To fetch him hence, and folemnly attend
With filent obfequy and funeral train
Home to his father's houfe: there will I build him
A monument, and plant it round with shade
Of laurel ever green, and branching palm, 1735
With all his trophies hung, and acts inroll'd
In copious legend, or fweet lyric fong.
Thither fhall all the valiant youth refort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchlefs valor, and adventures high:
The virgins alfo fhall on feastful days
Vifit his tomb with flow`rs, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and lofs of eyes.
CHOR. All is beft, though we oft doubt, 1745
What th' unfearchable difpofe
Of highest wisdom brings about,
And ever beft found in the clofe.
Oft he seems to hide his face,
But unexpectedly returns,
And to his faithful champion hath in place
Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns
And all that band them to refift

His uncontrollable intent;

His fervants he with new acquist

Of true experience from this great event
With peace and confolation hath dismist,
And calm of mind all paffion spent.

THE EN D.

1740

1750

1755

POEMS

UPON

SEVERAL OCCASIONS,

Compos'd at feveral times,

BY

Mr. JOHN MILTON.

Baccare frontem

Cingite, ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro. Virgil, Eclog. 7.

-----

N

To the first edition of the author's poems printed in 1645 was prefixed the following advertisement of The STATIONER to the READER.

I

T is not any private respect of gain, gentle Reader, for the flightest pamphlet is now adays more vendible than the works of learnedeft men; but it is the love I have to our own language, that hath made me diligent to collect and set forth fuch pieces both in profe and verfe, as may renew the wonted honor and esteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin poems, not the florish of any prefixed encomiums that can invite thee to buy them, though these are not without the highest commendations and applaufe of the learnedeft Academics, both domestic and foreign; and amongst thofe of our own country, the unparallel'd atteftation of that renowned Provost of Eton, Sir Henry Wotton. I know not thy palate how it relishes fuch daintics, nor how harmonious thy foul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee better. But howfoever thy opinion is fpent upon thefe, that encouragement I have already received from the most ingenious men in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late choice pieces, hath once more made me adventure into the world, prefenting it with thefe ever-green, and not to be blafted laurels. The Author's more peculiar excellency in thefe ftudies was too well known to conceal his papers, or to keep me from attempting to folicit them from him. Let the event guide itself which way it will, I fhall deferve of the age, by bringing into the light as true a birth, as the Mufes have brought forth fince our famous Spenfer wrote; whofe poems in these English ones are as rarely imitated, as sweetly excell'd. Reader, if thou art eagle-ey'd to cenfure their worth, I am not fearful to expose them to thy exacteft perufal. Thine to command, HUMPH, MOSELEY,

ANNO ÆTATIS

On the death of a fair Infant, dying of a cough,

17.

I.

Fairest flow'r no fooner blown but blasted, Soft filken primrose fading timeleЛly, Summer's chief honor, if thou hadft out-lafted Bleak Winter's force that made thy blossom dry; For he being amorous on that lovely dye

5

That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kifs, But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal blifs.

II.

For fince grim Aquilo his charioteer
By boiftrous rape th' Athenian damfel got,
He thought it touch'd his deity full near,
If likewife he fome fair one wedded not,
Thereby to wipe away th' infamous blot

Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, [held.
Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was

10