Get this book in print
About this book
My library
Books on Google Play
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Birth of Milton-Character of the times-His family-Early
education-Death of King James-Character of his court-
Public characters of Elizabeth's reign-Programme of Milton's
travels-Juvenile poems-'Death of a fair infant'-College
verses-Rustication from college - Retirement at Horton-
Return to college-Epic poem of King Arthur'-Love of the
the Theatre Anticipations of Paradise Lost' - Style of
Milton's language
-
page 1
CHAPTER II.
Critical account of Milton's college poetry-'Hymn to the
Nativity-Its sublimity and originality-Johnson's neglect
of this ode-Milton's lyrical ear-Latin poetry-'In Quintum
Novembris'-'In Obitum Præsulis Eliensis'-Naturam
non pati senium' - Cowper's translation Poem to his
tutor
14
CHAPTER III.
College poetry continued-'Ad Patrem'-Cowper's transla- tion-Elegy to Deodate-Deodate family-Latin epistles-
'In adventum Veris'- Seasons of composition - Pride of
scholarship-Superiority of his English juvenile verse to his
Latin
page 24
CHAPTER IV.
Departure from College-'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso'-
From whence suggested-Character of these compositions-
Opinions of Warton and Johnson-Comments
33
CHAPTER V.
'Lycidas,' and 'Epitaphium Damonis'- Death of Edward
King-Dr. Johnson's censure of Lycidas'-Analysis of his
critique-Death of Charles Deodate-Elegy--Design of an
epic poem
43
CHAPTER VI.
On 'Comus Introduction of Milton to Bridgewater
family-Performance of 'Comus' by the family-The Eger-
tons-Masks in Ben Jonson's time-Outline of Comus'-
Warton's criticism-Criticisms from Toland to Todd-Unfit-
ness of Comus' for stage exhibition
48
CHAPTER VII.
The Arcades-Countess of Derby - Her family -Hare-
field-Harrington's epigram-Spenser's lines on Lady Derby
-Her peerage-book.
59
CHAPTER VIII.
Milton's foreign travels- Reception at Florence - Rome
and Naples-Visit to Galileo-Marquis Manso-' Ad Man-
sum'-Cowper's translation-Venice- Geneva-John Deo-
date-Calvinistic prejudices-Traces of Milton's visit to Ge-
neva
page 63
CHAPTER IX.
Milton's return to England-Undertakes the tutorship of
his nephews-Johnson's remarks on this-Defence of Milton's
occupation Commencement of his prose works-Contro-
versies-Milton's autobiography-Prayer-Preface to second
book of Reason of Church Government'
72
CHAPTER X.
Milton's marriage-Separation from his wife-'Doctrine
and Discipline of Divorce '-' Tetrachordon'—' Judgment of
Martin Bucer'-'Colasterion '-Clamour against Milton-Re-
turn of his wife-Her death-Milton's claim on her father's
property
103
CHAPTER XI.
His various literary occupations-Publication of early
poems in 1645—′ Animadversions upon Remonstrants' De-
fence'-'Apology for Smectymnuus'-'Tractate of Education'
-' Areopagitica'-'Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'-' Ob-
servations,' &c.-Milton's account of his History of England'
-'Eikonoclastes'-Preface to 'Eikonoclastes'-'Defensio pro
Populo''Defensio secunda '-' Treatise on Civil Power'—
Considerations,' &c.-- Letter to a Friend'- Ready and
easy Way to establish a free Commonwealth '-' Brief Notes
upon a late Sermon' Remarks on Milton's sectarian
writings
107
CHAPTER XII.
Milton's state appointment-Second marriage-Loss of sight
-Reduction of salary-Loss of secretaryship-' Cabinet coun
cil of Raleigh'-His own description of his person-His
accomplishments - Reply to attack on his private cha-
racter
page 131
CHAPTER XIII.
Milton's character of Oliver Cromwell-Queries to the
people of England'-Biography resumed-Milton's knowledge
of human nature-Facts in Milton's life few and trite-John-
son's attack on the poet
140
CHAPTER XIV.
Milton's blindness-His enemies charge it as a judgment
upon him-His reply and appeal-Sonnet to Skinner-Re-
commendation of Andrew Marvell as secretary-Milton's
salary-Commencement of the Paradise Lost'-Visited by
foreigners of distinction-Restoration of the Monarchy-
Death. of Vane and other regicides-Clemency shown to
Milton-Cause not recorded-Charles's court-French school
of poetry-Dryden-Milton composing his poem in retire-
ment-Cowley-The poet's hatred of monarchy-Third mar-
riage-Plague in London-Milton retires to Buckinghamshire
-His Latin letter to Heimbach
154
CHAPTER XV.
Sale of Paradise Lost'-Johnson's remarks-Contempo- raries of Milton-Dryden's opinion of Paradise Lost'-Folio