John Heywood's Paragon Readers Author:John Heywood General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1884 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: LESSON V. ON HIS OWN BLINDNESS. A SONNET1 BY JOHN MILTON. When I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days,2 in this dark world and wide, And that one talent3 which is death to hide Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide; "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied4?" I fondly ask; but Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, " God doth not need Either man's work, or His own gifts; who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best; His state Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait." John Milton (1608-1674). 1. Sonnet. -- A shortpoem, usually limited to fourteen lines. 2. Ere half my days. -- Milton was taken blind in 1652, when he was about 44 years old. He lived 22 years afterwards. 3. One talent. -- This refers to the Parable of the Talents (Matt. xxv.). Milton only claims to have received one talent or gift. 4. Light denied. -- That is, when light is denied. The great lesson Milton says he learnt from his blindness was that it was possible to serve God while prevented from doing any active work. He must be among those who " stand and wait," but can "also serve." LESSON VI. THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF MEXICO. 1. The following sketch of the ancient capital of Mexico describes a state of civilization now passed away. This description refers to the time when that country was conquered by a few Spanish troops, under Cortes, in 1519. It became a Spanish colony, and remained under the arbitrary and o...« less