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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  318. On His Blindness

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

John Milton. 1608–1674

318. On His Blindness

WHEN I consider how my light is spent 
  E’re half my days, in this dark world and wide, 
  And that one Talent which is death to hide, 
  Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent 
To serve therewith my Maker, and present         5
  My true account, least he returning chide, 
  Doth God exact day-labour, light deny’d, 
  I fondly ask; But patience to prevent 
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need 
  Either man’s work or his own gifts, who best  10
  Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State 
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed 
  And post o’re Land and Ocean without rest: 
  They also serve who only stand and waite.