Forget not: in thy book record their groans To Heav'n. Their martvr'd blood and ashes sow XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS. WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need And post o'er land and ocean without rest; great was the terror of the English name-the Protector threatened that his ships should visit Civita Vecchia-that the persecution was stopped, and the surviving inhabitants of the valleys were restored to their homes and to freedom of worship. 1 The Pope. XX. TO MR. LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire, 2 The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire The lily and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun. Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise XXI. TO CYRIAC SKINNER. CYRIAC, whose grandsire3 on the royal bench And what the Swede1 intends, and what the French. 1 Son of Henry Lawrence, Member for Hertfordshire, who was active in settling the Protectorate on Cromwell. Milton's friend was the author of a work called "Of our Communion and Warre with Angels," &c., 1646. 4to.-TODD. 2 The West Wind. 3 Lord Coke. Cyriac Skinner was the son of William Skinner and Bridget. daughter of Lord Coke. He had been a pupil of Milton's, and was one of the principal members of Harrington's Political Club. ♦ Charles Gustavus, King of Sweden, was then at war with Poland, and the French were fighting the Spaniards in the Netherlands. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know XXII. TO THE SAME. CYRIAC, this three years day these eyes, though clear, Of which all Europe talks from side to side. This thought might lead me thro' the world's vain mask 1 When Milton was engaged to answer Salmasius one of his eyes had nearly lost its sight. The physicians predicted the loss of both, if he used them. But Milton told Du Moulin, "I did not long balance whether my duty should be preferred to my eyes." 2 The celebrated controversy with Salmasius originated thus: Charles II. employed that great scholar to write a "Defence of Monarchy," and to vindicate his father's memory. Salmasius was the greatest scholar of his age. Grotius alone could compete with him. Selden speaks of him as "most admirable." The Council of the Commonwealth, therefore, did wisely in ordering Milton to answer him. How he did so at the price of his sight we see above. XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint And such, as yet once more I trust to have But oh! as to embrace me she inclined, I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night. Catherine, the daughter of Captain Woodcock, of Hackney. She died in giving birth to a daughter, a year after her marriage. She was Milton's second wife. Alcestis, being told by an oracle that her husband, Admetus, could never recover from a disease unless a friend died for him, willingly laid down her life for him. Hercules, "Jove's great son," brought her back from hell. Miscellaneous Poem and Translations. ON THE NEW FORCERS OF CONSCIENCE UNDER THE LONG PARLIAMENT. 1647. BECAUSE you have thrown off your prelate lord, From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorr❜d, Dare To force our consciences that Christ set free, 4 May, with their wholesome and preventive shears, And succour our just fears, In classes, or classical assemblies. The Iresbyterians distributed London into twelve classes; each chose two ministers and four lay elders to represent them in a Provincial Assembly. 2 Adam Stuart, a Polemical writer of the times, who answered the "Independents' Plea for Toleration." 3 Samuel Rutherford, one of the Chief Commissioners of the Church of Scotland, and an avowed enemy to the Independents, Milton's sect. 4 Thomas Edwards, who wrote against the Independents. 5 Perhaps George Gillespie, a Scotch writer against the Independents. Milton hated the Scotch, and ridiculed their names. 6 The Council of Trent. The 7 Balk, or bauk, is to spare. meaning is, "Your errors will be corrected, and your ears spared." Our readers will remember that the Star Chamber had inflicted the cruel punish ment of loss of ears on Prynne. 8 More tyrannical than of old. |