Paradise Lost: Book 1 [Full Audiobook]

book 1 of Paradise Lost this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by thomas copeland Paradise Lost 2nd edition by John Milton book one the argument this first book proposes first in brief the whole subject man's disobedience and the lost there upon a paradise wherein he was placed then touches the prime cause of his fall the serpent or rather Satan in the serpent who revolting from God and drawing to his side many legions of angels was by the command of God driven out of heaven with all his crew into the great deep which action passed over the poem Haste's into the midst of things presenting Satan with his angels now fallen into hell described here not in the center for heaven and earth Madeley supposed as not yet made certainly not yet accursed but in a place of utter darkness piteous called chaos here Satan with his angels lying on the burning lake thunderstruck and astonished after a certain space recovers as from confusion calls up him who next in order and dignity laid by him they confer of their miserable fall Satan awakens all his legions who lay till then in the same manner confounded they rise the numbers array of battle the chief leaders named according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and the countries adjoining to these Satan directs his speech comforts them with hope yet of gaining heaven but tells them lastly of a new world and new kind of creature to be created according to an ancient prophecy of rapport in heaven for their angels were long before this visible creation was the opinion of many ancient fathers to find out the truth of this prophecy and what to determine thereon he refers to a full council but his associates thence attempt pandemonium the palace of Satan rises suddenly built out of the deep the infernal peers there sit in Council of man's first disobedience and the fruit of that forbidden tree whose mortal tastes brought death into the world and all our world with loss of Eden till one greater man restore us and regained the blissful seat seeing heavenly muse that on the secret top of all red or of Sinai didst inspire that Shepherd who first taught the chosen seed in the beginning how the heavens and earth rose out of chaos or if Zion Hill delight me more and shylo his book that flowed fast by the Oracle of God I thence invoked ie to my adventurous song that with no middle flight intends to soar above the only and mount while it pursues things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme and chiefly thou spirit that does prefer before all temples the bright heart and pure instruct me for thou knowest thou from the first was present and with mighty wings outspread dove-like sets brooding on the vast abyss and made stagnant what he me is dark illumine what his low raise and support that to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal Providence and justify the ways of God to men say first for heav'n hides nothing from thy view nor the deep tract of Hell say first what cause moved our grandparents in that happy state favored of heav'n so highly to fall off from the Creator and transgress his will for one restraint lords of the world besides who first seduced them to that foul remote infernal serpent he it was whose guile stirred up with envy and revenge deceived the mother of mankind but time his pride had cast him out from heaven with all his host of revelations by whose a aspiring to set himself in glory above his peers he trusted to have equalled the most high if he opposed and with ambitious aim against the throne and monarchy of God raised impious war in heaven and battle proud with vain attempt him the almighty power hurled headlong flaming from material sky with hideous ruin and combustion down to bottomless perdition there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire who Durst defy the omnipotent to Arms nine times the space that measures day and night to mortal men he with his horrid cruel a vanquished rolling in the fiery gulf confounded though immortal but his doom reserved him to more wrath for now the thought both of lost happiness and lasting pain torments him round he throws his baleful eyes that witness huge affliction and dismay mixed with a burette pride and steadfast hate at once as far as angels can heave used the dismal situation waste and wild a dungeon horrible on all sides round as one great furnace flamed yet from those flames no light but rather darkness visible served only to discover sites of woe regions of sorrow doleful shades where peace and rest can never dwell hope never comes that comes to all but torture without end still urges and a fiery deluge fed with ever burning sulfur unconsumed such place eternal justice had prepared for those rebellious here their prison ordained in utter darkness and a portion set as far removed from God and lighter heaven as from the centre thrice to that most pole oh how unlike the play from whence they fell there the Companions of his fall or whelmed with floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire he soon discerns and weltering by his side one next himself in power and next in crime long after known in Palestine and named bales about the to whom the archenemy and thence in heaven called