Two Poems by John Milton

John Milton (1608-1674) was a towering figure in English literature, best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost. Born in London to a prosperous scrivener, Milton received an exceptional education, attending St. Paul’s School and later Christ’s College, Cambridge. His deep classical knowledge, coupled with a fervent religious belief, profoundly shaped his literary and political career.

Milton’s poetry is marked by its rich language, intellectual depth, and complex themes, often exploring human existence, divine justice, and individual liberty. Paradise Lost, published in 1667, stands as his magnum opus and one of the greatest works of English literature. The epic poem recounts the biblical story of the Fall of Man, delving into themes of free will, obedience, and the nature of good and evil. With its grand style and powerful blank verse, Paradise Lost not only reflects Milton’s mastery of classical epic conventions but also his innovative approach to poetic form and narrative.

In addition to his literary achievements, Milton was deeply involved in the political and religious upheavals of 17th-century England. A staunch Puritan and republican, he served as a civil servant under Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth and wrote several influential pamphlets advocating for freedom of speech, press, and divorce, most notably Areopagitica (1644). His political writings reflect his commitment to individual rights and a deep suspicion of tyranny in all its forms.

Milton’s later years were marked by personal and physical hardship. He became completely blind in 1652, yet continued to write and dictate his works, producing Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes in his final years. Despite his blindness, Milton’s literary vision remained clear, his works continuing to inspire readers and writers with their exploration of the human condition, freedom, and divine justice. His influence can be seen in the works of later poets and thinkers, securing his place as one of the most important voices in English literature.

While Milton was most famous for his epic Paradise Lost, he wrote shorter poems such as these as well:

An Epitaph on the Admirable Dramatic Poet W. Shakespeare

What needs my Shakespeare for his honored bones
The labor of an age in piled stones?
Or that his hallowed reliques should be hid
Under a star-ypointing pyramid?
Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame,
What need’st thou such weak witness of thy name?
Thou in our wonder and astonishment
Hast built thy self a livelong monument.
For whilst, to th’ shame of slow-endeavoring art,
Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart
Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued book
Those Delphic lines with deep impression took,
Then thou, our fancy of itself bereaving,
Dost make us marble with too much conceiving,
And so sepulchred in such pomp dost lie
That kings for such a tomb would wish to die.

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
    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, 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.”

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