Lycidas

Lycidas

by John Milton

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

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
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,
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring,

Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string.
Hence with denial vain, and coy excuse,
So may some gentle Muse
With lucky words favour my destin’d Urn,

And as he passes turn,
And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud.
For we were nurs’d upon the self-same hill,
Fed the same flock, by fountain, shade, and rill.

Together both, ere the high lawns appear’d
Under the opening eyelids of the morn,
We drove afield, and both together heard
What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn,

Batt’ning our flocks with the fresh dews of night,
Oft till the Star that rose, at Ev’ning bright,
Toward Heav’n’s descent had slop’d his burnish’d wheel.
Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute,

Temper’d to th’ Oaten Flute;
Rough Satyrs danced, and Fauns with cloven heel
From the glad sound would not be absent long,
And old Damoetas lov’d to hear our song.

But O the heavy change, now thou art gone,
Now thou art gone, and never must return!
Thee Shepherd, thee the woods, and desert caves,
With wild Thyme and the gadding Vine o’ergrown,

And all their echoes mourn.
The Willows, and the Hazle Copses green,
Shall now no more be seen,
Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays.

As killing as the Canker to the Rose,
Or Taint-worm to the weanling Herde that grazes,
Or Frost to Flowers, that their gay wardrobe wear,
When first the White Thorn blows;

Such, Lycidas, thy loss to Shepherds’ ear.
Where were ye Nymphs when the remorseless deep
Clos’d o’er the head of your lov’d Lycidas?
For neither were ye playing on the steep,

Where your old Bards, the famous Druids, lie,
Nor on the shaggy top of Mona high,
Nor yet where Deva spreads her wizard stream:
Ay me! I fondly dream!

Had ye been there, for what could that have done?
What could the Muse herself that Orpheus bore,
The Muse herself for her enchanting son
Whom Universal nature did lament,

When by the rout that made the hideous roar,
His goary visage down the stream was sent,
Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore.
Alas! What boots it with uncessant care

To tend the homely slighted Shepherd’s trade,
And strictly meditate the thankless Muse?
Were it not better done as others use,
To sport with Amaryllis in the shade,

Or with the tangles of Neaera’s hair?
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights, and live laborious days;

But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
And think to burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes the blind Fury with th’ abhorred shears,
And slits the thin spun life. But not the praise,

Phoebus repli’d, and touch’d my trembling ears;
Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,
Nor in the glistering foil
Set off to th’ world, nor in broad rumour lies,

But lives and spreads aloft by those pure eyes,
And perfect witness of all-judging Jove;
As he pronounces lastly on each deed,
Of so much fame in Heav’n expect thy meed.

O Fountain Arethuse, and thou honour’d flood,
Smooth-sliding Mincius, crown’d with vocal reeds,
That strain I heard was of a higher mood:
But now my Oat proceeds,

And listens to the Herald of the Sea
That came in Neptune’s plea.
He ask’d the Waves, and ask’d the Fellon Winds,
What hard mishap hath doom’d this gentle swain?

And question’d every gust of rugged wings
That from the North or South obscure came,
Or from the East or West, that often rend
The Cedar tops and green turf on the banks

With hideous ruin. Him that mighty Chief
Did dryad forth, and all about him round
Stood Neptune’s children, and the Nereids fair,
And old Oceanus, and Tethys gray,

And all the Sea-Gods, and their goodly train.
He shook his Trident, and the sound was heard
Far off in the deep Ocean, where the Dwellers
Of the deep did quake, and the Sea-Nymphs fled.

He ask’d the Air, and ask’d the Heavens, and ask’d
The Stars, and ask’d the Moon, and ask’d the Sun,
And ask’d the Earth, and ask’d the Sea, and ask’d
The Fountains, and the Rivers, and the Floods,

And all the Waters, and the Winds, and all
The Elements, and all the Powers of Nature,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Heroes, and all the Nymphs,

And all the Dryads, and all the Fauns,
And all the Satyrs, and all the Sylvans,
And all the Genii, and all the Daemons,
And all the Furies, and all the Harpies,

And all the Gorgons, and all the Hydras,
And all the Chimeras, and all the Centaurs,
And all the Giants, and all the Titans,
And all the Monsters, and all the Spectres,

And all the Shades, and all the Ghosts,
And all the Phantoms, and all the Apparitions,
And all the Dreams, and all the Visions,
And all the Terrors, and all the Horrors,

And all the Pains, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Miseries, and all the Woes,
And all the Curses, and all the Plagues,
And all the Deaths, and all the Destructions,

And all the Ruin, and all the Despair,
And all the Anguish, and all the Grief,
And all the Torment, and all the Vexation,
And all the Trouble, and all the Care,

And all the Fear, and all the Dread,
And all the Terror, and all the Amazement,
And all the Wonder, and all the Awe,
And all the Reverence, and all the Worship,

And all the Glory, and all the Praise,
And all the Honour, and all the Renown,
And all the Fame, and all the Triumph,
And all the Victory, and all the Joy,

And all the Pleasure, and all the Delight,
And all the Bliss, and all the Happiness,
And all the Peace, and all the Love,
And all the Good, and all the Evil,

And all the Light, and all the Darkness,
And all the Day, and all the Night,
And all the Life, and all the Death,
And all the Being, and all the Non-Being,

And all the Time, and all the Eternity,
And all the Space, and all the Infinity,
And all the Worlds, and all the Universes,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,

And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,

And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,

And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,

And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,

And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,

And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,

And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,

And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,

And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,

And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,

And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,

And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,

And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,

And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,

And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,

And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,

And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,

And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,

And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,

And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,

And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,

And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,

And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,

And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,

And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,

And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,

And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the Properties,
And all the Relations, and all the Accidents,
And all the Causes, and all the Effects,
And all the Means, and all the Ends,
And all the Beginnings, and all the Endings,
And all the Wholes, and all the Parts,
And all the Unities, and all the Multiplicities,
And all the Orders, and all the Confusions,
And all the Harmonies, and all the Discords,
And all the Truths, and all the Falsehoods,
And all the Goods, and all the Evils,
And all the Beauties, and all the Deformities,
And all the Pleasures, and all the Pains,
And all the Joys, and all the Sorrows,
And all the Hopes, and all the Fears,
And all the Loves, and all the Hates,
And all the Virtues, and all the Vices,
And all the Graces, and all the Sins,
And all the Heavens, and all the Hells,
And all the Gods, and all the Goddesses,
And all the Angels, and all the Daemons,
And all the Spirits, and all the Souls,
And all the Minds, and all the Hearts,
And all the Bodies, and all the Forms,
And all the Substances, and all the Essences,
And all the Qualities, and all the

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