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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 247

 
 
John Milton. (1608–1674) (continued)
 
2736
    Without the meed of some melodious tear.
          Lycidas. Line 14.
2737
    Under the opening eyelids of the morn.
          Lycidas. Line 26.
2738
    But oh the heavy change, now thou art gone,
Now thou art gone and never must return!
          Lycidas. Line 37.
2739
    The gadding vine.
          Lycidas. Line 40.
2740
    And strictly meditate the thankless Muse.
          Lycidas. Line 66.
2741
    To sport with Amaryllis in the shade,
Or with the tangles of Neæra’s hair.
          Lycidas. Line 68.
2742
    Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise 1
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights, and live laborious days;
But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
And think to burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes the blind Fury with th’ abhorred shears
And slits the thin-spun life.
          Lycidas. Line 70.
2743
    Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil.
          Lycidas. Line 78.
2744
    It was that fatal and perfidious bark,
Built in th’ eclipse, and rigg’d with curses dark.
          Lycidas. Line 100.
2745
    The pilot of the Galilean lake;
Two massy keys he bore, of metals twain
(The golden opes, the iron shuts amain).
          Lycidas. Line 109.
2746
    But that two-handed engine at the door
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more.
          Lycidas. Line 130.
2747
    Throw hither all your quaint enamell’d eyes
That on the green turf suck the honied showers,
And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.
Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies,
The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine,
 
Note 1.
Erant quibus appetentior famæ videretur, quando etiam sapientibus cupido gloriæ novissima exuitur (Some might consider him as too fond of fame, for the desire of glory clings even to the best of men longer than any other passion) [said of Helvidius Priscus].—Tacitus: Historia, iv. 6. [back]