Milton: Minor Poems

by John Milton

AT A SOLEMN MUSIC.

The poet listens to what in the phrase of his time is a solemn music, but which we should name a sacred concert. The poem is unalloyed lyric, expressing the rapture to which the music has lifted his soul. We must remember that Milton was himself an amateur musician, and in his days of darkness found habitual diversion at his organ. Indications of a susceptible and appreciative ear for musical harmony are frequent throughout the poems.

[7. the sapphire-colored throne.] See Ezekiel I 26.

[27. consort] is the word from which we derive our concert.