Summary:  pastoral detail in "Lycidas" reflects Milton's deeper contemplation on nature's power to create and destroy, embodied in the lives of Orpheus and other mythological figures. The poem transcends mere conventionality by revealing a sense of primitive power beneath its decorum, inviting a passionate questioning on the meaning of lives inevitably crushed by the forces of nature. Through the depiction of Nature's destructive force on men of genius, Milton conveys a profound sense of personal experience and existential reflection, underscoring the recurrent theme in his work of the relentless power of nature over mortal lives. The transformative impact of nature, as showcased in the tragic fate of Orpheus, resonates with Milton's contemplation on the cyclical and ruthless nature of creation and destruction at the hands of natural forces.