Bene è colui d'ogni valore scarco Qual tuo fpirto gentil non innamora, Che dolcemente moftrafi di fuora De fui atti foavi giamai parco, Ei don', che fon d'amor faette ed arco, Quando tu vaga parli, o lieta canti Che mover poffa duro alpeftre legno, III. Qual in colle afpro, al imbrunir di fera Ei bel Tamigi cangio col bel Arno. Canzone. R Idonfi donne e giovani amorofi M'accoftandofi attorno, e perche scrivi, Perche tu fcrivi in lingua ignota e ftrana Verfeggiando d'amor, e come t'ofi? Dinne, fe la tua fpeme fia mai vana, E de penfieri lo miglior t'arrivi ; Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma 5 10 Dice mia Donna, e'l fuo dir, è il mio cuore 15 IV. Diodati, e te'l dirò con maraviglia, Quel ritrofo io ch'amor fpreggiår foléa E de fuoi lacci spesso mi ridéa Gia caddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia. Ne treccie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia 5 M'abbaglian sì, ma fotto nova idea E degli occhi fuoi auventa fi gran fuoco V. Per certo i bei voftr'occhi, Donna mia 10 5 Da quel lato fi fpinge ove mi duole, Scoffo mi il petto, e poi n'ufcendo poco VI. Giovane piano, e femplicetto amante L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, conftante, 10 5 De penfieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono; Quando rugge il gran mondo, e fcocca il tuono, Tanto del forfe, e d' invidia ficuro, Di timori, e fperanze al popol use E di cetta fonora, e delle mufe: Sol troverete in tal parte men duro. Ove Amor mife l'infanabil ago. VII. On his being arriv'd to the age of 23. How foon hath Time, the fubtle thief of youth, 10 5 That I to manhood am arriv'd so near, It fhall be ftill in ftricteft measure even To that fame lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven ; All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. VIII. When the affault was intended to the City*. Captain or Colonel, or Knight in arms, 10 Whofe chance on thefe defenseless doors may seise, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. The great Emathian conqueror bid spare To fave th' Athenian walls from ruin bare. 5 10 In the manufcript, after the title, is added 1642. It was in November that year that the King marched with his army as near as Brentford, and put the city in great confternation. IX. To a virtuous young Lady. Lady that in the prime of earlieft youth To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, X. To the Lady Margaret Ley*. Daughter to that good Earl, once Prefident 5 * We have given the title which is in Milton's Manuscript, To the Lady Margaret Ley. She was the daughter of Sir James Ley, whofe fingular learning and abilities raifed him through all the great pofts of the law, till he came to be made Earl of Marlborough, and Lord High Treasurer, and Lord Prefident of the Council to King James J. He died in an advanc'd age, and Milton attributes his death to the breaking of the parliament; and it is true that the parliament was diffolved the 10th of March 1628-9, and he died on the 14th of the fame month. He left feveral fons and daughters; and the Lady Margaret was married to Captain Hobfon of the Isle of Wight. It appears from the accounts of Milton's life, that in the year 1643 he ufed frequently to visit this lady and her husband, and about that time we may fuppofe that this fonnet was compofed. |