MILTON. L'ALLEGRO. HENCE, loathéd Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born In Stygian cave forlorn 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy! Find out some uncouth cell, 5 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 dwell. But come, thou Goddess fair and free, And by men heart-easing Mirth; With two sister Graces more, Or whether (as some sager sing) The frolic wind that breathes the spring, Zephyr, with Aurora playing, As he met her once a-Maying, And fresh-blown roses washed in dew, Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee Quips and Cranks and wanton Wiles, Nods and Becks and wreathéd Smiles, ΙΟ 15 20 25 Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, And in thy right hand lead with thee To live with her, and live with thee, While the cock, with lively din, Scatters the rear of darkness thin; 30 35 40 45 50 Under the hawthorn in the dale. Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures, Russet lawns, and fallows grey, Where the nibbling flocks do stray; When in one night, ere glimpse of morn, And crop-full out of doors he flings, Ere the first cock his matin rings. Thus, done the tales, to bed they creep, Where throngs of knights and barons bold, With store of ladies, whose bright eyes Of wit or arms, while both contend To win her grace whom all commend. In saffron robe, with taper clear, IIO 115 120 125 130 The melting voice through mazes running, That Orpheus' self may heave his head 145 HENCE, vain deluding Joys, The brood of Folly without father bred! How little you bested, Or filled the fixéd 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 pensioners of Morpheus' train. But, hail thou Goddess sage and holy! Hail, divinest Melancholy! Whose saintly visage is too bright 5 IO To hit the sense of human sight, And therefore to our weaker view 15 O'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue; Prince Memnon's sister might beseem, Or that starred Ethiop queen that strove To set her beauty's praise above 20 The Sea-Nymphs, and their powers offended. Thee bright-haired Vesta long of yore To solitary Saturn bore; His daughter she; in Saturn's reign 25 Such mixture was not held a stain. |