by John Milton
As I wept and pondered these things deep in my heart, dewy Hesperus32 arose from the western waves. Phoebus, having completed his journey from the eastern shore, had sunk his chariot in the Tartessian sea.33 I promptly lay down on my hollow bed to find repose. Night and sleep had closed my eyes, when it seemed to me that I was walking in a broad field. Alas! I lack the skill to report what I saw. There everything glowed with a reddish light, as when mountain tops blush in the morning sun. The earth shone, attired with many colours, as when the daughter of Thaumas41 displays her riches. Chloris,44 the goddess loved by mild Zephyrus, did not adorn the gardens of Alcinous with flowers so various. Silver streams washed the verdant meadows, and their sands gleamed a richer gold than those of Hesperian Tagus.46 A gentle breeze of Favonius47stole through the fragrant opulence: a dewy breath born under innumerable roses. Such is the fabled home of royal Lucifer50 on the furthest shores of the land of the Ganges. As I marvelled at the dense shadows under the clustering vines and the shining spaces all around me, lo! the Bishop of Winchester suddenly stood beside me. A starry radiance beamed from his shining face,54 a white robe flowed down to his golden feet, and a white fillet encircled his divine head. While the revered old man stepped forward, dressed in this way, the flowery earth trembled with a joyful sound. The celestial multitude clapped their jewelled wings and the clear air resounded to the blast of a triumphal trumpet. All greeted their new companion with singing and an embrace, and one spoke these words with gentle lips: ‘Come, my son, receive in joy the blessings of your Father’s kingdom and henceforth rest forever from your hard labours.’64 He spoke, and the winged squadrons touched their harps. But my golden rest was driven away with the darkness, and I wept for the sleep which Cephalus’ paramour67 had broken. May such dreams often befall me!68
Elegía Quarta Anno aetatis 18
AD THOMAM IUNIUM, PRAECEPTOREM SUUM, APUD MERCATORES ANGLICOS HAMBURGAE AGENTES, PASTORIS MUNERE FUNGENTEM
Curre per immensum subito mea littera pontum;
I, pete Teutonicos laeve per aequor agros;
Segnes rumpe moras, et nil, precor, obstet eunti,
Et festinantis nil remoretur iter.
5 Ipse ego Sicanio frenantem carcere ventos
Aeolon, et virides sollicitabo deos,
Caeruleamque suis comitatam Dorida nymphis,
Ut tibi dent placidam per sua regna viam.
At tu, si poteris, celeres tibi sume iugales,
10 Vecta quibus Colchis fugit ab ore viri;
Aut queis Triptolemus Scythicas devenit in oras,
Gratus Eleusina missus ab urbe puer.
Atque ubi Germanas flavere videbis arenas,
Ditis ad Hamburgae moenia flecte gradum,
15 Dicitur occiso quae ducere nomen ab Hama,
Cimbrica quem fertur clava dedisse neci.
Vivit ibi antiquae clarus pietatis honore
Praesul Christicolas pascere doctus oves;
Ille quidem est animae plusquam pars altera nostrae,
20Dimidio vitae vivere cogor ego.
Hei mihi quot pelagi, quot montes interiecti
Me faciunt alia parte carere mei!
Charior ille mihi quam tu doctissime Graium
Cliniadi, pronepos qui Telamonis erat;
25 Quamque Stagirites generoso magnus alumno,
Querm peperit Libyco Chaonis alma Iovi.
Qualis Amyntorides, qualis Philyreius heros
Myrmidonum regi, talis et ille mihi.
Primus ego Aonios illo praeeunte recessus
30 Lustrabam, et bifidi sacra vireta iugi;
Pieriosque hausi latices, Clioque favente,
Castalio sparsi laeta ter ora mero.
Flammeus at signum ter viderat arietis Aethon,
Induxitque auro lanea terga novo,
35 Bisque novo terram sparsisti Chlori senilem
Gramine, bisque tuas abstulit Auster opes:
Necdum eius licuit mihi lumina pascere vultu,
Aut linguae dulces aure bibisse sonos.
Vade igitur, cursuque Eurum praeverte sonorum;
40 Quam sit opus monitis res docet, ipsa vides.
Invenies dulci cum coniuge forte sedentem,
Mulcentem gremio pignora chara suo,
Forsitan aut veterum praelarga volumina patrum
Versantem, aut veri biblia sacra Dei;
45 Caelestive animas saturantem rore tenellas,
Grande salutiferae religionis opus.
