...considered himself 'church-outed by the prelates': his own visionary poetry, he hoped, would serve 'to deplore the general relapses of kingdoms and states from justice and God's true worship'.3 Given that such intimate links existed between poets and the civic and ecclesiastical worlds,...

...and what he works, and what he suffers to be wrought with high providence in his Church, to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and Saints, the deeds...general relapses of Kingdoms and States from justice and Gods true worship. Lastly, whatsoever in religion is holy and sublime, in vertu amiable, or grave,...

..."to imbreed and cherish in a great people the seeds of vertu, and publick civility" and "to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and Saints, the deeds...valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ" (CP 1: 816-17). Poets ought not to isolate themselves, according to Milton, but instead should fulfill,...

...and what he works, and what he suffers to be wrought with high providence in his church; to sing the victorious agonies of martyrs and saints, the deeds...whatsoever in religion is holy and sublime, in virtue amiable0 or grave, whatsoever hath passion or admiranon ' in all the changes of that which is called...

...fulfill the critical aim of the prophetic poet, announced in his Reason of ChurchGovernment (1642). "to deplore the general relapses of Kingdoms and States from justice and Gods true worship" (YP 1:81 7). Moreover, through a series of challenging historical lessons, Adam...

...the might and prestige of Portugal in the dust."16 None of what Milton had once fervently hailed as "the deeds and triumphs of just and pious nations...valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ" (YP 1:816-817) will bear very close scrutiny, as Milton learned in his study of British history and...