Paradise Lost: Pronunciation & Meter in Book I

• "Paradise Lost" is written by John Milton and edited by Eric Armstrong.
• The pronunciations are not definitive but provide a starting point.
• Pronunciation choices are based on the meter to maintain the pentameter.
• The pronunciations are provided for unfamiliar or not obvious words.
• Not all proper nouns include transcriptions with "Taurus" being familiar enough not to warrant one.
• Before syllables starting with r, the schwa is left in diphthongs, with "Oreb" as ['ɔə uәb] rather than ['ɔə əb] or ['ɔ دǝb].
• When diphthongs precede consonants, the r-coloring version is selected as evidenced in "Archange" [aǝ 'kein dzəl].

Book I

• Focus is on Man's first disobedience and result of forbidden tree.
• This brought death and woe, as well as loss of Eden, until a greater Man can restore mankind
• The Heavenly Muse is invoked, who inspires from Oreb or Sinai.
• Invokes to inspire the shepherd, who taught how heavens and earth rose from Chaos.
• An invocation is made for help, not intending a simple song, but to pursue things unattempted yet in verse.
• The Spirit is asked to instruct, being present at the beginning, to guide his pure heart.
• The Spirit sat dove-like brooding on the Abyss and made it pregnant, and is asked to illumine darkness and to raise what is low.
• The purpose is to assert Eternal Providence and justify God's ways to men.
• Invites speaker to tell what cause moved grand parents to fall from their favored state.
• Asks who seduced them into revolt from creator, who set one restraint.
• The infernal Serpent stirred up envy and revenge.
• It deceived the mother of mankind, after his pride cast him from Heaven with rebel Angels.
• He has an ambition to equal the Most High, leading to impious war against God's throne.
• The Almighty Power hurled him flaming from the ethereal sky down to perdition in chains and fire.
• The one who dared defy the Omnipotent to arms.
• He lay vanquished in the fiery gulf for nine times the space of a day and night to mortals
• He lay confounded, although immortal, but his doom reserved more wrath.
• The thought of lost happiness and lasting pain torments, filled with pride and hate.
• The situation is dismal, waste, and wild.
• The dungeon is horrible, with flames providing darkness instead of light.
• The regions of sorrow have doleful shades where peace, rest, and hope never come.
• A torture without end urges and a fiery deluge is fed with sulfur.
• Eternal Justice prepared this place for the rebellious, far from God and Heaven.
• The companions of his fall are overwhelmed with fire.
• Next in power and crime is Beelzebub, later known in Palestine.
• The Arch-Enemy, Satan, breaks the silence with questioning.
• Questions the state of one fallen, changed from brightness, who did outshine Myriads.
• Speaks to one in mutual league, joined in hope, but now joined in misery.
• Notes the pit they have fallen into and the strength that proved He was stronger with thunder.
• No repentance or change, that the fixed mind is from injured merit, daring to contend, raising contention and bringing spirits armed.
• They opposed the reign and power, fought on the plains of Heaven, but lost the field.
• The unconquerable will remains, with revenge, hate, and courage never to submit.
• Never shall wrath or might extort glory, nor bow for grace.
• The speaker refuses to deify the power that doubted empire, deeming it ignominy beneath downfall, because the strength of Gods cannot fail.
• Through experience, war may be waged with hope, irreconcilable to the Foe.
• He triumphs and holds tyranny of Heaven.
• The apostate Angel speaks, racked with deep despair.
• The bold comrade, O Prince, is Chief of throned Powers that led Seraphim to war.
• The Seraphim, under command, dared endanger Heaven's King, putting his supremacy to proof.
• Loss of Heaven is lamented, and the host laid low, as far as Gods can perish, yet mind and spirit remain.
• Invincible and vigor soon returns, though glory and state are swallowed in misery.
• The Conqueror leaves spirit and strength entire, that they may suffer and serve his ire.
• He may do mightier service as thralls, work in fire, or do errands in the Deep.
• The question is raised if strength or being avails to undergo punishment.
• The Arch-Fiend says to be weak is miserable, doing or suffering.
• To do good will never be their task, but to do ill is their sole delight, as being the contrary to His will.
• Labour must pervert the good providence, and to find evil in good.
• Which may succeed so as to grieve Him, and disturb counsels.
• The angry Victor has recalled ministers of vengeance back to Heaven.
• The storm has ceased, and lightning has spent shafts.
• One should seize the opportunity yielded.
• One sees a dreary plain, the seat of desolation, void of light, save for flames.
• They should tend there from the fiery waves, where they might harbour rest.
• Re-assembling powers, they consult how to offend, how to repair loss, and overcome calamity.
• They seek reinforcement from hope, or resolution from despair.
• Talking to his mate, Satan raises his head, eyes blazing, body prone on flood.
• Bulk like monsters Titian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove.
• Like Briareos or Typhon, or the sea-beast Leviathan created hugest.
• The pilot of a skiff deems him an island, mooring by him.
• The Arch-fiend lay stretched out, chained on the burning lake.
• He hadn't risen but for the will and permission of Heaven to his designs.
• With reiterated crimes, he heaps damnation while seeking evil.
• His malice serves to bring forth goodness, grace, toward man, upon himself being poured confusion, wrath, and vengeance.
• Upright he rises, flames slope back, and leave a vale.
• With wings expanded he steers, and lights on land.
