to the heart inspires
Vernal delight and joy—iv. 154-55,
were the Graces and the Hours, which danced hand in hand as they led on the eternal Spring.
Milton alludes to the seasons on several occasions throughout his poem, and to the natural phenomena associated with them:—
As bees
In springtime when the Sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the smoothèd plank
The suburb of their straw-built citadel
New rubbed with balm, expatiate and confer
Their state affairs.—i. 768-75.
The Sun is in the constellation Taurus in April, when the warmth of his rays begins to impart new life and activity to the insect world after their long winter’s sleep.
In his description of the repast partaken by the Angel Raphael with Adam and Eve in Paradise, Milton writes:—
Raised of grassy turf
Their table was, and mossy seats had round,
And on her ample square, from side to side,
All Autumn piled, though Spring and Autumn here
Danced hand in hand.—v. 391-95.
In describing Beelzebub when about to address the Stygian Council, he says:—
His look
Drew audience and attention still as night
Or summer’s noontide air, while thus he spake.—ii. 307-309.
The failing vision from which Milton suffered in his declining years was succeeded by total blindness. This sad affliction he alludes to in the following lines:—