Man-in-waiting

When I consider how my light is spent,
     E're half my days, in this dark world and wide,
     And that one Talent which is death to hide,
     Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
     My true account, least he returning chide,
     Doth God exact day labour, light deny'd,
     I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
     Either man's work or his own gifts, who best
     Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
     And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:
     They also serve who only stand and waite.

     John Milton, Sonnet 19 (On his blindness).  As I would read it:

When I consider [1] how my light is spent,
     E're half my days, in this dark world and wide[;]
     And [2] that one Talent which is death to hide,
     Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul [be] more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
     My true account, least he returning chide[:]
     'Doth God exact day labour, light deny'd[?],'
     I fondly ask[.]  But patience[,] to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
     Either man's work or his own gifts[.  W]ho best
     Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best[.  H]is State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
     And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:
     They also serve who only stand and waite.