Satan with bold words breaking the horrid silence thus began if thou beest he but o ha all have changed from him who in the happy realms of light clothed with transcendent brightness didst outshine myriads though bright if he who mutually united thoughts and counsels equal hope and hazard in the glorious enterprise joined with me once now misery had joined an equal ruin into what hit the Seas from what height fall so much the stronger prutte he with his thunder until then who knew the force of those dire arms yet not for those nor what the potent victor in his rage can else inflict do I repent or change though changed in outward luster that fixed mind and high disdain from sense of the injured merit that with the mightiest raised me to contend and to the fierce contention brought along innumerable force of spirits armed that Durst dislike his reign and me preferring his utmost power with adverse power opposed in dubious battle on the plains of heaven and took his throne what the field be lost all is not lost the unconquerable will and studier revenge immortal hate and courage never to submit or yield than what is else not to be overcome that or II never shall his wrath or might extort from me to borrow and sue for grace with suppliant me and defy his power who from the terror of this arm so late doubted his empire that were low indeed that were in ignominy and shame beneath this doubtful since by fate a strength of gods and this imperial substance cannot fail since through experience of this great event in arms not worse in foresight much advanced we may with more successful hope resolved to wage by force or guile eternal war irreconcilable to our grand fo who now triumph and in the excessive joy sole reigning holds the tyranny of heaven so spake the post at angel though in pain bonding allowed but wracked with deep despair and him thus answered soon his bold compare Oh Prince full chief of many thrown aid powers that led them battle seraphim to war under the conduct and in dreadful deeds fearless endangered heavens perpetual king and put to prove his high supremacy whether upheld by strength or chance or fate - well I see Andrew the dire event that with sad overthrow and fouled teeth lost as heaven and all this mighty host in horrible destruction laid thus low as far as gods and heavenly essences can perish for the mind and spirit remains invincible and vigorous soon returns though all our glory extinct and happy state here swallowed up in endless misery but what if he our Conqueror whom I now a force believe Almighty since no less than such food overpowered such forces hours have left this our spirit and strength and tire strongly to supper and support our pains that we may so suffice his vengeful ire or do him mightier service as his thrall by right of war but ere his business be here in the heart of hell to work in fire or do his errands in the gloomy demon what can it then avail though yet we feel strength undiminished or eternal being to undergo eternal punishment where to with speedy words Archfiend replied Paul never to be weak is miserable doing or suffering but of this is sure to do all good never will be our task but ever to do ill our sole delight as being the contrary to his high will whom we resist if then his providence out of our evil seek to bring forth good our labor must be to pervert that end and out of good still to find means of evil which oft times may succeed so as perhaps shall grieve him if I fail not and disturb is in most councils from their destiny but see the angry Victor has recalled his ministers of vengeance and pursuit back to the gates of heaven the sulfurous hail shot after us in storm or blown hath laid the thyri surge that from the precipice of heaven received us falling and the Thunder winged with red lightning and impetuous rage perhaps had spent his shouts and ceases now to bellow through the vast and boundless deep let us not slip occasion whether scorn or say fury yielded from our foe sea stallion dreary plain forlorn and while the seat of desolation void of light say what the glimmering of these livid flames casts pale and dreadful neither let us ten from off the tossing of these fiery waves their rest if any rest and Harbor there and reassembling our afflicted powers consultant how he may henceforth most offend our enemy our own loss our repair how overcome this dire calamity what reinforcements we may gain from hope if not what resolution from despair thus Satan talking to his nearest mate with head up lift above the wave and eyes the sparkling blazed his other parts besides prone on the flood extended long and large lay floating many a rude in both as huge as whom the fables name of monstrous size titania nor earth born that Ward on Joel Riario sought - from the den by ancient Tarsus held all that sea beast Leviathan which God of all his works created hugest the Swale ocean stream him happily slumbering on the Norway foam the pilot of some small night foundered skiff deeming some island ah let's see men tell with dicks at anchor in his scaly rind moves by his side under the lead while night invests the sea and wish at morn delays so stretched out huge in length the Archfiend lay chained on the burning Lee nor ever thence had risen or heaved his head but