An Introduction to the Prose and Poetical Works of John Milton / Comprising All the Autobiographic Passages in His Works, the More Explicit Presentations of His Ideas of True Liberty.

by John Milton

I have a theme of the Trojans cruising our southern headlands

Shaping to song, and the realm of Imogen, daughter of Pandras,

Brennus and Arvirach, dukes, and Bren's bold brother, Belinus;

Then the Armorican settlers under the laws of the Britons,

Ay, and the womb of Igraine fatally pregnant with Arthur,

Uther's son, whom he got disguised in Gorlois' likeness,

All by Merlin's craft. Oh then, if life shall be spared me,

Thou shalt be hung, my pipe, far off on some brown dying pine tree,

Much forgotten of me; or else your Latian music

Changed for the British war-screech! What then? For one to do all things,