Question

Read the passage. How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth. 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 endueth. What is the speaker expressing in this octave from Sonnet VII by John Milton?

a setback to his poetic ambition

a satisfaction with his current accomplishments

a trust in his faith in God and the will of Heaven

an impediment caused by his physical limitations

Answer 1

I think its the first one but I could be wrong

Answer 2

Milton is awaiting for the noble cause from the first line, as well as lamenting for the years past. He achieved most of his literary accomplishments at an early age in which regrets not getting enough after that. Therefore, Milton blames his feminine look. He finishes his lines with faith in god. The correct answer is the first option if we take all the analyzed details into consideration.