...Cyriac Skinner. Cyriac, these three-years-day, these eyes, though clear, To outward view, of blemish and of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot...their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun, or moon, or stars, throughout the year, Or man or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate...

...afflicting disease Amaurosis, which is so feelingly pourtrayed by the suffering MILTON, — " These eyea, though clear To outward view, of blemish, or of spot,...Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot; Nor to the idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun, or moon, or star throughout the year! Or man, or woman I" Many...

...glories, such as the eyes of the body never beheld. What though to Milton's " idle orbs" the sight did not appear, " Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman V Had he not the consciousness of noble deeds to cheer him ? Were not these far more glorious than...

...superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. TO THE SAME (1655) CYRIACK, this three years' day these eyes, though clear, To...moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope, but still bear up and...

...While this remains, the world ought never to forget Milton, either as a poet or a patriot: " Cyriac, this three years' day, these eyes, though clear, To...forgot; Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear, Of suu, or moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand...

...well characterize Very's position as a poet-priest of the waning New England dominant class: Cyriack, this three years' day these eyes, though clear To...moon or star throughout the year, Or man or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope, but still bear up and...

...meaning of the poem. Related to this has been the further question of the date of Sonnet 22, which reads: "this three years day these eyes, though clear / To...outward view of blemish or of spot, / Bereft of light thir seeing have forgot"; it would seem to have been written around December 1655 and thus is seen...

...from the particulars of his life, but turns toward the poem and ultimately to his friend: Cyriack, this three years day these eyes, though clear To outward...Moon or Star throughout the year, Or man or woman. Yet I argue not Against heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and...

...more (what Skinner obviously knowsl that there has been no change in his external appearance: Cyriack, this three years' day these eyes, though clear To...moon or star throughout the year, Or man or woman. In respect to what he has next to say, the poet dwells suspiciously long upon these details of his...

...Sonnets and the Ideal Community (Lincoln, Nebr., 1979), p. 18. Cyriack, this three years day these eys, though clear To outward view, of blemish or of spot; Bereft of light thir seeing have forgot, . . . Yet I argue not Against heavns hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart...