'L'Allegro' by John Milton


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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.
But come, thou Goddess fair and free,
In heaven yclept Euphrosyne,
And by men heart-easing Mirth;
Whom lovely Venus, at a birth,
With two sister Graces more,
To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore:
Or whether (as some sager sing)
The frolic wind that breathes the spring,
Zephyr, with Aurora pIaying,
As he met her once a-Maying,
There, on beds of violets blue,
And fresh-blown roses washed in dew,
Filled her with thee,. a daughter fair,
So buxom, blithe, and debonair.
Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee
Jest, and youthful Jollity,
Quips and cranks and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks and wreathed smiles
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,
And love to live in dimple sleek;
Sport that wrinkled Care derides,
And Laughter holding both his sides.
Come, and trip it, as you go,
On the light fantastic toe;
And in thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty;
And, if I give thee honour due,
Mirth, admit me of thy crew,
To live with her, and live with thee,
In unreproved pleasures free:
To hear the lark begin his flight,
And, singing, startle the dull night,
From his watch-tower in the skies,
Till the dappled dawn doth rise;
Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
And at my window bid good-morrow,
Through the sweet-briar or the vine,
Or the twisted eglantine;
While the cock, with lively din,
Scatters the rear of darkness thin,
And to the stack, or the barn-door,
Stoutly struts his dames before:
Oft listening how the hounds and horn
Cheerly rouse the slumbering morn,
From the side of some hoar hill,
Through the high wood echoing shrill:
Sometime walking, not unseen,
By hedgerow elms, on hillocks green,
Right against the eastern gate
Where the great Sun begins his state,
Robed in flames and amber light,
The clouds in thousand liveries dight;
While the ploughman, near at hand,
Whistles o'er the furrowed land,
And the milkmaid singeth blithe,
And the mower whets his scythe,
And every shepherd tells his tale
Under the hawthorn in the dale.
Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures,
Whilst the landskip round it measures:
Russet lawns, and fallows grey,
Where the nibbling flocks do stray;
Mountains on whose barren breast
The labouring clouds do often rest;
Meadows trim, with daisies pied;
Shallow brooks, and rivers wide;
Towers and battlements it sees
Bosomed high in tufted trees,
Where perhaps some beauty lies,
The cynosure of neighbouring eyes.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes
From betwixt two aged oaks,
Where Corydon and Thyrsis met
Are at their savoury dinner set
Of herbs and other country messes,
Which the neat-handed Phyllis dresses;
And then in haste her bower she leaves,
With Thestylis to bind the sheaves;
Or, if the earlier season lead,
To the tanned haycock in the mead.
Sometimes, with secure delight,
The upland hamlets will invite,
When the merry bells ring round,
And the jocund rebecks sound
To many a youth and many a maid
Dancing in the chequered shade,
And young and old come forth to play
On a sunshine holiday,
Till the livelong daylight fail:
Then to the spicy nut-brown ale,
With stories told of many a feat,
How Faery Mab the junkets eat.
She was pinched and pulled, she said;
And he, by Friar's lantern led,
Tells how the drudging goblin sweat
To earn his cream-bowl duly set,
When in one night, ere glimpse of morn,
His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn
That ten day-labourers could not end;
Then lies him down, the lubber fiend,
And, stretched out all the chimney's length,
Basks at the fire his hairy strength,
And crop-full out of doors he flings,
Ere the first cock his matin rings.
Thus done the tales, to bed they creep,
By whispering winds soon lulled asleep.
Towered cities please us then,
And the busy hum of men,
Where throngs of knights and barons bold,
In weeds of peace, high triumphs hold
With store of ladies, whose bright eyes
Rain influence, and judge the prize
Of wit or arms, while both contend
To win her grace whom all commend.
There let Hymen oft appear
In saffron robe, with taper clear,
And pomp, and feast, and revelry,
With mask and antique pageantry;
Such sights as youthful poets dream
On summer eves by haunted stream.
Then to the well-trod stage anon,
If Jonson's learned sock be on,
Or sweetest Shakespeare, Fancy's child,
Warble his native wood-notes wild.
And ever, against eating cares,
Lap me in soft Lydian airs,
Married to immortal verse,
Such as the meeting soul may pierce,
In notes with many a winding bout
Of linked sweetness long drawn out
With wanton heed and giddy cunning,
The melting voice through mazes running,
Untwisting all the chains that tie
The hidden soul of harmony;
That Orpheus' self may heave his head
From golden slumber on a bed
Of heaped Elysian flowers, and hear
Such strains as would have won the ear
Of Pluto to have quite set free
His half-regained Eurydice.
These delights if thou canst give,
Mirth, with thee I mean to live.