Utque solet, multam sit dicere cura salutem,
Dicere quam decuit, si modo adesset, herum.
Haec quoque paulum oculos in humum defixa modestos,
50 Verba verecundo sis memor ore loqui:
Haec tibi, si teneris vacat inter praelia Musis
Mittit ab Angliaco littore fida manus.
Accipe sinceram, quamvis sit sera, salutem;
Fiat et hoc ipso gratior illa tibi.
55 Sera quidem, sed vera fuit, quam casta recepit
Icaris a lento Penelopeia viro.
Ast ego quid volui manifestum tollere crimen,
Ipse quod ex omni parte levare nequit?
Arguitur tardus merito, noxamque fatetur,
60 Et pudet officium deseruisse suum.
Tu modo da veniam fasso, veniamque roganti;
Crimina diminui, quae patuere, solent.
Non ferus in pavidos rictus diducit hiantes,
Vulnifico pronos nec rapit ungue leo.
65 Saepe sarissiferi crudelia pectora Thracis
Supplicis ad moestas delicuere preces.
Extensaeque manus avertunt fulminis ictus,
Placat et iratos hostia parva deos.
Iamque diu scripsisse tibi fuit impetus illi,
70 Neve moras ultra ducere passus Amor.
Nam vaga Fama refert, heu nuntia vera malorum!
In tibi finitimis bella tumere locis,
Teque tuamque urbem truculento milite cingi,
Et iam Saxonicos arma parasse duces.
75 Te circum late campos populatur Enyo,
Et sata carne virum iam cruor arva rigat.
Germanisque suum concessit Thracia Martem;
Illuc Odrysios Mars pater egit equos.
Perpetuoque comans iam deflorescit oliva,
80 Fugit et aerisonam diva perosa tubam,
Fugit io terris, et iam non ultima virgo
Creditur ad superas iusta volasse domos.
Te tamen interea belli circumsonat horror,
Vivis et ignoto solus inopsque solo;
85 Et, tibi quam patrii non exhibuere penates,
Sede peregrina quaeris egenus opem.
Patria, dura parens, et saxis saevior albis
Spumea quae pulsat littoris unda tui,
Siccine te decet innocuos exponere foetus,
90 Siccine in externam ferrea cogis humum,
Et sinis ut terris quaerant alimenta remotis
Quos tibi prospiciens miserat ipse Deus,
Et qui laeta ferunt de caelo nuntia, quique
Quae via post cineres ducat ad astra, docent?
95 Digna quidem Stygiis quae vivas clausa tenebris,
Aeternaque animae digna perire fame!
Haud aliter vates terrae Thesbitidis olim
Pressit inassueto devia tesqua pede,
Desertasque Arabum salebras, dum regis Achabi
100 Effugit atque tuas, Sidoni dira, manus.
Talis et horrisono laceratus membra flagello,
Paulus ab Aemathia pellitur urbe Cilix;
Piscosaeque ipsum Gergessae civis Iesum
Finibus ingratus iussit abire suis.
105 At tu sume animos, nec spes cadat anxia curis
Nec tua concutiat decolor ossa metus.
Sis etenim quamvis fulgentibus obsitus armis,
Intententque tibi millia tela necem,
At nullis vel inerme latus violabitur armis,
110 Deque tuo cuspis nulla cruore bibet.
Namque eris ipse Dei radiante sub aegide tutus;
&nb
sp; Ille tibi custos, et pugil ille tibi;
Ille Sionaeae qui tot sub moenibus arcis
Assyrios fudit nocte silente viros;
115 Inque fugam vertit quos in Samaritidas oras
Misit ab antiquis prisca Damascus agris,
Terruit et densas pavido cum rege cohortes,
Aere dum vacuo buccina clara sonat,
Cornea pulvereum dum verberat ungula campum,
120 Currus arenosam dum quatit actus humum,
Auditurque hinnitus equorum ad bella ruentum,
Et strepitus ferri, murmuraque alta virum.
Et tu (quod superest miseris) sperare memento,
Et tua magnanimo pectore vince mala.
125 Nec dubites quandoque frui melioribus annis,
Atque iterum patrios posse videre lares.
