The Complete Poetry of John Milton by John Milton Page B

in thy best array;
                    That so they may without suspect or fears
                    Fly swiftly to this fair Assembly’s ears;
                    Yet I had rather, if I were to chuse,
    30
       30         Thy service in some graver subject use,
                    Such as may make thee search thy coffers round,
                    Before thou cloath my fancy in fit sound:
                    Such where the deep transported mind may soar
                    Above the wheeling poles, and at Heav’ns dore
    35
       35         Look in, and see each blissful Deitie
                    How he before the thunderous throne doth lie,
                    Listening to what unshorn
Apollo
2 sings
                    To th’ touch of golden wires, while
Hebe
brings
                    Immortal Nectar to her Kingly Sire: 3
    40
       40         Then passing through the Sphears of watchful fire,
                    And mistie Regions of wide air next under,
                    And hills of Snow and lofts of piled Thunder,
                    May tell at length how green-ey’d
Neptune
raves,
                    In Heav’ns defiance mustering all his waves; 4
    45
       45         Then sing of secret things that came to pass
                    When Beldam Nature in her cradle was;
                    And last of Kings and Queens and Heroes old,
                    Such as the wise
Demodocus
once told
                    In solemn songs at King
Alcinous
feast, 5
    50
       50         While sad
Ulisses
soul and all the rest
                    Are held with his melodious harmonie
                    In willing chains and sweet captivitie.
                    But fie my wandring Muse how thou dost stray!
                    Expectance calls thee now another way,
    55
       55         Thou know’st it must be now thy only bent
                    To keep in compass of thy Predicament: 6
                    Then quick about thy purpos’d business come,
                    That to the next I may resign my Room.
    Then
Ens
is represented as Father of the Predicaments his ten Sons, whereof the Eldest stood for
Substance
with his Canons, which
Ens
thus speaking, explains.
7
                    Good luck befriend thee Son; for at thy birth
    60
       60         The Fairy Ladies daunc’t upon the hearth; 8
                    Thy drowsie Nurse hath sworn she did them spie
                    Come tripping to the Room where thou didst lie;
                    And sweetly singing round about thy Bed
                    Strew all their blessings on thy sleeping Head.
    65
       65         She heard them give thee this, that thou should’st still
                    From eyes of mortals walk invisible; 9
                    Yet there is something that doth force my fear,
                    For once it was my dismal hap to hear
                    A
Sybil
old, bow-bent with crooked age,
    70
       70         That far events full wisely could presage,
                    And in times long and dark Prospective Glass
                    Fore-saw what future dayes should bring to pass;
                    Your Son, said she (nor can you it prevent),
                    Shall subject be to many an Accident.
    75
       75         O’re all his Brethren he shall Reign as King, 10
                    Yet every one shall make him underling,
                    And those that