To conquer still; peace hath her victories No less renown'd than war: new foes arise Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains : Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw. 10 XVII. TO SIR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER.* VANE, young in years, but in sage counsel old, Than whom a better senator ne'er held The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms repell'd The fierce Epirot and the African bold, Whether to settle peace, or to unfold 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 5 Both spiritual pow'r and civil, what each means, What severs each, thou hast learn'd, which few have done : 11 10 peace, &c.] In the printed copies, before Newton's edition, 'peace has her victories, no less than those of war;' and afterwards, ' in secular chains.' Todd. Compare Milton' Second Defence, vol. ii. p. 442; and Cas. Sarb. Carm. p. 323, ed. Barbou. * This Sonnet seems to have been written in behalf of the Independents against the Presbyterian hierarchy. Vane was beheaded in 1662. Warlon. 1 counsel] The printed copies, 'councils.' Newton. 7 Then, &c.] In the printed copies, 11 'Then to advise how war may be best upheld Mann'd by her two main nerves,' &c. Newton. severs] 'Serves.' Printed edition. Newton. 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 5 Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow O'er all th' Italian fields, where still doth sway 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 13 Therefore, &c.] In the printed copies: "Therefore on thy right hand Religion leans, And reckons thee in chief her eldest son.' Newton. 2 Alpine] Fairfax's Tasso, B. xiii. s. 60. Distill'd from tops of Alpine mountains cold. Warton. 5 And that one talent which is death to hide, And post o'er land and ocean without rest: 13 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 From the hard season gaining? Time will run On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire The lily and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun. 10 man's work, or his own gifts] Free will, or grace. Warburton. 13 post] P. L. iv. 171, 'With a vengeance sent, From Media post to Egypt.' Warton. 5 * Lawrence published a work called 'Of our Communion and Warre with Angels,' &c. 1646, 4to. Todd. See British Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 352. What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise To hear the lute well touch'd, 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. XXI. TO CYRIAC SKINNER. CYRIAC, whose grandsire on the royal bench And what the Swede intends, and what the French. Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; 10 For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. 7 Euclid] See Censura Literaria, vi. p. 144. 8 And what the Swede intends] So the MS. The first ed. And what the Swede intend,' which in others is altered to, ' And what the Swedes intend.' Newton. 11 mild Heav'n] So Son. xix. 'bear his mild yoke.' Par. Reg. ii. 125, 'these mild seats.' Sil. Italicus, iv. 795, 'Mite et cognatum est homini deus.' And Hen. More's Poems, p. 196. XXII. TO THE SAME. 5 CYRIAC, this three years day these eyes, tho' clear Of which all Europe rings from side to side. 12 This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content though blind, had I no better guide. 3 Bereft, &c.] In the printed copies, 'Bereft of sight their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs doth day appear, Or sun or moon.' Newton. 7 a] In the printed copies, 'one.' Newton. 12 rings] So the printed copies before Newton's edition, in which 'talks' is substituted from the MS. instead of 'rings.' The Sonnet thus concluded before Newton's ed. 'Whereof all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through this world's vain mask, Content though blind, had I no other guide.' Todd. |