Comments on: Reading Milton http://www.steveersinghaus.com/archives/994 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:51:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mary Ellen http://www.steveersinghaus.com/archives/994/comment-page-1#comment-15617 Mary Ellen Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:58:02 +0000 http://www.steveersinghaus.com/archives/994#comment-15617 This is a very slippery sentence. Just when I think it's breaking clear, the words realign and I think, "No, it's not God, it's Adam he's talking about." The biggest slider is the end bit: "this revenge / On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd." This revenge on you --who wrong me not-- for him who wronged. Or? This revenge on you who wrong me --not for him who wronged. The first is an apology for screwing up Adam's life. The second says, "I can't get back at God, so I'm taking out my frustration on Adam, because he's so happy and I'm miserable and can't accept that." And every once in a while, I almost catch it that Satan is apologizing to the future generations for Adam's weaknesses. Can't make that one stick, though. Yet. This is a very slippery sentence. Just when I think it’s breaking clear, the words realign and I think, “No, it’s not God, it’s Adam he’s talking about.” The biggest slider is the end bit:

“this revenge / On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd.”

This revenge on you
–who wrong me not–
for him who wronged.

Or?

This revenge on you who wrong me
–not for him who wronged.

The first is an apology for screwing up Adam’s life. The second says, “I can’t get back at God, so I’m taking out my frustration on Adam, because he’s so happy and I’m miserable and can’t accept that.”

And every once in a while, I almost catch it that Satan is apologizing to the future generations for Adam’s weaknesses. Can’t make that one stick, though. Yet.

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