Milton's 'On Time'

John Milton (1608-1674) read widely in Latin, Greek, Italian and English, and served as Latin Secretary to the government. He went blind at about forty-five, and dictated his great poems 'Paradise Lost' and 'Paradise Regained'.

In 'On Time', Milton dares 'envious Time' to run its race, and to gorge itself on all it devours. Time is like Cronos, the Greek god who devoured his own children.

Notice the tone. Milton speaks to Time as if it were a person (personification), and he mocks it: hurry up, finish your race, eat your fill. Time may think it is all-powerful, bringing decay, old age and death, but its power is only temporary. Behind this is Milton's Christian faith that true life begins in eternity, where Time has no power at all.

Time moves at the slow pace of a clock's heavy lead weight, swallowing everything. But all it swallows is what is false, vain and mortal: earthly things that do not last. So our loss is small, and its gain is small too.

When Time has consumed everything bad, and finally itself, Eternity will greet the blessed with a kiss of joy, and Truth, Peace and Love will shine about God's throne.

Guided by heaven, the souls of the good will sit for ever 'attir'd with Stars' (dressed in stars), triumphing over Death, Chance and Time.