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"But Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions. I

read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my

hands, as a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and

awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his

creatures was capable of exciting. I often referred the several

situations, as their similarity struck me, to my own. Like Adam,

I was apparently united by no link to any other being in

existence; but his state was far different from mine in every

other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect

creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of

his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire

knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but I was wretched,

helpless, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter

emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the

bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.