| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | “Now had the great Proclaimer” | | John Milton (1608–1674) |
| | From Paradise Regained, I. 18–32.
NOW had the great Proclaimer, with a voice | |
| More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried | |
| Repentance, and Heaven’s kingdom nigh at hand | |
| To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked | |
| With awe the regions round, and with them came | 5 |
| From Nazareth, the son of Joseph deemed | |
| To the flood Jordan—came as then obscure, | |
| Unmarked, unknown; but him the Baptist soon | |
| Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore | |
| As to his worthier, and would have resign’d | 10 |
| To him his heavenly office. Nor was long | |
| His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized | |
| Heaven opened, and in likeness of a dove | |
| The Spirit descended, while the Father’s voice | |
| From Heaven pronounced Him his beloved Son. | 15 | | | |
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