IO Quando rugge il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono, S'arma di se, e d'intero diamante, Tanto del forse, e d'invidia ficuro, Di timori, e speranze al popol use Quanto d'ingegno, e d'alto valor vago, Sol troverete in tal parte men duro VII. of 23 How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of ycuth, Stoln more " the moon on Latmus hill; yet “ that Mall, as of him that never " consider, that if it were no more “ shall obtain it (if this be altoge" but this, to overcome this, there “ ther bad) which would quickly " is on the other side both ill “ oversway this flegm and melan bewitchful to entice away, “ choly of bashfulness, or that " and natural years more sway “ other humor, and prevail with ing, and good more available “ me to prefer a life, that had at to withdraw to that which you « least some credit in it, fome with me; as first all the fond place given it, before a manner hopes which forward youth and “ of living much disregarded and vanity are fledge with, none of " discountenanc'd. There is be“ which can sort with this Pluto's “ fides this, as all well know, a helmet, as Homer calls it, of “ bout this time of a man's life, obscurity, and would soon cause “ a strong inclination, be it good me to throw it off, if there “ or no, to build up a house and were nothing else in't but an “ family of his own in the best " affected and fruitless curiosity of .manner he may; to which no knowing; and then a natural “ thing is more helpful than the “ desire of honor and renown, early entring into some credible " which I think poffeffes the breaft “ employment, and nothing more " of every scholar, as well of him crois than niy way, which my wasting " Stoln on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full carreer, But my late spring no bud or blossom Thewth. Perhaps my femblance might deceive the truth, 5 That I to manhood am arrivd so near, And inward ripeness doth much less appear, That some more timely-happy spirits indu'th., Yet “ wasting youth would presently “ aess in me, I am the bolder to « bethink her of, and kill one love“ send you some of my nightward “ with another, if that were all. “ thoughts some while since, since « But what delight or what pecu “ they come in fitly, in a Petraros liar conceit, may you in charity « chian ftanza. or think, could hold out against " How soon hath Time &c. “ the long knowledge of a contrary « command from above, and the The latter draught is as follows. os terrible seisure of him that hid his or talent? Therefore commit grace SIR, " to grace, or nature to nature, as there will be found on the other “ Besides that in fundry other “ way more obvious temptations respects I must acknowledge me " to bad, as gain, preferment, am to profit by you whenever we “ bition, more winning present- “ meet, you are often to me, and “ ments of good, and more prone were yesterday especially, as a os affections of nature to incline and “ good watchman to admonish that “ dispose, not counting outward“ the hours of the night pass on or causes, as expectations and mur “ (for so I call my life as yet ob“ murs of friends, scandals taken, “ scure and unserviceable to manor and such like, than the bare love 6 kind) and that the day with me r of notions could refift. So that “ is at hand, wherein Christ comor if it be that which you suppose, - mands all to labor while there is “ it had by this been round about '“ light: which because I am per begirt and overmaster'd, whe “ fuaded you do to no other pur" ther it had proceeded from vir “ pose, than out of a true desire os tue, vice, or nature in me. Yet " that God should be honor'd in o that you may see that I am some" every one, I therefore think my" time fufpicious of myself, and do “ self bound, though unalk'd, to “ take notice of a certain belated. “ give you account, as oft as oc os casion Yet be it less or more, or foon or flow, Io Heaven; When "cafion is, of this my tardy mov. " unprofitable fin of curiosity "ing, according to the precept of --- Thould be able to withhold me, my conscience, which I firmly 's whereby a man cuts himself off “ trúft is not without God. Yet “ from all action, and becomes the " now I will not strain for any sét " most helpless, pufillanimous, and apology, but only refer myfelf" unweapond creature in the " to what my mind shall have at "s world, the most unfit and unable " any time to declare herself at her * to do that which all mortals'moft " best ease. But if you' think, as aspire to, either to be useful to you said, that too much love of “ his friends, or to offend his enelearning is in fault, and that I "" mies. Or if it be to be thought " have given up myself to dream '“ a natural proneness, there is a"away my years in the arms of " gainst that a much more potent. " ftudious retirement, like Endy- '“ inclination inbred, which about "mion with