Sonnet 08 poem – John Milton poems

VIII Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms, Whose chance on these defenceless dores may sease, If ever deed of honour did thee please, Guard them, and him within protect from harms, He can requite thee, for he knows the charms That call Fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spred […]

Sonnet 07 poem – John Milton poems

VII How soon hath Time the suttle theef of youth, Stoln on his wing my three and twentith yeer! My hasting dayes flie on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew’th, Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv’d so near, And inward ripenes […]

Sonnet 06 poem – John Milton poems

VI Giovane piano, e semplicetto amante Poi che fuggir me stesso in dubbio sono, Madonna a voi del mio cuor l’humil dono Faro divoto; io certo a prove tante L’hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante, De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono; Quando rugge il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono, S ‘arma di se, e d’ […]

Sonnet 05 poem – John Milton poems

V Per certo i bei vostr’occhi Donna mia Esser non puo che non fian lo mio sole Si mi percuoton forte, come ci suole Per l’arene di Libia chi s’invia, Mentre un caldo vapor (ne senti pria) Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, Che forsi amanti nelle lor parole Chiaman sospir; io […]

Sonnet 04 poem – John Milton poems

IV Diodati, e te’l diro con maraviglia, Quel ritroso io ch’amor spreggiar solea E de suoi lacci spesso mi ridea Gia caddi, ov’huom dabben talhor s’impiglia. Ne treccie d’oro, ne guancia vermiglia M’ abbaglian si, ma sotto nova idea Pellegrina bellezza che’l cuor bea, Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia Quel sereno fulgor d’ […]

Sonnet 03: Canzone poem – John Milton poems

Ridonsi donne e giovani amorosi M’ occostandosi attorno, e perche scrivi, Perche tu scrivi in lingua ignota e strana Verseggiando d’amor, e conie t’osi ? Dinne, se la tua speme sia mai vana E de pensieri lo miglior t’ arrivi; Cosi mi van burlando, altri rivi Altri lidi t’ aspettan, & altre onde Nelle […]

Sonnet 03 poem – John Milton poems

III Qual in colle aspro, al imbrunir di sera L’avezza giovinetta pastorella Va bagnando l’herbetta strana e bella Che mal si spande a disusata spera Fuor di sua natia alma primavera, Cosi Amor meco insu la lingua snella Desta il fior novo di strania favella, Mentre io di te, vezzosamente altera, Canto, dal mio […]

Sonnet 02 poem – John Milton poems

II Donna leggiadra il cui bel nome honora L’herbosa val di Rheno, e il nobil varco, Ben e colui d’ogni valore scarco Qual tuo spirto gentil non innamora, Che dolcemente mostra si di fuora De suoi atti soavi giamai parco, E i don’, che son d’amor saette ed arco, La onde l’ alta tua […]

Sonnet 01 poem – John Milton poems

I O Nightingale, that on yon bloomy Spray Warbl’st at eeve, when all the Woods are still, Thou with fresh hope the Lovers heart dost fill, While the jolly hours lead on propitious May, Thy liquid notes that close the eye of Day, First heard before the shallow Cuccoo’s bill Portend success in love; […]

Song On May Morning poem – John Milton poems

Now the bright morning Star, Dayes harbinger, Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her The Flowry May, who from her green lap throws The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose. Hail bounteous May that dost inspire Mirth and youth, and warm desire, Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing, Hill and Dale, […]

Samson Agonistes poem – John Milton poems

Of that sort of Dramatic Poem which is call’d Tragedy. TRAGEDY, as it was antiently compos’d, hath been ever held the gravest, moralest, and most profitable of all other Poems: therefore said by Aristotle to be of power by raising pity and fear, or terror, to purge the mind of those and such like […]

Psalm 88 poem – John Milton poems

Lord God that dost me save and keep, All day to thee I cry; And all night long, before thee weep Before thee prostrate lie. Into thy presence let my praier With sighs devout ascend And to my cries, that ceaseless are, Thine ear with favour bend. For cloy’d with woes and trouble store […]

Psalm 87 poem – John Milton poems

Among the holy Mountains high Is his foundation fast, There Seated in his Sanctuary, His Temple there is plac’t. Sions fair Gates the Lord loves more Then all the dwellings faire Of Jacobs Land, though there be store, And all within his care. City of God, most glorious things Of thee abroad are spoke; […]

Psalm 86 poem – John Milton poems

Thy gracious ear, O Lord, encline, O hear me I thee pray, For I am poor, and almost pine With need, and sad decay. Preserve my soul, for *I have trod Heb. I am good, loving, Thy waies, and love the just, a doer of good and Save thou thy servant O my God […]

Psalm 85 poem – John Milton poems

Thy Land to favour graciously Thou hast not Lord been slack, Thou hast from hard Captivity Returned Jacob back. Th’ iniquity thou didst forgive That wrought thy people woe, And all their Sin, that did thee grieve Hast hid where none shall know. Thine anger all thou hadst remov’d, And calmly didst return From […]

Psalm 84 poem – John Milton poems

How lovely are thy dwellings fair! O Lord of Hoasts, how dear The pleasant Tabernacles are! Where thou do’st dwell so near. My Soul doth long and almost die Thy Courts O Lord to see, My heart and flesh aloud do crie, O living God, for thee. There ev’n the Sparrow freed from wrong […]

Psalm 83 poem – John Milton poems

Be not thou silent now at length O God hold not thy peace, Sit not thou still O God of strength We cry and do not cease. For lo thy furious foes now *swell And *storm outrageously, *Jehemajun. And they that hate thee proud and fill Exalt their heads full hie. Against thy people […]

