dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  323. From ‘Samson Agonistes’ i

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

John Milton. 1608–1674

323. From ‘Samson Agonistes’ i

OH how comely it is and how reviving 
To the Spirits of just men long opprest! 
When God into the hands of thir deliverer 
Puts invincible might 
To quell the mighty of the Earth, th’ oppressour,         5
The brute and boist’rous force of violent men 
Hardy and industrious to support 
Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue 
The righteous and all such as honour Truth; 
He all thir Ammunition  10
And feats of War defeats 
With plain Heroic magnitude of mind 
And celestial vigour arm’d, 
Thir Armories and Magazins contemns, 
Renders them useless, while  15
With wingèd expedition 
Swift as the lightning glance he executes 
His errand on the wicked, who surpris’d 
Lose thir defence distracted and amaz’d.