WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Poetry Fix: Comus, Part Five

Episode Date: May 17, 2026

In today’s episode of The Poetry Fix, join Erika Kyba in the journey through Milton’s Comus as the leading lady makes her first appearance. The lady presents herself as a courageous paragon of virtue, but the poet opens up her view of morality to some questions.

Welcome to the Poetry Fix on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Erica Kaiba, bringing you your weekly fix of poetry from across time. Today we open up in Comas as the young heroine finds herself in a considerably vulnerable situation. Her elder brothers are gone, and she has wandered into a dark and unfamiliar part of the forest. Even the stars seem to be losing their light, which she describes as having everlasting oil to illuminate the path of the lost traveler. This lamp imagery evokes the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, in which the foolish virgins neglect to bring oil for their lamps as they travel to meet the bridegroom, Christ. As a result, they leave to buy more oil for themselves and are locked out of the

heavenly wedding feast. The wise virgins, on the other hand, avoid this fate by bringing oil for themselves ahead of time. The question raised by this illusion is whether the heroine of Comus is wise or foolish. She clearly wants to align herself on the wise virgin side of the equation, but perhaps her sanguine attitude in the face of danger is a little naive, and her high ideals may not be so irreproachable as she wants to believe. Notice, for example, how she makes faith, hope, and chastity, her standard for virtue, leaving out the highest virtue, charity. What does chastity become when it's divorced from charity? And how will we see these ideals borne out in the lady's conduct? Let's consider that as we dive in. Comus by John Milton. Tis likliest they had engaged their

wandering steps too far, and envious darkness, ere they could return, had stole them from me, or else thievish night? Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end, in thy dark lantern thus close up the stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled them. their lamps with everlasting oil to give due light to the misled and lonely traveler. This is the place, as well as I may guess, once even now the tumult of loud mirth was rife and perfect in my listening ear. Yet not but single darkness do I find. What might this be? A thousand fantasies begin to throng into my memory of calling shapes and beckoning shadows dire, and airy tongues, that syllable men's names on sands and shores and desert wildernesses.

These thoughts may startle well, but not astound the virtuous mind, that ever walks attended by a strong-sighting companion conscience. O welcome, pure-eyed faith, white-handed hope, thou hovering angel girt with golden wings, and thou, unblemished form of chastity, I see ye visibly, and now believe that he, the supreme, good, to whom all things ill are but as slavish officers of vengeance, would send a glistering guardian, if need were, to keep my life and honour unassailed. Was I deceived? Or did a sable cloud turn forth her silver lining on the night? I did not err. There does a sable cloud turn forth her silver lining on the night, and casts a gleam over this tufted grove. I cannot hallow to my brothers, but such noise as I can make to be heard farthest I'll venture, for my new enlivened spirits

prompt me, and they perhaps are not far off. Sweet echo, sweetest nymph that lives unseen within thy airy shell, by slow meanders margined green, and in the violet embroidered veil where the lovelorn nightingale nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well. Canst thou not tell me of a gentle pair that likeliest thy narcissus are? if thou have hid them in some flowery cave, tell me but where, sweet queen of parley, daughter of the sphere. So mayst thou be translated to the skies, and give resounding grace to all heaven's harmonies. You've been listening to The Poetry Fix with Erica Kaiba. If you enjoyed this episode, consider following the Poetry Fix on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.

And if you have any poems you want to see in a future episode, email your suggestions to the PoetreeFix at gmail.com. Join me next week and we'll be continuing our journey through Milton's Comus.