John Milton’s famous poem Lycidas is about the death of his friend Edward King—whom the poet calls “Lycidas,” following the pastoral tradition—who drowned at sea.

The first few lines of this approximately 200-line poem explain the circumstances of King’s death in a shipwreck aboard the Chester in the year 1636. The speaker explains that he is picking unripe berries on the occasion of Lycidas’s death. Lycidas himself was a poet, and the narrator describes himself and his late friend as shepherds tending a flock. Lycidas’s death, according to the poet’s metaphor, is like a parasite infecting cattle or a rose.

In the middle of the poem, the poet turns to ask the nymphs why they did not protect Lycidas. He then moves into a contemplation on the topic of fame, which many poets seek in order that they live past their mortal life. Apollo (god of music and poetry) replies, saying that fame is not necessarily within a mortal’s power to control. Next, Lycidas explains that the ship sank despite fair weather and so may have been cursed.

The speaker next describes the procession of deities and river gods, such as “Camus” for the river in Cambridge, who attend Lycidas’s funeral. St. Peter next appears and rails (using a shepherding metaphor) against unfit clergy in the Church, whom Christ will eventually smite upon their death.

This is not so for Lycidas. In death, Lycidas will become a “genius of the shore” (183), guarding and protecting travelers by sea. The poet encourages the shepherds and others in attendance at the funeral procession to cease their lament for Lycidas, as he will not stop being remembered when the funeral ends but will rise again, like Orion’s star, by means of his songs.

Finally, the poet gathers his mantle as the sun sets and retires for the day. Tomorrow, the poet will sing again in other pastures.