Well known writer, actor, media personality and intellectual Stephen Fry has a new book out about poety.
This link is to an article in the Observer Sunday newspaper last weekend where he says what he thinks about free verse.
WARNING: Mr Fry does not mince his words: some of his language is a little coarse (however, if a highly respectable and popular Sunday broadsheet can carry it nationally I assume MM can)
You're right - rhyme was seen as rather vulgar then - decoration for the masses.. plus ca change. So are John Milton and Stephen Fry polar opposites or in agreement in that they both condem one approach?