Program #9 The Voices of Milton

A nest of singing birds. Three centuries of English verse with a doctorate from just.

The voices of Milton. This is the first of three programs devoted to the verse of

John Milton. Think of a sensitive reasonable imaginative

man who delights in music and beauty who values friendship

in man and love in woman and loyalty in both. Who is this

John Milton the Puritan the stern unyielding for those who differed from

him in religion and politics. The polygamist who sent contempt

scorn and derision for his opponents in robust language all over Europe.

The zealot who wouldn't spare his own failing eyesight when conscience told him of

his duty. We cannot hear all his voices in this program

but enough to let us appreciate his enormous range and his sensitivity. Here's

Adam with our heads.

Welcome to my words and stayed with me as I be sought the when that strange

desire of wonder in this I'm happy more than I know not whence possess the

now leave was I've never parted from my side.

As good have grown there's still a lifeless rib being as I am. Why didst

not thou the head come on me. Absolutely not to go going into such danger as I said

to Fassel them God it's not much to gainsay Now I did permit approve and

dismiss the lady in comas.

Do not boast that I'll canst not touch the freedom of my

mind with all thy charms.

Although this Corporal Ryan that has dramatically while having sees good

he has comas himself and any mortal mixture of Earth small breathed such

divine enchanting ravishment. Show us something holy lodges

in that breast and with these raptures moves the vocal air to testify his hidden

residence. How sweetly did they float upon the wings of

silence through the empty vaulted night every four hours

smoothing the raven down of darkness till it smiled.

Now Sampson from Samson and Delilah weaknesses lie

excuse and I believe it. We may still resist Felicity and go

if weakness may excuse what murder what traitor parasite incest you are

sacrilegious but may plead it and now Samson's wife

Delilah in an argument with men a woman ever goes by the words whatever be hardcore

on the words no doubt or lack of breath.

Witness when I was worried with the IPU I was not how to ration quite

mistaken in what I thought would have succeeded best let me

obtain forgiveness of these stamps afford me place to show what recompense

towards the I intend for what I have missed. Misguided.

Here's Adam once more from Paradise Lost.

Some cursing fraud of the enemy have beguiled the yet.

And me with the through and for with the

certain My resolution is to die. How can I live

without the powerful god i sweet Comverse and love so

dearly joined to live again in these wild woods full all.

Should God create another Eve. And I another real before yet. Loss

of the would never from my heart.

No no.

I feel the link of nature draw me. Flesh of flesh

bone of my bone the power.

And from that I state my never shall be parted bliss or world.

Adam's voice or Milton's Milton's of course he is

imagining Adam out of his own experience. He knew what it is to love. He had

lost a beloved wife in death.

And I thought I saw all my latest powers it's aimed brought to me like I was

so stiff from the grave whom Joe was great son to her glad husband

gave rescued from death by force though pale and

faint.

Here Milton speaks in his own person. But his love and his last made

possible the voice of Adam unprepared to face such agony.

How Milton must have loved his wife how he must have missed her. Her face

was very old.

Yet to my fancied sight love sweetness goodness in her

person shines so clear as you no face with more

delight.

But as to embrace me she inclined

I way she fled and brought

back my knight Milton's experience underlies

Adam's delight in even Book 8 of Paradise Lost and his terror when he

wakes after she has been made out of his rib and he thinks that she has left him.

God left Adam's internal side open in his trance he saw a

creature man like but of different sex so lovely fair

that what seemed fair in all the world seemed now mean or in her summed up

in her contained and in her looks and a few lines later he says

she disappeared and left me dark. I wake to find her or for ever to deplore

her loss and other pleasures of joy. When he was about

to despair suddenly behold her not far off such as I saw

in my dream. Adam is telling all this to the angel Raphael

Grace was in all her steps. Heaven in her eye in every gesture

dignity and love. Now Adam is so overwhelmed by his wonder

and joy in the splendor of Eve that the angel rebukes him warns him not to be

one by and outside not to debase love into mere carnal pleasure. Is

this our stern Milton asserting himself. It may be yet is to Milton who

remembered the loving impact of a woman on her husband's daily life. Nothing says Adam

so much delights him as those graceful acts those thousand

decencies that daily flow from all her words and actions mixed with love

and sweet compliance. Those lines were published in 16th

67. They were written by a poet who had begun to go blind some 23 years

earlier. In 16 44 he wrote that famous sonnet on his

blindness to tell us how bitter it is for a poet to lose his sight. His life not

half over before he has had time to write for the glory of God.

