...tells his tale, Under the hawthorn in the dale. ****** And ever against eating cares, Lap me in soil Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse, Such as the...That Orpheus' self may heave his head From golden slumbers on a bed Of heap'd Elysian flowers, and hear Such strains as would have rung the ear Of Pluto,...

...Shakspeare, Fancy's child, Warble his native woodnotes wild. Married to immortal verse, Such as the melting soul may pierce, In notes with many a winding bout...may heave his head From golden slumber on a bed Of heap'd Elysian flow'rs, and hear Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set...

...haunted stream. Then to the well-trod stage anon, If Jonson's learned sock be on, Or sweetest Shakspeare, Fancy's child, Warble his native wood-notes wild....may heave his head, From golden slumber on a bed Of heap'd Elysian flowers, and hear Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set...

...different object, as a resource against the daily trials and petty annoyances of life, exclaims : — " Ever against eating cares, Lap me in soft Lydian airs,...all the chains that tie The hidden soul of harmony." There is an exquisite symbolism in this last passage. The idea is that the " hidden soul " of a good...

...another. The description is as follows: And ever against eating cares, Lap me in soft Lydian airs; In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness...all the chains that tie The hidden soul of harmony. Let us parallel this with the softness, the winding surface, the unbroken continuance, the easy gradation...

...strength; And crop-full out of doors he flings, Ere the first cock his matin rings. (1. 105-1 14) 24 (1. 136-144) AWP; FaFP; FiP; GTBS; GTBS-P; HAP; HoPM; JCP; LiTB; NoP; OAEL-1; OBEY; OBS; PPP; SeCePo;...

...the meeting soul may pierce, In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness long drawn out 140 With wanton heed and giddy cunning, The melting voice...heave his head From golden slumber on a bed Of heaped FJysian flowers, and hear Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto to have quite set free His...

...visionary poetry with strong (and not very subtle) warnings to regard L'Allegro's desires skeptically: Lap me in soft Lydian Airs, Married to immortal verse....may heave his head From golden slumber on a bed Of heapt Elysian flow'rs, and heat Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set...

...substituting poetry for heterosexual love. His most sensual encounter in L' Allegro is with poetic song: And ever against eating cares, Lap me in soft Lydian...cunning, The melting voice through mazes running. (11. 135-142) Here Milton describes a genuine communion, the "meeting" that he hitherto avoided. These...

...one point L'Allegro sings: And ever against eating cares, Lap me in soft Lydian airs: Soothe me with immortal verse, Such as the meeting soul may pierce...all the chains that tie The hidden soul of harmony, The subject here is song — specifically, how singing, while it may lead us through a thousand complications,...