ABSTRACT

The first inspiration was a shaft of light that struck B.’s foot as he was fastening his shoe in Lambeth before he left for Felpham (15.47-50, 22.4-14), a challenge to step forward in Los’s prophetic mantle as Milton’s heir. The second was a moment of profound ecstasy (35.42, 36.16-27), one day when, as a lark sang and the scent of wild thyme filled the air, a 12-year-old girl came into his garden with a message (36.21ff ). Recollection of these small, inspiring events make the core of the poem. Through him, the spirit of John Milton, purged of error, could revive the spirit of Britain. And so he wrote Milton.