Paradise Lost: A Poem, in Twelve Books, Volumen1J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper; and for S. Birt, C. Hitch, J. Hodges [and seven others in London], 1750 |
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... Thessalonica has gained immortal honor by his notes upon Homer , it can be
no discredit to a graver Divine than myself to comment upon such a divine poem
as the Paradise Loft , especially after some great men , who have gone before
me ...
Unspeakable , who fitst above these Heavens 156 To us invisible , or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought , and
pow ' r divine . Speak ye who best can tell , ye sons of light , 160 Angels ; for ye ...
... th ' occasion pass Giv ' n him by this great conference to know Of things above
his world , and of their being 455 Who dwell in Heav ' n , whose excellence he
saw Transcend his own so far , whose radiant forms Divine and by Virgil , Georg .
... dance , which yonder starry sphere 620 Of planets and of fix ' d in all her
wheels Resembles nearest , mazes intricate , Eccentric , intervolv ' d , yet regular
Then most , when most irregular they seem ; And in their motions harmony divine
.
To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear , Lightning divine , ineffable ,
serene , Made answer . Mighty Father , thou thy foes 735 Justly hast in derision ,
and secure Laugh ' st at their vain designs and tumults vain , Matter to me of glory
...
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Chronicles the rise and fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. Begins with the crowning of the Son of God, moves to Lucifer's rebellion and fall, the beginning of the Earth, the birth of Adam and Eve, and how they fell prey to Satan's fraud.
Written in 10 syllable per line prose, which must have been very difficult. Milton was blind, which makes the accomplishment even more amazing. Parts of the book were wonderfully written (the battles with Satan, Eden, the creation of the Earth, the coming events as Adam and Eve are escorted from Eden by Archangel Michael), but others are difficult with many references to Greek characters. I'm sure Milton was brilliant, but those parts don't add much for me and make it seem as though he's being pretentious. I also disliked the way all the characters addressed each other: "Lo, great angel from Heaven, graceful and true of spirit." The pictures of the story in the book, while they received vast praise in the preface, were forgettable.
Still, I can't get away from the amazing work that Milton put here. My only real compliant was the blatant sexism that Adam had for Eve, assuming she was always inferior to him. That is no longer the way of the world, and I doubt Adam would have treated Eve thusly. Sin, Death. Satan, Michael and Raphael were my favorite characters, all providing memorable lines.