Elegy IV At the Age of Eighteen
TO THOMAS YOUNG, HIS TUTOR, NOW PERFORMING THE OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN AMONG THE ENGLISH MERCHANTS IN HAMBURG
Run swiftly across the boundless deep, my letter.1 Go, seek the Teutonic lands over the smooth surface of the sea. Break off sluggish delays and let nothing, I entreat you, stand in the way of your going, nothing detain the speed of your journey. I myself shall implore Aeolus, who restrains the winds in his Sicilian prison, and the sea-green gods, and sea-blue Doris7 with her retinue of nymphs, to give you peaceful passage through their realms. And you, if you can, get hold of that swift team that the Colchian10 drove when she fled from her husband’s face, or that with which young Triptolemus11reached the shores of Scythia, a welcome messenger from the city of Eleusis. And when you see Germany’s golden sands, turn your steps to the walls of prosperous Hamburg, which is said to derive its name from Hama,15 who was slain (so they say) with a Danish club. A pastor lives there, renowned for his veneration of the primitive faith, and well-instructed in the art of feeding Christ’s sheep. Truly that man is more than the other half of my soul,19 and without him I am forced to live a life divided in two. Alas, how many seas, how many mountains are thrust between us to deprive me of my other self! He is dearer to me than you, O wisest of the Greeks,23 were to Cliniades, scion of Telamon; dearer than the great Stagirite25 was to his noble pupil, whom the bountiful woman of Chaonia26 bore to Libyan Jove. What the son of Amyntor and what Philyra’s heroic son were to the king of the Myrmidons,28 such is this man to me. Guided by him, I first wandered the Aonian retreats and the sacred glades of the twin-peaked mountain.30 There I drank of the Pierian waters and, favoured by Clio,31 I thrice wet my joyful lips with Castalian wine. But flaming Aethon33 has thrice looked upon the sign of the Ram, arraying his fleecy back with fresh gold, and you, Chloris, have twice strewn the old earth with new grass, and Auster36 has twice carried your wealth away, since last my eyes were permitted to feast upon his countenance, or my ears to drink in the sweet strains of his voice.
Go, then, and outstrip howling Eurus39 in your journey. Circumstances declare, and you yourself can see, how necessary it is for me to urge you on. You will find him sitting perhaps with his sweet wife, fondling on his lap the pledges of their love; or perhaps turning over the copious volumes of the old Fathers, or the Holy Bible of the true God, or feeding delicate souls with heavenly dew – which is the great work of healing religion. Be sure to give him a warm greeting, as the custom is, and to speak as would befit your master, if only he could be there. Then, fixing your bashful eyes on the ground, remember to speak these words with respectful lips: ‘These verses a faithful hand sends to you from the shores of England – if there is leisure for the gentle Muses in the midst of battles.51 Accept this sincere greeting, though it be late, and let it be the more welcome to you for that very reason. Late indeed, but true, was that greeting that chaste Penelope, Icarius’ daughter, received from her tardy husband.56 But why should I wish to deny a manifest fault, which the offender himself can in no way mitigate? He is justly accused of tardiness, he confesses his crime, and he is ashamed to have failed in his duty. Only grant pardon to one who confesses and asks your forgiveness; for offences frankly acknowledged are wont to be lessened. The wild beast does not open gaping jaws upon terrified prey; the lion does not rend the fallen with death-dealing claw. The merciless heart of the pike-bearing Thracian has often melted at a suppliant’s tearful entreaties. Outstretched hands avert the thunderbolt, and a small sacrifice placates the angry gods.
