NORTH.
So, here, Spirits are clothed in visible human form. They walk, they fly with wings. Their disagreeing becomes a War waged with violent weapons. High and Low in space have a moral meaning. So ocular light and darkness. Even the omnipresent God appears as having a local divine residence, and speaks with a voice. The Eternal Eye sees, the Eternal Ear hears. He sits, invisible through brightness, on a Throne.
These modes of thinking, or of representing rather, follow our minds. We may, by a great effort of abstraction, throw them off. It is for a moment. They return, and hold habitual dominion in our thoughts.
TALBOYS.
Milton has boldly given such determinate Shape, as to constitute a seeming reality, without which he would be without power over us—who know by our senses, feel by our senses—i. e. habitually attach feelings moved by things inward to things outward; as our love, moved by a soul, to a face.
NORTH.
It is remarkable that Poetry, which above all human discourse calls out into our Consciousness the Divinity that stirs within us, at the same time casts itself with delight into the Corporeal Senses, as if the two Extremes met, or that either balanced the others. We see a reason in this. Passion cleaves to the perceptions of the Senses. Upon these impressions Imagination still feeds and lives.
SEWARD.
Moreover, Nature herself shows us Man, now half as the Child, now half as the victim, now half as the victor—of his place.
TALBOYS.