Editor 1 Interpretation

L'Allegro: A Celebration of Life by John Milton

Oh, what a joyous and uplifting poem is L'Allegro by John Milton! This masterpiece of English literature is a hymn to life and happiness, a paean to the pleasures of the senses and the wonders of nature. Milton's vivid and musical language, his skillful use of imagery and metaphor, his deep knowledge of classical mythology and literature, and his profound understanding of human psychology make L'Allegro a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and delight readers of all ages and cultures.

The Poem's Structure and Theme

L'Allegro is a lyric poem of 124 lines written in rhymed couplets, with a regular metrical scheme of iambic tetrameter and trimeter. The poem is divided into two parts, the first one describing the joys and pleasures of a cheerful and optimistic person, the allegro, and the second one contrasting it with the melancholy and gloom of a pessimistic and introspective person, the penseroso. The poem's theme is the contrast between two attitudes towards life, the one that sees the world as a place of beauty, mirth, and delight, and the other that sees it as a place of sorrow, pain, and despair.

The Allegro's Joyful Vision

The Allegro is presented as a person who loves life and wants to enjoy it to the fullest. He wakes up early in the morning, when the "lark at heaven's gate sings," and goes for a walk in the countryside, admiring the "jocund company" of the birds, the bees, and the flowers. He likes to watch the "sportive wood nymphs," the "satyrs and fauns" dancing in the woods, and the "fairy elves, whose midnight revels" he imagines in the meadows. He enjoys the company of his friends, who tell him funny stories, sing songs, and play music. He loves the theater, where he can watch "comus and his crew" performing their masques and revels. He likes to drink wine and eat well, but not to excess, and he prefers the company of wise and witty people to that of "harsh featureless despair."

The Allegro's Philosophy of Life

The Allegro's joy and happiness are not mere superficial emotions, but the result of a deep and wise philosophy of life. He believes that God created the world as a place of beauty and harmony, and that it is our duty and privilege to enjoy it and praise its Creator. He sees Nature as a divine book that reveals God's wisdom and goodness, and he reads it with reverence and awe. He believes that pleasure and virtue are not opposed, but complementary, and that one can enjoy the pleasures of life without falling into sin or vice. He holds that laughter and mirth are not sinful, but natural and wholesome, and that they can heal the wounds of the soul as well as the body. He believes that music, poetry, and art are not mere amusements, but powerful instruments of moral and spiritual education, that can elevate the mind and stir the heart.

The Penseroso's Melancholy Vision

The Penseroso is presented as a person who sees the world in a different way. He prefers to wake up late, when the "glaring owls" begin to hoot, and to spend his time in lonely and contemplative places, such as "the studious cloister's pale." He likes to read the "sage and serious" books of philosophy, history, and theology, and to meditate on the mysteries of life and death. He shuns the company of noisy and frivolous people, and prefers solitude and silence. He likes to watch the stars and the moon, and to hear the "murmuring wind" and the "hollow sound" of the distant sea. He is fascinated by the power of imagination, and likes to create in his mind "scenes of visionary joy" and "shadowy apparitions."

The Penseroso's Philosophy of Life

The Penseroso's melancholy and introspective mood is not mere gloominess or pessimism, but the result of a deep and thoughtful philosophy of life. He believes that God created the world as a place of trial and suffering, and that it is our duty and destiny to endure it and overcome it. He sees Nature as a book of enigmas and contradictions, that reveals God's justice as well as his mercy. He reads it with critical and analytical eyes, and tries to understand its hidden meaning. He believes that pleasure and virtue are often opposed, and that one has to renounce the former in order to achieve the latter. He holds that laughter and mirth are often shallow and deceptive, and that they can distract the mind from its true purpose. He believes that music, poetry, and art are not mere entertainment, but serious and challenging forms of intellectual and moral inquiry, that require discipline and concentration.

