Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/383

 JOHN MILTON

And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes. Now Lycidas the Shepherds weep no more; Hence forth thou art the Genius of the shore, In thy large recompense, and shalt be good To all that wander in that perilous flood.

Thus sang the uncouth Swain to th'Okes and rills, While the still morn went out with Sandals gray, He touch'd the tender stops of various Quills, With eager thought warbling his Dorick lay: And now the Sun had stretch'd out all the hills, And now was dropt into the Western bay, At last he rose, and twitch'd his Mantle blew: To morrow to fresh Woods, and Pastures new.

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��326 To the Lady Margaret Ley

DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President

Of Englands Counsel, and her Treasury, Who hv'd in both, unstain'd with gold or fee, And left them both, more in himself content,

Till the sad breaking of that Parlament Broke him, as that dishonest victory At Chseronea, fatal to liberty Kil'd with report that Old man eloquent,

Though later born, then to have known the dayes Wherin your Father flourisht, yet by you Madam, me thinks I see him living yet;

So well your words his noble vertues praise, That all both judge you to relate them true, And to possess them, Honour'd Margaret.

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