Psalm 82 poem – John Milton poems

God in the *great *assembly stands *Bagnadath-el Of Kings and lordly States, Among the gods* on both his hands. *Bekerev. He judges and debates. How long will ye *pervert the right *Tishphetu With *judgment false and wrong gnavel. Favouring the wicked by your might, Who thence grow bold and strong? *Regard the *weak and […]

Psalm 81 poem – John Milton poems

To God our strength sing loud, and clear, Sing loud to God our King, To Jacobs God, that all may hear Loud acclamations ring. Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song The Timbrel hither bring The cheerfull Psaltry bring along And Harp with pleasant string. Blow, as is wont, in the new Moon With Trumpets […]

Psalm 80 poem – John Milton poems

Thou Shepherd that dost Israel keep Give ear in time of need, Who leadest like a flock of sheep Thy loved Josephs seed, That sitt’st between the Cherubs bright Between their wings out-spread Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, And on our foes thy dread. In Ephraims view and Benjamins, And in […]

Psalm 08 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 14. 1653. O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth? So as above the Heavens thy praise to set Out of the tender mouths of latest bearth, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou Hast founded strength because of all thy foes […]

Psalm 07 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 14. 1653. Upon The Words Of Chush The Benjamite Against Him. Lord my God to thee I flie Save me and secure me under Thy protection while I crie Least as a Lion (and no wonder) He hast to tear my Soul asunder Tearing and no rescue nigh. Lord my God if […]

Psalm 06 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 13. 1653. Lord in thine anger do not reprehend me Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct; Pity me Lord for I am much deject Am very weak and faint; heal and amend me, For all my bones, that even with anguish ake, Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore And thou […]

Psalm 05 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 12. 1653. Jehovah to my words give ear My meditation waigh The voyce of my complaining hear My King and God for unto thee I pray. Jehovah thou my early voyce Shalt in the morning hear Ith’morning I to thee with choyce Will rank my Prayers, and watch till thou appear. For thou […]

Psalm 04 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 10. 1653. Answer me when I call God of my righteousness; In straights and in distress Thou didst me disinthrall And set at large; now spare, Now pity me, and hear my earnest prai’r. Great ones how long will ye My glory have in scorn How long be thus forlorn Still to […]

Psalm 03 poem – John Milton poems

Aug. 9. When He Fled From Absalom. Lord how many are my foes How many those That in arms against me rise Many are they That of my life distrustfully thus say, No help for him in God there lies. But thou Lord art my shield my glory, Thee through my story Th’ exalter […]

Psalm 02 poem – John Milton poems

Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzetti. Why do the Gentiles tumult, and the Nations Muse a vain thing, the Kings of th’earth upstand With power, and Princes in their Congregations Lay deep their plots together through each Land, Against the Lord and his Messiah dear. Let us break off; say they, by strength of hand […]

Psalm 01 poem – John Milton poems

Done into Verse, 1653. Bless’d is the man who hath not walk’d astray In counsel of the wicked, and ith’way Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat Of scorners hath not sate. But in the great Jehovahs Law is ever his delight, And in his law he studies day and night. He […]

Paradise Regained: The Third Book poem – John Milton poems

So spake the Son of God; and Satan stood A while as mute, confounded what to say, What to reply, confuted and convinced Of his weak arguing and fallacious drift; At length, collecting all his serpent wiles, With soothing words renewed, him thus accosts:— “I see thou know’st what is of use to know, […]

Paradise Regained: The Second Book poem – John Milton poems

Meanwhile the new-baptized, who yet remained At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen Him whom they heard so late expressly called Jesus Messiah, Son of God, declared, And on that high authority had believed, And with him talked, and with him lodged—I mean Andrew and Simon, famous after known, With others, though in […]

Paradise Regained: The Fourth Book poem – John Milton poems

Perplexed and troubled at his bad success The Tempter stood, nor had what to reply, Discovered in his fraud, thrown from his hope So oft, and the persuasive rhetoric That sleeked his tongue, and won so much on Eve, So little here, nay lost. But Eve was Eve; This far his over-match, who, self-deceived […]

Paradise Regained: The First Book poem – John Milton poems

I, who erewhile the happy Garden sung By one man’s disobedience lost, now sing Recovered Paradise to all mankind, By one man’s firm obedience fully tried Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed, And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness. Thou Spirit, who led’st this glorious Eremite […]

Paradise Lost: Book 12 poem – John Milton poems

As one who in his journey bates at noon, Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; And Man, as from a second stock, […]

Paradise Lost: Book 11 poem – John Milton poems

Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn From his displeasure; in whose look serene, When angry most he seemed and most severe, What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone? So spake our father penitent; nor Eve Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell Before him reverent; […]

Paradise Lost: Book 10 poem – John Milton poems

Mean while the heinous and despiteful act Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can ‘scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, […]

Paradise Lost: Book 09 poem – John Milton poems

No more of talk where God or Angel guest With Man, as with his friend, familiar us’d, To sit indulgent, and with him partake Rural repast; permitting him the while Venial discourse unblam’d. I now must change Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt, And disobedience: […]

Paradise Lost: Book 08 poem – John Milton poems

The Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear So charming left his voice, that he a while Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear; Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. What thanks sufficient, or what recompence Equal, have I to render thee, divine Historian, who thus largely hast allayed The thirst I […]

Paradise Lost: Book 07 poem – John Milton poems

Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine Following, above the Olympian hill I soar, Above the flight of Pegasean wing! The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, Before the […]

Paradise Lost: Book 06 poem – John Milton poems

All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, Through Heaven’s wide champain held his way; till Morn, Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which […]

Paradise Lost: Book 05 poem – John Milton poems

Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora’s fan, Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song Of birds […]