L'Allegro - John Milton
/L'Allegro - John Milton/
A Hymn to Joy and Pastoral Merriment
Original (Line 1): Hence, loathèd Melancholy,
English (Line 1): Hence, loathèd Melancholy,
Original (Line 2): Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born,
English (Line 2): Born of Cerberus and the darkest midnight,
Original (Line 3): In Stygian cave forlorn,
English (Line 3): In a forsaken Stygian cave,
Original (Line 4): ’Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy!
English (Line 4): Among horrid shapes, shrieks, and unholy sights!
Original (Line 5): Find out some uncouth cell,
English (Line 5): Go seek some strange, hidden cell,
Original (Line 6): Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings,
English (Line 6): Where Darkness broods beneath his jealous wings,
Original (Line 7): And the night-raven sings;
English (Line 7): And the night-raven gives his cry;
Original (Line 8): There under ebon shades, and low-brow’d rocks,
English (Line 8): There, under ebony shadows and low-browed rocks,
Original (Line 9): As ragged as thy locks,
English (Line 9): As ragged as your tresses,
Original (Line 10): In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell.
English (Line 10): Dwell forever in that Cimmerian gloom.
Excerpt from John Milton’s L’Allegro. This poem is in the public domain. Full text runs for 152 lines.
John Milton’s “L’Allegro,” composed around 1645, is a vibrant, pastoral poem that praises the virtues of joy and revelry. The title itself—Italian for “The Happy Man”—signals Milton’s focus on the delights of the countryside and the active pursuit of cheery fellowship. Structured as a companion piece to its darker counterpart, “Il Penseroso,” this work offers an uplifting view of human experience.
“L’Allegro” begins by banishing Melancholy, personified as a dark, unwelcome force, to remote and dreary confines. Milton then sets forth a contrasting panorama of lively images, filled with morning light, birdsong, and pastoral gatherings. The speaker welcomes Mirth and her attendant joys: dancing, music, laughter, and the pleasures of country life. References to folklore, classical myth, and the comedic arts enhance the poem’s sense of universal merriment.
Throughout the poem, Milton interweaves classical allusion with English rural tradition. Hymn-like language elevates everyday delights, underscoring the poet’s conviction that simple earthly pleasures can reach transcendent heights. Yet “L’Allegro” is more than mere celebration: it implicitly advocates balance within the human spirit. Where “Il Penseroso” values contemplative solitude and solemn thought, “L’Allegro” affirms the importance of sociability, delight, and lightheartedness.
In emphasizing the sunny side of life, Milton helps readers rediscover the beauty of common sights and the rewarding warmth of shared festivities. The poem concludes by portraying an ideal day’s close, gently reminding us that joy, though transient, can be renewed each morning. Even amid life’s challenges, “L’Allegro” proposes that embracing laughter, music, and community is a vital part of human fulfillment. Consequently, the poem endures as a timeless ode to optimism and conviviality, suggesting that cheer, no less than contemplation, enriches the soul.
Key points
1. Embracing joy and social festivity serves as an essential counterpart to introspection.
2. Milton draws on both classical myth and pastoral tradition to elevate everyday pleasures.
3. Balance between merriment and contemplation remains key to a harmonious life.
4. “L’Allegro” remains a celebration of sunlight, laughter, and the power of communal delight.