that the will and high permission of all ruling heav'n left him at large to his own dark designs that with reiterated crimes he might heap on himself damnation while he sought evil to others and enraged might see how all his malice served but to bring forth infinite goodness grace mercy shown on man by him seduce but on himself treble confusion wrath and vengeance poured both with of right ear ears from off the pool his mighty stature on each hand the flames driven backwards sloped there pointing spires and rolled billows leaveth midst a horrid veil then with expanded wings he steers his flight aloft incumbent on the dusky air that felt unusual wait till on dry land he lights if it were land that ever burned with solid as the lake with liquid fire and such appeared in hue as when the force of subterranean wind transports a hill torn from Pelorus or the shattered side of thundering Etna who was combustible and fuel dint rose thence conceiving fire sublimed with mineral fury ade the winds and leave ass injured bottom all involved with stench and smoke such resting found the soul of unblessed feet him followed his next mate both glorying to have scape the Stygian flood as gods and by their own recovered strength not by the sufferance of supernal power is this the region this the soil the climb said then the Lost Ark Angel this the sea we must change for heaven this mournful gloom for that celestial light being so since he who now is sovereign can dispose and bid what shall be right farthest from him is best whom reason at equal force that made supreme above his equals farewell happy fields where joy forever dwells hail horrors hail infernal world and thou profoundest hell received thy new possessor one who brings a mind not to be changed by place or time the mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of Hell the hell of heaven what matter where if I be still the same and what I should be all but less than he whom Thunder hath made greater here at least we shall be free though Almighty had not built here for his envy will not drive us ends here we may reign secure and in my choice to reign is worth ambition though in hell better to reign in Hell than serve in heaven but wherefore let me then our faithful friends dissociates and Co partners of our law slide thus astonished on the oblivious pool and call them not to share with us their part in this unhappy mansion or once more with rallied arms to try what may be yet regained in heaven or what more lost in L so Satan's fake and him bails above thus answer'd leader of those armies bright which but omnipotent none could have oil once they hear that voice their liveliest pledge of hope in fears and dangers heard so often worst extremes and on the perilous edge of battle when it rage in all assaults their surest signal they will soon resume new courage and revived though now they like ruffling and prostrate on yon lake of fire as we are while astounded and amazed the wonder falls at a pernicious height he scarce it ceased when the superior fiend was moving toward the shore his ponderous field at Theory L temper masse large and round behind him cast the broad circumference hung on his shoulders like the moon whose orb through optic glass the tuscan artist views at evening from the top of face of a or in baldano to descry new lands rivers or mountains in her spotty globe his spear to equal which the tallest pine you know Norwegian Hills to be the mast of some great amaura were but a wand he walked with to support uneasy steps over the burning marl not like those steps on heavens ashore and the torrid clime smote on him saw besides vaulted with fire now the less he so endured till on the beach of that inflamed see he stood and called his legions angel forms who lay entranced thickest of thomna leaves that stro the Brooks in vellum broza with the turian shades high over arched in Bower or scattered sedge afloat when but fierce winds Orion armed hath next the red sea coast whose waves or crew view Cyrus and his Memphian chivalry while with perfidious hatred they pursued the soldiers of Goshen who beheld from the safe shore there floating carcasses and broken chariot wheels so thick mr. own abject and lost ladies covering the flood under amazement of their hideous change he called so loud that all the hollow deep of Hell resounded Prince's potentates warriors the flower of heaven once yours now lost if such astonishment as this can seize eternal spirits or have you chosen this place after the toil of battle to repose your weary virtue for the ease you'll find a slumber here as in the veils of Evan or in this abject posture have he sworn to adore the Conqueror who doubt me holds cherubim Seraphim falling in the flood with scattered arms and henson's till anon his Swift pursuers from heaven gates discern advantage and descending tread us down thus drooping or with Lincoln Thunderbolts transfix us to the bottom of this gulf awake rise or be for ever fall they heard and were abashed and up they sprung upon the wing as when men want to watch on duty sleeping found by whom they dread roused and bestir themselves there will awake nor did they not perceive the evil plight in which they were or the fierce pains not feel yet to their generals voice they soon obeyed