''On the Morning of Christ's Nativity' by John Milton - Read by Arthur L Wood
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
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An incredible ode by the great English poet, John Milton, written when we was just 21! There is something sinister towards the end, detailing the overthrow of pagan powers by Christ on Earth - the awe of the power of a little babe in swaddling bands. I was unfamiliar with this poem until recently, but it surprised me like nothing I've read in a while. Incredible from the prodigious child of Shakespeare in the family of the English language.
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This is the month, and this the happy morn,
Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King,
Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;
For so the holy sages once did sing,
That he our deadly forfeit should release,
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.
That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable,
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,
Wherewith he wont at Heav'n's high council-table,
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,
He laid aside, and here with us to be,
Forsook the courts of everlasting day,
And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay.
Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein
Afford a present to the Infant God?
Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain,
To welcome him to this his new abode,
Now while the heav'n, by the Sun's team untrod,
Hath took no print of the approaching light,
And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright?
See how from far upon the eastern road
The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet:
O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,
And lay it lowly at his blessed feet;
Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet,
And join thy voice unto the angel quire,
From out his secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire.
#Poetry #JohnMilton #Milton
Excellent reading sir
Amazing!! I am speechless, thank you for this gem!
A silvery voice, a mature reading, you do Milton right. Nothing too much, nothing too little, noble poem and noble performance. Birds of calm. Divinely warbled voice: indeed.
A lovely, forceful reading of an extraordinary poem. Thank you! I look forward to sharing this with my fellow Milton scholars.
Thank you for sharing. I feel honoured!
To me one of the most beautiful poems in our language. I feast on it every Christmas. Beautiful reading!
I entirely agree! In my opinion, the only other Christmas poem that comes close is T. S. Eliots ‘The Journey of the Magi’ which you can also find on my channel. czcams.com/video/t0dh07D-BQI/video.html
A masterpiece wonderfully read. The highlight of my day.
So this has been commissioned? I’m sure the person who got this reading for five quid will find to have got a splendid deal 😉. I am grateful, now I do enjoy this excellent choice!
That's right. This video was commissioned for just £5 on Ko-Fi! If there is a particular poem you would like me read on CZcams follow the link and click 'commissions'
ko-fi.com/poetryfromtheshires
Bravo!
And let the bass of Heav'n's deep organ blow;
And with your ninefold harmony
Make up full consort to th'angelic symphony.
For if such holy song
Enwrap our fancy long,
Time will run back and fetch the age of gold.
Beautiful reading. Thank you.
No 298 in The New Oxford Book of English Verse, extract starts at 1:56😊
Milton has such a strong poetic voice and almost every line is perfect, a true great and easy to understand.
Arthur, the good man,
You made our day 💐
🙏
Well read, sir.
That’s very kind of you to say. Thank you.
Now, Arthur, would you promise us to upload Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde should we push your subscribers’ family over a thousand by the end of 2020?
If I reach 10,000 subscribers by 28 June 2021 I will live-stream a reading of my 5 favourite Shakespeare plays in ONE sitting. WITHOUT SLEEPING.
Poetry from the Shires Hm, you might well have to live up to your pledge, get some ginger goodies already! Hark, audience, hear the word and spread it! Mighty shall sound our roaring shout “ten thousand and no less!”
@@exildoc unfortunately/fortunately this never came to pass!!
@@ArthurLWood 😂😂😂
10\10 voice
Thank you very much!