To which my spi'rit aspir'd; victorious deeds 218. Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth, Brute violence and proud ty rannic power,] Milton here carries his republican principles to the greatest height, in supposing the overthrow of all monarchy to have been one of the objects of our Lord's early contemplations. Compare Samson Agonistes, 1268-1280, where Mr. Warton considers him as intending a panegyric to the memory of Cromwell and his deliverance. Dunster. Nothing perhaps in the poem is less consistent with Scripture than this supposition of our Lord's meditating victorious deeds, and doubting what work he came upon the earth to perform. What follows respecting his mother's informing him of the particulars of his miraculous birth, &c. (see v. 229, 236, 259,) is at variance with the letter of the history, as these meditations are with its spirit. See Luke ii. 49-52, where the words, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? and the remark which follows, they understood not the saying which he spake unto them, plainly shew that Jesus, at the time of his being left in the temple, was 215 220 far better acquainted than his mother with his descent, and with the purpose of his mission. She indeed kept these sayings in her heart, musing what so many marvels signified; but he never appears to speak without absolute and commanding knowledge. Milton's excuse must be found in the expression, Jesus increased in wisdom, Luke ii. 52, which however relates to the growth of his intellectual faculties and attainments, and does not imply ignorance of his office and mission, which would be contrary to v. 49. Dr. Newton's remark, therefore, upon the accuracy with which Milton adheres to the Scripture history, appears exaggerated. See the note at v. 255. and see also the notes of Mr. Dunster and Mr. Calton on v. 293. E. 219. Brute violence] So again in the Mask, And noble grace that dash'd brute violence. Thyer. 221. Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly first &c.] Here breathes the true spirit of toleration in these lines, and the sentiment is very fitly put into the mouth of him, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. By winning words to conquer willing hearts, The allitteration of w's in this By winning words to conquer willing hearts. Our author was always a declared enemy to persecution, and a friend to liberty of conscience. He rises above himself, whenever he speaks of the subject; and he must have felt it very strongly, to have expressed it so happily. For, as Mr. Thyer justly remarks upon this passage, there is a peculiar softness and harmony in these lines, exactly suited to that gentle spirit of love that breathes in them; and that man must have an inquisitorial spirit indeed who does not feel the force of them. 225 subdue.] We cannot sufficiently condemn the negligence of the former editors and printers, who have not so much as corrected the errata pointed out to them by Milton himself, but have carefully followed all the blunders of the first edition, and increased the number with new ones of their own. This passage affords an instance. In all the editions we read, -the stubborn only to destroy; and this being good sense, the mistake is not so easily detected: but in the first edition the reader is desired in the table of errata for destroy to read subdue; and if we consider it, this is the more proper word, more suitable to the humane and heavenly character of the speaker; and besides it answers to the subdue and quell in ver. 218. The Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, &c. Luke ix. 56. 226. Compare Virgil's -debellare superbos. En. vi. 854. 227. my mother soon perceiving -inly rejoic'd,] Virgil, Æn. i. 502. Latonæ tacitum pertentant gaudia pectus. Jortin. And said to me apart, High are thy thoughts Conceiv'd in me a virgin, he foretold 230 235 Thou should'st be great, and sit on David's throne, 240 And of thy kingdom there should be no end. At thy nativity a glorious quire Of angels in the fields of Bethlehem sung To shepherds watching at their folds by night, And told them the Messiah now was born Where they might see him, and to thee they came, 245 &c. &c. And they were offended in him. Matt. xiii. 55-57. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke i. 32, 33. Dunster. 241. there should be no end.] We have restored the reading of Milton's own edition, should not shall, as before Thou should'st be great. For in the inn was left no better room: A star, not seen before, in heav'n appearing By which they knew the King of Israel born. Known partly, and soon found of whom they spake 255. Just Simeon and prophetic Anna,] It may not be improper to remark how strictly our author adheres to the Scripture history, not only in the particulars which he relates, but also in the very epithets which he affixes to the persons; as here Just Simeon, because it is said Luke ii. 25. and the same man was just and prophetic Anna, because it is said Luke ii. 36. and there was one Anna a prophetess. The like accuracy may be observed in all the rest. 262. —and soon found of whom they spake I am ;] The Jews thought that the Messiah, when he came, would be without all power and distinction, 250 255 260 and unknown even to himself, till Elias had anointed and declared him. Χριστος δε ει και γεγενηται, και εστί που, άγνωστος εστι, και ουδε αυτός πω έαυτον επισταται, ουδε εχει δυναμιν τινα, μέχρις αν έλθων Ηλιας χριση autov, και Φανερον πασι ποίηση. Just. Mart. Dial. cum Tryph. p. 226. Ed. Col. Calton. 264. Through many a hard assay ev'n to the death,] Thus, in the Comus, 972. And sent them here, through hard assays. And Spenser, Faery Queen, b. vi. c. vi. st. 3. And pass'd through many perilous assays. Unto the death is a Scriptural expression. See Acts xxii. 4. Judges v. 18. &c. Dunster. Ere I the promis'd kingdom can attain, I as all others to his baptism came, Which I believ'd was from above; but he 265 270 Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'd 275 Me him (for it was shown him so from heaven) As much his greater, and was hardly won: 266. -whose sins Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head.] Isaiah liii. 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 271. Not knew by sight] Though Jesus and John the Baptist were related, yet they were brought up in different countries, and had no manner of intimacy or acquaintance with each other. John the Baptist says expressly, John i. 31, 33. And I knew him not; and he did not so much as know him by sight, till our Saviour came to his baptism; and afterwards it doth not appear that they ever conversed together. And it was wisely ordered so by Providence, that the testimony of John might have the greater weight, and be freer from all suspicion of any compact or collusion between them. |