Milton and the Serjeant before them, and to determine what was fit to be given to the Serjeant for his fees in this case; so courageous was he at all times in defence of liberty against all the en

he had lived eight years with great reputation, and prisoners in custody of the Serjeant-at-arms was had been visited by all foreigners of note, who read in the House, and Milton is not among them; could not go out of the country without seeing a and on the 13th of September the House adjourn man who did so much honour to it by his writings, ed to the 6th of November. It is most probable, and whose name was as well known and as famous therefore, that after the act or indemnity was passabroad as in his own nation; and by several per- ed, and after the House had adjourned, he came sons of quality of both sexes, particularly the pious out of his concealment, and was afterwards taken and virtuous Lady Ranelagh, whose son for some into custody of the Serjeant-at-arms by virtue of time he instructed, the same who was paymaster the former order of the House of Commons, but of the forces in King William's time; and by many we can not find that he was prosecuted by the Atlearned and ingenious friends and acquaintance, torney General, nor was he continued in custody particularly Andrew Marvel, and young Laurence, very long: for on Saturday the 15th of December son to the President of Oliver's Council, to whom 1660, it was ordered by the House of Commons, he has inscribed one of his sonnets, and Marcha- that Mr. Milton now in custody of the Serjeantmont Needham, the writer of Politicus, and above at-arms, should be forthwith released, paying his ail, Cyriac Skinner, whom he has honoured with fees; and on Monday the 17th of December, a two sonnets. But now it was not safe for him to complaint being made that the Serjeant-at-arms appear any longer in public, so that by the advice had demanded excessive fees for his imprisonment, of some who wished him well and were concerned it was referred to the committee of privileges and for his preservation, he fled for shelter to a friend's elections examine this business, and to call Mr. house in Bartholomew Close, near West Smith field, where he lay concealed till the worst of the storm was blown over. The first notice that we find taken of him was on Saturday the 16th of June, 1660, when it was ordered by the House of croachments of power, and though a prisoner, Commons, that his Majesty should be humbly would yet be treated like a freeborn Englishman. moved to issue his proclamation for the calling in This appears to be the matter of fact, as it may be of Milton's two books, his Defence of the People, collected partly from the Journals of the House of and Iconoclastes, and also Goodwyn's book entitled Commons, and partly from Kennet's Historical the Obstructors of Justice, written in justification Register: and the clemency of the government was of the murder of the late king, and to order them surely very great towards him, considering the to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman. nature of his offences; for though he was not one At the same time it was ordered that the Attorney of the King's judges and murderers, yet he contriGeneral should proceed by way of indictment or buted more to murder his character and reputation information against Milton and Goodwyn in re- than any of them all: and to what therefore could spect of their books, and that they themselves it be owing, that he was treated with such lenity, should be sent for in custody of the Serjeant-at- and was so easily pardoned? It is certain, there arms attending the House. On Wednesday, June was not wanting powerful intercession for him 27th, an order of Council was made agreeable to both in Council and in Parliament. It is said the order of the House of Commons for a procla- that Secretary Morrice and Sir Thomas Clargis mation against Milton's and Goodwyn's books; greatly favoured him, and exerted their interest and the proclamation was issued the 13th of Au- in his behalf; and his old friend Andrew Marvel, gust following, wherein it was said that the au- member of Parliament for Hull, formed a consithors had fled or did abscond: and on Monday, derable party for him in the House of Commons; August 27th, Milton's and Goodwyn's books were and neither was Charles the Second (as Toland burnt, according to the proclamation, at the Old says) such an enemy to the Muses, as to require Bailey, by the hands of the common hangman. his destruction. But the principal instrument in On Wednesday, August 29th, the act of indem- obtaining Milton's pardon was Sir William Danity was passed, which proved more favourable venant, out of gratitude for Milton's having proto Milton than could well have been expected; for cured his release, when he was taken prisoner in though John Goodwyn Clerk was excepted among 1650. It was life for life. Davenant had beer. the twenty persons who were to have penalties in- saved by Milton's interest, and in return Milton flicted upon them, not extending to life, yet Mil-was saved at Davenant's intercession. This story ton was not excepted at all, and consequently was Mr. Richardson relates upon the authority of Mr. included in the general pardon. We find indeed Pope; and Mr. Pope had it from Betterton the that afterwards he was in custody of the Serjeant-famous actor, who was first brought upon the at-arms; but the time wen he was taken into stage and patronised by Sir William Davenant, custody is not certain. he was not in custody on and might therefore derive the knowledge of this the 12th of September, for that day a list of the transaction from the fountain.

