POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines MILTON menu

Milton

 

John Milton
1608-1674

"On Arriving at the Age of
Twenty-Three"

 

How soon hath Time the subtle thief of youth
Stoln on his wing my three and twentieth year!
My hasting days fly on with full career,
But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th.
Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth
That I to manhood am arriv'd so near,
And inward ripeness doth much less appear,
That some more timely-happy spirits indu'th.
Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,
It shall be still in strictest measure ev'n
To that same lot, however mean or high,
Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heav'n;
All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great task Master's eye.

Buy John Milton's poetry

POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines MILTON menu