• It was land burned with fire, appeared as force of wind transports a hill from Pelorus.
• Or the side of Etna, whose entrails aid winds, leaving a singed bottom.
• His mate followed, glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood as gods.
• And glorying by recovered strength, not by Power
• The Archangel asks if this is the region and seat they must change for Heaven.
• Since the one who is sovereign can bid what's right: farthest from him is best.
• The Archangel bids farewell to joy, hails horrors and the infernal world.
• He brings a mind not changed by place or time, which can make a Heaven of Hell.
• If he's the same, then it doesn't matter, all but less than he whom thunder has made greater.
• Here they shall be free, the speaker says.
• The spirit says it's worth ambition to reign.
• The Archangel asks why they have let friends lie astonished, and commands to call them to share this mansion.
• The group will either try in Heaven or seek what is lost in Hell.
• Beelzebub answers, Leader, if they hear thy voice, their pledge, they will resume courage.
• He notes they lie groveling on the lake of fire.
• The superior Fiend toward the shore with shield, moving; it being ethereal, massy, large, and round.
• The shield is behind him like the moon through glass views from Fesole, and spots on the spotty globe.
• The spear like a pine from Norway makes the mast of the admiral.
• Walking over burning marl, not like steps on Heaven's azure, enduring the torrid clime so.
• He stood on the beach, and called his legions--Angel Forms are entranced.
• Thick as autumnal leaves in Vallombrosa; or sedge afloat, when winds stir up the Red-Sea.
• It stirred up coasts and waves o'erthrew Busiris and his Memphian chivalry.
• They pursued who beheld carcases and wheels from the shore, where the sojourners were.
• So thick lay these, covering the flood, amazed at their hideous change.
• He called so loud that Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost,
• Or if ye have chosen this place to repose after battle, or sworn to adore the conqueror, who beholds Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood.
• Endure scattered arms, till the swift pursuers from Heaven discern and tread you down.
• "Awake, arise, or be forever fallen!"
• They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung,Rousing themselves as men roused from sleep caught at duty.
• They perceived the evil plight, yet obeyed their General's voice.
• They can't defy being Innumerable, like of Amram's son who waved round the locusts in Egypt, like the Night in Nile.
• So numberless were those Angels hovering under Hell.
• A signal given waves to direct, in balance down the light on brimstone.
• A multitude like which the populous North poured never to pass Rhene or Danaw.
• Beneath Gibraltar, the Libyan sands were occupied.
• The heads and leaders haste thither where stood Command-godlike Shapes, princely Dignities.
• Their names in Heavenly records vanished, blotted by rebellion from Life.
• They had new names after, wandering, high power through the trial to test man.
• They corrupted mankind to forsake God.
• Transformed glories as images of brutes to adore.
• There were different names, idols of the heathen world.
• Say their names, who roused from slumber, at the call stood on the bare strand next worth.
• The chief sought prey on Earth, durst fix seats long after God, adored among nations around.
• Durst abide Jehovah thundering out of Sion, temples placed within sanctuaries, things profaned with darkness affronting light.
• Moloch is a horrid king, stained with sacrifice, screams were unheard due to loud music.
• Was worshipped in Rabba and plain, In Argob and in Basan, to Arnon.
• Not content with neighbourhood heart of Solomon led build Opprobrious hill, The valley of Hinnom, Tophet.
• Gehenna the type of Hell Called Chamois, the obscene dread of Moab's sons.
• Peor his other name, when he enticed Israel in Sittim.
• It enlarged to the hill of scandal, lust hard by and good Josiah drove.
• They, from Euphrates to Syrian names of Baalim and Ashtaroth and how they please and their pure essence.
• Their frail strength what so ever shape they pursue and often forsook to bestial gods.
• Astoreth-whom Phoenicians, Astarte-her horns.
• Whose moon paid its Sidonian vows.
• Temple on hill large falling idolatresses, Thammuz wound in Lebanon.
• Syrian damzels of Ammonius to blood.
• The lesion was infected.
• To be found the one whose ear captivity ark ruined image in temple and the Dagon.
• Upward man down fish, erected a temple in Azotus, that dreaded through Galilee and Damascus.
• Here also the House of God was bold; a leper became king.
• Syria's altar displaced idols with names of old train.
• Shapes and sorceries priests did seek, with disguises.
• Also. When doubled sins Likening oxen, with all stroke, bleating gods.
• Belial spirit.
• Not an altar stood the ones who had done violence in houses.
• Belial was in courts and luxurious, whose riot ascends and injury.

The Rest

• Though Javan issue their boasted parents, Saturn seized younger drove measure, usurping Crete.
• All damp which his lost cast doubtful.
• With bearing courage, the Standard claim staff which a
• Cheerub unfurled empire as stream emblazed trophies and the concave above night.
• Ten thousand Orient a huge serried and that Raised, unmoved.
• An ancient of the, the as from with in what through the which Their faces the warrior darted the.
• Which the since united those the by which joined each the to Uther's.
• It was or Biserta far the yet Tower.
• His all sun dimmed pride waiting and to which ever.
• Is those amerced the as He top he.
• Hc doubled and wing peers held in forseeing Past.
• Heaven the that.
• Differnt be heavens, the as which by force worlds in a whom our thence or nor War.