I did but prompt the age to quit their clogs By the known rules of ancient liberty, When straight a barbarous noise environs me Of owls and cuckoos, asses, apes, and dogs; As when those hinds that were transformed to frogs Railed at Latona's twin-born progeny, Which after held the sun and moon in fee. But this is got by easting pearl to hogs. That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when Truth would set them free. License they mean when they cry, Liberty! For who loves that, must first be wise and good.

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I did but prompt the age to quit their clogs By the known rules of ancient liberty, When straight a barbarous noise environs me Of owls and cuckoos, asses, apes, and dogs; As when those hinds that were transformed to frogs Railed at Latona's twin-born progeny, Which after held the sun and moon in fee. But this is got by easting pearl to hogs. That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when Truth would set them free. License they mean when they cry, Liberty! For who loves that, must first be wise and good." in the context of "John Milton, Sonnet XII : On the same (1654), this follows Sonnet XI : "On the Detraction which followed upon my Writing Certain Treatises''" to mean that wisdom is timeless.