"Now the bright morning-star, day’s harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
"Hail, bounteous May! that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast they blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long."
John Milton (1608-1674) was a poet and civil servant who was active during the British Commonwealth which followed the Civil War of the mid 17th century in England.
He was born in London to a middle class English family and educated at St Paul's school London and Cambridge University. As a young man he took an early Grand Tour of France and Italy.
Later his father was to disown him when he became a Protestant. He wrote treatises in support of Republicanism during the Commonwealth and had to go into hiding when a warrant was issued for his arrest after the Restoration. He was later pardoned.
He wrote his greatest work Paradise Lost from 1658-1664 after he had gone blind. it was published in 1667. He was married 3 times. He died of kidney failure while living at Chalfont St Giles in England in 1674.
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