'Sonnet 10' by John Milton

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The Poetical Works of John MiltonXDaughter to that good Earl, once President
Of Englands Counsel, and her Treasury,
Who liv'd in both, unstain'd with gold or fee,
And left them both, more in himself content,
Till the sad breaking of that Parlament
Broke him, as that dishonest victory
At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty
Kil'd with report that Old man eloquent,
Though later born, then to have known the dayes
Wherin your Father flourisht, yet by youMadam, me thinks I see him living yet;
So well your words his noble vertues praise,
That all both judge you to relate them true,
And to possess them, Honour'd Margaret.Note: Camb. autograph supplies title, To the Lady Margaret
Ley.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Exciting Literary Criticism and Interpretation of John Milton's Sonnet 10

John Milton is one of the greatest poets that ever lived. His works are timeless and his words will always remain relevant. In Sonnet 10, Milton explores the idea of time and how it affects everything in the world. The poem is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common meter used in poetry.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing time, asking it to "pause awhile". This opening line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is asking time to stop, to give him a moment of reprieve from the constant march forward. This is a common theme in Milton's poetry. He often writes about the struggle between the fleeting nature of life and the desire to hold onto it.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the effects of time on the world. He talks about how everything is subject to its power, from the "rocks and stones" to the "sceptered sway" of kings. This idea of the universality of time is important. The speaker is reminding us that no matter who we are, we are all subject to time's power. No one can escape its clutches.

The next few lines of the poem describe the physical effects of time. The speaker talks about how time "cuts down" everything in its path, from the "budding rose" to the "oak". This imagery is powerful. It shows us that time is not just an abstract concept, but something that has a physical impact on the world around us.

As the poem approaches its end, the speaker turns his attention to his own mortality. He talks about how time is "busy with thy prime", meaning that it is constantly working to take away the best years of our lives. He then asks the question, "What if it steal our joys away?" This is a powerful question. It shows us that even the speaker, who has been talking about time's power over everything else, is not immune to its effects.

The final two lines of the poem are some of the most famous in all of Milton's work. The speaker addresses time directly, saying, "But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes, / Feed'st thy light's flame with self-substantial fuel." This is a complex metaphor. The speaker is saying that time is only concerned with itself, that it is selfish and self-absorbed. The final line of the poem, "Making a famine where abundance lies, / Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel", is a powerful indictment of time's power. The speaker is saying that time is not just a force that affects the physical world, but something that can be cruel and destructive to our very souls.

In conclusion, John Milton's Sonnet 10 is a powerful meditation on the nature of time and its effects on the world around us. The poem is full of powerful imagery and metaphors, and it shows us that even the greatest among us are subject to the ravages of time. But the poem also reminds us that there is something inherently cruel and selfish about time, and that we must be vigilant in our efforts to live fully in the present moment. Milton's words will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Milton's Sonnet 10: "On the Late Massacre in Piedmont" is a powerful and moving piece of poetry that speaks to the heart of human suffering and the struggle for justice. Written in the aftermath of the massacre of the Waldensians in Piedmont, Italy in 1655, the sonnet is a passionate plea for God's intervention in the face of such senseless violence and cruelty.

The sonnet is structured in the traditional form of a Petrarchan sonnet, with an octave (eight lines) followed by a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme is ABBAABBA for the octave and CDCDCD for the sestet. This structure allows Milton to present his argument in a clear and concise manner, building up to a powerful conclusion in the final lines.

The octave sets the scene for the poem, describing the horrific events that have taken place in Piedmont. Milton uses vivid and emotive language to convey the brutality of the massacre, describing how "the slaughterhouse is now the sheepfold" and how "the vineyard is now the place of graves". The juxtaposition of these two images is particularly striking, highlighting the senselessness of the violence and the destruction of innocent lives.

Milton then turns his attention to God, asking why he has allowed such a tragedy to occur. He questions whether God is "blind" or "indifferent" to the suffering of his people, and wonders why he has not intervened to prevent such atrocities. This is a common theme in Milton's work, as he grapples with the problem of evil and the apparent silence of God in the face of human suffering.

The sestet of the sonnet is where Milton makes his plea for justice. He calls on God to "avenge" the deaths of the Waldensians and to "redress" the wrongs that have been done to them. He argues that it is not enough for God to simply "look on" and do nothing, but that he must act to bring about justice and restore order to the world.

The final couplet of the sonnet is particularly powerful, as Milton declares that God's justice will ultimately prevail over the forces of evil. He writes, "Yet doth he not avenge him of his foes, / But lets them live that hiss, and shake their heads." This is a reference to Psalm 22:7, which describes how the enemies of the Psalmist mock and taunt him, but ultimately God will deliver him from their hands. Milton is suggesting that the Waldensians may be suffering now, but God will ultimately vindicate them and bring about justice.

Overall, Milton's Sonnet 10 is a powerful and moving piece of poetry that speaks to the heart of human suffering and the struggle for justice. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can still have hope and faith in God's ultimate justice and mercy.

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