Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow O'er all th' Italian fields, where still doth sway The triple tyrant; that from these may grow A hundred fold, who having learn'd thy way Early may fly the Babylonian woe. XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS. WHEN I consider how my light is spent 10 man's work, or his own gifts] Free will, or grace. 13 post] P. L. iv. 171, 'With a vengeance sent, Warburton. From Media post to Egypt.' Warton. 9 8 XX. TO MR. LAWRENCE.* LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire The lily and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun. What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise To hear the lute well touch'd, or artful voice Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? He who of those delights can judge, and spare To interpose them oft, is not unwise. XXI. TO CYRIAC SKINNER. CYRIAC, whose grandsire on the royal bench * Lawrence published a work called 'Of our Communion and Warre with Angels,' &c. 1646. 4to. Todd. See Bri tish Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 352. 7 Euclid] See Censura Literaria, vi. p. 144. And what the Swede intends, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. XXII. TO THE SAME. 9 CYRIAC, this three years day these eyes, tho' clear Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask? The conscience, Friend, t' have lost them overIn liberty's defence, my noble task, [plied 8 And what the Swede intends] So the MS. The first ed. 'And what the Swede intend,' which in others is altered to, 'And what the Swedes intend.' Newton. 11 mild Heaven] So Son. xix. 'bear his mild yoke.' Par. Reg. ii. 125, these mild seats.' Sil. Italicus, iv. 795, 'Mite et cognatum est homini deus.' And Hen. More's Poems, p. 196. 3 Bereft, &c.] In the printed copies, 'Bereft of sight their seeing have forgot, 7 a] In the printed copies, 'one.' Newton. Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE. METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the grave, Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force tho' pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed Purification in the old Law did save, [taint And such, as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came, vested all in white, pure as her mind: Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied sight 10 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.* 12 rings] So the printed copies before Newton's edition, in which 'talks' is substituted from the MS. instead of 'rings.' The Sonnet thus concluded before Newton's ed. 'Whereof all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through this world's vain mask, Content though blind, had I no other guide.' Todd. * The original various readings to the sonnets from the Cambridge MS. may be seen in Mr. Todd's edition of Milton's Poet. Works, (1809,) vol. vi. p. 500—3. PSALMS. PSALM I. DONE INTO VERSE, 1653. BLESS'D is the man who hath not walk'd astray Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat But in the great Jehovah's law is ever his delight, And in his law he studies day and night. 10 PSALM II. DONE AUG. 8, 1653. TERZETTE. WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations Muse a vain thing, the kings of th' earth upstand With pow'r, and princes in their congregations Lay deep their plots together through each land Against the Lord and his Messiah dear? 5 |