find in his sight” | | steam | “Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed” | | stows | “So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain” | | talma | “And I will place within them as a guide” | | tanha | “Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep” | | tappa | “Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb” | | tarot | “This universe, and all created things” | | taste | “Engendering with me, of that rape begot” | | tatta | “As now is entered; yet no purposed foe” | | tatta | “And let them be for lights, as I ordain” | | tinta | “And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell” | | tinta | “Among the beasts no mate for thee was found” | | toads | “Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:—” | | tooth | “Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear” | | toras | “So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused” | | towai | “Intelligential substances require” | | towai | “In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon” | | towns | “Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay” | | tutti | “I form’d them free: and free they must remain” | | tutto | “Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds” | | twait | “To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there” | | twalt | “The multitude of Angels, with a shout” | | twint | “Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed” | | unlaw | “Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey” | | wains | “Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found” | | waits | “Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed” | | weets | “Say, for such wonder claims attention due” | | whata | “And they, outcast from God, are here condemned” | | whoot | “The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad” | | wocas | “Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised” | | woofs | “Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length” |
Words formed by the last letters of each line
| Word | Matched line | | ——- | ——————————————————– | | deeded | “Not me. They therefore, as to right belong’d” | | deeds | “The consort of his reign; and by them stood” | | deeds | “Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound” | | deeds | “Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned” | | deeds | “Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned” | | deedy | “Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled” | | deeny | “Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found” | | deers | “My other half:” With that thy gentle hand” | | deers | “For such vast room in Nature unpossessed” | | deeses | “Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find” | | deess | “He trusted to have seised, and into fraud” | | deked | “Mount Amara, though this by some supposed” | | deled | “Shame to be overcome or over-reached” | | deles | “Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured” | | denes | “Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed” | | denned | “Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold” | | dense | “May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield” | | dented | “And girded on our loins, may cover round” | | dentes | “Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find” | | dents | “Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed” | | derms | “The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud” | | deseret | “Created, as thou art, to nobler end” | | deter | “And courage never to submit or yield” | | deter | “To Beersaba, where the Holy Land” | | dewed | “Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured” | | dreed | “Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired” | | drees | “Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed” | | drest | “The blasting vollied thunder made all speed” | | dryer | “Consult how we may henceforth most offend” | | dryer | “Though like a covered field, where champions bold” | | dryers | “Though like a covered field, where champions bold” | | dryth | “A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold” | | dtset | “Destruction with creation might have mixed” | | dtset | “And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared” | | dyads | “That he relents, not to blot out mankind” | | edder | “More dreadful and deform. On th’ other side” | | edger | “Remains; sufficient of itself to raise” | | eeten | “Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse” | | elder | “My sudden apprehension: But in these” | | elses | “More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite” | | ensete | “To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife” | | entte | “In temper and in nature, will receive” | | epees | “Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe” | | erses | “Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake” | | esere | “Against revolted multitudes the cause” | | esere | “Holy and pure, conformity divine” | | essed | “And let us to our fresh employments rise” | | essed | “As, used or not, works in the mind no change” | | essed | “Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die” | | essed | “My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure” | | essee | “Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate” | | essee | “To work in close design, by fraud or guile” | | esther | “With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave” | | ethel | “Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe” | | ewder | “O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise” | | eyess | “His flight precipitant, and winds with ease” | | feted | “Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief” | | geest | “From your dominion won, th’ Ethereal King” | | gelee | “Indebted and undone, hath none to bring” | | genet | “Shall be the copious matter of my song” | | glede | “By thy conception; children thou shalt bring” | | gweed | “Purples the east: still govern thou my song” | | helen | “These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath” | | heres | “Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath” | | kette | “I keep, by him forbidden to unlock” | | leets | “Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well” | | lesed | “Incessant I could hope to