Milton having thus obtained his pardon, and began to rage in London in 1665, he removed to being set at liberty again, took a house in Holborn, a small house at St. Giles Chalfont, in Bucking near Red Lion Fields; but he removed soon into hamshire, which Elwood had taken for him and Jewen street, near Aldersgate street, and while he his family; and there he remained during that lived there, being in his 53d or 54th year, and blind dreadful calamity; but after the sickness was over. and infirm, and wanting somebody better than and the city was cleansed and made safely habitaservants to attend and look after him, he employ-ble again, he returned to his house in London. ad his friend Dr. Paget to choose a proper consort His great work of Paradise Lost, had princifor him; and at his recommendation married his pally engaged his thoughts for some years past, third wife, Elizabeth Minshul, of a gentleman's and was now completed. It is probable, that his family in Cheshire, and related to Dr. Paget. It first design of writing an epic poem was owing to is said that an offer was made to Milton, as well his conversations at Naples with the Marquis of as to Thurloe, of holding the same place of Secre- Villa, about Tasso, and his famous poem of the tary under the king, which he had discharged with Delivery of Jerusalem; and in a copy of verses so much integrity and ability under Cromwell; but presented to that nobleman before he left Naples, he persisted in refusing it, though the wife pressed he intimated his intention of fixing upon king Arhis compliance. "Thou art in the right," said thur for his hero. And in an eclogue, made soon he; "you, as other women, would ride in your after his return to England, upon the death of his coach; for me, my aim is to live and die an honest friend and school-fellow Deodati, he proposed the man." What is more certain is, that in 1661 he same design and the same subject, and declared published his Accedence commenced Grammar, his ambition of writing something in his native and a tract of Sir Walter Raleigh, entitled, Apho- language, which might render his name illustrious risms of State; as in 1658 he had published ano- in these islands, though he should be obscure and ther piece of Sir Walter Raleigh, entitled, The inglorious to the rest of the world. And in other Cabinet Council discabinated, which he printed parts of his works, after he had engaged in the from a manuscript, that had lain many years in controversies of the times, he still promised to prohis hands, and was given him for a true copy by duce some noble poem or other at a fitter season; a learned man at his death, who had collected se- but it does not appear that he had then determined veral such pieces: an evident sign, that he thought upon the subject, and king Arthur had another it no mean employment, nor unworthy of a man fate, being reserved for the pen of Sir Richard of genius, to be an editor of the works of great Blackmore. The first hint of Paradise Lost is authors. It was while he lived in Jewen street, said to have been taken from an Italian tragedy; that Elwood, the quaker, (as we learn from the and it is certain, that he first designed it a tragedy history of his life written by his own hand) was himself, and there are several plans of it in the first introduced to read to him; for having wholly form of a tragedy still to be seen in the author's lost his sight, he kept always somebody or other to own manuscript preserved in the library of Triperform that office, and usually the son of some nity College, Cambridge. And it is probable, that gentleman of his acquaintance, whom he took in he did not barely sketch out the plans, but also kindness, that he might at the same time improve wrote some parts of the drama itself. His nehim in his learning. Elwood was recommended phew, Philips, informs us, that some of the verses to him by Dr. Paget, and went to his house every at the beginning of Satan's speech, addressed to afternoon, except Sunday, and read to him such the sun, in the fourth book, were shown to him books in the Latin tongue, as Milton thought pro- and some others as designed for the beginning of per. And Milton told him, that if he would have the tragedy, several years before the poem was hethe benefit of the Latin tongue, not only to read gun: and many other passages might be produced. and understand Latin authors, but to converse with which plainly appear to have been originally inforeigners either abroad or at home, he must learn tended for the scene, and are not so properly of the foreign pronunciation; and he instructed him the epic, as of the tragic strain. It was not till how to read accordingly. And having a curious after he was disengaged from the Salmasian conear, he understood by my tone, says Elwood, when troversy, which ended in 1655, that he began to I understood what I read, and when I did not; mould the Paradise Lost in its present form; but and he would stop me, and examine me, and open after the Restoration, when he was dismissed from the most difficult passages to me. But it was not public business, and freed from controversy of ong after his third marriage, that he left Jewen every kind, he prosecuted the work with closer street, and removed to a house in the Artillery application. Mr. Philips relates a very remarkaWalk, leading to Bunhill Fields: and this was ble circumstance in the composure of this poem, his last stage in this world; he continued longer which he says he had reason to remember, as n In this house than he had done in any other, and was told him by Milton himself, that his vein ne. ved here to his dying day only when the plague ver happily flowed but from the autumnal quinca

