IOHN

MILTON

DRAWN AND ETCHED MDCCCLX BY I.B. CIPRIANI, A TVSCAN AT THE DE SIRE OF THOMAS HOLLIS F.R. AND A.SS., FROM A PICTVRE IN THE COLLECTION OF THE RIGHT HON. ARTHUR ONSLOW, SPEAKER OF THE COMMONS, HOVSE OF PARLIAMENT.

HOW SOON HATH TIME THE SVTTLT THEEF OF YOVTH
STOLN ON HIS WING MY ONE AND TWENTIETH YEER
MY HASTING DAYES FLIE ON WITH FVLL CAREER
BVT MY LATE SPRING NO BVD OR BLOSSOM SHEW'TH
PERHAPS MY SEMBLANCE MIGHT DECEIVE THE TRVTH
THAT I TO MANHOOD AM ARRIV'D SO NEAR
AND INWARD RIPENESS DOTH MVCH LESS APPEAR
THAT SOM MORE TIMELY-HAPPY SPIRITS INDV'TH
YET BE IT LESS OR MORE OR SOON OR SLOW,
IT SHALL BE STILL IN STRICTEST MEASVRE EEV'N
TO THAT SAME LOT HOWEVER MEAN OR HIGH
TOWARD WHICH TIME LEADS ME AND THE WILL OF HEAV'N
ALL IS IF I HAVE GRACE TO VSE IT SO
AS EVER IN MY GREAT TASK MASTERS EYE