Introduction
Lycidas, a pastoral elegy written by the renowned English poet John Milton, stands as a poignant exploration of grief, loss, and the quest for immortality through poetic expression. Written in the form of a pastoral elegy, this masterpiece delves into themes of nature, friendship, artistic ambition, and the fragility of human existence. Through rich imagery, mythological allusions, and intricate wordplay, Milton crafts a lamentation that resonates across centuries.
Summary
In Lycidas, the speaker addresses nature, specifically laurel trees, myrtle bushes, and ivy, personifying them as if they can hear him. He expresses his intention to pluck their berries and leaves prematurely, symbolizing his act of mourning. The poem mourns the death of Edward King (Lycidas), a college mate of Milton's at Cambridge who drowned in a shipwreck in 1637. The speaker laments Lycidas' untimely demise and reflects on his potential as a poet.
The speaker then calls upon the Muses to begin their song, invoking them to help him honor Lycidas' memory. He laments that Lycidas died young, before his prime, leaving behind unfulfilled potential. The speaker recalls their shared experiences as shepherds, tending to their flocks together and enjoying the beauty of the natural world.
The tone shifts to lamentation again as the speaker mourns the loss of Lycidas' presence in the landscape. He compares this loss to various natural harms, like a canker to a rose or frost to flowers. The speaker questions where the protective nymphs were when Lycidas drowned and wishes that they had been present to save him.
The speaker contemplates the pursuit of fame and its ultimate futility in the face of death. He acknowledges the allure of fame but emphasizes that it's not the true measure of one's worth. Instead, the speaker suggests that true recognition comes from divine judgment.
The speaker describes a vision of mythical and divine figures, including the sea god Neptune, the River Camus, and Saint Peter. These figures seem to discuss the circumstances of Lycidas' death and question why it happened.
The poem concludes with a return to a more optimistic tone, where the speaker tells the natural elements to return and beautify Lycidas' burial place. He assures Lycidas that he is not truly gone, comparing his ascent to the sun rising after sinking below the ocean. Lycidas is metaphorically transformed into the guardian spirit of the shore, and the speaker resolves to move on to new endeavors in the future.
Analysis
Let us analyse the poem stanza by stanza for a better understanding.
Stanza 1:
The speaker addresses laurel trees, myrtle bushes, and ivy, symbolically treating them as sentient beings. He expresses his intention to pluck their berries and leaves, even before they ripen, due to his grief. He acknowledges that sad circumstances have compelled him to disrupt the natural order. He mourns the death of Lycidas, a young and talented friend who drowned prematurely. The speaker emphasizes that Lycidas shouldn't be left unremembered.
Stanza 2:
The speaker calls upon the Muses, often associated with inspiration and creativity, to begin a mournful song in honor of Lycidas. He urges them to sing loudly and not offer any excuses. He hopes that a Muse's intervention will ensure that his elegy is well-received and brings peace to Lycidas' memory.
Stanza 3:
The speaker recalls shared experiences with Lycidas, highlighting their mutual upbringing in the same natural environment. They grazed their flocks together by fountains, in shade, and near streams. They worked side by side as shepherds before the morning's light appeared. The speaker reminisces about the times they spent, the songs they heard, and the joy they shared.
Stanza 4:
The speaker expresses the profound change that occurred after Lycidas' death. The landscape and nature itself seem to mourn his absence. He describes how the woods and caves where Lycidas used to be are now overgrown with wild thyme and vines. He compares the loss of Lycidas to various destructive forces that affect nature, like a canker to a rose or frost to flowers.
Stanza 5:
The speaker addresses nymphs, mythical female spirits of nature, questioning their absence when Lycidas drowned. He wonders why they didn't come to his rescue, even comparing the situation to the myth of Orpheus and his mother, the Muse, who were unable to save him. The speaker expresses his sorrow and longing for a different outcome.
