Eclipsed by Literature
Several quotations posted prior to witnessing the eclipse on this day, 20 March 2015, Smethwick, Birmigham, UK. "The sonne and mone eclipsen both." J. Gower, Confessio Amantis , 1393. "The Night-Hag .. comes ..to dance With Lapland Witches, while the labouring Moon Eclipses at thir charms" Milton, Paradise Lost Book 2, 666 "God oftentimes leaves the brightest men in an eclipse." Thomas Fuller, The Holy State , 1642 "Blind among enemies ... Irrecoverably dark, total Eclipse." John Milton, Samson Agonistes , 1671 " Þis eclipse . þat ouer-closeþ now þe sonne. " William Langland, Piers Plowman , 1393 "These late eclipses in the Sunne and Moone portend no good to us." Shakespeare, King Lear , 1608 Thy beams, so reverend and strong Why shoulds't thou think? I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink, John Donne, The Sunne Rising The Sun Rising Busy old fool, unruly Sun, ...