The Poem's Unity and Complexity

L'Allegro is a poem of great unity and complexity, in which every word, every image, every sound, and every rhythm contributes to the overall effect. The poem's unity lies in its theme and structure, which present two contrasting visions of life, and which are connected by a common thread of reflection and contemplation. The poem's complexity lies in its language and style, which are rich and varied, full of allusions, references, and associations, and which require a deep knowledge of classical mythology, literature, and history. Milton's use of imagery and metaphor is particularly remarkable, as he manages to create vivid and original pictures out of familiar and conventional symbols. His use of sound and rhythm is also remarkable, as he creates a musical and expressive effect through the careful choice and arrangement of words and lines.

The Poem's Historical and Literary Contexts

L'Allegro was written by John Milton in the early 17th century, during the English Renaissance, a period of great intellectual, artistic, and cultural achievement. Milton was a Puritan, a member of a religious and political movement that sought to reform the Church of England and to establish a republic based on the principles of liberty and democracy. Puritanism was a religion of seriousness and austerity, that valued introspection, discipline, and sobriety, and that opposed the excesses and frivolities of the Catholic and Anglican churches. Milton's poem reflects this Puritan ethos, but also transcends it, by showing that joy and mirth are not incompatible with piety and virtue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, L'Allegro is a masterpiece of English poetry, that celebrates the joys and pleasures of life in a rich and musical language. Milton's poem is a hymn to the beauty and harmony of nature, to the power and dignity of the human mind, and to the wisdom and goodness of God. L'Allegro is a poem that inspires and delights, that challenges and comforts, that enlightens and enriches. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and the soul, and that will continue to do so for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

L'Allegro: A Joyful Ode to Life

John Milton's L'Allegro is a classic poem that celebrates the joys of life and the beauty of nature. Written in the 17th century, this ode to happiness and merriment is a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and delight readers today.

The poem is divided into two parts: L'Allegro, which means "the cheerful one" in Italian, and Il Penseroso, which means "the thoughtful one". In this analysis, we will focus on the first part of the poem, L'Allegro.

The poem begins with an invocation to the goddess of mirth, who is asked to come and bless the poet's soul with joy and happiness. The poet then proceeds to describe the various pleasures of life, such as music, dancing, and feasting. He paints a vivid picture of a world filled with laughter, where people are free to enjoy themselves and forget their troubles.

The poem is full of beautiful imagery that captures the essence of happiness. For example, the poet describes the "jocund" morning, where the sun rises "with rosy steps" and the birds sing "melodious hymns". He also describes the "merry bells" that ring out in the countryside, and the "jolly shepherd" who plays his pipe and dances with his flock.

The poet also celebrates the beauty of nature, which he sees as a source of joy and inspiration. He describes the "verdant meads" and "flowery-kirtled" fields, where the "lady-smocks all silver-white" and the "cowslips" and "daisies pied" grow. He also describes the "crimson-tipped" flowers that bloom in the hedgerows, and the "yellow-breeched" bees that buzz around them.

Throughout the poem, the poet contrasts the joys of life with the sorrows and troubles that afflict humanity. He acknowledges that life is not always easy, and that people must face many challenges and hardships. However, he believes that the joys of life are worth celebrating, and that they can help us to overcome our troubles and find happiness.

The poem ends with a beautiful image of the goddess of mirth, who is seen "with a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers" on her head. She is surrounded by a "train of nymphs" who dance and sing in her honor. The poet asks the goddess to "come, and trip it as you go, / On the light fantastic toe", and to bless him with her presence and her joy.

In conclusion, L'Allegro is a beautiful ode to happiness and the joys of life. It celebrates the beauty of nature, the pleasures of music and dancing, and the freedom to enjoy oneself without fear or worry. It acknowledges the challenges and hardships of life, but it also reminds us that joy and happiness are always within reach. As we read this timeless masterpiece, we are reminded of the importance of celebrating life and finding joy in the world around us.

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