change the will” | | lesed | “As to forsake the living God, and fall” | | leste | “How darkened; innocence, that as a veil” | | meeds | “And with perpetual inroads to alarm” | | melts | “And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm” | | needn | “The Spirit of God, promised alike and given” | | needy | “Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen” | | neele | “Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn” | | neele | “Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can” | | nenes | “In order, though to nations yet unborn” | | neter | “Prefer, and piety to God, though then” | | ngwee | “Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn” | | peeke | “Their natural pravity, by stirring up” | | reddle | “The conquered also, and enslaved by war” | | reddles | “The conquered also, and enslaved by war” | | reeden | “Of lowest order, passed; and from the door” | | reeden | “Longer on earth, than certain times to appear” | | reeder | “To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower” | | reeds | “Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair” | | reeds | “Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star” | | relet | “This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear” | | relets | “This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear” | | rente | “Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear” | | rentee | “Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear” | | rents | “In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar” | | resee | “With victory, triumphing through the air” | | resene | “To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear” | | rested | “Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air” | | seder | “Obtain; though to recount almighty works” | | seder | “For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes” | | seeded | “Or equal what between us made the odds” | | seeder | “Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus” | | seeds | “Poured out by millions her victorious bands” | | seeds | “To human sense the invisible exploits” | | seels | “Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds” | | seels | “Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons” | | selden | “Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames” | | sends | “So on he fares, and to the border comes” | | seres | “The great Work-master, leads to no excess” | | seres | “Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires” | | seres | “Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms” | | sewen | “Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys” | | shend | “Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears” | | shent | “Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms” | | skete | “And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass” | | sleds | “Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps” | | sleet | “Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands” | | sleets | “Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands” | | slete | “Impart against his will, if all be his” | | steed | “Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills” | | steed | “Up from the bottom turned by furious winds” | | steeds | “Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills” | | steen | “Or violence, he of their wicked ways” | | stend | “With light from hence, though but reflected, shines” | | stert | “The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes” | | stets | “Equally free; for orders and degrees” | | stole | “By attributing overmuch to things” | | styes | “Us happy, and without love no happiness” | | teddy | “She, as a veil, down to the slender waist” | | tedge | “Nor skill’d nor studious, higher argument” | | teener | “Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent” | | teeny | “With dread of death to flight or foul retreat” | | teest | “In Paradise that bear delicious fruit” | | tense | “Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart” | | tense | “Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint” | | tensed | “Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint” | | tepee | “Will reign among them, as of thee begot” | | terne | “Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut” | | tessel | “Of God the garden was, by him in the east” | | teste | “Besides what hope the never-ending flight” | | theek | “Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment” | | there | “But I shall die a living death? O thought” | | theres | “But I shall die a living death? O thought” | | therese | “But I shall die a living death? O thought” | | thowt | “The race unblest, to being yet unbegot” | | treed | “In show plebeian Angel militant” | | trest | “As one who long in populous city pent” | | tweed | “To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not” | | tween | “Artificer of fraud; and was the first” | | tyste | “Going into such danger, as thou saidst” | | weeds | “Urania, and fit audience find, though few” | | weent | “That practised falsehood under saintly show” | | wends | “With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow” |
Words formed by the last letters of each line, reading bottom-to-top
|Word|Matched line| |-|-| |breed|”And calculate the stars, how they will wield”| |deeded|”Equivalent or second! which compelled”| |deeded|”By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld”| |deeds|”Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds”| |deeds|”Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things”| |deedy|”Of order, how in safety best we may”| |deedy|”Made passive both, had serv’d necessity”| |deedy|”And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay”| |deers|”In what he counsels and in what excels”| |deess|”Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates”| |deess|”May serve to better us, and worse our foes”| |deess|”To civil justice; part, religious rites”| |deked|”Mount Amara, though this by some supposed”| |deled|”Shame to be overcome or over-reached”| |denes|”The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs”| |denned|”Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold”| |dense|”By sudden onset—either with Hell-fire”| |dentel|”And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil”| |depth|”With