RPO -- John Milton : To Mr. Lawrence

John Milton (1608-1674)

To Mr. Lawrence

1Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son,

2 Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire,

3 Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire

4 Help waste a sullen day; what may be won

5From the hard season gaining? Time will run

6 On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire

7 The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire

8 The lily and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun.

9What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,

10 Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise

11 To hear the lute well touch'd, or artful voice

12Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air?

13 He who of those delights can judge, and spare

14 To interpose them oft, is not unwise.

Notes

1] This sonnet is addressed to Edward Lawrence (1633-79), son of Henry Lawrence, President of Cromwell's Council of State.

6] Favonius: Zephyrus, the west wind.

8] Cf. Matt. vi.28.

10] Attic: i.e., frugal and refined.

12] Tuscan air: the songs of Italy.

13] spare to interpose them oft: refrain from indulging in them often; or, spare time to indulge in them often. The former accords better with the Horatian sentiment of the poem.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: John Milton, Poems, 2nd edn. (London: Thomas Dring, 1673); facs. edn., Complete Poetical Works reproduced in photographic facsimile, comp. H. F. Fletcher (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1943-48). PR 3551 F52 Robarts Library
First publication date: 1673
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.371; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/4/24

Composition date: 1655
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: abbaabbacdceed

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