And ever against eating cares Lap me in soft Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse
Interpretation
The quote speaks to the soothing and transcendent power of poetry and art in alleviating life's troubles.
In this quote, John Milton expresses the idea that through the beauty of poetry, represented as 'soft Lydian airs', one can escape the burdens and worries of life. The concept of being 'married to immortal verse' suggests that art has an enduring quality that connects us to something eternal and elevating, providing solace in challenging times.
In practice
During a poetry reading, one might quote Milton to highlight the impact of art on emotional well-being.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
Music helps you find the truths you must bring into the rest of your life.
If you want a bourgeois existence, you shouldn't be an actor. You're in the wrong profession.
I dedicate this novel to Gala, who was constantly by my side while I was writing it, who was the good fairy of my equilibrium, who banished the salamanders of my doubts and strengthened the lions of certainties.
Painting is the passage from the chaos of the emotions to the order of the possible.
If that voice that you created that is most alive in the poem isn't carried throughout the whole poem, then I destroy where it's not there, and I reconstruct it so that that voice is the dominant voice in the poem.
Fine music without devotion is but a splendid garment upon a corpse.
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