L'ALLEGRO. HENCE, loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest midnight born In Stygian cave forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy! Find out some uncouth cell, Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, And the night-raven sings: There under ebon shades, and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. 10 Line 2. Of Cerberus, &c.] Melancholy might have been imagined the offspring of Erebus, the legitimate husband of Night; and Dr. Newton conjectured that Milton chose Cerberus in order to imply something cynical, as well as monstrous and unnatural, in the disposition of Melancholy. But we have no doubt that our poet's favourite Ovid suggested to him the light-hating Cerberus. The triple-headed monster, when dragged by Hercules from the Stygian realm up into the earth's atmosphere, strove to avert his eyes from the offensive radiance of day: Restantem, contraque diem radiosque micantes But come, thou goddess fair and free, As he met her once a-Maying, And fresh-blown roses washed in dew, 12. Euphrosyne.] This Greek name signifies hilarity or mirth. It was not unusual for a divinity to have one name in heaven, and another among mortals. Euphrosyne was one of the three Graces, the others being Aglaia and Thalia. Yclept, that is, clept, or called; the old English prefix y being a substitute for the Anglo-Saxon ge. In Milton we have perhaps only two instances of this form of the perfect participle, viz., that which occurs here, and the expression ychained, in his Ode on the Nativity, 155. In his Epitaph on Shakspeare the expression, ‘a star-ypointing pyramid' is a license not well warranted, for the syllabic augment was scarcely ever prefixed to the present participle. Dr. Smith, in his edition of Marsh's Lectures on the Eng. Lang., Note, p. 232, says: it is possible that Milton wrote ypointed, in which case the meaning would be pointed, or surmounted with a star.' We think that if ypointed is the true reading, the meaning may still be having its point directed to the stars. 17. As some sager sing.] As some more wisely celebrate thee. Milton is not here quoting from classical mythology, but expressing in mythological manner the opinion that mirth, instead of being produced by Bacchus and Venus, that is, by wine and love, is more wisely regarded as originating in such pleasure as that of the May morning, when the young go forth to welcome the return of spring, and to make preparation for the May-day pastimes. The Graces were usually reputed the daughters of Jupiter and Eurynome; but it suited Milton's subject to make Euphrosyne the offspring either of Bacchus and Venus, or of Zephyrus and Aurora. 24. Buxom, blithe, &c.]-The word buxom, from the German Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles; Nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles, And in thy right hand lead with thee beugsam, originally signified Who died, and left a female heir 'The buxom air,' that is, the The pretty quips and girds they gave to others were of no less force than the sharpest words and admonitions.'-North's Plutarch, Lycurgus. 25 30 35 'How liked you my quip to Hedon about the garter? was 't not witty?'-Ben Jonson's Cynthia's Revels, ii. 4. [Men] able to show us the ways of the Lord straight and faithful as they are, not full of cranks and contradictions.'--Milton's Address to Parliament on the Doctrine, &c. of Divorce. 28. Wreathed.] Curled; forming wreaths on the face. 30. In dimple sleek.] So, in Fletcher's Faithful Shepherdess, i. 1: 'Not the smile lies watching in those dimples, to beguile the easy soul.' 31. That wrinkled care derides.] That derides or sets at nought wrinkled Care. So in Phineas Fletcher's Purple Island, iv.: Here sportful Laughter dwells, here ever 37. If I give thee, &c.] If the pleasures I have to propose are patronised by thee. To live with her, and live with thee, Where the great sun begins his state, 41. To hear the lark, &c.] The poet here begins to propose to Mirth such unreproved, that is, innocent, pleasures as he would like to enjoy. The lark soaring to Heaven's gate to salute the approaching morn, is a favourite thought with the poets. Compare Paradise Regained, ii. 289. 45. Then to come, &c.] That is, the lark, when dawn arises, being then to come, deriding, or defying, sorrow. 48. Eglantine.] This is pro perly the sweet-brier; Milton meant the honey-suckle. 50. Scatters the rear, &c.] Dispels the lingering dimness. 57. Some time walking, &c.] Sometimes walking, not in gloomy solitude, but, as the poem presently tells us, in open sunshine, and where the ploughman, the milkmaid, &c., are about. 61. Amber light.] Amber coloured light. 62. Dight.] Dressed. The clouds are said to be dressed in |