ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEDMONT

Av
AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold; b
Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old, ↳
When all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones,
Forget not in thy book record their groans

b

Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piemontese, that rolled Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they

To heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow d O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway, The triple Tyrant; that from these may grow d A hundredfold, who, having learnt thy way, c Early may fly the Babylonian woe.

d

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 which is death to hide
Lodged 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, 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 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 MR. LAWRENCE

LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son,

Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire, Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire Help waste a sullen day, what may be won From the hard season gaining? Time will run On smoother, till Favonius reinspire

The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire The lily and rose, that neither sowed nor spun. What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,

Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise To hear the lute well touched, or artful voice Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air?

He who of those delights can judge, and spare
To interpose them oft, is not unwise.

TO CYRIACK SKINNER

CYRIACK, whose grandsire on the royal bench
Of British Themis, with no mean applause,

Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws, Which others at their bar so often wrench, a To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench a In mirth that after no repenting draws; b Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause,

And what the Swede intend, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know

Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heaven a time ordains, E And disapproves that care, though wise in show, C That with superfluous burden loads the day, d And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.

TO THE SAME

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,
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
In Liberty's defence, my noble task,

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.

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, though pale and faint. Mine, as whom washed from spot of child-bed taint Purification in the Old Law did save,

And such as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind.

Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined So clear as in no face with more delight.

But, oh! as to embrace me she inclined,

I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.

CHRONOLOGICAL

1608

1608-1639. First Period: Education and Early Poems

Born at the Spread Eagle, Bread Street, Cheapside,
London, December 9.

Early education at home.

1620-25 At St. Paul's School.

1625

1626

1628

1629

Friendship with Diodati.

Paraphrase on Psalms cxiv. and cxxxvi.
Enters Christ College, Cambridge.

On the Death of a Fair Infant dying of a Cough.
Elegia Prima, Ad Carolum Diodatum.

At a Vacation Exercise in the College.

Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

On the Morning of Christ's Nativity.

Elegia Sexta, Ad Carolum Diodatum.

1630

Upon the Circumcision. The Passion.

On Time.

1631

1632

At a Solemn Music. Song on May Morning. On
Shakespeare.

On the University Carrier. Another on the Same.
An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester.

his having arrived at the Age of Twenty-three.
Leaves Cambridge.

1632-38 At Horton, Buckinghamshire.

To the Nightingale. L'Allegro. Il Penseroso.
Arcades. Comus.

1633

1634

1638-39 Journey to the Continent. Italian Sonnets.

Returns to St. Bride's, Fleet Street, London.
Epitaphium Damonis.

On