Milton's Shorter Poems and Sonnets Author:John Milton General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1902 Original Publisher: D. Appleton and Co. Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Literary Criticism / Poetry Poetry / General Poetry / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It ... more »has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: SOCKETS WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY. (1C 12.) Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, If deed of honour did thee ever please, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. He can requite thee; for he knows the charms That call fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower: The great Emathian conqueror bid spare 10 The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower Went to the ground; and the repeated air Of sad Electra's" poet had the power To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. This sonnet is said to have been pasted upon Milton's own door in a spirit of joking. 1. Colonel: pronounced in three syllables. 5. charms = magic verse. 10. Emathian conqueror: Alexander the Great. Emathia is a province in Macedonia. TO A VIETUOUS YOUXG LADY. (1644.) Lady, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green And with those few art eminently seen That labour up the hill of heavenly Truth, The better part with Mary and with Euth t Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. Thy care is fixed, and zealously attends To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, 10 A...« less