Stanza 6:
The speaker reflects on the pursuit of fame and the sacrifices made to achieve it. He questions the worth of dedicating oneself to the thankless life of a shepherd or poet. While fame may be a motivator, it can be fleeting. The speaker likens fame to a spur that drives individuals to push themselves but ultimately encounters the "blind Fury" of death that ends their efforts abruptly.
Stanza 7:
The speaker turns his attention to a poetic vision of divine figures and natural forces discussing Lycidas' fate. "A Herald of the Sea", likely a personification of Neptune or a sea deity, inquires about the circumstances that led to Lycidas' death. The winds and waves offer no answers. The speaker mentions a cursed ship built during an eclipse, alluding to the vessel responsible for Lycidas' drowning.
Stanza 8:
The speaker describes the arrival of Camus, a symbolic figure representing grief and sorrow. He laments the loss of his "dearest pledge" (Lycidas) and is followed by the Pilot of the Galilean lake, a representation of Saint Peter. The Pilot expresses regret over the abundance of people who use their positions for selfish gain, rather than fulfilling their roles faithfully.
Stanza 9:
The speaker implores the rivers Alpheus and Mincius, as well as the Sicilian Muse, to return. He calls upon the valleys, winds, and streams to adorn Lycidas' burial place with flowers and beauty. The speaker's thoughts waver between reality and imagination, questioning Lycidas' whereabouts and imagining scenarios of his resting place.
Stanza 10:
The speaker addresses Lycidas directly, assuring him that his sorrowful shepherds need not weep any longer. He compares Lycidas' sinking to the sun setting in the ocean but rising again with renewed strength. Lycidas has transcended mortality and achieved a higher state, basking in a blissful existence among saints in heavenly realms.
Stanza 11:
The speaker concludes by saying that his rustic song, delivered to oaks and streams, has ended. Morning has transitioned to day. He touches his musical instrument and signals his intent to explore new landscapes ("fresh woods, and pastures new") tomorrow. This closing line emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and creation, suggesting the renewal of creativity and exploration.
Themes
Lycidas touches on several prominent themes that are prevalent in the poem. Here's an analysis of these themes:
1. Mourning and Loss: The central theme of the excerpt is mourning and loss. The speaker grieves the death of Lycidas, a young and talented friend who died prematurely. The entire elegy is a lamentation for his untimely demise. The vivid imagery of nature's mourning—laurels, myrtles, and ivy—are used to mirror the speaker's grief.
2. Nature and Immortality: Nature plays a significant role in the poem as both a backdrop and a reflection of human emotions. The imagery of laurels, myrtles, and ivy symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death. The poem suggests that while mortal lives may be transient, there is a sense of immortality in the natural world and in the memory of those who have passed.
3. Friendship and Camaraderie: The speaker reminisces about his friendship and shared experiences with Lycidas. They grew up together, tending to their flocks in the same natural environment. The memories of their time together and the joys they shared form a poignant contrast to the sorrow of Lycidas' death.
4. Artistic Expression and Poetry: The poem discusses the power of poetic expression as a means to remember and honor Lycidas. The speaker implores the "Sisters of the sacred well," referring to the Muses, to inspire his song and ensure its impact. The idea of singing, building the lofty rhyme, and composing poetic elegies becomes a way to immortalize the departed.
5. Fame and Mortality: The theme of fame is explored through the concept of poetic legacy. The speaker questions the worth of dedicating one's life to artistic pursuits and the pursuit of fame. He recognizes the fleeting nature of fame and how it is subject to the unpredictable "blind Fury" of death. This theme reflects the tension between artistic ambition and the inevitability of mortality.
6. Divine Intervention and Fate: The speaker's questions regarding the absence of the Nymphs when Lycidas drowned touch on the theme of divine intervention and fate. He wonders why the Nymphs did not save Lycidas from his tragic fate. This theme explores the role of supernatural forces in human lives and the notion of fate determining the course of events.
7. Spiritual and Mythological References: The poem incorporates references to classical and mythological figures and concepts, such as Orpheus, Druids, Jove (Jupiter), and Neptune. These references add depth and cultural context to the poem's themes, allowing the speaker to draw upon a rich literary and mythological tradition.
