The John Milton Library cover art

The John Milton Library

The John Milton Library

By: John Milton
Listen for free

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 9

    Samson Agonistes Section 9
    Apr 23 2026
    In which the mournful discourse unfolds between Samson and Dalila, revealing the bitter estrangement born of broken trust and conflicting loyalties, framed by solemn reflections on love, duty, and the grievous weight of mistaken zeal. The lamentations and reproaches pass back and forth, painting a somber picture of pain and pride interwoven, as both seek solace or justification amidst their sufferings.
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Samson Agonistes Section 8

    Samson Agonistes Section 8
    Apr 19 2026
    In which Dalila seeks to mitigate her offence by appealing to shared human weakness and the compelling power of love, urging Samson towards pardon with a mingling of contrition and reasoned excuse. In turn, Samson rebuffs her plea with stern judgment, condemning deceit and betrayal as beyond the pale of mere frailty, while Dalila recounts the weighty pressures and solemn duties that swayed her to her deed.
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • Samson Agonistes Section 7

    Samson Agonistes Section 7
    Apr 15 2026
    In which the Chorus meditates upon the burdens and sufferings ordained by divine providence, particularly upon those chosen for great purposes, lamenting their frequent descent into adversity, before observing the approach of Dalila, arrayed in splendour and bearing tokens of penitence. And Samson, steeped in mistrust and recalling her past treacheries, rebuffs her attempts at reconciliation, foreseeing the perils that forgiveful hearts may encounter when deceived by false repentance.
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
No reviews yet