El. B. By hoarie Nereus wrinoled looke, 2 Bro. By scalie Tritons windinge shell, And ould sooth-saying Glaucus spell, El. B. By Lewcotheas lovely hands, And her sonne that rules the strands, 2 Bro. By Thetis tinsel-slipper'd feete, And the songs of Sirens sweete, Wherewith she sitts on diamond rocks, The invocations, assigned to the Brothers in the preceding lines, are recited by the Spirit alone in all other copies of the poem. It is probable, that at Ludlow Castle, this part of the poem was sung; the four first lines perhaps as a trio; the rest by each performer separately. Ver. 893. Thick set with agate, and the azur'd sheene. Shakespeare has the "azur'd vault," Tempest, Ver. 897. Thus I rest my printles feete Ver. 907. Of vnblest inchaunters vile, Let vs fly this cursed place, &c. Through this gloomie covert wide, &c. Ver. 951. All the swaynes that neere abide, With jiggs and rural daunce resorte; Wee shall catch them at this sporte, &c. El. B. Come, let vs hast, the starrs are high, But night sitts monarch yet in the mid skye, The Spirit again is the sole speaker of the nineteen preceding lines in the printed copy. STAGE-DIRECTION. "The Sceane changes, then is presented Ludlowe towne, and the President's Castle; then come in Countrie daunces and the like, &c. towards the end of these sports the demon with the 2 brothers and the ladye come in." Then "The Spiritt singes," Back, shepheards, back, &c. Then "2 Songe presents them to their father and mother." Noble Lord, and Lady bright, &c. STAGE-DIRECTION after v, 975. "They dance, the daunces al ended, the Dæmon singes or sayes," Now my taske is smoothly done, Quickly to the earthe's greene end, Mortalls, that would follow me, Heven it selfe would stoope to her. The Epilogue, in this manuscript, has not the thirty-six preceding lines, which are in the printed copies. Twenty of them, however, as we have seen, open the drama. Like the Cambridge manuscript, this manuscript does not exhibit what, in the printed copies, relates to Adonis, and to Cupid and Psyche. The four charming verses also, which follow v. 983 in the printed copy, are not in the manuscript. TODD. SONNETS. I. TO THE NIGHTINGALE. NIGHTINGALE, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill, While the jolly Hours lead on propitious May. Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day, First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill, Portend success in love; O, if Jove's will Have link'd that amorous power to thy soft lay, Now timely sing, ere the rude bird of hate Foretel my hopeless doom in some grove nigh As thou from year to year hast sung too late For my relief, yet hadst no reason why :. Whether the Muse, or Love,call thee his mate, Both them I serve, and of their train am i. II. DONNA leggiadra, il cui bel nome honora De sui atti soavi giamai parco, Ei don', che son d'amor saette ed arco, La onde l'alta tua virtu s'infiora. Quando tu vaga parli, o lieta canti Che mover possa duro alpestre legno, Guardi ciascun a gli occhi, ed a gli orecch L'entrata, chi di te si trouva indegno; Gratia sola di su gli vaglia, inanti Che'l disio amoroso al cuor s'invecchi, III. QUAL in colle aspro, al imbrunir di sera RIDONSI donne e giovani amorosi M' accostandosi attorno, e perche scrivi, Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma Canzon dirotti, e tu per me rispondi IV. DIODATI, e te'l dirò con maraviglia, Quel ritroso io ch'amor spreggiar soléa E de suoi lacci spesso mi ridéa Gia caddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia. Ne treccie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia M'abbaglian sì, ma sotto nova idea Pellegrina bellezza che'l cuor bea, Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia Quel sereno fulgor d'amabil nero, Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una, E degli occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco V. PER certo i bei vostr'occhi, Donna mia Scosso mi il petto, e poi n'uscendo poco GIOVANE piano, e semplicette amante Poi che fuggir me stesso in dubbio sono, L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante, 501 De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, euono ; Di timori, e speranze, al popol use, VII. ON HIS BEING ARRIVED TO THE age of 23. How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stol'n on his wing my three and twentieth year My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv'd so near; And inward ripeness doth much less appear, That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th. Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the Will of All is, if I have grace to use it so, [Heaven: As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth [green, Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. Thy care is fix'd, and zealously attends To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be [friends sure Thou, when the bridegroom with his feastful pure. X. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY. DAUGHTER to that good earl, once president Kill'd with report that old man eloquent. XI. ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES. A BOOK was writ of late called Tetrachordon, on. Cries the stall-reader, Bless us! what a word on A title page is this! and some in file Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Mile[Gordon, End Green. Why is it harder, sirs, than Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp? Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, [gasp. That would have made Quintilian stare and Thy age, like ours, O soul of sir John Cheek, Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, When thou taught'st Cambridge, and king Edward, Greek. Ver. 1. Daughter to that good earl,] She was the daughter of sir James Ley, whose singular learning and abilities raised him through all the great posts of the law, till he came to be made earl of Malborough, and lord higù treasurer, and lord president of the council to king James I. He died in an advanced age; and Milton attributes his death to the breaking of the parliament; and it is true that the parliament was dissolved the 10th of March 1628-9, and he died on the 14th of the same month. He left several sons and daughters; and the lady Margaret was married to captain Hobson of the Isle of Wight. It appears from the accounts of Milton's life, that in 1643 he used frequently to visit this lady and her husband; about which time we may suppose this sonnet to have been composed. Ver. 1. A book was writ of late call'd Tetrachordon,] This elaborate discussion, unworthy in many respects of Milton, and in which much acuteness of argument, and comprehension of reading, were idly thrown away, was received with contempt, or rather ridicule, as we learn from Howel's Letters. A better proof that it was treated with neglect, is, that it was attacked by two nameless and obscure writers only; one XII. ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs Rail'd at Latona's twin-born progeny, Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee. But this is got by casting pearl to hogs; That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when truth would set them free. Licence they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good; But from that mark how far they rove we see, For all this waste of wealth, and loos of blood. XIII. TO MR. H. LAWES ON THE PUBLISHING H AIRS. HARRY, whose tuneful and well measur'd song First taught our English music how to span Words with just note and accent, not to scan With Midas ears, committing short and long; Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, With praise enough for Envy to look wan; To after age thou shalt be writ the man, That with smooth air could'st humour best eur tongue. [wing Thou honour'st verse, and verse must lend her To honour thee, the priest of Phoebus' quire, That tun'st their bappiest lines in hymn or of whom Milton calls,a Serving-man turned Sollicitor! Our author's divorce was on Platonic principles. He held, that disagreement of mind was a better cause of separation than adultery of frigidity. Here was a fair opening for the laughers. This and the following Sonnet were written soon after 1645. For this doctrine Milton was summoned before the Lords. But they not ap proving his accusers, the presbyterian clergy, of thinking the business too speculative, he was quickly dismissed. On this occasion Milton commenced hostilities against the Presbyte rians. 'Mrs. Catherine Thomson,] I find in the ac counts of Milton's life, that, when he was first Thy works, and alms, and all thy good endea- | Whether to settle peace, or to unfold vour, Staid not behind, nor in the grave were trod ; But, as Faith pointed with her golden rod, Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. Love led them on,and Faith, who knew them best Thy hand-maids, clad them o'er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes Before the Judge; who thenceforth bid thee rest, And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams. XV. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX. FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, And all her jealous monarchs with amaze And rumours loud, that daunt remotest kings; Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings Victory home, though new rebellions raise Their Hydra heads, and the false North displays Her broken league to imp their serpent-wings. O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand, (For what can war, but endless war still breed?) Till truth and right from violence be freed, And public faith clear'd from the shameful brand Of public fraud. In vain doth valour bleed, While avarice and rapine share the land. XVI. TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL. CROMWELL, Our chief of men, who through a cloud Not of war only, but detractions rude, And on the neck of crowned fortune proud While Darwen stream, with blood of Scots And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, And Worcester's laureat wreath. Yet much remains To conquer still; peace hath her victories Help us to save free conscience from the paw XVII. TO SIR HENRY VANE, THE YOUNGER. made Latin secretary, he lodged at one Thomson's next door to the Bull-head tavern at Charing-Cross. This Mrs. Thomson was in all probability one of that family. NEWTON. The drift of hollow states hard to be spell'd; Then to advise how war may, best upheld, 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: XVIII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEMONT. AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains co'd; Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipt stocks and stones, Forget not: in thy book record their groans Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with infant down the rocks. The moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they SOW O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth swa} 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 Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide, Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he, returning, chide; "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" 1 fondly ask: but Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need "Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best: his state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait." XX. TO MR. LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire, Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire Help waste a sullen day, what may be won Ver. 1. Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son, &c.] The virtuous father Henry Lawrence, was member for Herefordshire in the Little Par Title. "On his dore when the Citty expected an CYRIACK, this three years day these eyes, though assault." Then, as at present; with an addition clear To outward view, of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot; Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of Sun, or Moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer liament which began in 1653, and was active in settling the protectorate of Cromwell. In consequence of his services, he was made president of Cromwell's council; where he appears to have signed many severe and arbitrary decrees, not only against the royalists, but the Brownists, fifth-monarchy men, and other sectarists. He continued high in favour with Richard Cromwell. Henry Lawrence, the virtuous son, is the author of a work entitled Of our Communion and Warre with Angels, &c. Printed Anno Dom. 1646. 4°, 139 pages. The dedication is "To my Most deare and Most honoured Mother, the lady Lawrence." He is perhaps the same Henry Lawrence, who printed A Vindication of the Scriptures and Christian Ordinances, 1649. Lond. 4°. Son of William Skipner, esq. and grandson of sir Vincent Skinner; and his mother was Bridget, one of the daughters of the famous sir Edward Coke, lord chief justice of the King's Bench. of the date 1642, afterwards expunged. Ver. 3. If ever deed of honour did thee please. As in the edit 1645. The present reading o curs first in edit. 1673. This sonnet is written in a female hand. Only the title, now prefix'd to it, is written by Milton |