Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/120

 POEMS DURING CIVIL WAR AND PROTECTORATE

��The lily and rose, that neither sowed 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 touched, 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.

��TO CYRIACK SKINNER (1656)

CYRIACK, whose grandsire on the royal bench

Of British Themis, with no mean ap- plause,

Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws,

Which others at their bar so often

wrench,

To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench

In mirth that after no repenting draws;

Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause,

And what the Swede intend, and what

the French.

To measure life learn thou betimes, and know

Toward solid good what leads the nearest way;

For other things mild Heaven a time or- dains,

And disapproves that care, though wise in show,

That with superfluous burden loads the day,

And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains

��TO THE SAME

(1655)

CYRIACK, this three years' day these eyes,

though clear, To outward view, of blemish or of spot,

��Bereft of light, their seeing have for- got ;

Nor to their idle orbs doth sight ap- pear

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

Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask ?

The conscience, friend, to have lost them overplied

In Liberty's defence, my noble task, 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.

��ON HIS DECEASED WIFE (1658)

METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint

Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,

Whom Jove's great son to her glad hus- band gave,

Rescued from Death by force, though

pale and faint.

Mine, as whom washed from spot of child- bed taint

Purification in the Old Law did save,

And such as yet once more I trust to have

Full sight of her in Heaven without re- straint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind.

Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her per- son shined So clear as in no face with more delight.

But, oh ! as to embrace me she in- clined,

I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.

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