SONNETS.

TO THE NIGHTINGALE

O NIGHTINGALE, that on yon bloomy spray
Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still;
Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill
While the jolly Hours lead on propitious May
Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day,
First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill,
Portend success in love; O, if Jove's will
Have link'd that amorous power to thy soft lay,
Now timely sing, ere the rude bird of hate
Foretel my hopeless doom, in some grove nigh;
As thou, from year to year, hast sung too late
For my relief, yet hadst no reason why:

Whether the Muse, or Love, call thee his mate Both them I serve, and of their train am I

ON HIS BEING ARRIVED TO THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE.

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stol'n on his wing my three-and-twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career,

But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv'd so near; And inward ripeness doth much less appear That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.

Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,
It shall be still in strictest measure even
To that same lot, however mean or high,
Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Hea-

ven;

All is, if I have grace to use it so,

As ever in my great Task-Master's eye.

WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY.*

CAPTAIN, or Colonel, or Knight in arms

Whose chance on these defenceless door may seize,

If deed of honour did thee ever please,

Guard them, and him within protect from harms⚫
He can requite thee; for he knows the charms
That call Fame on such gentle acts as these,
And he can spread thy name o'er land and seas,
What ever clime the sun's bright circle warms.
Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower:

The great Emathian conquerer bid spare
The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower
Went to the ground; and the repeated air
Of sad Electra's poet had the power

To save th' Athenian walls from ruin bare.

TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY

LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth

Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way and the green,

In the manuscript after the title, is added 1642. It was in November of that year that the King marched with his army as wear as Brentford, and put the city in great consternation.

And with those few art eminently seen,
That labour up the hill of heavenly truth;
The better part with Mary and with Ruth
Chosen thou hast; and they that overween,
And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen,
No anger find in thee but pity and ruth.
Thy care is fix'd, and zealously attends

To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure, Thou, when the Bridegroom, with his feastful friends Passes to bliss, at the mid hour of night, Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure.

TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY.*
DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President
Of England's Council, and her Treasury,
Who liv'd in both, unstain'd with gold or fee, ·
And left them both, more in himself content
Tiil the sad breaking of that Parliament
Broke him, as that dishonest victory

At Chæronea fatal to liberty,

Kill'd, with report that old man eloquent. Though later born than to have known the days

* We have given the title which is in Milton's Manuscript, Te the Lady Margaret Ley. She was the daughter of Sir James Ley, whose singular learning and abilities raised him through all the great posts of the law, till he came to be made Earl of Marlbo rough, and Lord High Treasurer, and Lord President of the Council to King James I. He died in an advanced age, and Milton attributes his death to the breaking of the parliament; and it is true that the parliament was dissolved the 10th of March, 1628-9, and he died on the 14th of the same month. He left several sons and daughters; and the Lady Margaret was married to Captain Hobson, of the Isle of Wight. It appears from the accounts of Milton's life, that in the year 1643 he used frequently to visit this lady and her husband, and about that time we may suppose is sonnet was composed.

R

Wherein your father flourish'd, yet by you,
Madam, methinks I see him living yet;
So well your words his noble virtues praise,
That all both judge you to relate them true,
And to possess them, honour'd Margaret.

On the Detraction which followed upon the writing certain Treatises.*

A BOOK was writ of late call'd Tetrachordon,
And woven close, both matter, form, and style;
The subject new it walk'd the town awhile,
Numb'ring good intellects; now seldom por'd on
Cries the stall reader, Bless us! what a word on
A title page is this! and some in file

Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Mile. End Green. Why is it harder, Sirs, than Gordon, Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp?t

Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek,

That would have made Quintillian stare and gasp; Thy age, like ours O soul of Sir John Cheek,‡

*When Milton published his book of Divorce, he was greatly condemned by the Presbyterian ministers, whose advocate and champion he had been before. He published his Tetrachordon, or Expositions upon the four chief places in Scripture, which treat of marriage, or nullities in marriage, in 1645.

+"We may suppose, (says Dr. Newton,) that these were per sons of note and eminence among the Scotch ministers who were for pressing and enforcing the covenant." Mr. George Gillespie, here wrongously named Galasp, was one of the Scotch commisioners to the Westminister assembly. But who the other persons were is not known. It appears from this sonnet, and the verses on the forcers of conscience, that Milton treats the Presbyterians with great contempt.

This Gentleman was the first Professor of the Greek tongue in the university of Cambridge, and was highly instrumental in bringing that language into repute. He was afterwards made ons of the tutors to Edward VI.