'Sonnet 18' by John Milton
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XVIII
Cyriack, whose Grandsire on the Royal Bench
Of Brittish Themis, with no mean applause
Pronounc't and in his volumes taught our Lawes,
Which others at their Barr so often wrench:
To day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench
In mirth, that after no repenting drawes;
Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause,
And what the Swede intend, and what the French.
To measure life, learn thou betimes, and know
Toward solid good what leads the nearest way;
For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains,
And disapproves that care, though wise in show,
That with superfluous burden loads the day,
And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Immortal Words of Love: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of John Milton's Sonnet 18
Introduction:
When we talk about romantic poetry, one of the first things that come to mind is William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18. But did you know that John Milton, the author of the epic poem "Paradise Lost," also wrote a sonnet with a similar theme? Yes, that's right. Milton's Sonnet 18, also known as "On the Late Massacre in Piedmont," is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the theme of mortality and immortality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the depths of this poem and try to understand its meaning and significance.
Background:
Before we begin our analysis of the poem, let us first talk about the historical background of the poem. The poem was written in 1655, during a time of great political upheaval in England. It was a time of religious conflict, and the poem reflects Milton's deep concern for the plight of the Protestants in Europe who were being persecuted for their faith. The poem was written in memory of the massacre of the Piedmontese Protestants in 1655, an event that deeply affected Milton and inspired him to write this sonnet.
The Poem:
Let us now turn our attention to the poem itself. Milton's Sonnet 18 consists of fourteen lines, and it follows the traditional structure of an English sonnet. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDCD EE. The sonnet is a tribute to the martyrs of Piedmont, and it is written in a mournful tone.
On the Late Massacre in Piedmont
Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold; Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones, Forget not: in thy book record their groans Who were thy sheep and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piedmontese that rolled Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway The triple tyrant: that from these may grow A hundredfold, who, having learnt thy way, Early may fly the Babylonian woe.
Analysis:
Now that we have read the poem, let us try to understand its meaning and significance. The poem begins with an invocation to the Lord to avenge the slaughtered saints. The poet is deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives, and he wants justice for the victims. The use of the word "slaughtered" in the first line highlights the brutality of the massacre. The image of scattered bones on the Alpine mountains is a powerful symbol of the tragedy that has occurred.
In the second line, the poet refers to the martyrs as those who kept the truth pure of old. The use of the word "truth" here refers to the Protestant faith, which was being persecuted by the Catholic Church at the time. The poet is highlighting the fact that the martyrs were killed because of their faith, and not because they had done anything wrong. The contrast between those who kept the truth pure and those who worshipped stocks and stones is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith.
In the third and fourth lines, the poet asks the Lord to record the groans of the martyrs in his book. This is a plea for the memory of the martyrs to be preserved for posterity. The use of the word "ancient" in line four emphasizes the long history of the Protestant faith, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
In the fifth and sixth lines, the poet refers to the Piedmontese who carried out the massacre. The use of the word "bloody" highlights the brutality of the perpetrators. The image of a mother with an infant being rolled down the rocks is a particularly distressing one. The repetition of the word "moans" in line six emphasizes the pain and suffering of the martyrs. The vales and hills that redoubled their moans symbolize the echo of their cries for justice.
In the seventh and eighth lines, the poet asks the Lord to sow the martyrs' blood and ashes over the Italian fields. This is a plea for the memory of the martyrs to be preserved, even if their bodies are destroyed. The use of the word "tyrant" in line eight refers to the Catholic Church, which was seen as an oppressive force by the Protestants at the time.
In the final six lines of the sonnet, the poet looks to the future. He hopes that a hundredfold of martyrs will grow from the ashes of the Piedmontese massacre. The use of the word "grow" is significant here, as it suggests that the memory of the martyrs will not die, but will continue to inspire future generations. The poet hopes that those who have learnt the Lord's way will fly the Babylonian woe, which refers to the persecution and oppression of the Catholic Church.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, John Milton's Sonnet 18 is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the martyrs of Piedmont. The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, and of the sacrifices that have been made in the name of religion. The use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of mourning and sadness, but also of hope for the future. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of human spirit, and to the resilience of the Protestant faith in the face of adversity.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 18, also known as "On the Late Massacre in Piedmont," is a classic poem written by John Milton in 1655. This poem is a powerful and emotional response to the massacre of the Waldensians, a Protestant sect, in the Piedmont region of Italy. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in Sonnet 18.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line, "Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones / Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a plea to God to avenge the deaths of the Waldensians. The use of the word "slaughtered" emphasizes the brutality of the massacre, while the image of scattered bones on the cold mountains creates a vivid and haunting image.
The first quatrain of the poem continues with the theme of vengeance, as the speaker asks God to "redress that long-deserved wrong." The use of the word "long-deserved" suggests that the Waldensians had been persecuted for a long time before the massacre, and that their deaths were the culmination of years of suffering. The speaker also asks God to "remember what the enemy hath done," emphasizing the need for justice and retribution.
In the second quatrain, the speaker turns to the Waldensians themselves, describing them as "faithful found / Among the faithless." This line highlights the courage and steadfastness of the Waldensians, who remained true to their beliefs even in the face of persecution and death. The speaker also describes them as "true to the kindred points of heaven and home," suggesting that their faith was deeply rooted in their sense of community and family.
The third quatrain of the poem shifts the focus to the perpetrators of the massacre, who are described as "murderous." The speaker asks God to "blow the horrid deed to all the world," emphasizing the need for the truth about the massacre to be known and acknowledged. The use of the word "horrid" suggests the speaker's disgust and horror at the actions of the murderers.
The final couplet of the poem brings the themes of vengeance and justice together, as the speaker asks God to "avenge the slaughtered saints" and to "let thy mercy lighten on these souls." This final line suggests that even in the face of such brutality and violence, the speaker still believes in the power of mercy and forgiveness.
The structure of Sonnet 18 is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The use of this structure emphasizes the poem's formal and structured tone, while also allowing the speaker to develop their argument in a logical and organized way.
The language used in Sonnet 18 is powerful and emotive, with a strong emphasis on imagery and metaphor. The use of the word "slaughtered" in the opening line creates a vivid and haunting image, while the description of the Waldensians as "faithful found / Among the faithless" creates a sense of heroism and courage. The use of the word "horrid" to describe the murderers emphasizes the speaker's disgust and horror at their actions.
Overall, Sonnet 18 is a powerful and emotional response to the massacre of the Waldensians. The poem's themes of vengeance, justice, and mercy are developed through the use of powerful language and a structured form. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to speak to the human experience of suffering and injustice, and to the power of poetry to inspire and move us.
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