Heaven’s ray, and tempered, they shoot forth”| |desert|”After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight”| |desks|”Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss”| |dewed|”Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured”| |dreed|”So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed”| |drinn|”Frequent and full. After short silence then”| |dyers|”Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns”| |edder|”Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air”| |elses|”Another side, umbrageous grots and caves”| |enent|”That ever since in love’s embraces met”| |enent|”Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt”| |entom|”Visibly, what by Deity I am”| |entte|”But he thus, overjoyed; “O fruit divine”| |ernes|”The scepter, and regard not David’s sons”| |esere|”Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life”| |essed|”Than when fair morning first smiles on the world”| |essed|”Vapours not yet into her substance turned”| |essede|”That wont to be more cheerful and serene”| |essee|”The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise”| |essee|”The evil on him brought by me, will curse”| |esses|”New war provoked: our better part remains”| |estre|”The vigilance here placed, but such as come”| |feere|”Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise”| |gelee|”They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste”| |gleet|”What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought”| |heddle|”And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee”| |heddles|”Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes”| |heeded|”Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned”| |keens|”Seasons return; but not to me returns”| |leden|”Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun”| |leeds|”Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains”| |leese|”Vernal delight and joy, able to drive”| |lesed|”Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand”| |melds|”Incited, dance about him various rounds”| |mendee|”And on her ample square from side to side”| |needn|”Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven”| |needs|”Of human sacrifice, and parents’ tears”| |neese|”Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse”| |neese|”So dearly to redeem what hellish hate”| |neese|”But with no friendly voice, and add thy name”| |neese|”In female sex, the more to draw his love”| |neese|”To better life shall yield him: where with me”| |nerds|”Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands”| |nerts|”So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus”| |nudes|”Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours”| |olent|”Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just”| |penes|”All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things”| |pugree|”Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name”| |redded|”So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold”| |redds|”But I should ill become this throne, O Peers”| |redeed|”Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned”| |redes|”Obtain; though to recount almighty works”| |redes|”For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes”| |reeded|”Which two great sexes animate the world”| |reesle|”Deserve the precious bane. And here let those”| |renes|”Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes”| |resee|”Just o’er the blissful seat of Paradise”| |restr|”Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour”| |seege|”Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place”| |seels|”Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands”| |semee|”His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life”| |sereh|”Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath”| |seres|”The great Work-master, leads to no excess”| |seres|”Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires”| |seres|”Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms”| |sheet|”Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight”| |sided|”To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied”| |slete|”And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire”| |slews|”Instructed that to God is no access”| |sleyed|”Spangling the hemisphere: Then first adorned”| |steel|”Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well”| |steels|”Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands”| |steen|”To us invisible, or dimly seen”| |stele|”Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none”| |stent|”As one disarmed, his anger all he lost”| |stets|”Equally free; for orders and degrees”| |swede|”What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state”| |tedded|”Some specious object by the foe suborned”| |teddy|”Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try”| |teddy|”Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play”| |teens|”Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens”| |teens|”Serv’d up in hall with sewers and seneshals”| |teest|”Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light”| |teetee|”Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change”| |teles|”And flattered out of all, believing lies”| |tents|”Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies”| |teres|”Above th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues”| |teres|”Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents”| |terne|”To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve”| |teste|”Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more”| |tests|”Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers”| |tests|”God’s image did not reverence in themselves”| |tewter|”Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star”| |thete|”Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude”| |theyd|”Best guide; not following thee, I had remained”| |trest|”Amid the sun’s bright circle where thou sitst”| |trets|”The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes”| |trued|”Wondering; but soon th’ Almighty thus replied”| |twere|”To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave”| |tynes|”Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes”| |tyste|”As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce”| |weens|”With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms”| |wende|”But apt the mind or fancy is to rove”| |weste|”Who can in reason then, or right, assume”|
Words formed by looking at the starting and ending letters of each line
|Word|Matched line| |-|-| |adeem|”All space, the ambient air wide interfused”| |adits|”Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died”| |aedes|”Above them all th’ Archangel: but his face”| |agast|”As we need walk, till younger hands ere long”| |alfet|”And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall”| |alish|”And inward faculties, which most excel”| |anils|”All things proceed, and up to him return”| |antes|”All as our own, and drive, as we were driven”| |antes|”Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given”| |aport|”And Ida known, thence on the snowy top”| |artha|”Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear”| |ashet|”Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights”| |asweat|”And the regard of Heaven on all his ways”| |beant|”Be open, and his heart to pity incline”| |beath|”Both by obedience and by love, though love”| |bemete|”Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate”| |beset|”By force hath overcome but half his foe”| |beset|”By my advice; since fate inevitable”| |bewet|”But let us now, as in bad plight, devise”| |dadas|”The dismal situation waste and wild”| |dadas|”Came towering, armed in adamant and gold”| |dalis|”Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind”| |danae|”But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared”| |darat|”In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed”| |dasnt|”Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined”| |deans|”Death is the penalty imposed; beware”| |debat|”The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed”| |deben|”Dependant made; so God shall uncreate”| |deess|”From Canaan to a land hereafter called”| |defet|”Dreaded not more th’ adventure than his voice”| |didal|”And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned”| |didst|”Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send”| |diene|”Their orisons, each morning duly paid”| |diets|”He took the golden compasses, prepared”| |diets|”Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored”| |ditty|”Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled”| |dogie|”Good out of evil to create; instead”| |doses|”With these came they who, from the bordering flood”| |dotant|”With opal towers and battlements adorned”| |drent|”On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread”| |earls|”Into a lower world; to this obscure”| |earth|”From imposition of strict laws to free”| |easts|”And let us to our fresh employments rise”| |ectasis|”Into the devious air: Then might ye see”| |entre|”To person, or to poem. Me, of these”| |entte|”Envious commands, invented with design”| |eosin|”Some capital city; or less than if this frame”| |eplot|”Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence”| |esere|”No light; but rather darkness visible”| |ettle|”Approve the best, and follow what I approve”| |feast|”Far otherwise the event; not death, but life”| |feist|”From him; for other light she needed none”| |feists|”From him; for other light she needed none”| |feted|”Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change”| |fidos|”Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf”| |fritt|”Food for so foul a monster; in thy power”| |glead|”Deserted: Others to a city strong”| |hadada|”And limited their might; though numbered such”| |hatte|”Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth”| |hears|”How beauty is excelled by manly grace”| |heats|”Had first his precept so to move, so shine”| |hests|”How nature paints her colours, how the bee”| |lapse|”Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell”| |lidar|”Contending, and so doubtful what might fall”| |meads|”Melodious hymns about the sovran throne”| |meads|”Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come”| |mesad|”Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm”| |mosts|”This having learned, thou hast attained the sum”| |natal|”In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven”| |neats|”Nisroch, of Principalities the prime”| |neese|”In offices of love, how we may lighten”| |ninos|”Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea’s son”| |norse|”And equal over equals to let reign”| |nosed|”Conferred upon us, and dominion given”| |obstet|”Waking thou never will consent to do”| |odist|”Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard”| |oelet|”Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree”| |oelet|”Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable”| |olona|”On this side nothing; and by proof we feel”| |peals|”Perfect within, no outward aid require”| |pests|”Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire”| |reast|”Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace”| |reast|”Round through the vast profundity obscure”| |revet|”Rural repast; permitting him the while”| |saeter|”His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds”| |santy|”The less by night, altern; and made the stars”| |satan|”Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns”| |scend|”Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts”| |scend|”In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins”| |seaport|”So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete”| |seine|”Some easier enterprise? There is a place”| |sessa|”Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while”| |sheat|”Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss”| |sheat|”Though comfortless; as when a father mourns”| |shorl|”Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish”| |shorls|”Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish”| |slath|”Such as we might perceive amused them all”| |slete|”Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess”| |sloth|”Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell”| |snite|”Before thee reconciled, at least his days”| |sosie|”May serve to better us, and worse our foes”| |speal|”Free in thine own arbitrement it lies”| |stash|”Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night”| |stats|”So hardy as to proffer or accept”| |stead|”Alone th’ antagonist of Heaven, nor less”| |stead|”At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves”| |stean|”The