to the vernal, and that what he attempted at other the sale of as many of the third, and the number times was not to his satisfaction, though he court- was not to exceed fifteen hundred.' And what a ed his fancy never so much. Mr. Toland ima- poor compensation was this for such an inestimable gines that Philips might be mistaken as to the performance! and how much more do others get time, because our author, in his Latin elegy, writ- by the works of great authors, than the authors ten in his twentieth year, upon the approach of themselves! This original contract with Samuel the spring, seems to say just the contrary, as if he Simmons, the printer, is dated April 27, 1667, and could not make any verses to his satisfaction till is in the hands of Mr. Tonson, the bookseller, as the spring begun: and he says farther, that a ju- is likewise the manuscript of the first book copied dicious friend of Milton's informed him, that he fair for the press, with the Imprimatur, by Thomas could never compose well but in spring and au- Tomkyns, chaplain to the Archbishop of Cantertumn. But Mr. Richardson can not comprehend, bury: so that, though Milton was forced to make that either of these accounts is exactly true, or that use of different hands to write his verses from time a man with such a work in his head can suspend to time as he had occasion, yet we may suppose it for six months together, or only for one; it may that the copy for the press was written all, or at go on more slowly, but it must go on: and this least each book by the same hand. The first edilaying it aside is contrary to that eagerness to tion, in ten books, was printed in a small quarto; finish what was begun, which he says was his tem- and before it could be disposed of, had three or per, in his epistle to Deodati, dated Sept. 2, 1637. more different title pages of the years 1667, 1668, After all Mr. Philips, who had the perusal of the and 1669. The first sort was without the name poem from the beginning, by twenty or thirty of Symmons, the printer, and began with the poem verses at a time, as it was composed, and having immediately following the title page, without any not been shown any for a considerable while as the argument, or preface, or table of errata: to others summer came on, inquired of the author the reason was prefixed a short advertisement of the printer of it, could hardly be mistaken with regard to the to the reader concerning the argument, and the time and it is easy to conceive, that the poem might reason why the poem rhymes not; and then folgo on much more slowly in summer than in other lowed the argument of the several books, and the parts of the year; for, notwithstanding all that pocts preface concerning the kind of verse, and the table may say of the pleasures of that season, I imagine of errata: others again had the argument, and thre most persons find by experience, that they can com- preface, and the table of errata, without that shert pose better at any other time, with more facility and advertisement of the printer to the reader: and this more spirit, than during the heat and languor of was all the difference between them, except now summer. Whenever the poem was written, it was and then of a point or a letter, which were altered finished in 1665, and, as Elwood says, was shown as the sheets were printing off. So that, notwithto him that same year at St. Giles Chalfont, whi- standing these variations, there was still only one ther Milton had retired to avoid the plague, and it impression in quarto; and two years almost elapswas lent to him to peruse it, and give his judged, before thirteen hundred copies could be sold, ment of it; and, considering the difficulties which or before the author was entitled to his second five the author lay under, his uneasiness on account of pounds, for which his receipt is still in being, and the public affairs and his own, his age and infirm- is dated April 26, 1669. And this was probably ities, his gout and blindness, his not being in cir- all that he received; for he lived not to enjoy the cumstances to maintain an amanuensis, but obliged benefits of the second edition, which was not pulto make use of any hand that came next to write lished till the year 1674, and that same year he his verses as he made them, it is really wonderful, died. The second edition was printed in a small that he should have the spirit to undertake such a octavo, and was corrected by the author himself, work, and much more, that he should ever bring it and the number of books was augmented from ten to perfection. And after the poem was finished, to twelve, with the addition of some few verses: still new difficulties retarded the publication of it. and this alteration was made with great judginent, It was in danger of being suppressed through the not for the sake of such a fanciful beauty as remalice or ignorance of the licencer, who took ex-sembling the number of books in the Æneid, but ception at some passages, and particularly at that for the more regular disposition of the poem, benoble simile, in the first book, of the sun in an cause the seventh and tenth books were before too eclipse, in which he fancied that he had discovered long, and are more fitly divided each into two. treason. It was with difficulty too that the author The third edition was published in 1678; and it could sell the copy; and he sold it at last only for appears that Milton had left his remaining right five pounds, but was to receive five pounds more in the copy to his widow, and she agreed with after the sale of thirteen hundred of the first im- Simmons, the printer, to accept eight pounds in pression, and five pounds more after the sale of as full of all demands, and her receipt for the money many of the second impression, and five more after is dated December 21, 1680. But a little before