innumerable was when the potent rod of AMRAAMs in Egypt's evil day waved round the coast up called a pitchy cloud of locusts warping on the eastern wind that or the realm of impious Pharaoh hung like night and darkened all the land of Nile so numberless were those bad angels seen hovering on winged under the cope of hell to occur nether and surrounding fires till as a signal given uplifted spear of their great Sultan waving to direct their course in even balance down they light on the firm brimstone and fill all the plain a multitude like which the populous north poured never from her frozen loins to passerine or the Danna when her barbarous sons came like a deluge on the south and spread beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands forthwith from every squadron and each band the heads and leaders thither haste were stood their great commander god-like shapes and forms excelling human princely dignities and powers that erst in heav'n sat on Thrones though of their names in heavenly records now be no memorial blotted out and raised by the rebellion from the books of life nor had they yet among the sons of Eve got the new names till wandering all the earth through God's high sufferance for the trial of man by falsities and lies the greatest part of mankind they corrupted to forsake God the Creator and invisible glory of him that made them to transform off to the image of a brute adorned with gay religions full of pomp the gold and Devils to adorn four deities then were they known to men by various names and various idols through the heathen world same use their names then known who first who last roused from the slumber on that fiery couch at the great emperors call as next in worth came singly where he stood on the bare strand while the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof the chief were those who from the pit of hell roaming to seek their prey on earth Durst fix their seats long after next the seat of God their altars by his altar God's adored among the nations round and Durst abide Jehovah thundering out of Zion throne between the cherubim yay often placed within his sanctuary itself their shrines of Bhama nations and with cursor things his holy rites and solemn feasts profaned and with their darkness Durst affront his light first Moloch horrid King be smeared with blood of human sacrifice and parents tears though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud their children's cries on heard that passed through fire to his grim idol him the ammonite worshipped in rabaa and her watery plain in our garb and in basin to the stream of utmost Arnim nor content with such audacious neighbourhood the wisest heart of Solomon he led by fraud to build his temple right against the temple of God on that opprobrious hill and made his Grove the Pleasant Valley of Hinnom TOFA dense and black Gehenna called the type of Hell next chemos obscene dread of Moab sons from Arawa to Nebo and the wild of southmost a Burin in Hezbollah in Haran ay'm Zeon's realm beyond the flowery Dale of Simba clad with vines and ely a lee to this faulty fool peor his other name when he enticed Israel and sit him on their march from Nile to do him wanton rites which cost them whoa yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged even to that hill of scandal by the grove of Moloch homicide lust heart by eight - good Josiah drove them thence to hell with these came they who from the bordering flood of old Freitas to the brook the parts Egypt from Syrian ground had general names of Balaam and Ashtaroth those male these feminine for spirits when they please can either sex assume or both so soft and uncompounded is their essence pure not tied or manacled with joint or limb nor founded on the brittle strength of bones like cumbrous flesh but in what shape they choose deleted or condensed bright or obscure can execute their Airy purposes and works of love or enmity fulfilled for those the race of Israel oft forsook their living strength and unfrequented left his righteous altar bowing lowly down to bestial gods for which their head says lo bow down in battle sunk before the sphere of desperate folks with these in truth came asteroth whom the Phoenicians called a start a queen of heaven with prescient horns to whose bright image nightly by the moon said only in virgins paid their vows and songs in cyan also not unsung where stood her temple on the ffensive mountain built by that of Soria sking whose harp though large beguiled by fair idolatrous fell to idols fowl Thomas came next behind whose annual wound in Lebanon eluard the Syrian damsels to lament his fate in amorous ditties all a summers day while smooth adonis from his native rock ran purple to the sea supposed with blood of thumb as yearly wounded the love tear infected silenced daughters with like heat whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Ezekiel saw when by the vision led his I surveyed the dark idolatries of alienated Judah next came one who warned in earnest when the captive art maimed his brute image hidden hands locked off in his own temple on the grunts allege where he fell flat and shamed worshipers jeg on his name seamonster upward man and downward fish yet had his temple hi Riordan Azotus dreaded to the coast