That his mansion hath on high Above the reach of mortal eye. For his mercies aye endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. APPENDIX. NUMBER 1. CONSIDERING it as a duty incumbent on me to preserve a brief history of Cowper's compositions relating to Milton, I annex the following, which appeared as a Preface to the first edition of his Miltonic Translations, as an Appendix to this volume. To render my account of those compositions the more satisfactory, I embraced every opportunity of giving it in the words of my departed friend. In the autumn of 1791, he was invited by his bookseller, Mr. Johnson, to engage in the project of preparing a magnificent edition of Milton. The proposal had much to please, and little to alarm his fancy; for he esteemed both the intelligence, and the integrity of the person, who was to conduct the business; and he was animated with a fervent desire to promote the glory of his favorite poet. Yet such was the genuine modesty, with which Cowper used to contemplate his own extraordinary mental powers, that his native diffidence induced him at first to decline the invitation. A letter that he wrote to Mr. Johnson, after thinking more deliberately on the subject, contains the following expressions. "Weston, Sept. 6, 1791. "I have at length brought myself to something like a hope, that I may perhaps prove equal to this business, and in consequence have resolved to attempt it: but must depend on you for my implements. Newton's edition I have, but have nothing more." Writing to his friend, Mr. Rose, in the same month, he thus completely explains the extent of his new undertaking. "The Lodge, Sept. 14, 1791. "You, who know how necessary it is for me to be employed, will be glad to hear, that I have been called to a new literary engagement, and that I have not refused it. A Milton, that is |