8. Transformation and Rebirth: The excerpt also explores the theme of transformation and rebirth. Lycidas' death is likened to the setting sun sinking into the ocean and then rising again, transformed and rejuvenated. This imagery suggests a cycle of death and rebirth, mirroring the cycles of nature.
9. Comfort and Hope: Despite the overwhelming grief, the poem offers a sense of comfort and hope. The image of Lycidas being transformed and ascending to a higher state through divine intervention provides solace. The idea that Lycidas is now among the Saints and the Genius of the shore suggests a positive afterlife and enduring impact.
10. Renewal and Moving Forward: The final lines of the excerpt capture a sense of renewal and moving forward. The speaker, depicted as an "uncouth swain," concludes his song and prepares for a new day. This theme emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and suggests that, despite the sorrow, life continues and new experiences await.
In Lycidas, these themes intersect and intertwine to create a complex exploration of grief, memory, art, mortality, and the enduring aspects of human existence.
Conclusion
Lycidas by John Milton is a poignant and multi-layered elegy that speaks to the universal themes of loss, art's capacity to transcend mortality, and the profound interconnectedness of nature and humanity. Milton's masterful use of language, vivid imagery, and thematic complexity make Lycidas a lasting testament to the power of poetry to capture and convey the full spectrum of human emotions. Through this elegy, Milton demonstrates that while individuals may be transient, the words and emotions they leave behind can echo through time, offering solace and insight to generations to come.
LYCIDAS
Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more
Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere,
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude,
And with forc'd fingers rude
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.
Bitter constraint and sad occasion dear
Compels me to disturb your season due;
For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime,
Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer.
Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.
He must not float upon his wat'ry bier
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,
Without the meed of some melodious tear.
Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring;
Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string.
Hence with denial vain and coy excuse!
So may some gentle muse
With lucky words favour my destin'd urn,
And as he passes turn
And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud!
For we were nurs'd upon the self-same hill,
Fed the same flock, by fountain, shade, and rill;
Together both, ere the high lawns appear'd
Under the opening eyelids of the morn,
We drove afield, and both together heard
What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn,
Batt'ning our flocks with the fresh dews of night,
Oft till the star that rose at ev'ning bright
Toward heav'n's descent had slop'd his westering wheel.
Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute,
Temper'd to th'oaten flute;
Rough Satyrs danc'd, and Fauns with clov'n heel,
From the glad sound would not be absent long;
And old Damætas lov'd to hear our song.
But O the heavy change now thou art gone,
Now thou art gone, and never must return!
Thee, Shepherd, thee the woods and desert caves,
With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown,
And all their echoes mourn.
The willows and the hazel copses green
Shall now no more be seen
Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays.
As killing as the canker to the rose,
Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze,
Or frost to flowers that their gay wardrobe wear
When first the white thorn blows:
Such, Lycidas, thy loss to shepherd's ear.
Where were ye, Nymphs, when the remorseless deep
Clos'd o'er the head of your lov'd Lycidas?
For neither were ye playing on the steep
Where your old bards, the famous Druids, lie,
Nor on the shaggy top of Mona high,
Nor yet where Deva spreads her wizard stream.
Ay me! I fondly dream
Had ye bin there'—for what could that have done?
What could the Muse herself that Orpheus bore,
The Muse herself, for her enchanting son,
Whom universal nature did lament,
When by the rout that made the hideous roar
His gory visage down the stream was sent,
Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore?
Alas! what boots it with incessant care
To tend the homely, slighted shepherd's trade,
And strictly meditate the thankless Muse?
Were it not better done, as others use,
To sport with Amaryllis in the shade,
Or with the tangles of Neæra's hair?
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights and live laborious days;
But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
And think to burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears,
And slits the thin-spun life. "But not the praise,"
Phoebus replied, and touch'd my trembling ears;
"Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,
Nor in the glistering foil
Set off to th'world, nor in broad rumour lies,
But lives and spreads aloft by those pure eyes
And perfect witness of all-judging Jove;
As he pronounces lastly on each deed,
Of so much fame in Heav'n expect thy meed."
