...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Mteonides,* And Tiresias and Phineas, prophets old : Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tnnes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns...

...were I equalled with them in renown, Blind Thamyris, and blind Meeonides, And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old; Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return; but not to me returns...

...were I equalled with them in renown, Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides,1 And Tiresias,2 and Phineus, prophets old : Then feed on thoughts that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns...

...were I equalled with them in renown !) Blind Thamyris and blind Maconides, And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old : Then feed on thoughts that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and, in shadiest covert hid, Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return ; but not to me returns...

...reflects on his own sightless eyes, Milton's thoughts turn to the nightingale singing in darkness: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious...numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. How consciously Keats remembered this passage one cannot...

...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old. Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns...

...So were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus Prophets old. Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note. (21-40) The blindness of three of the poets and prophets...

...and morn "where the Muses haunt /Clear Spring, or shady Grove, or Sunny HUP (3.27-28), Then feed[s] on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note. (3.37-40) Eve sings her nocturn as she and Adam move...

...habits, which are philomelic, and their singing habits, which are also philomelic — like Milton's own: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling. (37-39; my emphasis)^1 It may also be that "They rolled their r's, there, in the land of the citrons"...

...were I equalled with them in renown. Blmd Thaniyris, and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus prophets old. Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird Smgs darklmg, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. (3.34-40) The figure of the melancholy...