the moon as the tale “ this time of life folicits moft, the " of Lätmus' goes; 'yet consider *“ desire of house and family of his " that if it were no more but the own, to which nothing is esteem"mêre love of learning, whether "" ed more helpful than the early it proceed from a principle bad," entring into credible' employgood, or natural, it could not ment, and nothing more hinder have held out thus long against ing than this affected folitariness. " fo frong opposition on the other" And though this were enough, “ fide of every kind; for if it be yet there is to this another act, if bad, why should not all the fond not of pure, yet of refin'd nahopes that forward youth and ture no less available to dissuade vanity are fledge with, together" prolonged obscurity, a defire of " with gain, pride, and ambition, “ honor and repute and immortal “ call me forward more power os fame feated in the breast of every fully, than a poor regardless and “ true scholar, which all make VIII. * When the assault was intended to the City. Captain or Colonel, or Knight in arms, Whose chance on these defenseless doors may feise, He “ hafte to by the readiest ways of “ how best to undergo; not taking “ publishing and divulging con thought of being late, so it give “ ceived merits, as well those that “ advantage to be more fit; for “ fhall, as those that never shall “ those that were latest loft no« obtain it. Nature therefore“ thing, when the master of the “ would presently work the more vineyard came to give each one prevalent way, if there were " his hire. And here I am come to “ nothing but this inferior bent of “ a stream-head copious enough to “ herself to restrain her. Lastly " disburden itself like Nilus at se“ the love of learning, as it is the “ ven mouths into an ocean; but “ pursuit of something good, it “ then I lould also run into a re" would sooner follow the more “ ciprocal contradiction of ebbing s excellent and supreme good “ and flowing at once, and do that “ known and presented, and lo be “ which I excuse myself for not do quickly diverted from the empty “ ing, preach and not preach. Yet " and fantastic chase of shadows “ that you may see that I am fome“ and notions to the solid good “ thing suspicious of myself, and “ flowing from due and timely “ do take notice of a certain be" obedience to that command in “ latedness in me, I am the bolder “ the Gospel set out by the terrible “ to send you some of my nightseising of him that hid the talent. “ ward thoughts some while since, It is more probable therefore “ because they come in not altoge“ that not the endless delight of “ther unfitly, made up in a per speculation, but this very confi- “ trarchian stanza, which I told “ deration of that great command- “ you of. ment, does not press forward, as " How foon hach Time &c. “ soon as many do, to undergo, “ but keeps off with a sacred reve By this I believe you may rence and religious advisement so repent of having made mention well " at He can requite thee, for he knows the charms 5 That call fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. IO The house of Pindarus, when temple' and tow'r Went bid spare " at all of this matter, for if I have tended to the City. The date was o not all this while won you to also added 1642, but blotted out “ this, I have certainly wearied again : and it was in November you of it. This therefore alone 1642 that the King marched with may be a sufficient reason for me his army as near as Brentford, and to keep me as I am, left having put the city in great confternation. “ thus tired you singly, I should Milton was then in his 34th year. 6 deal worse with a whole congre"gation, and spoil all the patience 3. If deed of honor did thee ever “ of a parish : for I myfelf do not please,] So this verse is printed " only fee my own tediousness, but in the second edition in the year now grow offended with it, that 1673. In the first edition of 1645, “ has hinder'd me thus long from and in the Manuscript it stands coming to the last and best pe- thus, “ riod of my letter, and that which If ever deed of honor did thee “ must now chiefly work my par please. “ don, that I am 10. The great Emathian conqueror Your true and unfeigned friend." &c] When Alexander the great took Thebes, and entirely ras'd the * To this sonnet we have pre- rest of the city, he order'd the fixed the title, which the author house of Pindar to be preserv'd out himself has in the Manuscript. In of regard to his memory: and the the Manuscript this sonnet was ruins of Pindar's house were to be written by another hand, and had seen at Thebes, in Pausanias's this title On his door when the City time, who lived under Antoninus expected an asault: but this he the philosopher. See Pausan. Bæot, scratched out, and wrote with his cap. 25. Edit. Kuhnii. own hand When the asault was in-' Vol. II. Q And 12, |