Welcome to Poem of the Day – When The Assault Was Intended to the City by John Milton.
John Milton’s When The Assault Was Intended to the City is a thought-provoking poem that explores the intersection of war, honor, and the power of art and literature. Written during a period of political instability and civil conflict in England, this poem evokes a deep sense of patriotism and reverence for culture, particularly the role of the arts in times of violence and turmoil. Milton, a poet known for his revolutionary ideas, uses this work to address the fragility of human achievement in the face of military conquest and destruction. Through his careful use of classical references and evocative language, Milton offers a powerful meditation on the relationship between military might and the preservation of intellectual and artistic heritage.
This essay will examine the themes, structure, and literary devices used in When The Assault Was Intended to the City, shedding light on how Milton employs imagery, classical allusion, and rhetorical strategies to highlight the tension between war and the arts. By analyzing the poem’s content and its place within the larger tradition of British poetry, we can better understand Milton’s perspective on honor, violence, and the enduring power of culture.
When The Assault Was Intended to the City Poem
Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms,
Whose chance on these defenceless dores may sease,
If ever deed of honour did thee please,
Guard them, and him within protect from harms,
He can requite thee, for he knows the charms
That call Fame on such gentle acts as these,
And he can spred thy Name o’re Lands and Seas,
What ever clime the Suns bright circle warms.
Lift not thy spear against the Muses Bowre,
The great Emathian Conqueror bid spare
The house of Pindarus, when Temple and Towre
Went to the ground: And the repeated air
Of sad Electra’s Poet had the power
To save th’ Athenian Walls from ruine bare.
When The Assault Was Intended to the City Poem Explanation
John Milton (1608–1674), a towering figure in British poetry, is best known for his epic Paradise Lost, as well as his political pamphlets and poetry. A fierce advocate for freedom of speech, individual liberty, and intellectual inquiry, Milton lived through one of the most tumultuous periods in British history—the English Civil War. His political leanings and support for the republican cause often put him at odds with royalist forces, and he was deeply involved in the politics of his time.
When The Assault Was Intended to the City was written in the context of the ongoing military and political conflict of the 17th century. The poem reflects Milton’s concern with the fragility of both the city and its intellectual heritage, as well as his reverence for the power of the arts to survive even the most devastating of human endeavors. The poem’s central themes—honor, defense of culture, and the power of the Muses—mirror Milton’s broader concerns with the preservation of liberty and the sanctity of intellectual pursuits.
In the poem, Milton calls upon the virtues of honor and fame as motivating forces for the defense of the city. However, he contrasts these virtues with a clear reverence for the arts, suggesting that while military honor is important, the preservation of culture and intellectual achievement should be equally prioritized. Through the invocation of classical references and the imagery of the Muses, Milton elevates the role of art and poetry, showing that they, too, have the power to protect and preserve against the ravages of war.
Themes of the Poem
1. The Defense of Honor and the Role of the Soldier
The poem begins by addressing the figure of the soldier—be it a captain, colonel, or knight in arms—tasked with defending the city from an impending assault. Milton’s invocation of these figures emphasizes the noble nature of warfare when motivated by honor. The soldier’s role in protecting the city and its inhabitants is framed as a noble duty, one that can lead to fame and recognition. However, Milton quickly moves from the individual soldier to a broader reflection on the true worth of such honor.
Milton writes, “Guard them, and him within protect from harms, / He can requite thee, for he knows the charms / That call Fame on such gentle acts as these.” Here, the speaker suggests that acts of valor in defense of the city—however noble—are not solely for personal gain or glory. The soldier is shown to possess a deeper understanding of honor, and in turn, he has the ability to reward others through fame and recognition. This suggests that honor in warfare, for Milton, is intertwined with virtue, and those who act with honor will receive their reward not just in life but in the lasting recognition of their deeds.
Yet, while the poem elevates the importance of honor in defending the city, it also subtly critiques the singular focus on military might. The soldier’s fame, while significant, is framed within a larger context that also values the preservation of cultural achievements, which ultimately transcends the fleeting nature of war.
2. The Preservation of Culture and Intellectual Heritage
In the second half of the poem, Milton shifts his focus from the soldier and the battlefield to a more profound reflection on the preservation of the arts, particularly the power of poetry. The invocation of the “Muses Bowre” (the abode of the Muses, goddesses of art and inspiration) in the line “Lift not thy spear against the Muses Bowre” suggests that the true heart of a civilization lies not in its military victories, but in the intellectual and artistic achievements that define it.
Milton employs a classical reference to the “great Emathian Conqueror” (Alexander the Great) and the destruction wrought upon the Temple and Tower of Pindarus (the tomb of the poet Pindar). In this instance, the conqueror, though a symbol of military might, chooses to spare the sacred space of art and poetry, underscoring the idea that war, while capable of destroying physical structures, cannot fully vanquish the legacy of art.
The reference to “sad Electra’s Poet” is another allusion to the power of poetry in times of distress. Electra’s connection to tragedy and mourning is used here to highlight the transcendent power of the poet, whose work has the ability to preserve culture and protect the city, even amidst the chaos of war. In this way, Milton suggests that the arts hold a unique, almost divine power to endure and safeguard the moral and intellectual fabric of society, even when the material world faces destruction.
3. The Tension Between War and Culture
The poem ultimately reflects the tension between war, which is often seen as a means of protecting the nation, and the cultural heritage that embodies the soul of that nation. Milton contrasts the military heroism of the soldier with the quiet, but enduring, power of the arts. While warfare may bring temporary victory, the preservation of culture and intellectual achievement is what sustains a society in the long term. Milton, by invoking the Muses and the poetic tradition, elevates the arts as a form of resistance to destruction, suggesting that even the most powerful military force cannot erase the cultural and intellectual achievements of a civilization.
This tension mirrors Milton’s own political views, particularly during the English Civil War. As a proponent of republicanism and individual liberty, Milton believed that the future of England depended not just on military might, but on the preservation of its intellectual and cultural legacy. The poem reflects his belief that while the soldier may defend the city, it is the artist, the poet, and the intellectual who ultimately safeguard the nation’s soul.
Structure and Poetic Devices
The structure of When The Assault Was Intended to the City is built around the classical conventions of elegy and rhetoric. The poem employs a regular rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, giving it a formal tone that reflects the gravity of the subject matter. The use of heroic couplets, in particular, elevates the poem’s subject matter—honor, warfare, and the defense of culture—imbuing it with a sense of dignity and importance.
Milton’s use of classical references and allusions to figures like Alexander the Great, Pindarus, and Electra is a hallmark of his poetic style. These allusions connect Milton’s poem to the long tradition of classical poetry, placing the themes of war and culture within a broader historical and literary context. Furthermore, these references emphasize the idea that warfare, while important, is not the only means by which a nation can be preserved. The enduring legacy of art, poetry, and culture can outlast even the most powerful military campaigns.
Conclusion
John Milton’s When The Assault Was Intended to the City is a powerful meditation on the tension between military might and the preservation of culture. Through classical references and his reflection on honor, patriotism, and the power of art, Milton emphasizes the fragility of human achievement and the need for intellectual and cultural preservation, even in the face of destruction. The poem serves as a reminder that while warfare may be necessary to protect a nation, it is the arts and intellectual pursuits that truly define and sustain a civilization. In this sense, Milton’s work occupies a significant place in the tradition of British poetry, offering a nuanced reflection on the complex relationship between war and the preservation of culture.
