John Milton. (1608–1674). Complete Poems.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| On the Same |
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| (1645–6) |
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| I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs | |
| By the known rules of ancient liberty, | |
| When straight a barbarous noise environs me | |
| Of owls and cuckoos, asses, apes, and dogs; | |
| As when those hinds that were transformed to frogs | 5 |
| Railed at Latona’s twin-born progeny, | |
| Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee. | |
| But this is got by casting pearl to hogs, | |
| That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, | |
| And still revolt when Truth would set them free. | 10 |
| Licence they mean when they cry Liberty; | |
| For who loves that must first be wise and good: | |
| But from that mark how far they rove we see, | |
| For all this waste of wealth and loss of blood. | |
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