Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne, The cherub Contemplation; And the mute Silence hist along, 55 'Less Philomel will deign a song, I cannot agree with Doctor Newton about this representation of Contemplation. To say nothing, that gaiety cannot very properly belong to the notion of a being, who is "guiding the "fiery-wheeled throne." Shakespeare has indeed given us the vulgar cherub, in K. Hen. VIII. act i. s. 1. Their dwarfish pages were But that Milton's uniform con- man, 120, 128. 60 Other examples are T. Warton. 56. 'Less Philomel will deign a Sweet bird that shunn'st the noise of folly, Thee chauntress oft the woods among I woo to hear thy even-song; And missing thee, I walk unseen I hear the far-off curfeu sound, 59. Add from Shakespeare, Mids. N. Dr. act iii. s. 9. For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast. T. Warton. 61. Sweet bird, &c.] It is remarkable that here he begins his time from evening, as in L'Allegro from the early morning, and here with the nightingale as there with the lark. And as Mr. Thyer observes, this rapturous start of the poet's fancy in praise of his favourite bird is extremely natural and beautiful: and it is worth the reader's while tco to observe, how finely he makes it serve to connect his subject, and insensibly as it were to introduce the following charming night-scene. 68. Riding near her highest noon.] So in P. L. v. 174. of the sun. -Both when thou climb'st, 65 70 And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st. See the note, Sams. Agon. 683. A moon of light T. Warton. 74. I hear the far-off curfeu sound, &c.] William the Conqueror, in the first year of his reign, commanded that in every town and village a bell should be rung every night at eight of the clock, and that all persons should then put out their fire and candle, and go to bed; the ringing of which bell was called curfeu, Fr. couvre-feu, that is, cover-fire. See the Glossary to Over some wide-water'd shore, Swinging slow with sullen roar; Or if the air will not permit, Some still removed place will fit, Where glowing embers through the room Chaucer. And the two following lines, with the frequent alliteration of the letter s, inimitably express the motion and sound of a great heavy bell. We almost think we hear it. Over some wide-water'd shore, Swinging slow with sullen roar. The poet no doubt remembered Shakespeare's passing-bell, but I think he has exceeded his original. Sonnet 71. No longer mourn for me when I am dead, Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that 1 am fled From this vile world, with vilest 75 .80 Through this house give glimmering light By the dead and drowsy fire. And Spenser, F. Q. i. i. 14. A little glooming light much like a shade. T. Warton. 82. Save the cricket on the hearth.] Shakespeare, the universal and accurate observer of - Or the bell real nature, was the first who introduced the crying of the cricket, and with the finest effect, into our poetry. man's drowsy charm, &c. Compare Chaucer, Cant. T. v. 3479. ed. Tyrwh. See also Cartwright's Ordinary, a. iii. s. 1. Works, p. 36, 1651. And Shakespeare, Cymbeline, a. ii. s. 2. and Merr. W. a. v. s. 5. In Robert Herrick's Hesperides, is a little poem called the Bellman, which contains this charm, p. 139. ed. 1647. It begins thus, Or the bellman's drowsy charm, To bless the doors from nightly harm: What worlds, or what vast regions hold 85 90 The spirit of Plato is rightly summoned to unfold these particular notions, for he has treated more largely than any of the philosophers, concerning the separate state of the soul after death, and concerning demons residing in the elements, and influencing the planets, and directing the course of nature. The English reader may see a summary of his doctrines at the end of Stanley's Life of that philosopher. And as Mr. Thyer observes, the word unsphere alludes to the Platonic notion of different spheres or regions being assigned to spirits of different degrees of perfection or impurity. The same term is used in the Mask, ver. 2. -where those immortal shapes Of bright aerial spirits live inspher'd In regions mild of calm and serene air. 89. This shews what sort of contemplation he was fond of. Milton's imagination made him as much a mystic as his good sense would give leave. Hurd. 91. The immortal mind that hath forsook] Compare P. R. iv. 598. and see the note on the And of those Demons that are found In sceptred pall come sweeping by, 95 100 Demons of the Elements, P. R. These four Latin verses form honesta Eschylus 98. But Horace, I humbly apprehend, only means, that Eschylus introduced masks and better dresses. Palla honesta is simply a decent robe. Milton means something more. By clothing Tragedy in her sceptred pall, he intended specifically to point out regal stories the proper arguments of the higher drama. And this more expressly appears, from the subjects immediately mentioned in the subsequent couplet. Our author has also personified Tragedy, in the same meaning, where he gives her a bloody sceptre, implying the distresses of kings, El. i. 37. Sive cruentatum furiosa Tragoedia sceptrum Quassat, et effusis crinibus ora rotat. He then illustrates or exemplifies his personification. Seu moret Pelopea domus, seu nobilis Ili, Seu luit incestos aula Creontis avos. the context now before us. Sometime let gorgeous Tragedy In Paradise Regained, he particularises the lofty grave tragedians of Athens. B. iv. 266. And these are they, who display the vicissitudes of human life by examples of Great Misfortune, High actions and high passions best describing. In the Tractate of Education, he recommends "Attic Tragedies of "stateliest and most regal argu"ment." Edit. 1673. p. 109. Ovid, whom Milton in some of his prose pieces prefers to all the Roman poets besides, has also marked the true, at least original, province of Tragedy, by giving her a sceptre. Amor. 1. lii. i. 11. And we there trace Milton's pall also. Venit et ingenti violenta Tragœdia passu, Fronte comæ torva, Palla jacebat humi: Læva manus Sceptrum late regale tenebat, &c. T. Warton. 99. Presenting Thebes, or Pelops' line, Or the tale of Troy divine,] |