The virtues of these well-beloved epic poems by John Milton in the seventeenth century are their uncanny style, their persistent beauty, and their epic scale. Paradise Lost is worthy of holding the title for the originator of Romantic revival through its descriptions of beautiful scenery. It holds the reader's attention through its epic tone of the vastness and evil of the devil and his demons as well as the glory of the heavenly angels. I'm sure there is much to be missed in the translation - likely many of the subtleties of the old English text. But even with the vastness of creativity and mastery of prose, I do not appreciate its subject matter. It may not blatantly stray from biblical truth, but it adds to the language of the Bible. Especially when it comes to the words of God and Jesus Christ, putting words into their mouths, however seemingly truthful, is never right for a man to do. Because of his sinful nature, man's creativity will always fall short of the perfection of God. We are not to add to the words of the Bible; it is perfect as it is. John Milton originally planned on writing about an old English King like King Arthur, and I think he should have kept to that plan.