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At key moments in both of his epics, Milton seems to reject the type of heroism traditionally associated with the epic genre. In Paradise Lost 9 he dismisses tales that glorify destructive passions such as:
the wrauth Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursu'd Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall; or rage Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd .... (14-17) (1)
His epic will celebrate instead "the better fortitude / Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom" (9, 31-32). In Paradise Regain'd, the Son similarly claims
They err who count it glorious to subdue By Conquest far and wide, to over-run Large Countries, and in field great Battels win, But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave Peaceable Nations .... (3, 71-76)
True glory is achieved only "By deeds of peace, by wisdom eminent, / By patience, temperance" (91-92). The Son admits that he went through a stage when "victorious deeds / Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts ...." (1,215-16). But this was a youthful phase, which he left behind as he matured and realized that it was "more humane, more heavenly first / By winning words to conquer willing hearts, / And make perswasion do the work of fear" (1,221-23). In Paradise Lost, it is Satan who plays the part of the conventional epic hero, which the Son rejects for a higher form of heroism. (2) While the War in Heaven was fought in the old classical heroic mode, the apocalyptic battle between good and evil will take a more spiritual form. As Michael (himself a fierce warrior in book 6) tells Adam, the final conquest will be achieved not through a big bashout "Duel" (12,387) but "by obedience and by love"(403).