To My Lord Fairfax

Portrait of John Milton
John Milton 1608–1674

Fairfax, whose Name in Arms through Europe rings, And fills all Mouths with Envy or with Praise, And all her Jealous Monarchs with Amaze. And Rumours loud which daunt remotest Kings, Thy firm unshaken Valour ever brings Victory home, while new Rebellions raise Their Hydra-heads, and the false North displays Her broken League to Imp her Serpent Wings: O yet! a Nobler task awaits thy Hand, For what can War, but Acts of War still breed Till injur'd Truth from Violence be freed; And publick Faith be rescu'd from the Brand Of publick Fraud; in vain doth Valour bleed, While Avarice and Rapine shares the Land.

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