Adam unparadifed:

The angel Gabriel, either defcending or entering; fhewing, fince this globe was created, his frequency as much on earth as in heaven: defcribes Paradife. Next, the Chorus, fhewing the reafon of his coming to keep his watch. in Paradise, after Lucifer's rebellion, by command from God; and withal expreffing his defire to fee and know more concerning this excellent new creature, man. The angel Gabriel, as by his name fignifying a prince of power, tracing Paradife with a more free office, paffes by the station of the Chorus, and, defired by them, relates what he knew of man; as the creation of Eve, with their love and marriage. After this, Lucifer appears; after his overthrow, bemoans himself, feeks revenge on man. The Chorus prepare refiftance at his first approach. At last, after difcourse of enmity on either fide, he departs; whereat the Chorus fings of the battle and victory in heaven, against him and his accomplices: as before, after the first act, was fung a hymn of the creation. Here again may appear Lucifer, relating

relating and infulting in what he had done to, the deftruction of man. Man next, and Eve having by this time been feduced by the Serpent, appears confufedly covered with leaves. Confcience, in a shape, accuses him; Juftice cites him to the place whither Jehovah called for him. In the mean while, the Chorus entertains the stage, and is informed by fome angel the manner of the Fall. Here the Chorus bewails Adam's fall; Adam then and Eve return; accufe one another; but especially Adam lays the blame to his wife; is stubborn in his offence. Juftice appears, reafons with him, convinces him. The Chorus admonifheth Adam, and bids him beware Lucifer's example of impenitence. The angel is fent to banish them out of Paradife; but before causes to pass before his eyes, in fhapes, a mask of all the evils of this life and world. He is humbled, relents, despairs: at last appears Mercy, comforts him, promises the Meffiah; then calls in Faith, Hope, and Charity; inftructs him; he repents, gives God the glory, fubmits to his penalty. The Chorus briefly concludes. Compare this with the former draught."

Thefe

These are very imperfect rudiments of Paradife Loft; but it is pleasant to fee great works in their feminal ftate, pregnant with latent poffibilities of excellence; nor could there be any more delightful entertainment than to trace their gradual growth and expanfion, and to obferve how they are fometimes fuddenly advanced by accidental hints, and fometimes flowly improved by steadymeditation.

Invention is almost the only literary labour which blindness cannot obftruct, and therefore he naturally folaced his folitude by the indulgence of his fancy, and the melody of his numbers. He had done what he knew to be neceffarily previous to poetical excellence; he had made himself acquainted with feemly arts and affairs; his comprehenfion was extended by various knowledge, and his memory ftored with intellectual treafures. He was fkilful in many languages, and had by reading and compofition attained the full mastery of his own. He would have wanted little help from books, had he retained the power of perufing them.

But

But while his greater defigns were advancing, having now, like many other au

thors, caught the love of publication, he amused himself, as he could, with little pro ductions. He fent to the prefs (1658) a manuscript of Raleigh, called the Cabinet Council; and next year gratified his malevolence to the clergy, by a Treatife of Civil Power in Ecclefiaftical Cafes, and the Means of removing Hirelings out of the Church.

Oliver was now dead; Richard was conftrained to refign: the fystem of extemporary government, which had been held together only by force, naturally fell into fragments when that force was taken away; and Milton faw himself and his caufe in equal danger. But he had still hope of doing fomething. He wrote letters, which Toland has published, to such men as he thought friends to the new commonwealth; and even in the year of the Restoration he bated no jot of heart or hope, but was fantastical enough to think that the nation, agitated as it was, might be fettled by a pamphlet, called A ready and eafy Way to establish a Free Commonwealth; VOL. I.

N

which

which was, however, enough considered to be both seriously and ludicrously answered.

The obftinate enthusiasm of the commonwealthmen was very remarkable. When the King was apparently returning, Harrington, with a few affociates as fanatical as himfelf, used to meet, with all the gravity of political importance, to fettle an equal government by rotation; and Milton, kicking when he could ftrike no longer, was foolish enough to publish, a few weeks before the Reftoration, Notes upon a fermon preached by one Griffiths, intituled, The Fear of God and the King. To these notes an anfwer was written by L'Estrange, in a pamphlet petulantly called No blind Guides.

But whatever Milton could write, or men of greater activity could do, the King was now evidently approaching with the irrefiftible approbation of the people. He was therefore no longer fecretary, and was confequently obliged to quit the houfe which he held by his office; and, proportioning his fense of danger to his opinion of the importance of his writings, thought it convenient

to.