Sonnets, First Seven Summary

"O Nightingale" is about the melodious bird whose song as the evening falls is a predictor of love. The poet bids the nightingale to sing for him, before his fate is foretold by the bird of hate. He laments that the nightingale often has sung too late for him, even though he serves whichever is the bird's mate: the muse, or love. "How Soon Hath Time" begins with a complaint of how quickly time has stolen Milton's 23 years, and he has so little accomplishment to show for it. Yet, he suspects that his ripening as a man is an inward process, which will proceed in an even manner over time, as is the will of heaven. He must have the grace to use whatever talents he is given. "On the Detraction which Follow'd upon My Writing Certain Treatises" finds...