Lines+640-800+Ji+Eun


 * BOOK 2 LINES 640-800**

And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass, [ 645 ] Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock, > In multiple religion, "3" is a reoccurring number. The Jesus got three gifts from the wise men, he predicted that that Peter would deny him three times, and he rose from the dead on the third day after his death. In Muslim rites, certain formulas are repeated three times or thirty-three times and a devout Muslim will try and give tribute to all three places--Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. And in Roman Catholicism, three groups of martyrs exist--faith, hope, and charity.

The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair, [ 650 ] But ended foul in many a scaly fould Voluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'd >Here, the Woman is referred to Sin--Eve. She might seem fair and beautiful, yet she is in fact sinful and its proven by how she is responsible for seducing Adam to eat the fruit as well which lead to man's damnation and banishment from paradise. [|] The other shape, [666] If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb, ...had on. >The other shape is referring to Death. Milton mentions death purposefully on line 666, which is the number of the best-- a concept from the book of revelation of the new testament.

O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, [727] Against thy only Son? do I seem[747] Now in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fair In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd [ 750 ] In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King, All on a sudden miserable pain Surprisd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm In darkness, > Milton refers to Death as Satan's "son." (Relates to the last point on Shim's post) This relates back to the idea of Adam and Eve. When they were both in paradise, they seemed beautiful and so fair, yet after their damnation, they are covered with embarrassment and "sudden miserable pain."

Cleer Victory, to our part loss and rout [ 770 ] Through all the Empyrean: down they fell Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down Into this Deep, and in the general fall >Again referring back to Adam and Eve. From eternal life and immortality to eternal damnation--from paradise to hell.