1

NO more of talk where God or Angel Guest

With Man, as with his Friend, familiar usd

To sit indulgent, and with him partake

Rural repast, permitting him the while

Venial discourse unblamd: I now must change [ 5 ]

Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach

Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt,

And disobedience: On the part of Heavn

Now alienated, distance and distaste,

Anger and just rebuke, and judgement givn, [ 10 ]

That brought into this World a world of woe,

Sinne and her shadow Death, and Miserie

Deaths Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument

Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth

Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursud [ 15 ]

Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall; or rage

Of Turnus for Lavinia disespousd,

Or Neptuns ire or Junos, that so long

Perplexd the Greek and Cythereas Son;

If answerable style I can obtaine [ 20 ]

Of my Celestial Patroness, who deignes

Her nightly visitation unimplord,

And dictates to me slumbring, or inspires

Easie my unpremeditated Verse:

Since first this Subject for Heroic Song [ 25 ]

Pleasd me long choosing, and beginning late;

Not sedulous by Nature to indite

Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument

Heroic deemd, chief maistrie to dissect

With long and tedious havoc fabld Knights [ 30 ]

In Battels feignd; the better fortitude

Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom

Unsung; or to describe Races and Games,

Or tilting Furniture, emblazond Shields,

Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds; [ 35 ]

Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights

At Joust and Torneament; then marshald Feast

Servd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals;

The skill of Artifice or Office mean,

Not that which justly gives Heroic name [ 40 ]

To Person or to Poem. Mee of these

Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument

Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise

That name, unless an age too late, or cold

Climat, or Years damp my intended wing [ 45 ]

Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine,

Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear.