Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-01-11

.han the poet Milton has ever been
pCorson says "the greater impressi-
h;ltv and its resultant, the keener,
more penetrating insight which pre-
sminently distinguish poetic genius
from ordinary natures, render poets
he truest historians of their times
md the truest prophets" Milton had
s ,h;s ,mpressibility and insight to a
rrrat degree and in his poems we see
eeeAected the character OF his times.
In all his poems there is a mortal
hattie represented between the forces
ii GOOD and evil but he shows his per-
'ect faith in the eventual outcome of
things, directed by the guiding hand
oithe Omnipotent. by giving us in
every instance victory of the Good
over the Evil, wrought out by the help
Of God.
nc in the Lady, Milton's ideal of chas-
n,v, virtue and pure Church; op-
oosed to her is Comus, representing
Evil. wickedness and the mpurity
n the Church. The Lady is strong
but unable to escape from evil with
ant some supernatural aid. She sits
entrapped by Evils spell but not con-
quered.
Virtue may be assaiied but never hurt.
Surprised by unjust force, but not
CENTRALIZED;
YEA even that which mischief meant
most harm
Shall in the happy trial prove most
glory.
But evil on itself shall back recoi,
And mix no more with goodness, when
at last,
Gathered like scum and settled to it.
self,
# shall be in eternal restless change,
Self fed and self consumed"
He thought that if man had the
consciousness of his virtue, he needs
fear nothing, Tor he is perfectly free
and happy in the knowledge that he is
dong right, while the man with an
evil conscience may hide his wrong
doing from others, but can't escape
from the knowledge himself and is
miserable.
"He that hath light within his own
clear breast
Nav sit i the center and enjoy bright
day;
But that hides dark soul and foul
thoughts
Benight walks under the midday sun
Himself is his own dungeon"
Milton had high ideal Of the true
poet. He thought that he should live
apart fro mthe world. be not OF it.
He had something OF the same idea
that Tennvson has in his Lady of
Shalot." He says I'VE who would
not be Illustrate OF his hope to write
well hereafter in laudable things,
ought himself to be a true poem
that is, a composition and pattern OF
the best and honorablest things; not
presuming to sing high praises o.
heroic men, or famous cities, unless
he have in himself the experience and
practice OF all that which is praise
worthy" And again he writes to
his Italian college friend-"But the
man who speaks OF high matters-the
heaven of the iull-grown Jove ane
pious heroes and demi-god leaders OF
men, the man who now sings the holy
counsels OF the gods above, and now
the subterranesn realms guarded BY
the fierce dog-let him live sparely
after the manner OF the Samian mas
ter; let herbs afford him his innocent
diet, let clear water in beechen cuf
stand near him and let him drink so
Der draughts from a pure fountain
To this be there added youth chaste
and free from guilt and rigid morals
and hands without stain. Being such
thou shalt rise up glittering in sacre'
raiment and purified by lustral wat
ers, an augur about to go into the
presence OF the unoffended gods,
Milton ielt that he himself was IN
tended to write OF high and GLORIOUS
things, when only young man he De
eved himself dedicated to this. IN
letter to Charles Diodati he says tina
he is "pumng his wings and get
ting ready for higher things. He wa
an example OF what poet should De
"In his way OF living he was an exam
pie of sobriety and temperance. ~
was very sparing in the use OF WIN
or strong liquors of any kind. he wa
likewise very abstemious in his die'
not iastidiously nice or delicate IN Ill
choice OF dishes, but content with any
that was most in season. or easiest u
be procured, eating and drinking vac
cording to the distinction Of the philo
sophers )that he might live and no
living that he might eat or drink.
While at College Milton was NICK
named "the Lady" as much TOR nj
irreproachabie morals, as his lont
hair delicacy OF taste, fair complex
ion and gentle expression HIS idea
Of beauty is very much like Speenser
He thinks that the beautiful sou
shines in the outward form and tina
wicked acts debase the soul OF mr.
who commits them and show III tn
face And Spenser saws in his Hym
in Honour OF Beauty,
SO every spirit as it is most pure.
And hath in it the move OF heaven
light,
So it the iairer body doth procure, :,
10 habit in, and it more fairly digf
With cheerful grace and amiable sigr
For OF the soul the bodv form dot