Before Milton the site failed completely and 652 He spent years

ignoring increasing darkness writing controversy in English and Latin and doing an

immense amount of work from 16 49 a secretary in foreign tongues to the

Council of State. That is the government of Oliver Cromwell. This he

also regarded as doing God's work if not bearing witness as opposed to God's

glory.

When I consider how my life is spent half

my days in this dark world and wide and that

one talent which is death to hide lodged with me useless

for my soul more bent to serve there with my maker and

present my true account lest he be returning chide

Doth God the exact day Labor Lite denied.

I fondly ask that's his bitter question.

He gives himself a sweet and healing answer but patience

to prevent that murmur soon replies God does not

need either man's work or his own gifts.

Who best bear his mild yoke.

They serve him best. His state is kingly.

Thousands at his bidding speed and post store land and ocean without rest.

Milton asks his question in one frame of mind. He gives himself his answer in

another one more line to come one more statement to be made.

It's the only possible consolation for a man like Milton. He recognizes his own

insignificance.

They also say who only stand and

wait for me.

This poem has a tone of tolerant irony at the poet's own expense. He

admits that his bitterness didn't just come from being unable to serve with all his powers.

There was also pride disappointment that he couldn't exhibit to the world his

intellectual and artistic glory as if the greatest powers of the

greatest in their Putin is beside divine omnipotence were needed by God.

It's a very moving poem. Only a man of Milton's integrity can say

I was proud I was stupid.

When I consider how my life is spent half

my days in this dark world and wide and that

one talent which is death to hide lodged with me useless

for my soul more bent to serve there with my maker and

present my true account lest he be returning chide

God the exact day Labor Lite denied.

I fondly ask about patience to

prevent that moment.

Soon replies God does not need either man's

work or his own gifts. Who best bear his mild

yoke.

They serve him best.

His state is kingly thousands at his bidding

speed and post or land and ocean without rest.

They also serve who only stand and wait.

How do you settle down to write an epic poem with your 50th birthday behind you when

you're blind tired when all that you were fought for and built is in ruins.

What kind of courage does it take to assert eternal Providence and

justify the ways of God to men in 17th century English.

That doesn't mean to demonstrate to men that God's methods or dealings are just.

It means to bear witness to the uncontested and

incontestable fact that God's inscrutable actions toward mankind are in

fact just that there is no hint of injustice in them.

That takes faith and courage when the stewards are back on the throne of England with the Anglican

church established in power again. Originally Paradise Lost

consisted of 10 books with eight of them finished a lesser artist might have

congratulated himself that only two more remained but Milton knew when he

settled down in his own ending darkness to start book Nine that the most difficult part

was now upon him. It must also have been one of the most painful to

imagine Adam and Eve in paradise before the fall to experience

imaginatively an inexorable chain of events involving two sinless

human beings with free will who actually chose sin and death for themselves

and for all the human race. He was certain of the justice of God

but uncertain of his own ability to treat this moment of time satisfactorily.

He seems to have been genuinely uncertain as to the reason why he aging and

blind unable to make notes forced to dictate to another's pen

was able so easily to compose a line after line paragraph after

paragraph with such an easy flow was it the heavenly muse

dictating to him in his sleep or inspiring him. Or was it all him.

John Milton The amazing thing is that this verse was unpremeditated.

If answerable style I can obtain of my celestial patroness

who during her nightly visitation and implored and dictates to me slumbering

or inspired easy my unpremeditated verse

Melton declares that he is not writing about the normal subject of epic heroic fighting

and fighting men but of the better fortitude of patients and heroic martyrdom

and so on that is of Jesus on the cross. He chose a greater

theme a higher argument.

Many of these nor skilled nor studious higher argument remaining

sufficient of itself to raise that name unless an age too

late or cold client or

years damped my intended wing depress.

