JOHN

MILTON

DRAWN AND ETCHED MDCCLX 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. ARTHVR ONSLOW SPEAKER OF THE COMMONS HOVSE OF PARLIAMENT

HOW SOON HATH TIME THE SVTTLE 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 HEAVN
ALL IS IF I HAVE GRACE TO VSE IT SO
AS EVER IN MY GREAT TASK MASTERS EYE