| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| John Milton. 1608–1674 |
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| 321. On His Deceased Wife |
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| METHOUGHT I saw my late espousèd Saint | |
| Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, | |
| Whom Joves great Son to her glad Husband gave, | |
| Rescu'd from death by force though pale and faint. | |
| Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint, | 5 |
| Purification in the old Law did save, | |
| And such, as yet once more I trust to have | |
| Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, | |
| Came vested all in white, pure as her mind: | |
| Her face was vail'd, yet to my fancied sight, | 10 |
| Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd | |
| So clear, as in no face with more delight. | |
| But O as to embrace me she enclin'd | |
| I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night. | |
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