And much they may fall in line. Not

hers who brings it nightly to my ear.

His style must be appropriate to his subject. He must tell how the fall took place

with grand your regret understanding showing our first parents as he called

them as entirely human as a break as a faith exhibiting so much that

makes humanity splendid and despicable especially the breach of faith.

What Has Gone Before must be abandoned. But the man who writes can never forget it.

Let him speak for himself. A mature confident but not overconfident

artist like all mature artists is taking a risk knowing that his best may

not be good enough.

No more a talk where God or angel guess with man

as with his friend familiar used to suit indulgent.

And with him partake rural repast. But meeting him the wild

venial discourse.

I know I am a strange those notes to tragic for our

distrust and breach disloyal on the part of man

revolt. And disobedience on the part of

heaven now alienated distance and

distaste anger and just rebuke. And

judgment given were brought into this world. A world of world

soon and her shadow of death. And misery

death's harbinger.

So I had to ask.

Yet argument not less but more heroic than the rock of stern

Achilles on his foe pursued thrice fugitive about Troy wall.

Already turned its full of in-ear disposed on Neptune's

Arab or Jew knows that so long perplexed the Greek and

superiors son if answerable styli

kind of dame of my celestial patron is who dames her nightly

visitation and implored him dictates to me slumbering or

inspirers easy my unpremeditated verse.

Since first this subject for heroic song please me. Long

choosing and beginning late. Not said

EULAs by nature to indict Moore's hitherto the only argument heroic

the chief mastery to this sect with long and

tedious Havok fabled knights in battles fame and the better

fortitude of patience and heroic martyrdom

or to describe racism games or tilting furniture in plays and shields

impresses quaint comparisons and steeds bases in tins

all trappings gorgeous 90s with Joust and

tournament then Martial feast served up in hall with sewers and

center shows the scale of arty feasts or office mean

to that which justly gives heroic name to person or to Poem.

Me of these not skilled nor studious hired argument remaining

sufficient of itself to raise that name unless an age too

late or cold client or

years damp my being depressed

and much they may have all been mine not

hers who brings it nightly to my ear.

Milton found his answerable style but think about his content.

How can one fall in Adam for Adam alone as a match for the serpent.

But Eve is weak and Adam with Eve is vulnerable thanks to her

weakness. That's the way it must have happened Eve succumbs to the snakes

deception then the Adam whom we have heard so incomplete without his wife cannot

bear to be parted from her for ever forgetting that his choice should be between a

begins and disobedience. He thinks it is between life and death.

He makes his choice and brings death into the world and all our world

deceived by the serpent. Eve tastes the apple greedily Sheen gorged

without restraint and knew not eating death satiate at length

and heightened as with wine jocund and Boon thus to herself she

pleasingly began.

Or virtues pressures of war

and dies of operation blest just sat there. Let's

hear that to obscure it.

Invade and die for who is to

know and created. But henceforth my early care

not without song each morning and due praise shall tend the

and the fertile burden ease of life full branches offered

free to all to dieted by the I grow

matured in knowledge as the gods who all things know.

Let others envy what they cannot give for had the gift been

theirs it had not here thus grown. Experience next to the

best guide. Not following the I had remained in ignorance

openness wisdoms away and give us to access though secret she retire

and I perhaps am secret heaven is

high high and remote to see from thence distinct each

thing on earth. And other care perhaps may have diverted from continual watch

our great forbid a safe with all his spies about him.

But to Adam in what sort shall I appear. She lied to him make known

as yet my change and give him to partake full happiness with me

or not keep the odds of knowledge in my power without

copartner. So to add what wants in female sex the more to

draw his love. And render me more equal and perhaps

a thing not undesirable sometime superior but

inferior who is free.

This may be well. But what if God have seen

and death ensue. And I should be no more.

And Adam wedded to another Eve shall live with her enjoying I extinct.

Death to think.

Confirmed then I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss

all world. So dear I love him that with him All deaths I could

endure Without him live no life.

Here we have Milton's voice and leaves. Now here's Eve in another voice.

Has that or not wondered Adam at my stay the I have

missed and folded long deprived presence agony

of love till now not felt.

