New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-01
LITERARY.
AN UNPUBLISHED POEM BY MILTON
-. III. fotdop Spectator.

Prom The JOtdon Spectator 80, ,
SIR: As the discovery OF Ill unpuoiio"ou :
Doem bv Milton Is matter Of interest 10 al re"es' al"
the Authenticity Of such poem cannot DC lou su09
and generally tested shall be obliged you VIII give
90 ,te fact that such poem has been found
II visits in the handwriting Of Milton himself on D'ahA
mace An the volume Of Poems both English ana iAtIn
IITb}cb contains his COmus," "Iycidas, "LAIegdUd
and . II Penseroso" Il is signed with his initials anu
dnted october lCl7. II discovered IN TINS mahci
Thad undertaken TO contribute small pleasure pOon
literature a cheap popular series ana IN d I'm the
volume from the writings OF the poets VIII where did
time Of Charles l. and the Commonwealth works IN
not myself possess original editions Oh b e reading.
quote from, l looked for them III rCrtnnatelv. II
room OF the British Museum FOL Oh n Groof
did not seem 10 me useless sSItn !" with help Of
containing passages rom ~ htoII ain noems pnl-
the original edition OF his English ana lam @ ~ h
lshed IN lC45 There are two GIbrary Which would he
the edition commonly consulted anu inc otIei III =. "
noble collection formed by George 10 ~ The TS
volume contains first the English then the Lath poems
Of that first period OF M d na e ieavn the re-
TeTse of the leaf blank and this blank found covered
collecfion Of facshniles in the late Mr. s0theby'
"Ramblugs Elucidation Of the Autograph OF Milton,
would think, convey at first glance the impression
conveyed to me, that this was the handwriting u JOIN
Milton. ,..,u,,,os
II proved 10 be transcript Of poem in yfour lines
which Milton, either for himself or some friend nag 51o
% this volume. 1t is entitled simply An bpltdin; hi
signed by him -. NJ, Oct, l647." He was heh ~ '
S9h year AS the page is about the size OF leI oI o
paper, the handwriting is small IhIy,SN ,So M ce
"A
then line was lightly drawn 10 tile rghI OF 'hcl a
the book being turned sideways the rest OF te pol We
packed into three little columns eght hnes ~ ea i
hrst "a a columns and the other two lines AT te p vi
the third column folOwodb by the lnals au u 90 itGn
the email blank space left IN this corner OF M nS s
Museum stamp is affixed. covering part OF milton sis
The hook is in the one place in the world where it Is
most accessible 10 the scrutiny OF experts ana INJURY
will doubt be made into ITS history. us pr t &
GAS a. 95 in the Kings Library The poem, thk spedh'
for itself Iueed hardly add that the lOIO"ihs COlS.
II has the Ms cOutracuOns expanded ana the sI9laa
nodernized but It should be stated that me MV'V h
printed chest as the rhyme shows IL was meant 10 NC
pronounced, written cist ana lidt WIG "a ,e
syb az The last line but two though close TO he tust
Of tile binding aud almost etfaced by the slekIns 40
them Of paper from the cover are e here con
ectuTed and placed within brackets an M 9i C'i
U"Ireisiig College London July1l
He whom Heaven did call away
Out Of this Hermitage Of clay
Has left some relques in this Urn
As pledge OF his return
Meanwhile the MUSES. do derloro
The loss OF this their lalamGuri
With whom he sportCd ere the day
Budded forth its tender ray.
The sacred sisters tune their quilts
Only 10 the blubbering Tllls,
And while his doom they thlAk upon
Make their own tears their HeAcou;
Leaving the twOt0pt Mount dlylae
To turn yUtaIieS 10 his shrine
Think not reader, me less best
Sleeping i'm this narrow chest,
Under some stately pyramid.
If a rich tomb makes happy, then
That Bee happier far than men,
Who. busy I'm the thymy wood
Was fettered by tile golden Hood
Which from the AmheI-Weeplng tree
D,stilleth down 80 pentoOusly:
For so this little wantOn ell
Most glOriOusly enshriued itself
A tomb whose beauty might compare
With CleOpatras sepulchre.
In this little bed my dust
Incurtaincd round here intrust
While my pure and nOber part
Lies entOnb'd IN every heart.
Then pass on gently, ye that mourn,
Touch not this mine followed Ofn
These Ashes which do here remain
vital tncture still retain:
A seminal form within the deepS
OF this little chaos sleeps
The thread of life UNFINISHED IS
Into its first cXistcnces;
Infant nature Graded here
In its principles appear;
This plant though entered into dust
IN its shes rest 10 must
Until sweet Psyche shall inspire
A sOftenng and gtifc fire,
Aud la her fostering arms eDfod
This heavy and tins earthly mold
Then as / am IN be no more
But bloom and blossom las blefOrel
When this cold numbncss shall retreat
~ ~ $780, L. NJ Oct, l647.'