!>';-. r,.'j;i
u'lfffiu/ru/^.
PARADISE REGAIN'D.
A
P O E M,
I N
FOUR BOOKS.
To which is added
SAMSON AGONISTES:
AND
Poems upon Several Occasions;
The AUTHOR
JOHN MILTON.
The THIRD EDITION,
With Notes of various Authors,
By THOMAS NEWTON, D. D.
Volume the First.
LONDON:
Printed for C. Hitch and L. Hawes, J.- and R. Tonfon, J. Ward,
S, Crowder and Co. T. Longman, A. and C, Corbet^
B. Law and Co. and R, Ware.
MDCCLX.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
Princeton Theological Seminary Library
http://www.archive.org/details/paradiseregaindpOOmi
PREFACE.
IT hath been recommended to me by Tome great perfons, as well as by levcral friends, to complete the edition of Milton's poetical works : for tho' the Paradife Lofl be the flower oi epic poeiy, and the nobleft effort of genius ; yet here are other ooems which are no lefs exxellent in their kind, and if they have not that fublimity and majerty, are at leafl equally beautiful and pleufing to the imagination. And the fame method that was taken in the publication of the Paradife Loft, is purfued in this edition of the Pa- radife Regain'd and other poems, firft to exhibit the true and genuin text according to Milton's own edi- tions, and then to illuftrate it with notes critical and explanatory of various authors. Of the Paradife Re- gain'd and Samfon Agoniftes there was only one edi- tion in Milton's life-time, in the year 1671 ; and this we have made our ftandard, correding only what the author himfelf would have corrected. Dr. Eentley pronounces it to be 'vvithout faults, but there is a large table of Errata at the end, which inftead of being emended have rather been augmented in the following editions, and were never corrected in any edition that I have feen before the prefent. Of the other poems there were two editions in Milton's life- time, the firft in 1645 before he was blind, and the other wich fome additions in 1673. Of the Mafic there was likewife an edition publiin'd by Mr. Henry Lawes in 1637 : and of the Mafk and feveral other poems there are extant copies in Milton's own hand writing, preferved in the library of Trinity College in Cambridge : and all thefe copies and editions have
A 2 been
PREFACE.
been carefully collated and compared together, the differences and variations are noted, and even the poet's corredions and alterations in his Manufcript are fpecified for the fatisfadtion of the curious critical reader. The Manuicript indeed hath been of lingu- lar fervice in rectifying feveral pafTages, and efpecially in the Sonnets, fome of which were not printed till many years after Milton's death, and were then printed imperfedl and deficient both in fenfe and me- ter, but are now by the help of the Manufcript re- flored to their jufl: harmony and original perfe6tion. From the Manuicript too we have given the plan of Paradife Loft, as Milton firfl defigned it, in the form of a tragedy, and likewife the fubjeds which he had fketched out for other tragedies, whether with an in- tention ever ta finifli them or not v»-e cannot be cer- tain. They were printed before in the Hiftorical and Critical Life of Milton prefixed to his profe works by the learned and ingenious Mr. Birch, who is conti- nually adding fomething new to the ftock of learn- ing : but it was judged proper to reprint them from the Manufcript in this edition, as they bear a nearer relation to the author's poetical works.
The notes, as upon the Paradife Lofl:, fo likewife upon the Paradife Regain'd and other poems, are of various authors and of various kinds : but thefe, ex- cepting only a fev/, were never printed before, and have therefore novelty to recommend them, as well as fome names of the firfl rank and greateft eminence in the republic of letters. The truth of my affertion will be fully jullify'd by mentioning only the names of Mr. Warburton and Mr. Jortin, who while tliey
are
PREFACE. /
are employ 'd in writing the moft learned and elabo- rate defenfes of religion, yet find leifure to cultivate the politer arts, and to promote and improve both in themfelves and others a claffical tafte of the fineft authors : and whatever may be the fuccefs, I can never repent of having engaged in this undertaking, which hath given me fo many convincing proofs of their friendship and kindnefs, and at the fame time hath happily conjoined (what perhaps might never elfe have been joined together) my ftudies and my aame with theirs. I am equally obliged too to Mr. Thyer for the continuation of his friendly affiftance; and the reader will find the fame good fenfe, and learn- ing, and ingenuity in thefe, as in his former remarks upon the Paradife Loft. And now he hath gone thro' Milton's poetical works, I hope he will do the fame juftice to another of our greateft Englifh poets, and gratify the public with a complete edition of Spen- fer's works, or at leaft with his equally learned equally elegant obfervations upon them. I would not be un- derftood by this to difparage in the leaft Mr. Upton's intended edition, or Mr. Sympfon's, who is my friend, and hath kindly affifted me in this edition, as well as in that of the Paradife Loft. Mr. Upton is certainly a man of great learning, and fo likewife is Mr. Symp- fon, and particularly v/ell read in our old Englifli au- thors, as appears from his fliare in the late excellent edition of Beaumont's and Fletcher's works; but I know no man, who hath a jufter and more delicate tafte of the beauties of an author than Mr. Thyer, or is a greater mafter of the Italian language and Ita- lian poetry, which in Spenfer's time was the ftudy
and
PREFACE.
