(AT CAMBRIDGE COMPOSED BY MILTON IN THE SEVENTEENTH YEAR OF HIS AGE) THEE, whose refulgent staff, and summons clear, Minerva's flock long time was wont to obey, Although thyself a herald, famous here, The last of heralds, Death, has snatched away. He calls on all alike, nor even deigns To spare the office that himself sustains. Thy locks were whiter than the plumes displayed By Leda's paramour in ancient time, But thou wast worthy ne'er to have decayed, Or AEson-like to know a second prime, Worthy, for whom some goddess should have won New life, oft kneeling to Apollo's son. Commissioned to convene, with hasty call, The gowned tribes, how graceful wouldst thou stand! So stood Cyllenius erst in Priam's hall, Wing-footed messenger of Jove's command; And so Eurybates, when he addressed To Peleus' son Atrides' proud behest. Dread queen of sepulchres! whose rigorous laws And watchful eyes run through the realms below; Oh, oft too adverse to Minerva's cause, Too often to the Muse not less a foe, Chuse meaner marks, and with more equal aim Pierce useless drones, earth's burden and its shame! Flow, therefore, tears for him, from every eye; All ye disciples of the Muses, weep! Assembling all in robes of sable dye, Around his bier, lament his endless sleep! And let complaining Elegy rehearse In every school her sweetest, saddest verse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SACRAL DREAMS OF RAMON FERNANDEZ by JAMES GALVIN THE GARDEN BY MOONLIGHT by AMY LOWELL BRUCE AND THE SPIDER by BERNARD BARTON SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 93 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE LATE STAND-TO by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN AN ASSURANCE by NICHOLAS BRETON THE HEAVENLY BREEZE by GEORGE BURGESS |