...affections in right tune, to celebrate in glorious and lofty Hymns the throne and equipage of Gods Almightiness, and what he works, and what he suffers...wrought with high providence in his Church, to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and Saints, the deeds and triumphs of just and pious Nations doing...

...a similar ethical function for poetry, but also presents the poet as one who praises God, and sings 'the deeds and triumphs of just and pious Nations...doing valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ'. Surrounded by the traditional adversaries of the English classic poet - 'libidinous and ignorant...

...triumphs of just and pious Nations doing valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ, to deplore the general relapses of Kingdoms and States from justice and God's true worship" (Reason, 39). This great purpose of instruction — for that was the goal of his life in its simplest...

...considered himself 'church-outed by the prelates': his own visionary poetry, he hoped, would serve 'to deplore the general relapses of kingdoms and states from justice and God's true worship'.3 Given that such intimate links existed between poets and the civic and ecclesiastical worlds,...

...right tune, to celebrate in glorious and lofty Hymns the throne and equipage of Gods Almightinesse, and what he works, and what he suffers to be wrought with high providence in his Church, to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and Saints, the deeds and triumphs of just and pious Nations doing...

...and public civility, to allay the perturbations of the mind and set the affections in right tune, to celebrate in glorious and lofty hymns the throne and equipage of God's almightiness and what He works . . .' (238; italics added). Here is Milton's open, public declaration of his poetical ministry. Without...

..."to imbreed and cherish in a great people the seeds of vertu, and publick civility" and "to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and Saints, the deeds...doing valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ" (CP 1: 816-17). Poets ought not to isolate themselves, according to Milton, but instead should...

...and public civility,0 to allay the perturbations of the mind and set the affections in right tune; to celebrate in glorious and lofty hymns the throne and...wrought with high providence in his church; to sing the victorious agonies of martyrs and saints, the deeds and triumphs of just and pious nations doing...

...the might and prestige of Portugal in the dust."16 None of what Milton had once fervently hailed as "the deeds and triumphs of just and pious nations...doing valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ" (YP 1:816-817) will bear very close scrutiny, as Milton learned in his study of British history...

...and public civility, to allay the perturbations of the mind and set the affections in right tune, to celebrate in glorious and lofty hymns the throne and equipage of God's ahnightiness ... to sing the victorious agonies of martyrs and saints. . . . ' Note the ereation of...