and delight of all the men of letters, and Spenfer hini- felf hath borrowed more from that fource than from alnioft any other, and fometimes hath tranflatedtwo or three ftanza's together. Mr. Richardfon likewife hath continued his good offices, and communicated his comment upon Lycidas and his marginal notes and obfervations upon the other poems, together with a very fine head of Milton done by his father after a drawing of Cooper: and both the RichardfoHS father and fon deferve the thanks of all lovers of the fifter arts, for their inftrudiive eflays on painting, as well as for feveral ingenious remarks on Milton. I had the honor of all thefe for my alTociates and affiftants be- fore, but I have been farther ftrengthen'd by feme new recruits, which were the more unexpeded, as they were fent me from gentlemen, with whom I never had the pleafure of a perfonal acquaintance. The reverend Mr. Meadow^ourt, Canon of Worceilcr, in 1732 piiblidied a Critical DiiTertation with notes upon the Paradife Regain'd, a fecond edition of which was printed in J 748; and he likewife tranfmitted to me a fiieet of his manufcript remarks, wherein he hath happily explained a moft difficult paffage in Ly- cidas better than any man had done before him. The reverend Mr. Calton of Marton in Lincolnfliire hath contributed much more to my affiftance : he favor'd me with a long correfpondence; and I am at a lofs which to commend moft, his candor as a friend, or his penetration and learning as a critic and divine. Befides all thefe helps I have pickt out fome grain from among the chaff of Mr. Peck's remarks, and have gleaned up every thing which I thought might
any
PREFACE.
any ways be ufeful towards illuftratlng our author ; and in the conclufion have added an index of the lefs common words occafionally explained in the notes.
The Latin poems I cannot fay are equal to feveral of his Englifli compofitions : but yet they are not without their merit; they are not a Cento like mod of the modern Latin poetry; there is fpirit, invention, and other marks and tokens of a rifing genius; for it fhould be confidered, that the greater part of them were written while the author was under twenty. They are printed corredly according to his own edi- tions in 1645 and 1673; and as they can be read only by the learned, there is the lefs occalion for any notes and obfervations upon them. Some few are added, which were thought no more than neceffary.
• But it is time to have done with thefe things,
and to apply to other works, more important and more ufeful, if the execution prove anfwerable to the intention.
December 31, 1751.
CLE <i5 Q* ^^
THE
THE
Table of Contents.
pARADisE Regain'd, Book L Page 3
Book'II. 49
Book III. 101
Book IV. 147
SaMSONAgONISTES. 211
THE
THE
First Book
o F
PARADISE REGAINED,
Vol. I.
B
'PbZ J. pcu^ej.
'x/'.i/tiu/nian mi'
C^rt^Tiurnjoz^
PARADISE REGAIN^D«
BOOK
I.
Who ere while the happy garden fung, By one man's difobedience loft, now fing Recover'd Paradife to all mankind,
By
Milton's Paradife R.egain'd has not met with the approbation that it deferves. It has not the har- mony of nuftibers, the fublimity of thought, and the beauties of dic- tion, which are in Paradife Loft. It is compofed in a lower and lefs ftriking ilile, a Hile fuited to the fubjeft. Artful fophiftry, falfe rea- foning, fet off in the moft foecioas manner, and refuted by the Son of God with ftrong unaffedted elo- quence, is the peculiar excellence of this poem. Satan there defends a bad caufe with great (kill and fubtlety, as one thoroughly verfed in that craft;
Qui facere afTuerat
Candida de nigris, et de can- dentibus atfa.
His charafler is well drawn. Jortrn.
I. I i>jka ere nvhile &c.] Milton begins his Paradife Regain'd in the fams manner as the Paradife Loft; firft propofes his fubjeft, and then invokes the affiftance of the Holy Spirit. The beginning 1 'ivho ere
njjbile &c is plainly an allufion to the Ilk ego qui quondam &c attri- buted to Virgil : but it doth not therefore follow, that Milton had no better tafte than to conceive thefe lines to be geiiuin. Their being fo well knmvn to all the: learned was reafon fumcient for his imitation of them, as it was for Spenfer's before him :
Lo, I the raanj whofe Mufe
whileom did mafic. As lime her taught, in lowly
fhepherd's weeds. Am now caforc'd a far unHtte?
tafk. For trumpets Hern to changg
mine oaten reeds lie.
2. 2?v one man s difohedlence'\ Th6 Oppofition oi one muTis difobedience in this verfe to one man^s obedience rn ver. 4. is fomewhat in the iHle and manner of St. Paul. Rom. V^ 19. For as by one man's dilobedi- ence many 'xuere made nnners ; Jo bv the obedience of one Jhall many be niade righteous.
J. Reco'-ver'd Paradife] It may B 3 i^m
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
By one man's firm obedience fully try'd Through all temptation, and the tempter foil'd 5 In all his wiles, defeated and repuls'd. And Eden rais'd in the wafte wildernefs.