this Simmons had covenanted to assign the whole is too well known to be repeated, and those Latin right of copy to Brabazon Aylmer, the bookseller, verses by Dr. Barrow the physician, and the Engfor twenty-five pounds; and Alymer afterwards lish ones by Andrew Marvel, Esq. usually presold it to old Jacob Tonson at two different times, fixed to the Paradise Lost, were written before the one half on the 17th of August, 1683, and the second edition, and were published with it. But other half on the 24th of March, 1690, with a con- still the poem was not generally known and esteemsiderable advance of the price: and except one ed, nor met with the deserved applause, till after fourth of it which has been assigned to several the edition in folio, which was published in 1688 persons, his family have enjoyed the right of copy by subscription. The Duke of Buckingham in ever since. By the last assignment it appears that his Essay on poetry prefers Tasso and Spencer tc the book was growing into repute and rising in Milton: and it is related in the life of the witty valuation; and to what perverseness could it be Earl of Rochester, that he had no notion of a betowing that it was not better received at first? We ter poet than Cowley. In 1686 or thereabout Sir conceive there were principally two reasons; the William Temple published the second part of his prejudices against the author on account of his Miscellanies, and it may surprise any reader, that principles and party; and many, no doubt, were in his Essay on Poetry he takes no notice at all offended with the novelty of a poem that was not of Milton; nay he says expressly that after Ariosin rhyme. Rymer, who was a redoubted critic in to, Tasso, and Spenser, he knows none of the those days, would not so much as allow it to be a Moderns who have made any achievements in poem on this account; and declared war against heroic poetry worth recording. And what can we Milton as well as against Shakspeare; and threat-think, that he had not read or heard of the Paraened that he would write reflections upon the Pa-dise Lost, or that the author's politics had prejuradise Lost, which some (says he*) are pleased to diced him against his poetry? It was happy that call a poem, and would assert against the slender sophistry wherewith the author attacks it. And such a man as Bishop Burnet makes it a sort of objection to Milton, that he affected to write in blank verse without rhyme. And the same reason induced Dryden to turn the principal parts of Paradise Lost into rhyme in his Opera called the State of Innocence and Fall of Man; to tag his lines, as Milton himself expressed it, alluding to the fashion then of wearing tags of metal at the end of their ribbons.

all great men were not of his mind. The bookseller was advised and encouraged to undertake the folio edition by Mr. Sommers, afterwards Lord Sommers, who not only subscribed himself, but was zealous in promoting the subscription: and in the list of subscribers we find some of the most eminent names of that time, as the Earl of Dorset, Waller, Dryden, Dr. Aldrich, Mr. Atterbury; and among the rest Sir Roger Lestrange, though he had formerly written a piece entitled No blind guides, &c. against Milton's Notes upon Dr. GrifWe are told indeed by Mr. Richardson, that Sir fith's sermon. There were two editions more in George Hungerford, an ancient member of Parlia- folio, one I think in 1692, the other in 1695, which ment, told him, that Sir John Denham came into was the sixth edition; for the poem was now so the House one morning with a sheet of Paradise well received, that notwithstanding the price of it Lost wet from the press in his hand; and being was four times greater than before, the sale inasked what he had there, said that he had part of creased double the number every year; as the the noblest poem that ever was written in any bookseller, who should best know, has informed language or in any age. However it is certain us in his dedication of the smaller editions to Lord that the book was unknown till about two years Sommers. Since that time not only various ediafter, when the Earl of Dorset produced it, as Mr. tions have been printed, but also various notes and Richardson was informed by Dr. Tancred Robin- translations. The first person who wrote annotason, the physician, who had heard the story often tions upon Paradise Lost was P. H. or Patrick from Fleetwood Shepherd himself, that the Earl, Hume, of whom we know nothing, unless his in company with Mr. Shepherd, looking about for name may lead us to some knowledge of his counbooks in Little Britain, accidentally met with Pa- try, but he has the merit of being the first (as I say) radise Lost; and being surprised at some passages who wrote notes upon Paradise Lost, and his notes in dipping here and there, he bought it. The were printed at the end of the folio edition in 1695. bookseller begged his Lordship to speak in its fa- Mr. Addison's Spectators upon the subject convour if he liked it, for the impression lay on his tributed not a little to establishing the character, hands as waste paper. The Earl having read it and illustrating the beauties of the poem. In 1732 sent it to Dryden, who in a short time returned it appeared Dr. Bentley's new edition with notes with this answer, This man cuts us all out and and the year following Dr. Pearce published his the ancients too." Dryden's epigram upon Milton Review of the text, in which the chief of Dr. Bentley's emendations are considered and several other See Rymer's "Tragedies of the last age considered." p. 143. emendations and observations are offered to he

