How we cite our quotes: Book Number, Line Number
Quote #7
"Here had new begun
My wand'ring, had not he who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appeared" (8.311-13)
Adam describes his movements in Paradise as a kind of "wand'ring." We encounter this word first in Book 2 with the rebel angels, and in general it has fairly negative connotations. However, Milton attempts to purge it of those connotations and use it in a more neutral, less problematic way. Sometimes wandering is just wandering.