Poetry of Rogers
Samuel Rogers
born 1763, died 1855
|
|
| |
Milton At Arcetri
(from "italy")
- - We hail
Thy sunny slope, Arcetri, sung of Old
For its green wine; dearer to me, to most,
As dwelt on by that great Astronomer,
Seven years a prisoner at the city-gate,
Let in but in his grave-clothes. Sacred be
His villa (justly was it called a Gem!)
Sacred the lawn, where many a cypress threw
Its length of shadow, while he watched the stars!
Sacred the vineyard, where, while yet his sight
Glimmered, at blush of morn he dressed his vines,
Chanting aloud in gaiety of heart
Some verse of Ariosto! There, unseen,
In manly beauty M i l t o n stood before him,
Gazing with reverent awe - Milton, his guest,
Just then come forth, all life and enterprize;
He in his old age and extremity,
Blind, at noon-day exploring with his staff;
His eyes upturned as to the golden sun,
His eye-balls idly rolling. Little then
Did G a l i l e o think whom he received;
That in this hand he held the hand of one
Who could requite him - who would spread his name
O'er lands and seas - great as himself, nay greater;
Milton as little that in him he saw,
As in a glass, what he himself should be,
Destined so soon to fall on evil days
And evil tongues - so soon, alas, to live
In darkness, and with dangers compassed round,
And solitude.
>> Samuel Rogers |
|
