Whether to settle peace, or to unfold Both spiritual pow'r and civil, what each means, What severs each, thou hast learn'd, which few have done : The bounds of either sword to thee we owe : XVIII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEMONT. 5 11 AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains cold; Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones, Forget not in thy book record their groans Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold 7 Then, &c.] In the printed copies, 'Then to advise how war may be best upheld Mann'd by her two main nerves,' &c. Newton. 11 severs] Serves.' Printed edition. Newton. 18 Therefore, &c.] In the printed copies: 'Therefore on thy right hand Religion leans, Newton. 5 2 Alpine] Fairfax's Tasso, B. xiii. s. 60. Warton. Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow O'er all th' Italian fields, where still doth sway The triple tyrant; that from these may grow A hundred fold, who having learn'd thy way Early may fly the Babylonian woe. XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS. 9 WHEN I consider how my light is spent 10 man's work, or his own gifts] Free will, or grace. 18 post] P. L. iv. 171, 'With a vengeance sent, Warburton. From Media post to Egypt.' Warton. 8 XX. TO MR. LAWRENCE.* LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, He who of those delights can judge, and spare XXI. TO CYRIAC SKINNER. 5 CYRIAC, whose grandsire on the royal bench * Lawrence published a work called 'Of our Communion and Warre with Angels,' &c. 1646. 4to. Todd. See Bri tish Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 352. 7 Euclid] See Censura Literaria, vi. p. 144. And what the Swede intends, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. XXII. TO THE SAME. 9 5 CYRIAC, this three years day these eyes, tho' clear [plied 8 And what the Swede intends] So the MS. The first ed. 'And what the Swede intend,' which in others is altered to, 'And what the Swedes intend.' Newton. 11 mild Heaven] So Son. xix. 'bear his mild yoke.' Par. Reg. ii. 125, these mild seats.' Sil. Italicus, iv. 795, 'Mite et cognatum est homini deus.' And Hen. More's Poems, p. 196. 8 Bereft, &c.] In the printed copies, 'Bereft of sight their seeing have forgot, 7 a] In the printed copies, 'one.' Newton. Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE. METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the grave, Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force tho' pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed Purification in the old Law did save, [taint And such, as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came, vested all in white, pure as her mind: Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied sight 10 Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight. But O, as to embrace me she inclin'd, I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night.* 12 rings] So the printed copies before Newton's edition, in which 'talks' is substituted from the MS. instead of 'rings.' The Sonnet thus concluded before Newton's ed. Whereof all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through this world's vain mask, Content though blind, had I no other guide.' Todd. * The original various readings to the sonnets from the Cambridge MS. may be seen in Mr. Todd's edition of Milton's Poet. Works, (1809,) vol. vi. p. 500-3. |