Introduction. Milton composed Sonnets 9 and 10 during the period of estrangement from his first wife, Mary Powell, between 1642 and 1645. This was also the period during which he wrote his divorce tracts wherein he attempts to redefine marriage, in radically Protestant terms, as conversation with a fit partner for the purpose of remedying a man's loneliness. (See The Doctrine and Disciple of Divorce and Luxon, Single Imperfection: Milton, Marriage and Friendship.) Accordingly these two sonnets praise women in quite a different strain from the petrachan themes in his previous sonnets. Sonnet 9 celebrates the piety and temperance of just the sort of woman Milton may have wished he had married.

broad way. In Matthew 7: 13 Jesus states that the road to destruction is broad, while the way of righteousness is narrow.

green. Flourishing, youthful, or vigourous (OED2). Marvell's poem "The Garden" uses the green of a lush garden as a trope for human desire.

Hill of heav'nly Truth. It was a commonplace conceit to liken Truth or Wisdom to the summit of a steep hill or mountain. See also Tetrachordon on Genesis 2:18 and John Donne's Satire 3.79-81.

better part. The speaker advocates the path of virtuous sacrifice attributed to Mary in Luke 10: 42 and Ruth in Ruth 1: 14.

Line 5. The 1673 edition has no comma here.

Line 5. 1645 has "and the Ruth" here; I have chosen 1673's reading here as a correction.

overween. To presume or exaggerate through arrogance. See OED2.

spleen. Temper or ill-nature. See OED2

ruth. Feeling of compassion or sorrow. See OED2.

Virgin wise. The parable of the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 likens the wise to virgins who greet their bridegrooms with lamps full of oil and are rewarded with entrance into the blessings of marriage.