To the first edition of the author's poems, printed in

3645, was prefixed the following advertisement of

The STATIONER to the READER.

IT

T is not any private respect of gain, gentle Reader,

for the slightest pamphlet is now-a-days more vendible than the works of learnedeft men ; but it is the love I have to our own language, that hath made me diligent to collect and set forth, such pieces both in prose and verse, as may renew the wonted honor and esteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin poems, not the florish of any prefixed encomiums, that can invite thee to buy them, though these are not without the highest commendations and applause of the learnedest Academics, both domestic and foreign; and amongst those of our own country, the unparallel'd attestation of that renown'd Provost of Eton, Sir Henry Wotton. I know not thy palate how it relishes such dainties, nor how harmonious thy soul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee better. But howsoever thy opinion is spent upon these, that encouragement I have already received from the most ingenious men in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late choice pieces, hath once more made me adventure into the world, presenting it with these ever-green, and not to be blasted. laurels. The Author's more peculiar excellency in these studies was too well known to conceal his papers, or to keep me from attempting to solicit them from

him.

F 3

70 The STATIONER 'to the READER.
him. Let the event guide itself which way it will, I
hall deserve of the age, by bringing into the light as
true a birth, as the Muses have brought forth since our
famous Spenser wrote; whose poems in these English
ones are as rarely imitated, as sweetly excell’d. Reader,
if thou art eagle-ey'd to censure their worth, I am not
fearful to expose them to thy exactest perusal.

Thine to command,

HUMPH. MOSELIT,

POEMS on several OCCASIONS.

I.

ANNO ÆT A TIS

17.

On the Death of a fair Infant, dying of a cough*.

I.

Soft filken primrose fading timelesly,
Summer's chief honor, if thou hadst out-lasted
Bleak Winter's force that made thy blossom dry;
For he being amorous on that lovely dye
That did thy cheek enver

vermeil, thought to kiss,
But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal bliss.

* This elegy was not inserted in the first edition of the author's poems printed in 1645, but was added in the second edition printed in 1673. It was compos'd in the year 1625, that being the 17th year of Milton's age. In some editions the title runs thus, On the death of a fair Infant, a nephew of bis, dying of a cough: but the sequel shows plainly that the child was not a nephew, but a niece, and consequently a daughter of his lifter Philips, and probably her first child.

II. For

F4

10

20

II.
For since grim Aquilo his charioteer
By boistrous rape th’ Athenian damsel got,
He thought it touch'd his deity full near,
If likewise he fome fair-one wedded not,
Thereby to wipe away th' infamous blot

Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, [held. Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was

III.
So mounting up in icy-pearled car,

15
Through middle empire of the freezing air
He wander'd long, till thee he spy'd from far:
There ended was his quest, there ceas'd his care.
Down he descended from his snow-foft chair,

But all unwares with his cold kind embrace Unhous'd thy virgin foul from her fair biding-place.

IV.
Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate;
For fo Apollo, with unweeting hand,
Whilome did flay his dearly-loved mate,
Young Hyacinth born on Eurotas' strand,

25 Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land';

But then transform’d him to a purple flower : Alack that so to change thee Winter had no power.

V.
Yet can I not perfuade me thou art dead,
Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb,
Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed,
Hid from the world in a low delved tomb;
Could Heay'n for pity thee so strictly doom:

Oh