O fountain Arethuse, and thou honour'd flood,
Smooth-sliding Mincius, crown'd with vocal reeds,
That strain I heard was of a higher mood.
But now my oat proceeds,
And listens to the Herald of the Sea,
That came in Neptune's plea.
He ask'd the waves, and ask'd the felon winds,
"What hard mishap hath doom'd this gentle swain?"
And question'd every gust of rugged wings
That blows from off each beaked promontory.
They knew not of his story;
And sage Hippotades their answer brings,
That not a blast was from his dungeon stray'd;
The air was calm, and on the level brine
Sleek Panope with all her sisters play'd.
It was that fatal and perfidious bark,
Built in th'eclipse, and rigg'd with curses dark,
That sunk so low that sacred head of thine.
Next Camus, reverend sire, went footing slow,
His mantle hairy, and his bonnet sedge,
Inwrought with figures dim, and on the edge
Like to that sanguine flower inscrib'd with woe.
"Ah! who hath reft," quoth he, "my dearest pledge?"
Last came, and last did go,
The Pilot of the Galilean lake;
Two massy keys he bore of metals twain
(The golden opes, the iron shuts amain).
He shook his mitred locks, and stern bespake:
"How well could I have spar'd for thee, young swain,
Enow of such as for their bellies' sake
Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold?
Of other care they little reck'ning make
Than how to scramble at the shearers' feast
And shove away the worthy bidden guest.
Blind mouths! that scarce themselves know how to hold
A sheep-hook, or have learn'd aught else the least
That to the faithful herdman's art belongs!
What recks it them? What need they? They are sped;
And when they list their lean and flashy songs
Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw,
The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,
But, swoll'n with wind and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread;
Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw
Daily devours apace, and nothing said,
But that two-handed engine at the door
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more".
Return, Alpheus: the dread voice is past
That shrunk thy streams; return, Sicilian Muse,
And call the vales and bid them hither cast
Their bells and flow'rets of a thousand hues.
Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers use
Of shades and wanton winds, and gushing brooks,
On whose fresh lap the swart star sparely looks,
Throw hither all your quaint enamel'd eyes,
That on the green turf suck the honied showers
And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.
Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies,
The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine,
The white pink, and the pansy freak'd with jet,
The glowing violet,
The musk-rose, and the well attir'd woodbine,
With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head,
And every flower that sad embroidery wears;
Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed,
And daffadillies fill their cups with tears,
To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies.
For so to interpose a little ease,
Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise.
Ay me! Whilst thee the shores and sounding seas
Wash far away, where'er thy bones are hurl'd;
Whether beyond the stormy Hebrides,
Where thou perhaps under the whelming tide
Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world,
Or whether thou, to our moist vows denied,
Sleep'st by the fable of Bellerus old,
Where the great vision of the guarded mount
Looks toward Namancos and Bayona's hold:
Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth;
And, O ye dolphins, waft the hapless youth.
Weep no more, woeful shepherds, weep no more,
For Lycidas, your sorrow, is not dead,
Sunk though he be beneath the wat'ry floor;
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,
And yet anon repairs his drooping head,
And tricks his beams, and with new spangled ore
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky:
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high
Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves;
Where, other groves and other streams along,
With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,
And hears the unexpressive nuptial song,
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the Saints above,
In solemn troops, and sweet societies,
That sing, and singing in their glory move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.
Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more:
Henceforth thou art the Genius of the shore,
In thy large recompense, and shalt be good
To all that wander in that perilous flood.
Thus sang the uncouth swain to th'oaks and rills,
While the still morn went out with sandals gray;
He touch'd the tender stops of various quills,
With eager thought warbling his Doric lay;
And now the sun had stretch'd out all the hills,
And now was dropp'd into the western bay;
At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blue:
To-morrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.
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