On Shakespear poem – John Milton poems

What needs my Shakespear for his honour’d Bones, The labour of an age in piled Stones, Or that his hallow’d reliques should be hid Under a Star-ypointing Pyramid? Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame, What need’st thou such weak witnes of thy name? Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thy […]

On His Deceased Wife poem – John Milton poems

METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused Saint Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, Whom Joves great Son to her glad Husband gave, Rescu’d from death by force though pale and faint. Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint, Purification in the old Law did save, And such, as yet once […]

On His Blindness poem – John Milton poems

When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodg’d with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he returning chide, “Doth God exact day-labour, […]

Methought I Saw My Late Espoused Saint poem – John Milton poems

Methought I saw my late espoused Saint Brought to me like Alcestus from the grave, Who Jove’s great Son to her glad Husband gave, Rescu’d from death by force though pale and faint. Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint Purification in the old Law did save, And such as yet once […]

Lycidas poem – John Milton poems

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, I come to […]

Light poem – John Milton poems

HAIL holy light, ofspring of Heav’n first-born, Or of th’ Eternal Coeternal beam May I express thee unblam’d? since God is light, And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee, Bright effluence of bright essence increate. Or hear’st thou rather pure Ethereal stream, Whose Fountain who shall tell? before […]

L’Allegro poem – John Milton poems

Hence, loathed Melancholy, …………Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born In Stygian cave forlorn …………’Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy! Find out some uncouth cell, …………Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, And the night-raven sings; …………There, under ebon shades and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, …………In dark Cimmerian desert ever […]

Il Penseroso poem – John Milton poems

Hence, vain deluding Joys, …………The brood of Folly without father bred! How little you bested …………Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys! Dwell in some idle brain, …………And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess, As thick and numberless …………As the gay motes that people the sun-beams, Or likest hovering dreams, …………The fickle […]

Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity poem – John Milton poems

IT was the Winter wilde, While the Heav’n-born-childe, All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in aw to him Had doff’t her gawdy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for her To wanton with the Sun her lusty Paramour. Only with speeches fair She woo’s […]

How Soon Hath Time poem – John Milton poems

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stoln on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on wtih full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew’th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arrived so near, And inward ripeness doth […]

From ‘Samson Agonistes’ i poem – John Milton poems

OH how comely it is and how reviving To the Spirits of just men long opprest! When God into the hands of thir deliverer Puts invincible might To quell the mighty of the Earth, th’ oppressour, The brute and boist’rous force of violent men Hardy and industrious to support Tyrannic power, but raging to […]

From ‘Arcades’ poem – John Milton poems

O’RE the smooth enameld green Where no print of step hath been, Follow me as I sing, And touch the warbled string. Under the shady roof Of branching Elm Star-proof, Follow me, I will bring you where she sits Clad in splendor as befits Her deity. Such a rural Queen All Arcadia hath not […]

Comus poem – John Milton poems

A Masque Presented At Ludlow Castle, 1634, Before The Earl Of Bridgewater, Then President Of Wales. The Persons The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of THYRSIS. COMUS, with his Crew. The LADY. FIRST BROTHER. SECOND BROTHER. SABRINA, the Nymph. The Chief Persons which presented were:— The Lord Brackley; Mr. […]

At A Solemn Musick poem – John Milton poems

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav’ns joy, Sphear-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Vers, Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power employ Dead things with inbreath’d sense able to pierce, And to our high-rais’d phantasie present, That undisturbed Song of pure content, Ay sung before the saphire-colour’d throne To him that sits theron With […]

Arcades poem – John Milton poems

Part of an entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Darby at Harefield, by som Noble persons of her Family, who appear on the Scene in pastoral habit, moving toward the seat of State with this Song. I. SONG. Look Nymphs, and Shepherds look, What sudden blaze of majesty Is that which we […]

Another On The Same poem – John Milton poems

Here lieth one who did most truly prove, That he could never die while he could move, So hung his destiny never to rot While he might still jogg on, and keep his trot, Made of sphear-metal, never to decay Untill his revolution was at stay. Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime ‘Gainst […]

An Epitaph On The Marchioness Of Winchester poem – John Milton poems

This rich Marble doth enterr The honour’d Wife of Winchester, A Vicounts daughter, an Earls heir, Besides what her vertues fair Added to her noble birth, More then she could own from Earth. Summers three times eight save one She had told, alas too soon, After so short time of breath, To house with […]

Yes, ’tis the pulse of life! my fears were vain!

Yes, ’tis the pulse of life! my fears were vain! I wake, I breathe, and am myself again. Still in this nether world; no seraph yet! Nor walks my spirit, when the sun is set, With troubled step to haunt the fatal board, Where I died last—by poison or the sword; Blanching each honest cheek […]

Italy

There is a glorious City in the Sea. The Sea is in the broad, the narrow streets, Ebbing and flowing; and the salt sea-weed Clings to the marble of her palaces. No track of men, no footsteps to and fro, Lead to her gates. The path lies o’er the Sea, Invisible; and from the land […]

Sonnet III: With how sad steps by Sir Philip Sidney

Sonnet III: With how sad steps by Sir Philip Sidney With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb’st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face! What! may it be that even in heavenly place That busy archer his sharp arrows tries? Sure, if that long-with-love-acquainted eyes Can judge of love, thou feel’st […]

