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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO MILTON by OSCAR WILDE

Poem Explanation

First Line: MILTON! I THINK THY SPIRIT HATH PASSED AWAY
Last Line: WHEN CROMWELL SPAKE THE WORD DEMOCRACY!
Subject(s): MILTON, JOHN (1608-1674);

MILTON! I think thy spirit hath passed away
From these white cliffs, and high-embattled towers;
This gorgeous fiery-coloured world of ours
Seems fallen into ashes dull and grey,
And the age changed unto a mimic play
Wherein we waste our else too-crowded hours:
For all our pomp and pageantry and powers
We are but fit to delve the common clay,
Seeing this little isle on which we stand,
This England, this sea-lion of the sea,
By ignorant demagogues is held in fee,
Who love her not: Dear God! is this the land
Which bare a triple empire in her hand
When Cromwell spake the word Democracy!



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