>>24092193
is it the anglo Divine Comedy or smth more?

I accidentally tried reading the Faerie Queene (arguably a chanson de geste on steroids) and now I'm wary

>>24092217
I'm ashamed to say the Faerie Queene beat me down many years ago with its relentless mincing, trotting, and doughtying.

Paradise Lost made me, a stalwart pagan, start dipping into bible studies and Christian art history just to understand more about its beauty and pathos. It's a dizzying, enthralling representation of the heavenly forces.

>>24092217
It's the most beautiful poem ever written in the English language. Its theology is lacking compared to the Divine Comedy but Milton's poetic genius is undeniable.

Be then his love accursed, since love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.
Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me miserable! which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;
And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep
Still threatening to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
O, then, at last relent: Is there no place
Left for repentance, none for pardon left?
None left but by submission; and that word
Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced
With other promises and other vaunts
Than to submit, boasting I could subdue
The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know
How dearly I abide that boast so vain,
Under what torments inwardly I groan,
While they adore me on the throne of Hell.
With diadem and scepter high advanced,
The lower still I fall, only supreme
In misery: Such joy ambition finds.

>>24092237
>>24092386
thanks
given that the Divine Comedy was written before the printing press (& reformation) and Paradise Lost afterwards, I guess they would make great companions
>Its theology is lacking compared to the Divine Comedy
if Milton's aim was to create the conditions in which meditations upon theology are possible (is that paradise?), I can understand that it was/is the most one can wish for in a world dominated by godless ideals
>And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep
>Still threatening to devour me opens wide,
>To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
>...
>The lower still I fall, only supreme
>In misery: Such joy ambition finds.
reminds me of the shaivist concept of "eternally falling"
that's what you get if you deny Jesus, I guess

>>24092386
it's so good lads

File: homer_blegh.jpg (37 KB, 640x480)

37 KB JPG

>>24092193
>you’re

>>24092193
is anything else by John Milton worth reading? (Except the paradise lost and regained ).been asking this from /lit/ for 2 weeks and still didn't got answer. The thing is I have a choice to buy either "paradise lost and regained" book or "complete poetry of John Milton" if I add more pounds on the table.

>>24092809
what's wrong cunt?

File: api1wy0ul__86547.jpg (500 KB, 974x1280)

500 KB JPG

>>24092672
>This said unanimous, and other rites
>Observing none, but adoration pure
>Which God likes best, into their inmost bower
>Handed they went; and eased the putting-off
>These troublesome disguises which we wear,
>Strait side by side were laid, nor turned, I ween,
>Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites
>Mysterious of connubial Love refused:
>Whatever hypocrites austerely talk
>Of purity, and place, and innocence,
>Defaming as impure what God declares
>Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
>Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain
>But our destroyer, foe to God and Man?
>Hail, wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source
>Of human offspring, sole propriety,
>In Paradise of all things common else!
>By thee adulterous lust was driven from men
>Among the bestial herds to range; by thee,
>Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
>Relations dear, and all the charities
>Of father, son, and brother first were known.
>Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,
>Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
>Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
>Whose bed is undefiled and chast pronounced,
>Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.
>Here Love his golden shafts imploys, here lights
>His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
>Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
>Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,
>Casual fruition, nor in court amours
>Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
>Or serenade, which the starved lover sings
>To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
>These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,
>And on their naked limbs the flowery roof
>Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on,
>Blest pair, and, O! yet happiest, if ye seek
>No happier state, and know to know no more.

>>24092808
There reason nobody can answer you is that only 5% of those that read Paradise Lost also read Paradise Regained. And only 5% of those read anything else by Milton. So if you ask once a day for 8 more weeks on here, someone who is actually qualified to answer your question might come across one of your posts. Personally I have read Paradise Lost only, and although it is my all time favorite piece of literature so far, I havent read anything else by Milton and dont plan to in the near future.

>>24092810
its the big zoomie invasion
>nta

What is the best physical copy of Paradise Lost to get and what is the best way to read it free online?

