Poemata : Latin, Greek and Italian Poems by John MiltonMilton, John
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Poemata : Latin, Greek and Italian Poems by John Milton
Milton, John
Milton, John, 1608-1674 -- Translations into English; Poetry
Like that of sun-rise on the mountain height; 40
Flow'rs over all the field, of ev'ry hue
That ever Iris wore, luxuriant grew,
Nor Chloris,6 with whom amtrous Zephyrs play,
E'er dress'd Alcinous' gardens7 half so gay.
A silver current, like the Tagus, roll'd
O'er golden sands, but sands of purer gold,
With dewy airs Favonius fann'd the flow'rs,
With airs awaken'd under rosy bow'rs.
Such poets feign, irradiated all o'er
The sun's abode on India's utmost shore. 50
While I, that splendour and the mingled shade
Of fruitful vines, with wonder fixt survey'd,
At once, with looks that beam'd celestial grace,
The Seer of Winton stood before my face.
His snowy vesture's hem descending low
His golden sandals swept, and pure as snow
New-fallen shone the mitre on his brow.
Where'er he trod, a tremulous sweet sound
Of gladness shook the flow'ry scene around:
Attendant angels clap their starry wings, 60
The trumpet shakes the sky, all aether rings,
Each chaunts his welcome, folds him to his breast,
And thus a sweeter voice than all the rest.
"Ascend, my son! thy Father's kingdom share,
My son! henceforth be free'd from ev'ry care."
So spake the voice, and at its tender close
With psaltry's sound th'Angelic band arose.
Then night retired, and chased by dawning day
The visionary bliss pass'd all away.
I mourn'd my banish'd sleep with fond concern, 70
Frequent, to me may dreams like this return.
1 i.e. "In my seventeeth year," meaning at the age of sixteen.
2 Lancelot Andrewes, Fuller's "peerless prelate."
3 The plague which ravaged England in I626.
4 Prince Christian of Brunswick, and Count Mansfelt. They were
brothers in arms and the Protestant champions. They both died in
I626.
5 Marine creatures. Proteus was the shepherd of the seas.
6 Flora.
7 See the account of his gardens in the Odyssey.
ELEGY IV.
Anno Aetates 18.
To My Tutor, Thomas Young,1
Chaplain of the English Merchants Resident at Hamburg.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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