He has long felt the urge to write to you, and now Love has not suffered any further delays. For wandering Rumour – a truthful messenger of evils, alas! – reports that wars are about to burst out in lands bordering upon you, that you and your city are surrounded by ferocious soldiers, and that the Saxon leaders74 have already prepared their munitions of war. All around you Enyo75 is laying the land to waste, and blood is watering fields sown with human flesh. Thrace has given up her Mars to the Germans; thither father Mars has driven his Odrysian78 horses. The ever-flourishing olive now withers, and the goddess80 who abhors the brazen trumpet has fled – look! she has fled from the earth – and it is believed that the virgin of Justice82 was not the last to fly to a home in the heavens. But you, meanwhile, live alone and helpless in an alien land, where the horror of war sounds all around you. Impoverished, you seek in foreign parts the sustenance that your ancestral homeland denied you. O native land, stern parent, harder than the white cliffs beaten by the foaming waves of your shore, does it become you to expose your innocent children in this way? O heart of iron, do you thus drive them onto alien soil, and do you suffer them to seek their sustenance in foreign lands – men sent to you by God himself in his Providence, men who bring you glad tidings from Heaven, and who teach you the way that leads beyond death to the stars? You indeed deserve to live shut up in Stygian darkness and to perish by everlasting hunger of the soul! In just this way the Tishbite prophet97 with unaccustomed foot once trod remote wastelands and the rugged deserts of Arabia, when he fled King Ahab’s hands, and your hands, vile woman of Sidon. In this way Cilician Paul was driven out from the Emathian city, his flesh torn by the hissing scourge;102 and the ungrateful people of fishy Gergessa commanded Jesus himself to depart out of their coasts.104
But take courage. Do not let anxious hope succumb to care and do not let pale fear send a shudder through your bones. For although you are surrounded by gleaming weapons, and a thousand missiles threaten you with death, yet no weapon shall wound your defenceless side, no spear shall drink your blood. For you shall be safe under the bright shield of God. He will be your defender, he will be your champion – he who in the silent night vanquished so many Assyrian soldiers under the walls of Zion’s citadel;114 who turned to flight those whom old Damascus sent from her ancient domain against the borders of Samaria. He terrified their close-packed cohorts and their trembling king, when the clear trumpet sounded in empty air, the horny hoof beat the dusty plain, the hard-driven chariot shook the sandy earth, and there was heard the neighing of horses charging into battle, the clashing of steel, and the loud roar of men.122
And you, remember to hope. Hope remains yet for the wretched. Vanquish misfortune with your great-souled spirit. Doubt not that some day you will enjoy better years and will again be able to see your native land.’
Elegia Quinta Anno aetatis 20 IN ADVENTUM VERIS
In se perpetuo Tempus revolubile gyro
lam revocat Zephyros vere tepente, novos.
Induiturque brevem Tellus reparata iuventam,
Iamque soluta gelu dulce virescit humus.
5 Fallor? an et nobis redeunt in carmina vires,
Ingeniumque mihi munere veris adest?
Munere veris adest, iterumque vigescit ab illo
(Quis putet?) atque aliquod iam sibi poscit opus.
Castalis ante oculos, bifidumque cacumen oberrat,
10 Et mihi Pirenen somnia nocte ferunt.
Concitaque arcano fervent mihi pectora motu,
Et furor, et sonitus me sacer intus agit.
Delius ipse venit, video Peneide lauro
Implicitos crines, Delius ipse veni
t.
15 Iam mihi mens liquidi raptatur in ardua coeli,
Perque vagas nubes corpore liber eo.
Perque umbras, perque antra feror, penetralia vatum,
Et mihi fana patent interiora deum.
Intuiturque animus toto quid agatur Olympo,
20 Nec fugiunt oculos Tartara caeca meos.
Quid tam grande sonat distento spiritus ore?
Quid parit haec rabies, quid sacer iste furor?
Ver mihi, quod dedit ingenium, cantabitur illo;
Profuerint isto reddita dona modo.
25 lam, Philomela, tuos foliis adoperta novellis
Instituis modulos, dum silet omne nemus.
Urbe ego, tu silva, simul incipiamus utrique,
Et simul adventum veris uterque canat.
Veris io rediere vices; celebremus honores
30 Veris, et hoc subeat Musa perennis opus.
lam sol Aethiopas fugiens Tithoniaque arva,
Flectit ad Arctoas aurea lora plagas.
Est breve noctis iter, brevis est mora noctis opacae,
Horrida cum tenebris exulat ilia suis.
35 lamque Lycaonius plaustrum caeleste Böotes
Non longa sequitur fessus ut ante via;
Nunc etiam solitas circum Iovis atria toto
Excubias agitant sidera rara polo.
Nam dolus, et caedes, et vis cum nocte recessit,
40 Neve Giganteum dii timuere scelus.
Forte aliquis scopuli recubans in vertice pastor,
Roscida cum primo sole rubescit humus,
Hac, ait, hac certe caruisti nocte puella
Phoebe tua, celeres quae retineret equos.
45 Laeta suas repetit silvas, pharetramque resumit