of Palestine in Gath and Ascalon and Acheron and goss's frontier bounds him followed women whose delightful seat was fair Damascus on the Fertile banks of Ivana and far far lucid streams he also against the house of God was bold a leper once he lost and gained a king ahaz his SATA Sh Conqueror whom he drew God's altar to disparage and displace for one of Syrian mode were unto burn his odious offerings and adorn the gods whom he had vanquished after these appeared a crew who under names of old renowned Osiris Isis or 'san dere trained with monstrous shapes and sorceries abused fanatic echip Teta priests to seek the wandering gods disguised in brutish forms rather than human nor did israel escaped infection when their borrowed gold composed the calf in orem and the rebel king doubled that sin in bethel and in dan likening his maker to the greys adopts jehovah who in one night when he passed from egypt marching equaled with one stroke both her firstborn and all her bleating gods Belial came last the Numa spirit more lewd fell not from heaven or more gross tool of Vice for itself to him no temple stood or altar smoked yet who more often he in temples and at altars when the priest turns atheist as Doody lies sons who filled with lust and violence the house of God in courts and palaces he also reigns and in luxurious cities where the noise of riot ascends above the loftiest towers and injury and outrage and when night darkens the streets then wander forth the sons of Belial flow with insolence and wine witness the streets of Sodom and that night in Libya when hospitable doors yielded the matrons to prevent worse rape these were the prime in order and in might the rest were long to tell though far renowned they only in God's of Jawbone's issue held God's yet confessed later than heaven and earth their boasted parents tighten heavens first born with his enormous brood and birthright seized by younger Saturn he from mightier Jove his own Andrea's Sun like measure found so Jove usurping reigned these first entreated Ida known then some a snowy top of cold Olympus ruled the middle air their highest heaven or on the Delphian cliff or ended ona and through all the bounds of Doric land or who with Saturn old fled over Adria to this barian fields and all the celtic roamed the utmost isles all these and more came flocking but with looked down cast and damp yeah such were in appeared obscure some glimpse of joy to have found the chief not in despair to have found themselves not lost in loss itself which on his countenance cast like doubtful hue but he has wanted pride soon recollecting with high words that bore semblance of worth not substance gently raised their fainted courage and dispelled their fears then straight commands that at the warlike sound of trumpets loud and Clarion's be up reared his mighty standard that proud honor claimed as özil as his right the cherub tall who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled imperial ensign which full high advanced Shon like a meteor streaming to the wind with gems and golden lustre rich emblazed seraphic arms and trophies all the while sonorous metal blowing martial sounds at which the universal host up sent a shout the tour hell's concave and Beyond freighted the reign of chaos and old night all in a moment through the gloom were seen 10,000 banners rise into the air with orient colors waving with them rose a forest huge of Spears and thronging Helms appeared and serried shields in thick array of depth immeasurable non they move in perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood of flutes and soft recorders such as raised to heighth of noblest temper heroes old arming to battle and instead of rage deliberate valor brie firm and unmoved with dread of death to flight or foul retreat nor wanting power to mitigate and swage with solemn touches troubled thoughts and chase anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain from mortal or immortal minds thus they breathing United force with fix-it thought moved on in silence to soft pipes the charm the painful steps or the burnt soil and now advanced in view they stand a hearted front of dreadful length and dazzling arms in guise of warriors old with ordered spear and shield awaiting what command the mighty chief had to impose he threw the armored files darts his experienced eye soon traverse the whole battalion views their order due the visages and stature as of gods the number last his sons now his heart distends with pride and hardening in his strength glories for never since created man at such embodied forces named with these could merit more than that small infantry war Don by cranes though all the giant brood of Flegrei with the row acress with joined that fought at thebes at ilium on each side mixed with auxiliar gods and what resounds in fable of romance of uther sung begirt with British and armoire ignites and all who since baptized or infidel justed in a sperm on tour Montalban damasco or Morocco or Trebizond or whom bizerta sent from Africa Shore when Charlemagne with all his peerage fell by Fanta Rabia thus far these beyond compare of mortal prowess yet observed the great commander he above the rest in shape and gesture proudly eminent stood like a tower his form had not yet lost