Upon the Circumcision
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Upon the Circumcision is an ode by John Milton that was possibly written in 1633 and first published in 1645. It discusses the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and connects Christ's Incarnation with his Crucifixion.
The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is possible that Milton wrote the ode while attending Christ's College, Cambridge,[1] and it is commonly dated to 1633.[2] However, the ode, along with The Passion (Milton) and On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, were first published in 1645, and they are found within a manuscript that was not started before May 1634.[3] They were composed during a time in which Milton became deeply concerned with Scripture but also one who still relies on myth. They were written during a time of experimentation in genre and subject for Milton.[4]
Poem
Milton begins his poem by invoking the angels, and he claims that they too would need to cry along with mankind:[2]
- So sweetly sung your joy the clouds along
- Through the soft silence of the list'ning night;
- Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bear
- Your fiery essence can distill no tear
- Burn in your sighs, and borrow
- Seas wept from our deep sorrow; (lines 4–9)
The final lines connect the act of Circumcision to Christ's Passion:[5]
- And that great cov'nant which we still transgress
- Entirely satisfied,
- And the full wrath beside
- Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess,
- And seals obedience first with wounding smart
- This day: but O ere long
- Huge pangs and strong
- Will pierce more near his heart. (lines 21–28)
