The fierce Epirot and the African bold; The drift of hollow States1 hard to be spell'd; Move by her two main nerves, iron and gold, In all her equipage: besides to know Both spiritual power and civil, what each means, What severs each, thou hast learn'd, which few have done : The bounds of either sword to thee we owe: Therefore on thy firm hand Religion leans XVIII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE1 IN PIEMONT. AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones Their moans To heaven. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow 1States:' those of Holland.-2 The late massacre:' this was organised by the Duke of Savoy in 1655. It was very barbarous. Those who escaped fled to the mountains of Piedmont, whence they applied to Cromwell for relief. He ordered a general fast, and made a national contribution, amounting to £40,000. XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS. WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And post o'er land and ocean without rest ; XX. TO MR LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE, of virtuous father1 virtuous son, Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire, The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire Of Attick taste, with wine, whence we may rise He who of those delights can judge, and spare To interpose them oft, is not unwise. The virtuous father' was Henry Lawrence, President of Cromwell's Council. Favonius:' father of Spring. XXI. TO CYRIACK SKINNER.1 CYRIACK, whose grandsire, on the royal bench XXII. TO THE SAME. CYRIACK, this three years day these eyes, though clear, Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of which all Europe rings from side to side. เ 1 'Skinner:' a scholar of Milton's, and member of Harrington's political club.-2 Swede:' Charles Gustavus against Poland, and the French against the Spaniards. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.1 METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me, like Alcestis,2 from the grave, Whom Jove's great son3 to her glad husband gave, Rescued 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 ;5 yet to my fancied sight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight. But O, as to embrace me she inclin'd, I wak'd; she fled; and day brought back my night. This sonnet was written about the year 1656, on the death of his second wife, Catharine, the daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney. She died in child-bed of a daughter, within a year after their marriage. Milton had now been some time totally blind.-2 Alcestis:' see Euripides.—3 'Great son:' Hercules. Glad husband:' Admetus.- 'Veil'd:' so was Alcestis. 6 ODES. ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. I. THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council-table 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. III. Say, heavenly 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 heaven, by the sun's team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? |