Thou Spi'rit who ledft this glorious eremite Into the defert, his vid:orious field, Againft the fpiritual foe, and brought'ft him thence
By
feem a little odd at firft, that Mil- ton Ihould impute the recovery of Paraclife to this fhort fcent of our Saviour's life upcn eaith, and not rather extend it to his agony, cruci- fixion i^'c; but the reafon no doubt was, that ParaaUe regained by our Saviour's refilling the temptations of Satan might be a better contraft to Paradife Uji by our firit parents tco eafily yieldirfg to the fame feducing Spirit. Eefides he might very probably, and indeed very rcafonably, be apprehenfive, that a fubjeft fo exteniive as well as fub- lime might be too great a burden for his declining conlHtution, and a X.Jx too long lor the Ibort term of years he could then hope tor. Even in his Paradife Lolt he expreiles his fears, lell he had begun too late, and left an age too late, or cold cli- mate, or years Jhculd have damp d bis intended n.ving; and furely he had much greater cauTe to dread the fame now, and be very cautious of lanching out too far. •J.hyer.
It is hard to fay wliether Milton's wrong nations in divinjty led him
to this defeflive plan; or his fond- nefs for the plan influenced thofe notions. That is whether he in- deed foppofed the redemption of mankind (as he here reprefents it) was procured by Chrill's triumph over the Devil in the wildernefs ; or whether he thought that the fcene of the defert oppofed to that of Paradife, and the adlion of a. temptation withftood to a tempta- tion fallen under, made Paradife Regain d a more regular fequel to Paradife Lcfi. Or if neither this nor that, whether it was his being tired out with the labor of com- pofing Paradife Loft made him averfe to another work of length (and then he would never be at a lois for fanciful reafons to dcter- min him in the choice of his plan) is very uncertain. Ail that we can be fure of is, that the plan is a very unhappy one, and defedive even in that narrow view of a fe- quel, for it affords the poet no op- portunity of driving the Devil back again to Heil from his r,ew con- quells in the air. In the mean time nothing
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
By proof th* undoubted Son of God, infpire, 1 1
As thou art wont, my prompted fong elfe mute, And bear through highth or depth of nature's bounds With profp'rous wing full fumm'd, to tell of deeds Above heroic, though in fecret done, 1 5
And unrecorded left through many an age. Worthy t'have not remain'd fo long unfung.
Now
nothing was eafier than to have in- vented a good one, which fhould end with the refurredion, and com- ^ife thefe four books, fomewhat contraded, in an epifode, for which only the fubjed of them is fit. IVarburton,
7. And Eden rais'd in the ivafle iLildtrne/s.l There is, I think,
a particular beauty in this line, when one confiders the fine allu- fion in it to the curfe brought upon the Paradifiacal earth by the fall of
Adam, Cur/ed is the ground for
thy Jake — Thorns aljo and thijlles Jhall it bring forth. Thyer.
8. Thou Spi'rit 'who ledfi this glo' nous eremite^ The invocation
is properly addrefs'd to the Holy Spirit, not only as the infpirer of e\xty good work, but as the leader of our Saviour upon this occafion into the wildernefs. For it is faid Mat. IV. 1 . Then --was Jefus led up of the Spirit into the nvildernefs, to be tempted of the Devil. And from the Greek original £g);AAo; the defert, and (^fif/.nv)i an inhabitant of the defert, is rightly formed the word
eremite, which was ufed before by Milton in his Paradife Loft IJL 474-
Embrio's and idiots, eremites and friers :
and by Fairfax in his tranflation of TaiTo, Cant. ii. St. 4.
Next morn the bilhops twain, the eremite :
and in Italian as well as in Latin there is eremita, which the French, and we after them, contrad into hermit e, hermit.
1 3 . of naiurv' s hounds''^ To
which he confines himfelf in this poem, not as in Paradife Loft, where he foars above and without the bounds of nature. VII. 21 .
Richardfon.
14. With profp'rous nvivg full fimm^d,] We had the like ex-
preflion in Paradife Loft VII. 421.
They fumm'd their pens — —
and it was noted there that it is a
term in falconry. A hawk is faid
to hefullfut/im'd, when all his fea-
B 3 thers
PARADISE REGAIND. Book I.
Now had the great Proclamer, with a voice More awful than the found of trumpet, cry'd Repentance, and Heav'n's kingdom nigh at hand 20 To all baptiz'd : to his great baptifm flock'd With awe the regions round, and with them came From Nazareth the fon of Jofeph deem'd To the flood Jordan, came as then obfcure, Unmark'd, unknown; but him the Baptift foon 25 Pefcry'd, divinely warn'd, and witnefs bore
As
lliers are grown, when he wants rothing of x\\t fum of his feathers, cui nihil de fumma pennarum deeft, ss Skinner fays. There was there- fore no occafion for reading as feme body propofed,
With profp'rous wing fuIl//«wV.
14. » tD tell of deeds
Aho've heroic ^ Alluding perhaps
in the turn of exprefiion to the firft
verfe of Lucan,
Bella per Emathios phfifuam ci-
a-'ilin campos, Jufque datum fceleri canimus. Thjer.
