In Paradise Lost, what does Michael mean when he tells Adam to: "Add Virtue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, By name to come call'd Charity, the soul Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A paradise within thee, happier far. "?

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Jeter

7 October, 17:45

In Paradise Lost, what does Michael mean when he tells Adam to: "Add Virtue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, By name to come call'd Charity, the soul Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A paradise within thee, happier far. "?

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Bradyn Kramer · Answer 1

Explanation: Although Adam and Eve are about to leave paradise, they will feel that they have never left paradise if they live in accordance with the said virtues and fulfil them daily. This means that even though they have fallen away from the grace of God, according to which they were destined to live in Paradise if they are obedient, they can still have an inner paradise in their heart, soul and mind. In the said virtues, which should be the principles of their further life, they have all the wisdom to live a happy and fruitful life. This again means that Adm and Eve will have an inner Paradise in this way, even though they are left without the outer Paradise from which they were driven.

Michael even gives evidence for this claim, which is that Satan was in Paradise with them (Adam and Eve), but he had hell in him all the time, so then, outward paradise means nothing to him anyway. It is a claim and proof that the inner Paradise is far more important.