JOHN MILTON

L'ALLEGRO

TLTENCE, loathed Melancholy,

Of Cerberus, and blackest Midnight born,
1 n Stygian cave forlorn .

'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights ,

unholy,
Find out some uncouth cell, 5

Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings,
And the night-raven sings;

There under ebon shades, and low-brow'd rocks,
As ragged as thy locks,
** In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell.
jjJut come> thou goddess fair and free,
In Heaven yclep'd Euphrosyne,
And by men, heart-easing Mirjh,
Whom lovely Venus at a birth,

With two sister Graces more.^ 15

To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore-? J
Or whether (as some sager sing) -
The frolic wind that breathes the spring,
Zephyr with Aurora playing,

As he met her once a-maying, 20

There on beds of violets blue,
And fresh-blown roses^washed in -dew, • '•
E i

, blithe,,

Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee .25
Jest and youthful jollity,
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles,
17