scepter, and regard not David’s sons”| |stein|”All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things”| |stets|”The cool, the silent, save where silence yields”| |stews|”New war provoked: our better part remains”| |stews|”Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess”| |stewy|”And I will bring thee where no shadow stays”| |stram|”In procreation common to all kinds”| |suets|”Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings”| |sweat|”And the regard of Heaven on all his ways”| |teart|”That spot, to which I point, is Paradise”| |tebet|”They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste”| |tecta|”These feminine. For Spirits, when they please”| |teest|”Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light”| |testa|”Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine”| |teugh|”To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe”| |tewel|”The way seems difficult, and steep to scale”| |thats|”Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch”| |theme|”To let his sojourners depart, and oft”| |these|”And surging waves, as mountains, to assault”| |theses|”And surging waves, as mountains, to assault”| |thete|”Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight”| |thuds|”To sensual Appetite, who from beneath”| |tiddy|”All that I eat or drink, or shall beget”| |title|”Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost”| |titles|”Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost”| |toile|”And scarce to the Angel utter’dst thus thy plaint”| |toled|”To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft”| |trams|”Though higher of the genial bed by far”| |tween|”Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest”| |unfew|”Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn”| |unset|”Under a tuft of shade that on a green”| |wadge|”Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew”| |wears|”Which would but lead me to a worse relapse”| |weent|”What yet they know must follow—to endure”| |weety|”Which is my present journey), and once more”| |werste|”Wafted by Angels, or flew o’er the lake”| |wests|”What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more”| |winos|”Her temperance over appetite, to know”| |wreat|”The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw”|
Words formed by looking at the starting and ending letters of each line, reading backwards
| Word | Matched line | | ——- | —————————————————- | | adust | “There to converse with everlasting groans” | | alfet | “Tost up and down, together crouded drove” | | anlet | “To make her amiable: On she came” | | antes | “Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free” | | aoudad | “Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed” | | arces | “Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire” | | ashet | “Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere” | | ashet | “The tawny lion, pawing to get free” | | asses | “Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while” | | benet | “To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven’s Supreme” | | besew | “What misery the inabstinence of Eve” | | betes | “So awful, that with honour thou mayest love” | | betso | “Or unknown region, what remains him less” | | betso | “Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys” | | blams | “She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm” | | dadas | “Fit retribution, empty as their deeds” | | dados | “So spake our general mother, and with eyes” | | dante | “The great hierarchal standard was to move” | | dante | “Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute” | | dassy | “Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity” | | dated | “Of fighting elements, on all sides round” | | deads | “Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good” | | deans | “Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn” | | debel | “Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once” | | delead | “Through all the plain, and refuge none was found” | | denay | “Dreaming by night under the open sky” | | didnt | “Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright” | | didst | “He said, and on his Son with rays direct” | | dieses | “So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke” | | doers | “His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings” | | domes | “Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils” | | donat | “Appear of respiration to the just” | | doted | “At his command the uprooted hills retired” | | dotty | “And morning chorus sung the second day” | | dread | “So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused” | | dreads | “So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused” | | dusts | “Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains” | | emend | “Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold” | | eneid | “Their orisons, each morning duly paid” | | eosin | “Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon” | | eosins | “Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon” | | esthete | “And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more” | | estre | “And live in thee transplanted, and from thee” | | etnas | “To waste his whole creation, or possess” | | feods | “Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed” | | fetas | “Solid or slimy, as in raging sea” | | fetes | “Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love” | | fetes | “Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse” | | fetter | “To the terrestrial moon be as a star” | | foute | “What doubtful may ensue: More in this place” | | frets | “To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass” | | gades | “With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs” | | garde | “Like things to like; the rest to several place” | | genet | “Their surest signal—they will soon resume” | | genets | “Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults” | | gloea | “As one intended first, not after made” | | gnast | “To speak all tongues, and do all miracles” | | gonad | “Or of revived Adonis, or renowned” | | grebe | “Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue” | | haets | “Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means” | | halas | “Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas” | | hands | “Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers” | | hands | “And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings” | | heads | “Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived” | | hefts | “Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent” | | henen | “No happier state, and know to know no more” | | herds | “Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms” | | hiper | “Reasoning to admiration; and with me” | | holms | “By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes” | | idaein | “That structure in the dialect of men” | | indew | “With me, as I besought thee, when that strange” | | lanas | “Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins” | | leese | “All his deliverance, and to none but me” | | marts | “In procreation common to all kinds” | | mathe | “Now had night measured with her shadowy cone” | | mathe | “Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire” | | metes | “Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none” | | motte | “For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please” | | nasty | “To Man, the greater to have rule by day” | | nates | “I might relate of thousands, and their names” | | notch | “Habitual habitant; behind her Death” | | ossea | “Amongst innumerable stars, that shone” | | ostend | “Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found” | | outdid | “Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” | | owlet | “That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate” | | phano | “On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain” | | reads | “So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused” | | reast | “To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes” | | reast | “Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds” | | sades | “Not unconformed to other shining globes” | | scend | “The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired” | | seats | “To be sustained and fed: Of elements” | | seats | “Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast” | | seenie | “Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive” | | sensa | “As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames” | | shant | “To know; and, this once known, shall soon return” | | sheas | “Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies” | | sites | “See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance” | | slots | “So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight” | | smart | “Though higher of the genial bed by far” | | smarts | “In procreation common to all kinds” | | sones | “Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites” | | sorts | “Adam, well may we labour still to dress” | | sorus | “With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies” | | spied | “Desire with thee still longer to converse” | | stats | “So hardy as to proffer or accept” | | steid | “He took the golden compasses, prepared” | | steid | “Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored” | | stend | “Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found” | | stets | “The cool, the silent, save where silence yields” | | stott | “To me so friendly grown above the rest” | | strae | “That spot, to which I point, is Paradise” | | swelt | “Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright” | | swept | “The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight” | | tanan | “Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown” | | tasse | “Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while” | | tasses | “Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while” | | tatie | “Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise” | | tawed | “Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud” | | teaer | “Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage” | | teart | “The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar” | | tebet | “They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste” | | tenth | “Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent” | | tenths | “Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss” | | teres | “Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride” | | testa | “And overwhelm their war: The race elect” | | teste | “Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat” | | tetel | “Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye” | | thats | “Said mildly, “Author of all this thou seest” | | theol | “Concurring to necessitate his fall” | | theos | “Here in the dark so many precious things” | | these | “Approach not me, and what I will is Fate” | | thete | “And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more” | | tholi | “In battle which the stronger proves; they all” | | tithe | “So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake” | | tithes | “So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake” | | titty | “Those thoughts that wander through eternity” | | torte | “Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance” | | torts | “’Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires” | | treas | “Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds” | | tryst | “O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest” | | wadies | “Severe in youthful beauty, added grace” | | waste | “With conquest, felt th’ envenomed robe, and tore” | | withe | “Or touch with lightest moment of impulse” | | wonts | “Alike, to serpents all, as accessories” | | wrong | “Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn” | | wrongs | “And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds” | | yeses | “Sovran of creatures, universal Dame” |
Words formed by looking at the middle letters of each line
