144 ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS
Nothing is Here for Tears
/-"^OME, comes no time for lamentation now,
V^f Nor much more cause ; Samson hath quit himself
Like Samson, and heroically hath finished
A life heroic ; on his enemies
Fully revenged, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the sons of Caphtor,
Through all Philistian bounds ; to Israel
Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occasion ;
To himself and father's house eternal fame ;
And, which is best and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was feared,
But favouring and assisting to the end.
Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail
Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt.
Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair9
And what may quiet us in a death so noble.
Milton in Samson Agonistes
The Great Fall
TTBOM morn
j? To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A summer's day ; and with the setting sun
Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star.
Milton in Paradise Lost
Ye Winds That From Four Quarters Slow
His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow,
Breathe soft or loud ; and wave your tops, ye pines,
With every plant, in sign of worship wave !
Fountains and ye that warble as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Join voices all ye living souls ! Ye birds
That, singing up to Heaven's gate ascend.
Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise ;
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep,
Witness if I be silent, morn or even,
To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade
Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise.
Hail I universal Lord ; be bounteous still
To give us only good ; and, if the night
Have gathered aught of evil or concealed.
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.
Milton