How Soon Hath Time

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,
Stoln on his wing my three and twentieth year!
My hasting days fly on wtih full career,
But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th.
Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,
That I to manhood am arrived so near,
And inward ripeness doth much less appear,
That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.
Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,
It shall be still in strictest measure even
To that same lot, however mean or high,
Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven;
All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye. 

John Milton

He makes his argument that Time, personified with a capital T, is a thief that steals youth away before greatness can be achieved. His potential, which he can feel within him, is not yet reached. He can't see outward signs of this greatness yet, but expresses faith that his future will unfold as God wills it In the last line, John Milton makes reference to a parable from the Bible (Matthew 20:1-16 KJV) where laborers come to labor in the field. Some come early, and some come late, but both are paid the same wages. When the earlier laborers complain, the taskmaster over the field explains that "the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." he structure of the poem is interesting, when we consider that each stanza of four lines makes up an entire sentence that perfectly fits the iambic pentameter of the poem, yet still produces a cohesive thought. The second stanza of four lines is the same. The strength of the biblical imagery at the end puts a base of strength underneath the lighter, more airy symbolism of spring in the beginning.