all her original brightness nor appeared less than Archangel ruined and excess of glory obscured as when the Sun knew risen looked through the horizontal misty air shorn of his beams or from behind the moon in dim Eclipse disastrous Twilight sheds on half the nations and with fear of change perplexes monarchs darken so yet Shaun above them all dark angel but his face deep scars of thunder had entrenched and Kerr sat on his faded cheek but under brows of dauntless courage and considerate pride waiting revenge truly as I but cast signs of remorse and passion to behold the fellows of his crime the followers rather far other once beheld in bliss condemned forever now to have their lot in pain millions of spirits for his fault immersed of heaven and from eternal splendors flung for his revolt yet faithful how they stood the glory withered as when heavens fire had stayed the forest Oaks or mountain pines with singe atop their stately growth though bare stands on the blasted Heath he now prepared to speak for at their doubled ranks they bend from wing to wing and have enclose him round with all his peers attention held them mute thrice he essayed and thrice in spite of scorn tears such as aim we burst forth at last words interwove with sighs found out their way o myriads of immortal spirits o powers matchless but with almighty and that strike was not inglorious though the event was dire as this place testifies and this dire change April to utter but what power mine for seeing or proceeding from the depth of knowledge past or present could have feared how such United force of gods how such as stood like these could ever no repulse for who can yet believe though after loss that all these quiescent legions whose exile hath emptied heaven shall fail to resend self raised and repossessed their native seat for me be witness all the hosts of heaven if counsels different or dangers shunned by me have lost our hopes but he who reigns monarch in heaven till then as one secured sat on his throne upheld by old repute consent or custom and his regal state put forth at full but still his strength concealed which tempted our attempt and rot our fall and sport his might we know and know our own so as not either to provoke or dread new war provoked our better part remains to work in close design by fraud or guile but force affected not that he no mass at length from us may find who overcomes by force has overcome but half his fall space may produce new worlds were of so rife their winter Fame in heaven that he ere long intended to create and therein plant a generation whom his choice regard should favor equal to the sons of heaven neither if but deprive shall be perhaps our first eruption litter Oh elsewhere for this infernal pit shall never hold celestial spirits and bondage north abyss long under darkness cover but these thoughts full counsel must mature peace is despair for who can think submission war then war open or understood must be resolved he spake and to confirm his words out flew millions of flaming swords drawn from the thighs of my teacher of him the sudden blaze far rounded human hell highly they raged against the highest and fierce with grasp it arms clashed and they're sounding shields that din of war hurling defiance toward the vault of heaven there stood a hill not far whose grisly top belched fire and rolling smoke the rest entire Shan with a glassy scurf undoubted sign that in his womb was hid metallic or the work of sulfur they their winged with speed a numerous Brigid hastened as when bands of pioneers with spade and pickaxe armed for run the royal camp to trench a field or cast a rampart Mammon led them on Mammon the least erected spirit that fell from heaven for even in heav'n his looks and thoughts were always downward bent admiring more the riches of Heaven's pavement trodden gold than aught divine or wholly else enjoyed in vision beatific by him first men also and by his suggestion taught ransacked the center and with impious hands rifled the bowels of the mother earth for treasures better he'd soon had his crew opened into the hill a spacious wound and digged out ribs of gold but none admire that riches grow in hell that soil may best deserve the precious pain and here let those who boast in mortal things and wondering tell of Babel and the works of Memphian Kings learn how their greatest monuments of Fame and strength and art are easily outdone by spirits reprobate and in an hour what in an age they with incessant toil and hands innumerable scarce performed nigh on the plain in many cells prepared that underneath had veins of liquid fires loosed from the lake a second multitude with wondrous art founded the Massey or severing each kind and scum the bullion draws a third as soon had formed within the ground of various mold and from the boiling cells by strange conveyance filled each Olynyk as in an organ from one blast of wind to many a row of pipes the soundboard breathes and on out of the earth a fabric huge rose like an exhalation with the sound of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet built like a temple where pilaster round was set and Doric pillars overlaid with golden architrave nor did their want cornice or fries with bossy sculptures graven the roof was fretted gold