worthies were then breathing in her air, who should never be forgotten by any revolution of time that this world hath to finish. "Lords and Commons of England! consider what nation it is whereof ye are, and whereof ye are the governors; a nation not slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing spirit; acute to invent, subtile and sinewy to discourse, not beneath the reach of any point that human capacity can soar tól. „ids og rot us » C Methinks I see in my mind anoble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full mid-day beam; purging and unscaling her long-abused sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance; while the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds, with those also that love the twilight, futter about, amazed at what she means. 66 Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter? Her confuting is the best and surest suppressing. He who hears what praying there is for light and clear knowledge to be sent down among us, would think of other matters to be constituted beyond the discipline of Geneva, framed and fabricked already to our hands. Yet when the new light which we beg for shines in upon us, there be who envy and oppose, if it comes not first in at their casements. What a collusion is this, when as we are exhorted by the wise man to use diligence, 'to seek for wisdom as for hidden treasures,' early and late, that another order shall enjoin us to know nothing but by statute! When a man hath been labouring the hardest labour in the deep mines of knowledge, hath furnished out his findings in all their equipage, drawn forth his reasons, as it were a battle ranged, scattered and defeated all objections in his way, calls out his adversary into the plain, offers him the advantage of wind and sun, if he please, only that he may try the matter by dint of argument; for his opponents then to skulk, to lay ambushments, to keep a narrow bridge of licensing where the challenger should pass, though it be valour enough in soldiership, is but weakness and cowardice in the wars of Truth. For who knows not that Truth is strong, next to the Almighty? She needs no policies, nor stratagems, nor licensings, to make her victorious; those are the shifts and the defences that error uses against her power; give her but room, and do not bind her when she sleeps." This appeal of Milton was unsuccessful, and it was not till 1694 that England was set free from the censors of the press. Milton received from Dryden an eulogium, so well known that we forbear to repeat it. Other poets have re-echoed the strain; and now, at the close of two hundred and sixty-four years, he occupies his niche of fame beside Shakespeare and the great poets of antiquity; his faults, his mistakes, and his controversial writings buried in a merciful oblivion, while the good he did "Lives after him," rejoicing, for all times, the nation which holds as one of its titles to honour the name of JOHN MILTON. Early Poems. ANNO ETATIS 17. ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT,' DYING OF A COUGH. 1625. I. O FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted, That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, II. For since grim Aquilo2 his charioteer By boisterous rape th' Athenian damsel3 got, Thereby to wipe away the infamous blot Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was held. The Poet's infant niece, daughter of his sister, Mrs. Philips. 2 Boreas, or the North Wind. 3 Orithyia.-OVID, Metam. 6. III. So mounting up in icy-pearlèd car, Through middle empire of the freezing air IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, VI. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, Oh say me true, if thou wert mortal wight, 1 A prince of Sparta, said to have been accidentally slain by Apollo. Festivals to his honour were held annually by the Greeks at Amycle, a city of Laconia. VII. Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof Or did of late earth's sons besiege the wall Of sheeny Heaven, and thou some Goddess fled Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? VIII. Or wert thou that just Maid, who once before Or that crown'd matron sage white-robèd Truth? Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some good? IX. Or wert thou of the golden-winged host, To scorn the sordid world and unto heaven aspire? But oh, why didst thou not stay here below To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart? |