Notes

1] Late espoused saint: Katharine Woodcock, Milton's second wife, whom he married in 1656, when already blind. She gave birth to a daughter in October, 1657 (who also died), and she died in February, 1658. Saint bears witness to her piety and gentleness.

2] Alcestis: In the Alcestis of Euripides, the heroine dies but is rescued from the lower world and restored to Admetus ("her glad husband") by Hercules, the son of Zeus ("Jove's great son").

5-6] The ritual of purification after a birth is set forth in Leviticus 12: 7-12. The blind Milton had never seen Katharine. She presents herself in his dream with every attribute of love and goodness, but veiled (like Alcestis), and clad in white (cf. "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? ... These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb''--Revelation 7: 13-14: the true purification), white symbolizing also her purity of mind. As she here appears, Milton hopes to have full sight of her in heaven.

14] day brought back my night: the night of his blindness as well as of his loss.

Other poems by John Milton