File: 472376981_520743586966718(...).jpg (339 KB, 1536x2048)

339 KB JPG

>>24093019
I have this one. Is it good?

pls don't lynch me but is there a Paradise Lost edition in modernized English?

>>24092808
Comus. And read what CS Lewis wrote about it.

>>24092386
>Theology is lacking compared to the Divine Comedy

That says a lot. The Divine Comedy is essentially a fanfiction work with basically zero correct canon or consistent logic. Dante is touring the afterlife with people he thought was great and shoving people who he thought was terrible and/or great into eternal punishment or rewards with absolutely zero of those punishments, rewards, or afterlife depictions in general being mentioned anywhere in the Biblical canon.
Milton and Dante's works were straight up fiction but influenced how people view biblical stories so much that they many believe they are what the Bible depicts (because a staggering amount of Christians never read the Bible cover to cover).

>>24093019
Hackett edition

>>24093019
This one just came out, I bought it. Quite swanky, with the Dore illustrations.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/1398848751

>>24092386
>the most beautiful poem ever written in the English language
try this bro, this is the BEST turd I have ever grilled

>>24092808
Aeropagitica is really good. I enjoyed Lycidas.
One of his sonnets that I happened to hear by chance is one of my favourites. Context: his wife is dead, he'd already become blind:

Methought I saw my late espoused saint
Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the grave,
Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave,
Rescu'd from death by force, though pale and faint.
Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint
Purification in the old Law did save,
And such as yet once more I trust to have
Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,
Came vested all in white, pure as her mind;
Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied sight
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd
So clear as in no face with more delight.
But Oh! as to embrace me she inclin'd,
I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night.

File: dc.png (1.48 MB, 1152x1484)

1.48 MB PNG

>>24093066
Isn't the Divine Comedy just Summa Theologica in a poem format?

>>24092193
>story where satan wins
yeah sounds like Protestantism

>>24093226
O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense!
That all this good of evil shall produce,
And evil turn to good; more wonderful
Than that which by creation first brought forth
Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of sin
By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice
Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring;
To God more glory, more good-will to Men
From God, and over wrath grace shall abound.

>>24093226
>yeah sounds like Protestantism
you are probably right considering they call satan Lucifer.

Serious question: do Milton’s angels experience sexuality? I think they do fuck each other.

File: 5489863440_a0e42b7266-561(...).jpg (42 KB, 301x500)

42 KB JPG

>>24092193
ENTER

>>24093738
>[Adam speaking to Raphael]
>To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest,
>Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide;
>Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask:
>Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love
>Express they? by looks only? or do they mix
>Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
>To whom the angel, with a smile that glowed
>Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue,
>Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest
>Us happy, and without love no happiness.
>Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest,
>(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
>In eminence; and obstacle find none
>Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;
>Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,
>Total they mix, union of pure with pure
>Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need,
>As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
They have sex such as angels fuck.

>>24093019
Best physical copy is the Norton Critical Edition if you're a brainlet like me and appreciate detailed annotations.

>>24093756
alastair fowler has the best annotations

I was not impressed with Eve as a character.

>>24094256
ok but what about Satan

>>24094336
Yeah, badass. I also loved the angels. Abdiel telling off satan some how came off as quite badass and also like an overzealous hall monitor.

>>24094336
>>24093226
haven't read it yet (wikipedia says it conflates Lucifer with Satan?) but I like the romantic practice that came out of it
to be more specific, the Romantic composers who don't have a Classical streak: Berlioz, Wagner, Bruckner, Scriabin
btw only Wagner was a protestant, the rest were either Catholics (Scriabin was arguably Orthodox)

>>24092386
>this is what brutish englishmen call poetry

>>24095165
>wikipedia says it conflates Lucifer with Satan?
are they not the same?

>>24095387
>are they not the same?
only for the midwit.

>>24092237
I may be mistaken but your post suggests you haven't read the bible. Making Paradise Lost somewhat lost on you.

>>24095738
Wow where did you find this out? Was it when I said in the post that you quoted that I hadn't read the bible yet?