Tu si jussus eras acies accire togatas, Alipes, ætherea missus ab arce Patris. ELEG. III. Anno Etatis 17. In obitum Præsulis Wintoniensis.† MOESTUS eram, et tacitus nullo comitante sedebam, Hærebantque animo tristia plura meo, 12. These allusions are proofs of our author's early familiarity with Homer. 17. Magna sepulchrorum regina,] A sublime poetical appellation for Death: and much in the manner of his English poetry. * This Elegy, with the next on the death of Bishop Andrewes, the Odes on the death of Professor Goslyn and Bishop Felton, and the Poem on the Fifth of November, are very correct and manly performances for a boy of seventeen. This was our author's first year at Cambridge. They discover a great fund and command of ancient literature. + Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, had been originally Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge; but long before Milton's time. He died at Winchester House in Southwark, Sept. 26, 1626. See the last note. It is a great concession, that he compliments Bishop Andrewes, in his Church Governm. b. i. iii. "But others better ad"vised are content to receive "their beginning [the bishops] Protinus en subiit funestæ cladis imago procerum ingressa est splendentes marmore turres, Dira sepulchrali mors metuenda face; Pulsavitque auro gravidos et jaspide muros, Nec metuit satrapum sternere falce greges. Et memini Heroum quos vidit ad æthera raptos, "from Aaron and his sons: among whom Bishop Andrewes "of late years, and in these "times [Usher] the primate of "Armagh, for their learning are "reputed the best able to say "what may be said in their "opinion." This piece was written 1641. Prose Works, vol. i. 45. But see their arguments answered, as he pretends, ibid. ch. v. p. 47. seq. 4. Fecit in Angliaco quam Libitina solo;] A very severe plague now raged in London and the neighbourhood, of which 35417 persons are said to have died. See Whitelock's Mem. p. 2. and Rushworth, Coll. vol. i. p. 175, 201. Milton alludes to the same pestilence, in an Ode written in the same year, On the Death of a fair Infant, v. 67. To turn swift-rushing black Perdition hence, Or drive away the slaughtering Pestilence. 9. Tunc memini clarique ducis, &c.] I am kindly informed by VOL. IV. 6 10 Delicui fletu, et tristi sic ore querebar, Mors fera, Tartareo diva secunda Jovi, Et tibi succumbit, liquido quæ plurima cœlo Et quæ mille nigris errant animalia sylvis, Et quot alunt mutum Proteos antra pecus. Invida, tanta tibi cum sit concessa potestas, Quid juvat humana tingere cæde manus? Nobileque in pectus certas acuisse sagittas, Semideamque animam sede fugasse sua ? Talia dum lacrymans alto sub pectore volvo, Roscidus occiduis Hesperus exit aquis, Et Tartessiaco submerserat æquore currum Phoebus, ab Eoö littore mensus iter: Nec mora, membra cavo posui refovenda cubili, 21. fluvio contermina quercus, &c.] Ovid, Metam. viii. 620. --Tiliæ contermina quercus. The epithet is a favourite with Ovid, but, although so commodious for versification, is not once used by Virgil. 32. Roscidus occiduis Hesperus exit aquis,] Ovid, Fast. ii. 314. Hesperus et fusco roscidus ibat equo. Again, Epist. ex Pont. ii. v. 50. Qualis ab Eois Lucifer exit aquis. See also Metam. xv. 189. 33. Et Tartessiaco, &c.] Ovid, Metam. xiv. 416. Presserat occiduus Tartessia littora Tartessiacus occurs in Martial, vi. 83. We are to understand Condiderant oculos noxque soporque meos: Cum mihi visus eram lato spatiarier agro, Heu nequit ingenium yisa referre meum. Illic punicea radiabant omnia luce, Ut matutino cum juga sole rubent. Ac veluti cum pandit opes Thaumantia proles, Non dea tam variis ornavit floribus hortos 40 Alcinoi, Zephyro Chloris amata levi. Flumina vernantes lambunt argentea campos, 4.5 Ditior Hesperio flavet arena Tago. Serpit odoriferas per opes levis aura Favoni, Talis in extremis terræ Gangetidis oris 41. "The ground glittered, as when it reflects the manifold "hues of a rainbow in all its "glory." We have Thaumantias Iris, in Ovid, Metam. iv. 479. See also Virgil, ix. 6. 43. Non dea tam variis ornavit floribus hortos Alcinoi, Zephyro Chloris amata levi.] Eden is compared to the Homeric garden of Alcinous, Par. Lost, b. ix. 489. b. v. 341. Chloris is Flora, who according to ancient fable was beloved by Zephyr. See Ovid, Fast. 1. v. 195. seq. She is again called Chloris by our author, El. iv. 35. Yet there, and according to the true etymology of the word, she is more properly the power of vegetation. Chloris is Flora in Drummond's Sonnets, Signat. E. 2. ut supr. In Ariosto, Mercury steals Vulcan's net made for Mars and Venus to captivate Chloris. Orl. Fur. c. xv. 57. Chlorida bella, che per aria vola, &c. 45. In the garden of Eden, "the crisped brooks roll on orient "pearl and sands of gold." Par. Lost, b. iv. 237. 47. Serpit odoriferas per opes levis aura Favoni, Aura sub innumeris humida nota rosis,] So in the same garden, v. 156. But with a conceit. Luciferi regis fingitur esse domus. Ipse racemiferis dum densas vitibus umbras, Infula divinum cinxerat alba caput. Dumque senex tali incedit venerandus amictu, Agmina gemmatis plaudunt cœlestia pennis, Quisque novum amplexu comitem cantuque salutat, 50 55 60 |