public. And the year after that Messieurs Rich- ginning of the third book, was published, conardson, father and son, published their Explana-taining a character of the Long Parliament anf tory notes and reinarks. The poem has also been Assembly of Divines in 1641, which was inserted translated into several languages, Latin, Italian, in its proper place in the last edition of 1738. French, and Dutch; and proposals have been made Bishop Kennet begins his Complete History of for translating it into Greek. The Dutch trans-England with this work of Milton, as being the lation is in blank verse, and printed at Harlem. best draught, the clearest and most authentic acThe French have a translation by Mons. Dupré count of those early times: and his style is freer de St. Maur; but nothing shows the weakness and easier than in most of his other works, more and imperfection of their language more, than that plain and simple, less figurative and metaphorical, they have few or no good poetical versions of the and better suited to the nature of history, has greatest poets; they are forced to translate Homer, enough of the Latin turn and idiom to give it an Virgil, and Milton into prose: and blank verse air of antiquity, and sometimes rises to a surprising their language has not harmony and dignity enough dignity and majesty.

to support; their tragedies, and many of their In 1670 likewise his Paradise Regained and comedies are in rhyme. Rolli, the famous Italian Samson Agonistes were licensed together, but were master here in England, made an Italian transla- not published till the year following. It is sometion; and Mr. Richardson the son, saw another at what remarkable, that these two poems were not Florence in manuscript by the learned Abbé Sal-printed by Simmons, the same who printed the vini, the same who translated Addison's Cato into Paradise Lost, but by J. M. for one Starkey, in Italian.. One William Hog or Hogaus translated Fleet street: and what could induce Milton to Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson have recourse to another printer? was it because Agonistes into Latin verse in 1690; but this ver- the former was not enough encouraged by the sale sion is very unworthy of the originals. There is of Paradise Lost to become a purchaser of the a better translation of the Paradise Lost by Mr. other copies? The first thought of Paradise ReThomas Power, Fellow of Trinity College, in gained was owing to Elwood the Quaker, as he Cambridge, the first book of which was printed himself relates the occasion in the history of his in 1691, and the rest in manuscript is in the libra- life. When Milton had lent him the manuscript ry of that College. The learned Dr. Trap has of Paradise Lost at St. Giles Chalfont, as we said also published a translation into Latin verse; and before, and he returned it, Milton asked him how the world is in expectation of another, that will he liked it, and what he thought of it: "Which I surpass all the rest, by Mr. William Dobson, of modestly, but freely told him, says Elwood; and New College, in Oxford. So that by one means after some further discourse about it, I pleasantly or other Milton is now considered as an English said to him, Thou hast said much of Paradise classic; and the Paradise Lost is generally esteem- Lost, but what hast thou to say of Paradise ed the noblest and most sublime of modern poems, Found? He made me no answer, but sat some and equal at least to the best of the ancient; the honour of this country, and the envy and admiration of all others!

time in a muse; then broke off that discourse, and fell upon another subject." When Elwood afterwards waited upon him in London, Milton showed him his Paradise Regained, and in a pleasant tone said to him, “This is owing to you, for you put it in my head by the question you put me at Chalfont, which before I had not thought of."

In 1670 he published his History of Britain, that part especially now called England. He began it above twenty years before, but was frequently interrupted by other avocations; and he designed to have brought it down to his own times, but stopped It is commonly reported, that Milton himself at the Norman conquest; for indeed he was not preferred this poem to the Paradise Lost; but all well able to pursue it any farther by reason of his that we can assert upon good authority is, that he blindness, and he was engaged in other more de- could not endure to hear this poem cried down so lightful studies; having a genius turned for poetry much as it was, in comparison with the other. rather than history. When his History was print- For certainly it is very worthy of the author, and ed, it was not printed perfect and entire; for the contrary to what Mr. Toland relates, Milton may licenser expunged several passages, which reflect- be seen in Paradise Regained as well as in Paraing upon the pride and superstition of the Monks dise Lost; if it is inferior in poetry, I know not in the Saxon times, were understood as a con- whether it is not superior in sentiment; if it is less tealed satire upon the Bishops in Charles the se- descriptive, it is more argumentative; if it does cond's reign. But the author himself gave a copy not sometimes rise so high, neither does it ever of his unlicensed papers to the Earl of Anglesea, sink so low; and it has not met with the approwho, as well as several of the nobility and gentry, bation it deserves, only because it has not been constantly visited him: and in 1681 a considera- more read and considered. His subject indeed is ble passage, which had been suppressed at the be- confined, and he has a narrow fi undation to build