J 9. md
Repentatice, and Hea'v'n s kingdom nigh at hand
To all baptizd:'\ John preached repentance and the approach of Chrift's kingdom. Ask — to whom ? and the anfwer is- — to all haptt-z d. Doth not this feem to imply, that the great prophet bsptized before he
preached ? and that none could be admitted to hear him withoiu this previous immerfion ? Whereas in the nature of things as well as the Gofpel hiftory, his preaching muft be, and was preparatory to his baptijm. One might read
nigh at hand.
Baptizing all =— —
But this may be thought too diflant from the common leftion ; and g. lefs change will effeft the cure, Read therefore
And all baptiz'd :
The prophet preached repentance and the approach of Chrift's kipg- dom, and baptized ail, that is mul- titudes of people, who were dif- pofed by his \ rf aching to prepare their heaits for that great event.
Calton, There is fomething plaufible and ingenious in this en:cndation : but I .conceive the conflrudion to bp
nof
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
As to his worthier, and would have refign'd To him his heav'nly office, nor was long His witnefs unconfirm'd : on him baptiz'd Heav'n open'd, and in likenefs of a dove The Spi 'rit defcended, while the Father's foice From Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved Son. That heard the Adverfary, who roving ftill About the world, at that aflembly fam'd Would not be laft, and with the voice divine
3°
N
35 eh
rot that he ayd to all baptiz'd re- pentance Sec. but Hea'u'n's kingdom nigh at hand to all baptiz'd. Hea- ven's kingdom was nigh at hand to all fuch as were baptized with John's baptifm; they were thereby difpofed and prepared for the re- ception of the Gofpel.
24. To the flood 'Jordan, came as then objcure^ In Mr. Fenton's and moll other editions it is pointed thus.
To the flood Jordan came, as then obfcure,
but we have followed the pundlua- tion of Milton's own edition; for there is very little force in the re- petition, andivith them came, to the flood Jordan came ; but to fay that he came ^juith them to the flood Jor- dan, and came as then obfcure, is very good fenie, and worthy of the repetition.
25. but him the Baptifl focn
Defcrydy divinflj ivai?i'd,] John
the Baptifl: had nqtice given him before, that he might certainly know the Mefliah by the Holy Gholl defcending and abiding upon him . y^nd I kne-iv him not, but he that fent me to baptize n.vith nvater^ the fame faid unto me. Upon ^jjhom thou Jhalt fee the Spirit dejctnding and remaining on hirn, the fame is he nxihich baptizeth i.itith the Holy Ghofl. John I. 33. But it appears from St. Matthew, that the Baptitl knew him and acknowledged him, before he was baptized and before the Holy Gholi defcended upon him. Mat. III. 14. I ha-ce need to be bap- tized of thee, and coniefl thou to me? To account for which we mull ad- mit with Milton, that another di- vine revelation was made to him at this very time, fignifying that this was the perfon, of whom he had had fuch notice before.
26. — ^ di'vinely vsarnd] To comprehend the propriety of this word diijinelj the reader muil have
B 4 his
8
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
Nigh thunder-flruck, th' exalted man, to whom Such high atteft was giv'n, a while furvey'd With wonder, then with envy fraught and rage Flies to his place, nor reils, but in mid air To council fummons all his mighty peers, 40
Within thick clouds and dark ten-fold involv'd, A gloomy confiftory ; and them amidft With looks aghaft and fad he thus befpake.
O ancient Powers of air and this wide world, For much more willingly I mention air, 45
This our old conqueft, than remember Hell, Our hated habitation j well ye know
How
hifi eye upon the Latin Ji'vinitus, from Hea'veri, fince the word eii- 'viT.ily in our language fcarce ever comes up to this meaning. Milton ufes it in much the fame fenfe in Paradife Loft. VIIL 500.
She heard me thus, and though diuinely brought. Thyer.
41. Within thick clouds &c] Mil- ton in making Satan's refidence to be in mid air., 'within thick clouds and dark, fecms to have St. Auftin ill his eye, who fpeaking of the re- gion of clouds, ftorms, thunder &c fays — — ad iila caliginofa, id eil, ad hunc aerem, tanquam ad car- cerem, damnatus ell diabolus &c. Enarr. in Pf. 148. S. 9. Tom. 5. p. 1677. ^^^'^' Bened. Th^er,
4Z. A gloomy conjijiory\\ This in imitation of Virgil JE.n. IIL ^l^^
Cernimus aftantes nequicquam
lumine torvo ^tneos fratres, ccelo capita alta
ferentes. Concilium horrendum:
By the word confiftory I fuppofe Milton intends to glance at the meeting of the Pope and Cardinals fo nam'd, or perhaps at the epif.- copal tribunal, to all which fort of courts Or aficmblies he was an avow'd enemy. The phrafe con- cil::i-n horrendum Vida makes ufe of upon a like occafion of afTemb- ling the infernal povvcrs. Cbrift. Lib. I.