| Word | Matched line | | ——- | ——————————————————— | | abase | “Delos or Samos first appearing, kens” | | ahint | “Levied to side with warring winds, and poise” | | antra | “Of Baalim and Ashtaroth—those male” | | apout | “The eternal regions: Lowly reverent” | | apptd | “A while; but suddenly at head appeared” | | assay | “Then, with the multitude of my redeemed” | | bebat | “Insensibly, for I suspend their doom” | | bitts | “Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill’d” | | blats | “Shade above shade, a woody theatre” | | boobs | “To us enslaved, but custody severe” | | cabas | “I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems” | | cattie | “To our destruction, if there be in Hell” | | cattier | “To our destruction, if there be in Hell” | | cause | “Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn” | | chant | “Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names” | | cists | “Haply so ’scaped his mortal snare: For now” | | derth | “My exaltation, and my whole delight” | | earth | “Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts” | | etiam | “Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling vine” | | fills | “Desirous; all in circles as they stood” | | fists | “Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed” | | foots | “Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest” | | grata | “Handed they went; and, eased the putting off” | | hafts | “So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath” | | hails | “Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend” | | halms | “The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount” | | hasht | “A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames” | | mafia | “Who is our equal: Then thou shalt behold” | | otate | “Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure” | | ottos | “With loss of Eden, till one greater Man” | | pates | “To claim our just inheritance of old” | | placit | “Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled” | | rhamn | “Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse” | | scawd | “Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane” | | scoad | “Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love” | | seals | “And by her yielded, by him best received” | | shawm | “When coming towards them so dread they saw” | | shawms | “When coming towards them so dread they saw” | | slats | “While here shall be our home, what best may ease” | | softs | “On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers” | | sojas | “Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace” | | somas | “From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems” | | spina | “Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt” | | still | “Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length” | | tacts | “Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile” | | tamer | “Can give it, or will ever? How he can” | | tapoa | “O father, what intends thy hand,” she cried” | | tasco | “Their children’s cries unheard that passed through fire” | | thirt | “When reason hath to deal with force, yet so” | | toast | “Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set” | | tragi | “Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia’s son he stood” | | troot | “Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste” | | twats | “That of so many myriads fallen, yet one” | | twoes | “Alone, for other creature in this place” | | waise | “By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond” | | wauch | “And found no end, in wandering mazes lost” | | whoso | “And to the fierce contentions brought along” | | witan | “Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield” | | wotted | “Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground” |
Words formed by the initial letters of each line, but repeated letters are allowed
| Word | Matched line |
|---|---|
| abash | “But in the mount that lies from Eden north” |
| abdat | “We war, if war be best, or to regain” |
| abear | “Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee” |
| absit | “How nature paints her colours, how the bee” |
| afoot | “The full relation, which must needs be strange” |
| allot | “And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell” |
| amias | “Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew” |
| artha | “A shape within the watery gleam appeared” |
| atoms | “Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate” |
| atsara | “The rest in circuit walls this universe” |
| attal | “How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks” |
| attid | “Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew” |
| aweto | “Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine” |
| baits | “Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds” |
| batad | “On him who had stole Jove’s authentick fire” |
| batea | “Star interposed, however small he sees” |
| baths | “Though full of pain, this intellectual being” |
| boost | “No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray” |
| boost | “That structure in the dialect of men” |
| boosts | “No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray” |
| botas | “Their arms away they threw, and to the hills” |
| broth | “After short pause assenting, thus began” |
| brott | “After short pause assenting, thus began” |
| catch | “These gates for ever shut, which none can pass” |
| chatta | “But rather to tell how, if Art could tell” |
| chaus | “Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due” |
| cists | “Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled” |
| dales | “Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed” |
| dowie | “Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell” |
| falla | “A faithful leader, not to hazard all” |
| fatwa | “Thus answered:—“Leader of those armies bright” |
| fatwa | “Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape” |
| garad | “Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed” |
| giber | “Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud” |
| gobbe | “With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds” |
| hacht | “Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither” |
| haust | “Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest” |
| hiate | “Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf” |
| hoast | “Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend” |
| hooks | “But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th’ attempt” |
| ibota | “Their arms away they threw, and to the hills” |
| massy | “By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled” |
| matti | “From my prevailing arm, though Heaven’s King” |
| moats | “Temper or nourish, or in part shed down” |
| neath | “Bear his swift errands over moist and dry” |
| nitta | “The consort of his reign; and by them stood” |