Nor shall be twice from Nevermore me united try what rash tried I sought

the pain absence from my sight

but strange has been the cause and wonderful to hear

this tree he is not as we are told a tree of danger

tasted nor to evil unknown opening the way

but of divine effect to open our eyes and make them gods who

taste.

And have been tested such the serpent wise

or not restrained as we are not a bad thing. I have eaten of the fruit

and has become not dead as we are threatened but thenceforth

endured with human voice and human sense reasoning to

admiration. And with me persuasively had so prevailed.

But I have also tasted and have also found the effects to

correspond. Open on mine eyes first

dilated spirits ampler heart. I'm growing up to Godhead

which for the ve chiefly I sought without the can

despise for lives as thou has part to me is bliss

tedious on shared with the and odious.

Wow there for all still taste. That equal lot may join us

in equal joy as equal love. Less than not tasting different

degree disjoin us. And by then too late renounced for the when fate will not

permit.

Than save with countenance ply her story told but

in her cheek distemper flushing. On the other side.

Adam. Soon as he heard the fatal trespass done by Eve

amazed us donnish stood and blank.

While hollow chill ran through his veins and all his joints relaxed.

From his slack hand the Garland raised for a down dropped

and all the faded roses shared speechless he stood

and pale to Ross at length. First to himself.

Inward silence broke.

Oh fairest of creation. The last and best of

all God's works.

Creature in whom excelled whatever can do science or thought before.

Holy divine good amiable

or sweet. How I Lost.

How.

On a sudden lost defaced deflowered

and now to death devote rather how has

that yielded to transgress the strict forbiddance. How to violate the

sacred fruit forbidden. Some cursed seed fraud of the enemy

had beguiled the yet unknown and me with the through

and for with these certain My resolution is to die.

How can I live without the powerful god i sweet Comverse and love

so dearly joined to live again in these wild woods alone

should God create another Eve. And I another real before yet. Loss

of the would never from my heart.

No no.

I feel the link of nature draw me. Flesh of flesh

bone of my bone the power from thy state mine

never shall be parted bliss or world realizing what they

have done.

They hide their nakedness before shows itself and their behavior

from thus distempered breast Adam is strange to look and altered

styled speech intimated that us to a renewed

word thou hadst hearken to my words and stayed with me as I best sought the

when that strange desire of wandering this unhappy morn I know not whence

possess these. We had then remained still happy not as

now despoiled of all our God shame make it

miserable leaden henceforth seek needless calls to

approve the fate they are when earnestly they seek such proof

conclude they don't begin to fail.

To whom soon moved with touch of blame that asked

what words have passed my lips Adam severe imputes that to my

default all will of wondering has now caused it. Which Who knows but might as well have happened are being

by myself perhaps. Has that been there. Oh here they attend thou

couldst not to discern fraud in the serpent. Speaking as he spake no ground of enmity

between us known why you should mean me ill or seek to harm was I'd have never

parted from my side. As good have grown they're still a lifeless rib

being as I am. Why didst not thou the head come on me. Absolutely not to go going

into such dangers are said to Fassel them doubt its not much gain

say permit approve unfair dismissal had been

firm and fixed and by descent neither had I transgress nor vowed with me to whom then

first incensed Adam replied.

Is this the love is this the recompense of mine to the great

For leave expressed immutable went down at last not our who might have lived and

joy the motile bliss yet willingly chose rather death with thee and I are

now upgraded as the cause of thy transgressing. Not enough

superiority that I restrain what could I more eyeballs on the I

admonish the foretold the danger and the lurking enemy that lay in wait beyond this have been

force and force upon free will have here no place. But

confidence they bore they are secure no danger or to find much

of a glorious trial. Perhaps I also

see no devil did he.

But I rue that error which has become my crime now the

accuser. Thus it shall be for working women

over trusting restraint she will not brook

to herself. If we build then since you she first he's We came down troops will

accuse.

US accusations and

self condemning and of the contest

and you have been listening to the first of three programmes on

John Milton.

The readers were Jonathan Farwell Elizabeth Sheppard and Barry Boyce.

This is inviting you to be with us again next week.

This program was produced by Radio Broadcast Services of the University of Washington under a

grand from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This is the national educational radio network.