Protinus
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
How many ages, as the years of men, This imiverfe we have pofTefs'd, and rul'd In manner at our will th' affairs of earth, 50
Since Adam and his facil confort Eve Loft Paradife deceiv'd by me, though (ince With dread attending when that fatal wound Shall be inflidted by the feed pf Eve Upon my head: long the decrees of Heav'n ^^
Delay, for longeft time to him is ihort ; And now too foon for us the cirding hours This dreaded time have compafs'd, wherein we Mufl bide the ftroke of that long threaten'd wound,
At
Protinus acciri diros ad regia
fratres Limina, concilium horrendum.
And Taflb alfo in the very fame manner. Cant. 4. St. 2.
Che fia comanda il popol fuo
raccolto [Concilia horrendo) entro la regia
foglia. Thyer.
44. O ancient PouJ'rs of air and
this 'wide ivorld,] So the
Devil is call'd in Scripture, the
prince of the ponxier of the air, Eph.
11. 2. and evil Spirits the rulers of ihedarknefsofthisnvorid, Eph. VI.
12. Satan here Aim mons a coun- cil, and opens it as he did in the Paradife Loft: but hsfe b net ihar
copioufnefs and variety which is in the other ; here are not different fpeeches and fentiments adapted to the different characters ; it is a council without a debate; Satan is the only fpeaker. And the author, as if confcious of this defed, has artfully endevored to obviate the ob- jedion by faying, that their danger
— — — admits no long debate. But muft with fomething fuddett be oppos'd,
and afterwards
— — no time was t'.en For long indulgence to their fears or grief.
The true reafon is, he found it
impofCble to exceed or ecjual the
fpeechc::
lo PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
At leail: if fo we can, and by the head 60
Broken be not intended all our power To be infring'd, our freedom and our being, In this fair empire won of earth and air ; For this ill news I bring, the woman's feed Deftin'd to this, is late of woman born : 6^
His birth to our juft fear gave no fmall caufe, But his growth now to youth's full flow'r, difplaying All virtue, grace, and wifdom to achieve Things highefl, greateu, multiplies my fear. Before him a great prophet, to proclame 70
His coming, is fent harbinger, who all Invites, and in the confecrated ftream Pretends to wafli off fin, and fit them fo Purified to receive him pure, or rather To do him honour as their king ; all come, y^
And
fpeeches in his former council, and St. Matthew, //je Spirit cf God de-
iherefbre has allign'd the bell rea- fcending like a do-ve, II F. i6. and to
Ion he could for not making any St. Mark, the Spirit like a do-ve de-
in t!"iis. ^ fcending upon kim, I. lo. But as
74. Furifed to i-eccii:e him pure ^ Luke fays, that the Hcly Ghoji de-
Alluding to tlieScriptureexpreflion fcenaed in a hcdily Jhape. 111. 22.
I John 111. 3. And enjrry v.an that the poet fuppof'es with Tcrtuliian,
hath this ho^e in him, purifeth him- Aultin, and others of the fathers,
jitf even as he is pure. that it was a real dove, as the
83. A pe'-fetl dove dt/cend,^ He painters always reprefent it.
had exprcfTed it before \er. 30. in 91. Ifho this is -ive mujl learn.']
likcnefs of a dove, agreeably to Our author favors the opinion of
thofe
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D. ii
And he himfelf among them was baptiz'd. Not thence to be more pure, but to receive The tcilimony' of Heav'n, that who he is Thenceforth the nations may not doubt 5 I faw The prophet do him reverence, on him rifing ^o Out of the water, Heav'n above the clouds Unfold her cryftal doors, thence on his head A perfect dove defcend, whate'er it meant, And out of Heav'n the fovran voice I heard, This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd. 85
His mother then is mortal, but his fire He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven, And what will he not do to' advance his Son ? His firfl be-got we know, and fore have felt. When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90 Who this is we muft learn, for man he feems
In
tliofe writers, Ignatius and others clamed him to be the Soo of God» among the Ancients, and Beza and but they might not know him to oth'»!s among the Moderns, who be fo at this time, before this believed that the Devil, tho' he temptation, or before he had en- might know Jefus to be fome ex- ter'd upon his public miniftry, and traordi.iary perfon, yet knew him manifelled himfelf by his miracles, not to be the Mefiiah, the Son of And our author, who makes the God : and the words of the Devil Devil to hear the voice from Hea- If thou be the Sen of God feem to ven This is z«v belovtd Son, llill fxprefs his uncertainty concerning makes him doubt in what knfe that matter. The Devils indeed Jefus was fo called. See IV. 514. ^terwards knew him and pro-
5 Thence-
12 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpfes of his father's glory fhine.
Ye fee our danger on the utmofl edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate, 95
But muft with fomething fudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woven fnarcs.
Ere in the head of nations he appear
Their king, their leader, and fupremc on earth.