not Babylon nor great al Cairo such magnificence equaled in all their glory 'he's to enshrine bailiffs or Serapis their gods or seat their kings when egypt with a serious strove in wealth and luxury the sending pile stood fixed her stately height and straight the doors opening their brazen folds discover wide within her ample spaces or the smooth and level pavement from the orchard roof pendent by subtle magic many arose story lamps and blazing crescents fed with naphtha us falters yielded liked us from a sky the hasty multitude admiring entered and the work some praised and some the architect his hand was known in heaven by many a towered structure high where sceptered angels held the residence and satyrs princes when the supreme king exalted to such power and gave to rule each in his Haraki the orders bright nor was his name unheard or unadorned in ancient Greece and in our Sounion land men called him mal silver and how he fell from heaven they fabled throne by angry Joe shear all the crystal battlements from morn to noon he fell from noon to dewy a summers day and with the Setting Sun dropped from the zenith like a falling star on Lemnos the G a Nile thus they relate hurrying for he with this rebellious route fell long before nor aught availed him now to have built in heaven high towers nor did he escape by all his engines but was headlong sent with his industrious crew to build in hell meanwhile the winged it heralds by command of sovereign power with awful ceremony and trumpet sound throughout the host proclaim a solemn council both with to be held at pandemonium the high capital of Satan and his peers their summons called from every band and squared regimen by place or choice the worthiest they anon with hundreds and with thousands trooping came attended all excess was thronged the gates and porches why but chief the spacious Hall though like a cupboard field where champions bowl when tried in armed and at the sold ins chair defied the best of pain in chivalry to mortal combat or career with Lance thick swarm both on the ground and in the air brushed with the hiss of rustling wings as bees in springtime when the Sun with taurus rides pour forth the populous youth about the hive in clusters they among fresh dues and flowers fly to and fro or on the smooth at plank the suburb of their straw build citadel new rubbed with balm expatiate and confer their state affairs so thick the airy crowds and was straightened till the signal given behold a wonder they but now who seemed in bigness to surpass Earth's giant Suns now less than smallest Dwarfs in narrow room throng numberless like that pygmy erased beyond the Indian mount or fairy elves whose midnight revels by a forest sod or fountain some belated peasant sees or dreams he sees while overhead the moon sits Arbit rest's and nearer to the earth we lose her pale course they on the mirth and dance in tent with jock and music charm Azir at once with joy and fear his heart rebounds thus in corporeal spirits to smallest forms reduced their shapes immense and were at large though without number still amidst the hall of that infernal court but far within and in their own dimensions like themselves the great seraphic lords and cherubim in closed recess and secret Conclave sat a thousand demigods on golden seats frequent and full after short silence then and summons read the great consult began notes liens 504 505 hospitable doors yielded their matrons was the hospitable door exposed a matron in 1674 9 530 fainted is fainting fainting lacking the eye in 1674 line 703 founded is found out in 1674 line 737 hierarchy is hierarchy in 1674 the end of the first book recording by Thomas Copeland book 1 of Paradise Lost this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org org recording by Thomas Copeland Paradise Lost 2nd edition by John Milton book one the argument this first book proposes first in brief the whole subject man's disobedience and the loss thereupon a paradise wherein he was placed then touches the prime cause of his fall the serpent or rather Satan in the serpent who revolting from God and drawing to his side many legions of angels was by the command of God driven out of heaven with all his crew into the great deep which action passed over the poem Haste's into the midst of things presenting Satan with his angels now fallen into hell described here not in the center for heaven and earth made me suppose does not yet made certainly not yet accursed but in a place of utter darkness fiddly as called chaos here Satan with his angels lying on the burning lake thunderstruck and astonished after a certain space recovers as from confusion calls up him who next in order and dignity led by him they confer of their miserable fall Satan awakens all his legions who lay till then in the same manner confounded they rise the numbers array of battle the chief leaders named according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and the countries adjoining to these Satan directs his speech comforts them with hope yet of gaining heaven but tells them lastly of a new world and new kind of creature to be created according to an ancient prophecy of rapport in heaven for their angels were long before this visible creation was these of light clothed with