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The John Milton Library

The John Milton Library

By: John Milton
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About this listen

 Enter a realm where verse ascends and thought contends with eternity. The John Milton Library gathers the great works of England’s sovereign poet and sets them forth in living voice - unabridged, unhurried, and aflame with the music of epic song. Here, the fallen archangel speaks, Eden blooms and breaks, and the long struggle between light and shadow unfolds in measured lines. Let the ear become the eye. In these readings, paradise is lost and sought again, liberty wrestles with power, and the human soul stands poised between ruin and redemption. Wander through celestial courts or the silent chambers of inward vision, dwell within Milton’s vast imagination and inhabit his poetry.Public domain
Episodes
  • Samson Agonistes Section 2

    Samson Agonistes Section 2
    Mar 26 2026
    In which the Chorus beholds Samson in a forlorn and dispirited state, lamenting the tragic shift from his former heroic might and renown to a grievous captivity compounded by blindness and despair. They approach with gentle sympathy and counsel, as Samson reflects on the frailty of friendship, the torment of his shame, and the folly of trusting deceitful love, while the Chorus advises moderation in self-reproach and wonders at the causes of his downfall.
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    12 mins
  • Samson Agonistes Section 1

    Samson Agonistes Section 1
    Mar 22 2026
    In which Samson, confined and blind, muses solemnly upon his grievous condition, reflecting on the bitter contrast between his once-godlike strength and present imprisonment, while wrestling with thoughts of destiny, loss, and the burden of his own failings. In this somber solitude before the prison in Gaza, he seeks respite from the noisy festivities of his captors, grappling with the darkness that now envelops both his body and soul.
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    15 mins
  • Samson Agonistes The Preface. The Argument. The Persons.

    Samson Agonistes The Preface. The Argument. The Persons.
    Mar 18 2026
    In which the nature and dignity of Tragedy are thoughtfully expounded, affirming its moral and cathartic purpose through the stirring of pity and fear, whilst acknowledging the ancient models and the careful structure observed in this dramatic poem. The argument presented introduces the grievous plight of Samson, depicting his captivity and blindness, the solace sought in companionship, and the solemn events culminating on a day set aside by his foes in thanksgiving.
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    11 mins
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