7 Stay'd not behind, nor in the grave were trod; But, as Faith pointed with her golden rod, Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. Love led them on, and Faith, who knew them best Thy handmaids, clad them o'er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams. XV. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX.* FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, And all her jealous monarchs with amaze And rumours loud, that daunt remotest kings, Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings Victory home, though new rebellions raise Stay'd] Orig. Line in MS. 'Straight follow'd thee the path that saints have trod.' Warton. 5 14 drink] Epitaph. Damonis. 206. Æthereos haurit latices.' Warton. * This Sonnet, as' appears from Milton's MS. was addressed to Fairfax at the siege of Colchester, 1648. It was first printed, together with the two following sonnets, and the two to Cyriack Skinner, at the end of Phillips's Life of Milton, 1694. Warton. 2 Filling] So the MS: before, it was⚫ And fills each mouth. Todd virtue] So the MS: before, valour.' In the next line though' is admitted from the MS. instead of while.' Todd. Their Hydra heads, and the false North displays Her broken league to imp their serpent wings. O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand, (For what can war, but endless war still breed?) Till truth and right from violence be freed, And public faith clear'd from the shameful brand Of public fraud. In vain doth valour bleed, While avarice and rapine share the land. XVI. TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL.* CROMWELL, Our chief of men, who through a cloud 8 their] So the MS.: before her.' Todd. 10 This and the following lines were thus in the printed copies : For what can war, but acts of war still breed, Till injured truth from violence be freed, And public faith be rescued from the brand. Newton. *See Hollis's Memoirs, p. 511. 1 who, &c.] In the printed copy thus: that through a crowd Not of war only, but distractions rude. But a cloud of war' is a classical expression. Virg. Æn. 5 This and the following line were contracted in the printed copies of Phillips, Toland, Tonson, Tickell, and Fenton, into And fought God's battles, and his works pursued.' VOL. III. P Warton. 16572 10. Lo du Par. List (4137) Abdiel's fight in mantuning God's ante before multitude the battle to follow. of Lycida 114 of Mark Part 123-4 Hast rear'dGod's trophies, and his work pursued, And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, To conquer still; peace hath her victories 10 No less renown'd than war: new foes arise XVII. TO SIR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER.* sage VANE, young in The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms re- 7 Darwen] In the printed copies Darwent.' Newton. 10 peace, &c.] In the printed copies, before Newton's edition, 'peace has her victories, no less than those of war;' and afterwards, in secular chains.' Todd. Compare Milton's Second Defence, vol. ii. p. 442 ; and Cas. Sarb. Carm. p. 323, ed. Barbou. * This Sonnet seems to have been written in behalf of the Independants against the Presbyterian hierarchy. Vane was beheaded in 1662. Warton. 1 counsel] The printed copies, councils.' Newton. "Hacker force, the no thanks to the forcers, bone religion of time offttime s Chrives & flowshes; but the corruption of the teachers mess enly the effect of hire is the very beme of truth in them who are "Corrupted. Milton Cooperation Fencher metee more Whether to settle peace, or to unfold Both spiritual pow'r and civil, what each means, The bounds of either sword to thee we owe: XVIII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN 11 April 1655/off PIEMONT. of the Vaudois by their own. Emamel II, Duke AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains cold; stones, Forget not in thy book record their groans 7 Then, &c.] In the printed copies, Then to advise how war may be best upheld Mann'd by her two main nerves,' &c. Newton. 'Serves.' Printed edition. Newton. 11 severs] 13 Therefore, &c.] In the printed copies : Therefore on thy right hand Religion leans, And reckons thee in chief her eldest son.' Newton. 2 Alpine] Fairfax's Tasso, B. xiii. s. 60. 5 Distill'd from tops of Alpine mountains cold. Warton. of Nord work vitiis hand. The thing became Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd 9 To Heav'n. Their matyr'd blood and ashes sow of Some difference that in youth he excuses hims XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS. homself frand, in mature afl he only careful present his time account. WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, Pay Early Mof1652 completely bland 8 And that one talent which is death to hide, 13 post] P. L. iv. 171, • With a vengeance sent, Warburton. From Media post to Egypt.' Warton. 3h choice lay between circtictions of a supreme duly & les gerijpt In such a case ditt not listen to the physician if rescatopin, moet nad spoken from his anelubry, I all not bent obey that [ I monitor, I know that what, that shake time from heart wered with myself that many had huncha et food |