Sonnet II: Not At First Sight by Sir Philip Sidney

Sonnet II: Not At First Sight by Sir Philip Sidney Not at first sight, nor with a dribbed shot Love gave the wound, which while I breathe will bleed; But known worth did in mine of time proceed, Till by degrees it had full conquest got: I saw and liked, I liked but loved not; […]

Sonnet I: Loving In Truth by Sir Philip Sidney

Sonnet I: Loving In Truth by Sir Philip Sidney Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show, That she (dear She) might take some pleasure of my pain: Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know, Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain; I sought fit words to paint […]

Song from Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney

Song from Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney My true love hath my heart, and I have his, By Just Exchange, one for the other given. I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven. His heart in me keeps me and him in one, My heart in him […]

Song by Sir Philip Sidney

Song by Sir Philip Sidney Who hath his fancy pleased With fruits of happy sight, Let here his eyes be raised On Nature’s sweetest light; A light which doth dissever And yet unite the eyes, A light which, dying never, Is cause the looker dies. She never dies, but lasteth In life of lover’s heart; […]

Sleep by Sir Philip Sidney

Sleep by Sir Philip Sidney Come Sleep; O Sleep! the certain knot of peace, The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release, Th’ indifferent judge between the high and low; With shield of proof shield me from out the prease Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth […]

Sir Philip Sidney; Astrophel and Stella: XXIII by Sir Philip Sidney

Sir Philip Sidney; Astrophel and Stella: XXIII by Sir Philip Sidney The curious wits, seeing dull pensiveness Bewray itself in my long-settl’d eyes, Whence those same fumes of melancholy rise, With idle pains and missing aim do guess. Some, that know how my spring I did address, Deem that my Muse some fruit of knowledge […]

Ring Out Your Bells by Sir Philip Sidney

Ring Out Your Bells by Sir Philip Sidney Ring out your bells, let mourning shows be spread; For Love is dead– All love is dead, infected With plague of deep disdain; Worth, as nought worth, rejected, And Faith fair scorn doth gain. From so ungrateful fancy, From such a female franzy, From them that use […]

Psalm 19: Coeli Enarrant by Sir Philip Sidney

Psalm 19: Coeli Enarrant by Sir Philip Sidney The heavenly frame sets forth the fame Of him that only thunders; The firmament, so strangely bent, Shows his handworking wonders. Day unto day doth it display, Their course doth it acknowledge, And night to night succeeding right In darkness teach clear knowledge. There is no speech, […]

Philomela by Sir Philip Sidney

Philomela by Sir Philip Sidney The nightingale, as soon as April bringeth Unto her rested sense a perfect waking, While late bare earth, proud of new clothing, springeth, Sings out her woes, a thorn her song-book making, And, mournfully bewailing, Her throat in tunes expresseth What grief her breast oppresseth, For Tereus’ force on her […]

Loving In Truth, And Fain In Verse My Love To Show by Sir Philip Sidney

Loving In Truth, And Fain In Verse My Love To Show by Sir Philip Sidney Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show, That She, dear She, might take some pleasure of my pain, —Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know, Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain— […]

Leave Me, O Love Which Reachest But To Dust by Sir Philip Sidney

Leave Me, O Love Which Reachest But To Dust by Sir Philip Sidney Leave me, O love which reachest but to dust, And thou, my mind, aspire to higher things; Grow rich in that which never taketh rust: Whatever fades but fading pleasure brings. Draw in thy beams, and humble all thy might To that […]

Come Sleep, O Sleep! The Certain Knot Of Peace by Sir Philip Sidney

Come Sleep, O Sleep! The Certain Knot Of Peace by Sir Philip Sidney Come, Sleep! O Sleep, the certain knot of peace, The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release, Th’ indifferent judge between the high and low; With shield of proof shield me from out the press […]

Astrophel and Stella: XXXIX by Sir Philip Sidney

Astrophel and Stella: XXXIX by Sir Philip Sidney Come Sleep! O Sleep, the certain knot of peace, The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release, Th’ indifferent judge between the high and low. With shield of proof shield me from out the prease Of those fierce darts despair […]

Astrophel and Stella: XXXIII by Sir Philip Sidney

Astrophel and Stella: XXXIII by Sir Philip Sidney I might!–unhappy word–O me, I might, And then would not, or could not, see my bliss; Till now wrapt in a most infernal night, I find how heav’nly day, wretch! I did miss. Heart, rend thyself, thou dost thyself but right; No lovely Paris made thy Helen […]

Astrophel and Stella: XX by Sir Philip Sidney

Astrophel and Stella: XX by Sir Philip Sidney Fly, fly, my friends, I have my death wound, fly! See there that boy, that murd’ring boy, I say, Who, like a thief, hid in dark bush doth lie Till bloody bullet get him wrongful prey. So tyrant he no fitter place could spy, Nor so fair […]

Astrophel and Stella: XV by Sir Philip Sidney

Astrophel and Stella: XV by Sir Philip Sidney You that do search for every purling spring Which from the ribs of old Parnassus flows, And every flower, not sweet perhaps, which grows Near thereabouts, into your poesy wring; Ye that do dictionary’s method bring Into your rimes, running in rattling rows; You that poor Petrarch’s […]

Astrophel and Stella: XLI by Sir Philip Sidney

Astrophel and Stella: XLI by Sir Philip Sidney Having this day my horse, my hand, my lance Guided so well that I obtain’d the prize, Both by the judgment of the English eyes And of some sent from that sweet enemy France; Horsemen my skill in horsemanship advance, Town folks my strength; a daintier judge […]