I, when no other durft, fole undertook 100
The difmal expedition to find out
And ruin Adam, and th' exploit ptrform'd
SuccefsfuUy ; a calmer voyage now
Will waft me ; and the way found profprous once
Induces beft to hope of like fuccefs. 105
He
Thenceforth I thought thee worth We'll ftrive to bear it for your
my nearer view, worthy fake,
And narrower fcrutiny, that I To th'' extreme edge of hazard.
might learn i ii.. To him their great diaator,] In what degree or meaning thou j^jiij^^ ^ppUgs ^^^^ ^^^^t very pro- art call d V. , 1 perly to Satan in his prefent fitua- The Son of God, which bears no ^^^^^ ^g jj,g authority he is now fingle fenfe ; £5"^ . yg^^gj ^j^h is quite didatorial, 94. Te fee our danger an the ut- and the expedition on which he is mcjl edge go'"g of ^he utmoft confequence Of hazard,'] An exprelTion bor- to the fall'n Angels, Thyer, rowed from Shakefpear. All's well, , go to the coajl of Jordan he that ends well. Aft 111. Sc. 5. direas
— Sir, it is His eafy fl^fs, girded nvith fohy
A charge :oo heavy for my iviles,] For as Lightfoot ob-
Ibergth; but vet ferves Vol. II. p. 299. the wilder-
nefs,
!
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 13
He ended, and his words impreflion left
Of much amazement to th' infernal crew,
Diftraded and furpris'd with deep difmay
At thefe fad tidings ; but no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief: no
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprize
To him their great dictator, whofe attempt
At firft againft mankind fo well had thriv'd
^ In Adam's overthrow, and led their march 1 15
I From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents and potentates, and kings, yea Gods
Of many a pleafant realm and province wide.
So to the coaft of Jordan he dire(2:s
His
nefs, where our Saviour underwent And ruin Adam â–
his forty days temptation, was on a calmer voyage now
the fame bank of Jordan where Will waft me ijc
the baptifm of John was St. Luke ^ .^^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^j,^jj
witneffingit, that Jefus being now ^^ ^^^ j^^^it of forcerers and ne baptized vTn<rfi-d'ii a.na tu loDootvt, u r _»«^
J/- 4 , "(.^i* «>> cromancers, who are reprelentea
returned from Jordan, namely irom • r . • j j u » .u^
. r "L 111'' in fome prmts as eirded about the
the lame tratt, whereby became -jj, -.u ..u /i • r /■i „
, . , Tj- r 1 r > middle with the Ikins of fnakes
thither, nis eajv /lept, for here j r â– â– rv . . n
. ^ , -^^ ^ ', ,._ . and krpents: a cindture totally op- was not that danker and difncuJty r. . \\, ^ j j u .u
â– ,â– r n T â– â– poht to that recommended by the
as in his hrlt expedition to rum \- ^^:-^y^-c^\^ \t\ , l â–
â– . J , . f.j . r- A pole! e h ph. VI. 14. having your
mankind, it is laid in reference ,: â– / l , Zl * .l \.^a
, 1 i_ I r I \ r loir,i oirt about nvtth truth ; and to what he had fpoken berore, \ c • rr vr
'^ ' worn by our baviour 11a. XI. 5.
I, when no other durll, fole un- J?jd righteoufnefs Jhall be the girdle
dercook of his loins, and faithfulneji the
The diimal expedition to find out girdle of his reins.
1 20 -—girJtd
H
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
His eafy fteps, girded with fnaky wiles, 120
Where he might likelieft find this new-declar'd.
This man of men, attefted Son of Godj
Temptation and all guile on him to try ;
So to fubvert whom he fufpecfled rais'd
To end his reign on earth fo long enjoy 'd : 125
But contrary unweeting he fulfiil'd
The purpos'd counfel prc-ordain'd and lix'd
Of the moil High, who in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel fmiling fpake.
Gabriel, this day by proof thou {halt behold, 130
Thou and all Angels converfant on earth
With man or mens affairs, how I begin
To
1 20 — giriieci ivith fnaiy ivi/es,'} The imagery very fine, and the cir- cumilance extremely proper. Sa- tan is here figured ens;ag;ing on a great expedition, fuccindft, and his habit girt about him with a girdle of fiiakes ; which puts us in mind of the iiiliiument of the fall.
JVarhurton.
122. This man of tnen, attejied Son of Godjl The phrafe is low and idiotic ; and I wifh the poet had rather written
This man, of Hea'vn attelled Son of God.
In the holy Scriptures God c/Goda
and tleanjen of tlewvem are truly grand expreffions : but then there is an idea of greatnefs in the \m^d^s thcmfelves to fupport the dignity of the phrafe ; which is wanting in Milton's inan of men. Calton.
129. — Thus to Gabriel fmiling fpake.'] This fpeech is proper- ly addrefs'd to Ga^nV/ particularly among the Angels, as he feems to have been the Angel particularly employed in the embaflies and tranfadions relating to the Gofpel. Gabriel was fent to inform Danid of the famous prophecy of the fe- venty weeks ; Gabriel notified the conception of John the Baptift to
his
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
To verify that folenm mellage late,
On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that flie fliould bear a fon 135
G eat in renown, and call'd the Son of God j
Then toldft her doubting how thefe things could be
To her a virgin, that on her fhould come
The Holy Ghoft, and the pow'r of the Highefl
O'er-lhadow her : this man born and now up-grown.
