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Rhyme in Paradise Lost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

John S. Diekhoff
John S. Diekhoff*
Affiliation:
Oberlin College
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Extract

When we remember the subtle irregularity of Milton's rhymes in Lycidas, and the frequency with which he introduces rhyme into the blank verse of Comus and Samson Agonistes, it is less surprising that there should be rhymes in Paradise Lost than that they should not have been noticed. That they are deliberate rhymes needs little proof, for it is obvious that an ear as fine as Milton's must have heard any rhyme which can be heard by the ordinary reader, and this examination grew out of the vague impression of rhyme given by certain passages in Paradise Lost, and the presence of a few obvious rhymes, such as:

      Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
      Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
      Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round (i. 711–713)
      This horror will grow milde, this darkness light,
      Besides what hope the never-ending flight (ii. 220–221)
      Allegeance to th'acknowledg'd Power supream?
      And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seam, (iv. 956–957)
      That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie
      Of what he was, what is, and what must be Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.
      Some times towards Eden which now in his view (iv. 24–27)

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , June 1934 , pp. 539 - 543
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1934

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References

1 History of English Prosody, ii, 242.

2 Bk. II. 220–221, light, flight;

Bk. III. 544–545, gone, dawne;
Bk. IV. 24–25, memorie, be;
26–27, ensue, view;
204–205, use, views;
956–957, supream, seem;
Bk. V. 274–275, flies, Paradise;
Bk. VI. 34–35, beare, care;
709–710, right, might;
792–793, sight, highth;
Bk. IX. 105–106, seems, beams;
225–226, unearned, returned;
477–478, destroy, joy;
781–782, eat, seat;
Bk. XI. 230–231, Gate, Potentate;
593–594, express'd, blest;,
666–667, thence, violence.

3 In all instances of doubtful pronunciation, I have depended upon Early English Pronunciation, Alexander J. Ellis (London, 1874). Of those listed above, “Paradise,” and “flies” I believe to be the only imperfect rhyme.

4 The list is as follows:

Bk. I. 146–148-151, intire, ire, fire;
274–76, pledge, edge;
711–713, sound, round,
Bk. II. 189–191, highth, might;
541–543, uproar, tore;
563–565, misery, Philosophie, with an echo provided by “sorcerie” in the next line, at the caesura.
602–604, round, sound;
942–944, Saile, Dale;
Bk. III. 140–142, face, Grace, with an echoing “grace” two lines later.
168–170, delight, might;
179–181, foe, ow;
647–649, known, Throne;
707–709, deep, heap;
Bk. IV. 222–224, ill, hill, with echoing “rill” four lines later.
288–290, tall, all;
393–395, necessitie, tree;
469–171, me, he;
529–531, unspi'd, side;
678–680, sleep, steep;
702–704, stone, none;
859–861, flie, nigh;
898–900, stay, say;
Bk. V. 160–162, light, Night;
383–385, vaile, Haile;
Bk. VI. 14–16, Night, bright;
161–163, show, know, enclosed by “allow, now,” 158–165;
174–176, name, same;
705–707, compare, Heir, followed in lines 709–710 by the “right, might” couplet.
Bk. VII. 553–555, abode, shewed, 557, rode.
601–603, sung, tongue;
Bk. VIII. 1–3, Eare, hear;
229–231, befell, hell;
440–442, free, thee;
510–512, Bowre, houre;
Bk. IX. 8–10, Heav'n, giv'n, obviously not a perfect rhyme, but a very common 17th century one.
416–418, prey, lay;
590–592, require, desire;
606–608, Divine, thine;
1027–1029, play, day.
Bk. X. 997–999, miserie, free;
Bk. XI. 204–206, light, white, preceded by “sight,” l. 201.
287–289, resigne, thine;
736–738, supplie, Skie;
Bk. XII. 353–355, springs, brings;
366–368, Quire, Sire.

Bk. I. (146)-148–151; 185–188-191; 582–587; 764–767;
Bk. II. 174–177; 303–306; 390–393; 435–438; 533–536;
Bk. III. 15–18; 87–90; 286–289; 472–475; 667–670;
Bk. IV. 130–133; 247–250; 307, 308–310, 311; 751–754;
Bk. V. 29–32; 47–50; 192–195; 236–239; 240–243 (imperfect); 794–797; 841–844;
Bk. VI. 130–133; 624–627-630 (right, upright, might);
Bk. VII. 264–267; 365–368;
Bk. VIII. 103–106; 140, 141–143, 144; 155–158; 216–219; 383–386; 560–563;
Bk. IX. 114–117;
Bk. X. 622–625; 762–765; 863–866; 905–908;
Bk. XI. 188–191; 201–204-206; 351–354;
Bk. XII. 116–119; 123–126; 179–182; 187–190; 419–422; 522–525.

6 Vide, lines 183–187, Bk. i, quoted above. The “falling off” in the number of these more widely separated rhymes may also be urged as evidence of Milton's deliberate use of rhyme. These, of those we have noted, may be accidental. Else the progression upward from the comparatively small number of couplets might be expected to continue.