His flaring beams, me, Goddess, bring
To arched walks of twilight groves,
And shadows brown, that Sylvan 3 loves,
Of pine, or monumental oak,
Where the rude axe with heavèd stroke
Was never heard the nymphs to daunt,
Or fright them from their hallowed haunt.
There in close covert by some brook,
Where no profaner eye may look,
Hide me from day's garish eye,

140

While the bee with honeyed thigh,

LYCIDAS

In this Monody the Author bewails a learned
Friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage
from Chester on the Irish Seas, 1637;
and by occasion foretells the ruin
of our corrupted Clergy, then
in their height.

Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more,
Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere,2
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude,
And with forced fingers rude

6

Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.
Bitter constraint and sad occasion dear
Compels me to disturb your season due;
For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime,
Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer.
Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew 10
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.
He must not float upon his watery bier
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,
Without the meed of some melodious tear.
Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well 15
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth
spring;

5

Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string.
Hence with denial vain and coy excuse;
So may some gentle Muse

With lucky words favour my destined urn,
And as he passes turn,

And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud.

21

For we were nursed upon the self-same hill, Fed the same flock, by fountain, shade, and rill;

Together both, ere the high lawns appeared 25
Under the opening eyelids of the morn,
We drove a-field, and both together heard
What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn,
Battening' our flocks with the fresh dews of
night,

TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL MAY, 1652

On the Proposals of Certain Ministers at the Committee for Propagation of the Gospel

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud

Not of war only, but detractions rude, Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed,

And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud 5 Hast reared God's trophies, and his work pursued,

While Darwen stream,1 with blood of Scots imbrued,

And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud,

And Worcester's laureate wreath: yet much remains

To conquer still; peace hath her victories No less renowned than war:

new foes

arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.

Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw.1

The triple tyrant; that from these may grow A hundredfold, who, having learnt thy way, Early may fly the Babylonian woe.2

ON HIS BLINDNESS

When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent 3 which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present 5 My true account, lest he returning chide; "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best

ΙΟ

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.”

TO CYRIACK SKINNER

Cyriack, this three years' day these eyes, though clear

To outward view, of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot; Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun or moon or star throughout the year, 5 Or man or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot

Of heart or hope, but still bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask?

The conscience, friend, to have lost them overplied

IO

In liberty's defence, my noble task, Of which all Europe talks from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask

Content, though blind, had I no better guide.

1 the Pope (alluding to his triple crown) 2 The Puritans interpreted the biblical denunciations of Babylon as directed prophetically against the Catholic Church. 3 his ability to write conscious

ness