To fhow him worthy of his birth divine 141
And high predidion, henceforth I expofe
To Satan ; let him tempt and now aiTay
His utmoft lubtlety, becaufe he boafls
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng 145
his father Zacharias, and of our blefTed Saviour to his virgin mo- ther. And the Jewifti Rabbi's fay, that'TWichael was the miniftcr cf feverity, but Gabriel or mercy: and accordingly our poet makes Gabriel the guardian Angel of Pa- radife, and employs Michael to expel our frft parents out of Para- dife: and for the fame reafon this fpeech is direfted to Gabriel in particular. And God's being re- prefented as/mlifi^ may be juftified not only by the Heathen poets, as Virg. JEn. I. 254.
Olli fuhridens hominrim fator at^ue deorum ;
Of
but by the authority of Scripture itielf. See Paradife Loll, V. 718.
131. l^kou and all Angeh cotiiier- /ant on earth
With man or mens affairs^ This feems to be taken from the verfes attributed to Orpheus.
144.. — becaufe he hoajis and 'vaunts &c.]'Tlu£ allude''- to what Satan had juft before faid to his companions, ver. 1 00.
I, when no other duril, fole un- dertook ^-i\ 1h^(r.
i6
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book L
Of his apoftafy ; he might have learnt
Lefs overweening, fince he fail'd in Job,
Whofe conftant perfeverance overcame
Whate er his cruel malice could invent.
He now fhall know I can produce a man 150
Of female feed, far abler to refifl
All his folicitations, and at length
All his vaft force, and drive him back to Hell,
Winning by conqueft what the firft man loft
By fallacy furpris'd. But firft I mean 155
To exercife him in the wildernefs.
There
163. T^at all the Jngels and ethe- real Po'wfrs, &c] Not a word Is faid here of the Son of God, but what a Socinian would allow. His divine nature is artfully concealed under a partial and ambiguous re- prefentation ; and the Angels are firft to learn the myftery of the in- carnation from that important con- flift, which is the fubjeft of this poem. They are feemingly invited xo behold the triumphs of the man Chrift Jefus over the enemy of man- kind; and thefe furprife them with the glorious difcovery of the God
— infhrin'd Ir flcndy tabernaclej and human form.
That Chrift was perfeSl 7nan is a partial truth, and fcrves to keep the higher psrictitiou of his divine i\A-
ture, for the prefent, out of fight, without denying or excluding it. It is likewife very truly faid of this perfeB man, that he is by »j^r//caird the Son of God. Juftin Martyr ob- lerves in his fecond Apology [p. 67. Ed. Col.] that Chrift, confidered only as man, deferved for his fu- perior wifdom to be called the Son
of God. 'Y»©« li 0sa 5 I'/icrw; ?i«- 7o^ei>(^, Et /tat Aotvtfi; ^svof ui^fU' '?!©', ha, ao(piuti a|i(^ vt^ 068 At- yia^ui. In either capacity of God or Man he had a clame of merit to the title. The Father, fpeaking to his eternal Word in Paradifc Loft, III. 308. on his generous un- dertakings for mankind, faith
— — and haft been found By merit more than birthright Son of God.
Again-,
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
V
There he lliali firft lay down the rudiments Of his great warfare, ere I lend him forth To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes, By humiliation and flrong fufferance : His weaknefs (liall o'ercome Satanic ftrength, And all the world, and mafs of Iinful fleda j That all the Angels and ethereal Powers, They now, and men hereafter mr.v difcern. From what confummate virtue I have chofe This perfe6l man, by merit call'd my Son, To earn falvation for the fons of men.
i6o
165
So
Again, the words confummate 'vir- tue are ambiguous, and may be re- ferred to the di-uine nature of Chrift as well as the human. Their pre- fent connexion applies them direft- ]y to the human nature; but they had a lecret reference, I conceive, in the poet's meaning to the ma- jefly of that heavenly pare of him, which denominates Chrill: in the holy Scriptures the wifdom of God and the power (or ^jirtue) of God, ©ay oyiawiv, Dei ^jirtutem, Lat. Vulg. I Cor. I. 24. Hunc tamen folum primogenitum divini nomi- nis appellaticnc dijnatus eft, patria fcilicet "jirtute, ac m^jefl:ate pollen- tern.. Efie autem fjrami Dei filiam, qui fit poteflate maxima prseditus, ncn tantiun voces prouhetarum, fed etiam Sibvllarum vacicinia de- Vol. I.
monftrant. Laftantius. Div. Inft. Lib. IV. 6. Cum igitur a prophetis idem manus Dei, & 'virtus, & fer- mo dicatur. ibid, 29. Paradife Loft. VL713.
— Into thee fuch 'virtue and grace Immenfe I have transfus'd.
Chrift {how'd his heavenly \v'(- dora upon every trial : but his dii>ine 'virtue broke out, to the amazement of the tempter, in the laft. Note that the przepofitioa from.
From what confum.mate virtue- is ufed here as v«to and prs, to fignify_/'^cir or becau/s of.
Calton.
C 168. St
i8
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
So fpake th' eternal Father, and all Heaven Admiring flood a fpace, then into hymns Burft forth, and in celeftial meafures mov'd, 1 70 Circling the throne and Tinging, while the hand Sung with the voice, and this the argument.
