Poetry · Chapter
To Milton explained
The speaker laments the loss of Milton's spirit in a diminished England, contrasting past grandeur with present decay under ignorant demagogues, and invoking Cromwell's democracy as a lost ideal.
What happens
The speaker laments the loss of Milton's spirit in a diminished England, contrasting past grandeur with present decay under ignorant demagogues, and invoking Cromwell's democracy as a lost ideal.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
The poem mourns a fallen age and yearns for a lost political and spiritual redemption.
Transience and Mortality
The spirit of Milton has passed, and the glorious world has turned to 'ashes dull and grey.'
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Milton! I think thy spirit hath passed away From these white cliffs and high-embattled towers; This gorgeous fiery-coloured world of ours Seems fallen into ashes dull and grey”
Milton, I believe your soul has left these white cliffs and fortified towers; our once brilliant world now seems reduced to dull, gray ashes.
The speaker opens by declaring the loss of Milton's influence and the decay of the world's vibrancy.
“For all our pomp and pageantry and powers We are but fit to delve the common clay”
Despite all our splendor and authority, we are only suited for menial labor.
Critique of contemporary society's worthlessness compared to Milton's era.
“By ignorant demagogues is held in fee, Who love her not: Dear God! is this the land Which bare a triple empire in her hand When Cromwell spake the word Democracy!”
This land is controlled by ignorant populist leaders who do not love it. My God! Is this the same England that once held a triple empire when Cromwell proclaimed democracy?
Contrast between past glory under Cromwell and present degradation under unworthy rulers.