John Milton - Paradise Lost

Whereto with speedy words th’Arch-Fiend replied…

Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool…

He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend…

The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell…

Next came one Who mourned in earnest…

All these and more came flocking…

Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess…

There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top…

Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command…

Book 2 - The Argument: The Consultation begun…

Book 2: High on a throne of royal state…

He ended frowning, and his look denounced…

War, therefore, open or concealed, alike…

Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason’s garb…

He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled…

Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish counsel…

This said, he sat; and expectation held…

The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth…

Beyond this flood a frozen continent…

Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man…

So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape…

She finished: and the subtle Fiend his lore Soon learned…

Thus saying, from her side the fatal key…

T’ whom Satan, turning boldly, thus: – Ye Powers…

Book 3 - The Argument: God sitting on his Throne…

Book 3: Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn…

Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage…

O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd…

Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace…

Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem…

No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all…

Mean while upon the firm opacous globe…

All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed…

There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps…

Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand…

Book 4 - The Argument: Satan now in prospect of Eden...

Book 4: O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw…

But say I could repent, and could obtain…

Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill…

Not that fair field Of Enna where Proserpine gathering…

O Hell! What do mine eyes with grief behold!

To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom…

So spake our general mother, and with eyes…

So saying, his proud step he scornful turned…

Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray…

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed…

These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept…

The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage…

To whom the warrior Angel soon replied

Book 5 - The Argument: Morning approacht, Eve relates to Adam…

Book 5: Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime…

Thus Eve her night Related, and thus Adam answered sad

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good…

On to their morning's rural work they haste…

Him through the spicy forest onward come…

Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb…

O Adam, One Almighty, is, from whom…

High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men…

Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled…

Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns…

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers…

So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal…

Book 6 - The Argument: Raphael continues to relate…

Book 6: All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued…

So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began…

So pondering, and from his armed peers…

Now storming fury rose…

So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus…

Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved…

He sat; and in the assembly next upstood…

Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared…

Satan beheld their plight…

Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved…

So said he, o’er his scepter bowing, rose…

So spake the son and into terrour changed…

Book 7 - The Argument: Raphael at the request of Adam…

Book 7: Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name…

Great things, and full of wonder in our ears…

At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought…

Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand…

He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then…

And God said, Let the waters generate…

The sixth, and of creation last arose…

Here finished he, and all that he had made…

Book 8 - The Argument: Adam inquires concerning celestial Motions…

Book 8: The Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear…

And Raphael now to Adam’s doubt proposed…

But whether thus these things, or whether not…

For Man to tell how human life began…

Sternly he pronounced The rigid interdiction…

He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain…

She heard me thus; and though divinely brought…

To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied

Book 9 - The Argument: Satan having compast the Earth…

Book 9: No more of talk where God or Angel guest…

More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built…

Now, when as sacred light began to dawn…

Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth’s Lord!

To whom thus Adam fervently replied

For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend…

So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed…

So glozed the Tempter and his proem tuned…

Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled…

Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil…

He ended; and his words replete with guile…

Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat…

To him she hasted; in her face excuse…

Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve…

Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste…

So counselled he, and both together went…

Book 10 - The Argument: Mans transgression known…

Book 10: Mean while the heinous and despiteful act…

Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose…

Which when the Lord God heard, without delay…

Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth…

So, if great things to small may be compared…

So saying he dismissed them; they with speed…

So having said, a while he stood, expecting…

Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair…

Such was their song…

O miserable of happy! Is this the end…

Yet one doubt Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die…

Thus Adam to himself lamented loud…

Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven…

But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed…

Book 11 - The Argument: The Son of God presents to his Father…

Book 11: Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood…

O Sons, like one of us Man is become…

So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate…

O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death!

But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down…

But him the gentle Angel by the hand…

Immediately a place Before his eyes appeared…

He looked, and saw a spacious plain whereon…

He looked, and saw wide territory spread…

He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed…

To whom thus Michael

The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground…

Book 12 - The Argument: The Angel Michael continues from the flood…

Book 12: As one who in his journey bates at noon…

To whom thus Michael

But first the lawless tyrant who denies…

Here Adam interposed. O sent from Heaven…

There in captivity he lets them dwell…

For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed…

So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused…

How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest…

[Music] Jenkins: Fantasia in E Minor