transcendent brightness didst outshine Miriam's though bright if he who mutually united thoughts and counsels equal hope and hazard in the glorious Enterprise joined with me once now misery had joined an equal ruin into what hid the Seas from what high fall so much the stronger prutte he with his thunder until then who knew the force of those dire arms yet not for those nor what the potent victor in his rage can else inflict do I repent or change though changed in outward lustre that fixed mind and high disdain from sense of the injured merit that with the mightiest raised me to contend and to the fierce contention brought along innumerable force of spirits armed that Durst dislike his reign and me preferring his utmost power with adverse power of posed in dubious battle on the plains of heaven and took his throne what the the field be lost all is not lost the unconquerable will and study of revenge immortal hate and courage never to submit or yield and what is else not to be overcome that glory never shall his wrath or might extort from me to bow and sue for grace with suppliant me and defy his power who from the terror of this arm so late doubted his empire that were low indeed but heaven hides nothing from thy view nor the deep tract of hell say first what cause moved our grandparents in that happy state favored of heav'n so highly to fall off from the Creator and transgress his will for one restraint lords of the world besides who first seduced them to that foul remote infernal serpent he it was whose guile stirred up with envy and revenge deceived the mother of mankind but time his pride had cast him out from heaven with all his host of rebel angels by whose aid aspiring to set himself in glory above his peers he trusted to have equalled the Most High if he opposed and with ambitious aim again the throne and monarchy of God raised impious war in heaven and battle proud with vain attempt him the almighty power hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky with hideous ruin and combustion down to bottomless perdition there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire who Durst defy the omnipotent two arms nine times the space that measures day and night to mortal men he with his horrid cruel a vanquished rolling in the fiery gulf confounded though immortal thought his doom reserved him to more wrath for now the thought both of lost happiness and lasting pain torments him round he throws his baleful eyes that witnessed huge affliction and dismay mixed with a burette pride and steadfast hate at once as far as angels can heave used the dismal situation waste and wild a dungeon horrible when all sides round as one great furnace flamed yet from those flames no light but rather darkness visible served only to discover sites of woe regions of sorrow doleful shades where peace and rest can never dwell hope never comes that comes to all but torture without end still urges and a fiery deluge fed with ever burning sulfur unconsumed such place eternal justice had prepared for those rebellious here their prison ordained in utter darkness and a portion set as far removed from God and lighter heaven as from the center thrice to that most pole oh how unlike the place from whence they fell there the Companions of his fall or whelmed with floods and whirl winds of tempestuous fire he sued discerns and weltering by his side one next himself in power and next in crime long after known in Palestine and named bales about to whom the archenemy and then sin heaven calls Satan with bold words breaking the horrid silence thus began if thou beest he but oh how Paul have changed from him who in the happy realm opinion of many ancient fathers to find out the truth of this prophecy and what to determine thereon he refers to a full council but his associates thence attempt pandemonium the palace of Satan rises suddenly built out of the deep the infernal peers there sit in Council of man's first disobedience and the fruit of that forbidden tree whose mortal tastes brought death into the world and all our world with loss of Eden till one greater man restore us and regained the blissful seat seeing heavenly muse that on the secret top of all red or of Sinai didst inspire that Shepherd who first taught the chosen seed in the beginning how the heavens and earth rose out of chaos or if Zion Hill delight me more and silo his book that flowed fast by the Oracle of God I thence invoke thy aid to my adventurous song that with no middle flight intends to soar above the only and mount while it pursues things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme and chiefly thou spirit that does prefer before all temples the bright heart and pure instruct me for thou knowest thou from the first was present and with mighty wings outspread dove-like sets brooding on the vast abyss and midst it pregnant what he me is dark illumine what his low raise and support but to the this great argument I may assert eternal Providence and justify the ways of God to men say first

Channel: Inez Clotilde

Views: 3,932

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: audio, audiobook, book, chapter, story, classic, fable, fables

Id: Y2wdyUJGouY

Length: 58min 5sec (3485 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 14 2018