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Poetry · Poem

To Mr. Lawrence

John MiltonSeventeenth-century EnglishPoem
SOURCE TEXT · English original
LAWRENCE of vertuous Father vertuous Son,
Now that the Fields are dank, and ways are mire,
Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire
Help wast a sullen day; what may be won
From the hard Season gaining: time will run
On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen earth; and cloth in fresh attire
The Lillie and Rose, that neither sow’d nor spun.
What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,
Of Attick tast, with Wine, whence we may rise
To hear the Lute well toucht, or artfull voice
Warble immortal Notes and Tuskan Ayre?
He who of those delights can judge, and spare
To interpose them oft, is not unwise.
Cultural reading

Reading the poem

In muddy winter weather the speaker asks a friend where they may meet by the fire to redeem a sullen day with a light meal, wine, lute and song, concluding that one who can judge such delights and take them from time to time is not unwise.

Language notes

Text and edition

The English text follows the fixed historical witness in The Oxford Book of English Verse; no modern third-party translation is included.