Chapter 2 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 judgment 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
Perplexed the Greek and Cythereas Son;
If answerable style I can obtain [ 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 ]
Pleased me long choosing, and beginning late;
Not sedulous by Nature to indite
Warrs, hither to the only Argument
Heroic deemd, chief maistrie to dissect
With long and tedious havoc fabld Knights [ 30 ]
In Battels feigned; 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 just gives Heroic name [ 40 ]
To Person or to Poem. Mee of these
Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument
Remains, 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.