1 Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, ven ; All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY.* CAPTAIN, or Colonel, or Knight in arms Whose chance on these defenceless door may seize, If deed of honour did thee ever please, Guard them, and him within protect from harms: To save th' Athenian walls from ruin bare. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way and the green, In the manuscript after the title, is added 1642. It was in November of that year that the King marched with his army a near as Brentford, and put the city in great consternation. And with those few art eminently seen, To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure Thou, when the Bridegroom, with his feastful friends Passes to bliss, at the mid hour of night, Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure.. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY.* Kill'd with report that old man eloquent. *We have given the title which is in Milton's Manuscript, To the Lady Margaret Ley. 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 Marlborough, and Lord High 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 the year 1643 he used frequently to visit this lady and her husband, and about that time we may suppose this sonnet was composed. R Wherein your father flourish'd, yet by you, On the Detraction which followed upon the writing certain Treatises.* A BOOK was writ of late call'd Tetrachordon, Stand spelling false, while one might walk to MileEnd Green. Why is it harder, Sirs, than Gordon, Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp?t Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, That would have made Quintillian stare and gasp; Thy age, like ours O soul of Sir John Cheek,+ *When Milton published his book of Divorce, he was greatly condemned by the Presbyterian ministers, whose advocate and champion he had been before. He published his Tetrachordon, or Expositions upon the four chief places in Scripture, which treat of marriage, or nullities in marriage, in 1645. "We may suppose, (says Dr. Newton,) that these were persons of note and eminence among the Scotch ministers who were for pressing and enforcing the covenant." Mr. George Gillespie, here wrongously named Galasp, was one of the Scotch commissioners to the Westminister assembly. But who the other persons were is not known. It appears from this sonnet, and the verses on the forcers of conscience, that Milton treats the Presbyterians with great contempt. This Gentleman was the first Professor of the Greek tongue in the university of Cambridge, and was highly instrumental in bringing that language into repute. He was afterwards made one of the tutors to Edward VI. Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, When thou taught'st Cambridge, and king Edward, Greek. ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs Which after held the sun and moon in fee. TO MR. H. LAWES, ON HIS AIRS, 1645.* HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measur'd song That with smooth air could humour best our tongue. Thou honour'st verse, and verse must lend her wing This Mr. Henry Lawes was a gentleman of the king's chapel, and one of his band of music, and an intimate friend of Milton. To honour thee, the priest of Phœbus' choir, That tun'st their happiest lines in hymn, or story. Dante shall give fame leave to set thee higher Than his Casella, whom he woo'd to sing, Met in the milder shades of Purgatory. On the religious memory of Mrs. Catharine Thomson, my Christian Friend, deceased 16th of December, 1646.* WHEN faith and love, which parted from thee never, Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God, Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load Of death, call'd life; which us from life doth sever. Thy works, and alms, and all thy good endeavour, Stay'd 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 dress'd 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. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX.† FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, · Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, * "Who this Mrs. Thomson was, (says Dr. Newton,) we can. not be certain; but I find in the accounts of Milton's life, that when he was first made Latin Secretary, he lodged at one Thomson's, next door to the Bull-head tavern at Charing-cross. This Mrs. Thomson, therefore, was, in all probability, one of that family." + This sonnet appears, from the manuscript, to have been ad |