...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Moeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus , prophets old : Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird Sing darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return...

...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old : Then feed on thoughts that voluntary...numbers, as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns...

...I equall'd with them in renown, 35 Blind Thamyris, and blind Mseonides, And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old ; Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid 40 Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return ; but not to me...

...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old ; Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return ; but not to me returns...

...were I equalled with them in renown !) Blind Thamyris and blind Maconides, And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old : Then feed on thoughts that voluntary...numbers ; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and, in shadiest covert hid, Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return ; but not to me returns...

...reflects on his own sightless eyes, Milton's thoughts turn to the nightingale singing in darkness: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious...numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. How consciously Keats remembered this passage one cannot...

...were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old. Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers; as the wakeful bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns...

...So were I equall'd with them in renown, Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, And Tiresias and Phineus Prophets old. Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary...numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note. (21-40) The blindness of three of the poets and prophets...

...and morn "where the Muses haunt /Clear Spring, or shady Grove, or Sunny HUP (3.27-28), Then feed[s] on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note. (3.37-40) Eve sings her nocturn as she and Adam move...

...habits, which are philomelic, and their singing habits, which are also philomelic — like Milton's own: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling. (37-39; my emphasis)^1 It may also be that "They rolled their r's, there, in the land of the citrons"...