Vidory' and triumph to the Son of God Now entring his great duel, not of arms,
But
168. So /pake tF eternal fathery and all Hea'ven
Admiring fiood a fpace^ We can- not but take notice of the great art of the poet in fetting forth the dignity and importance of his fub- je6l. He reprefents all beings as interefted one way or other in the event. A council of Devils is fum- mon'd; an affembly of Angels is held upon the occafion. Satan is the fpeaker in the one, the Al- mighty in the other. Satan ex- prefFes his diffidence, but ftill re- iblves to make trial of this Son of God ; the Father declares his pur- pofe of proving and illuftrating his Son. The infernal crew are dif- traded and furpriz'd with deep dif- may ; all Heaven ftands a while in admiration. The fiends are filent thro' fear and grief; the Angels burft forth into finging with joy and the afiured hopes of fuccefs. And their attention is thus engag- ed, the better to engage the atten- tion of the reader.
Sung ivith the 'voice,'] We have pretty near the fame phrafe in Ti. bulks. III. IV. 41.
Sed pollquam fuerant digiti cum 'voce locuti, Edidit hasc dulci triftia verba modo.
And the word hand is ufed by Mil- ton once again in this poem, and alfo in the Arcades, to diftinguilh inftrumental harmony from vocal. IV. 254.
There thou fhalt hear and Icarn the fecret power
Of harmony in tones and num- bers hit
Bj> 'voice or hand.
Arcades, yy.
If my inferior hand or 'voice could
hit Inimitable founds.
i7i.
I have fometimes indulged a fufpi- 'vjhile the hand cion, that the poet didated,
— while
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
But to vanquirh by w'fdom helliih wiles. The Father knows the Son j therefore fecure Ventures his filial virtue, though untry'd, Againft whate'er may tempt, whate'er feduce, Allure, or terrify, or undermine. Be fruflrate all ye ftratagems of Hell, And devilifh machinations come to nought.
19
^75
180
So
» while the ^arp Sung with the voice ; â–
but the few authoritiec. alledged put the prefent reading out of queltion. Calton. 174. Nonx! entring his great duel,^ There is, I think, a meannefs in the cuftomary fenfe of tiiis term that makes it unworthy of thefe fpeakers and this occafion ; and yet it is obfervable, that Mihon in his Paradife Loft makes Michael ufe the very fame word where he is fpeaking to Adam of the fame thing. XII. 386.
To whom thus Michael. Dream
not of their fight. As of a duel. Sec.
The Italian duello, if I am not miftaken, bears a ftronger fenfe, and this, I fuppofe, Milton had in view. Tiyer.
If it be not a contradiftion, it is inaccurate at leaft in Milton, to jnake an Angel fay in one place. Dream not of their f.ght as cf a duel; and afterwards to make the Angels
exprefs it by the metaphor of a duel, No-ju entring his great duel.
175. But to <vanqui/h by 'wi/dom'\ He lays the accent on the laft fyl- lable in 'uanquijh, as eliewhere in triumph; and in many places, in mv opinion, he imitates the Latin and Greek profody, and makes a vowel long before two confonants.
jfortino
176. 7 he Father knovjs the Son, therefore Jecure
Ventures his flial ^virtue, though untry'd,~\ Could thi? have been faid by the Angels, if tbcy alfo had known this Son to be cne eternal Word, who created all things; and who had before driven this Temp- ter, and all his Powers out of Hea- ven ? The incarnation was gene- rally believed by the Fathers to have been a fecret to Anpels, till they learned it from the Church, See Huetii Orioeniana. Lib. 2. Cap. 2. Quseft. 5. 18. As to the time and means of their informa- tion, Milton feems to be particular. Caltoyt.
C 2 iSz.S,
,
20
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
So they in Heav'n their odes and vigils tun'd : Mean while the Son of God, who yet fome days Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, Mufing and much revolving in his breaft, 185
How bed the mighty work he might begin Of Saviour to mankind, and which way firfl Publifli his God-like office now mature, One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading, And his deep thoughts, the better to converfe 190 With folitude, till far from track of men,
182. So they in Hea-v'n their odes and 'vigils tund :
Mean nrhile the Son of God ]
How nearly does the poet here ad- here to the fame way of fpeaking he had ufed in Paradife Loll on the fame occafion. III. 416.
Thus they in Heav'n above the
ftarry fphere Their happy hours in joy and
hymning fpent. Mean while &c. Thyer.
182 . — their odes attdfigils tun^d: ] This is a very uncommon expref- fion, and noteafy to be underl'tood, unlefs we fuppofe that by •■vigils the poet meant thofe fongs which they fung while they kept their watches. Singing of hymns is their manner of keeping their tvakes in Heaven. And J fee no reafon why their evening fervice may not be called 'Vigils, as the morning fervice is
Thought
called }fiaiti)is. Mr. Sympfon pro- pofes a flight alteration,
â– their odes in vigils tun'd,
that is, each watch when reliev'd fung lo and fo : but as we have explained the word, there feems to be no occafion for any alteration.
183. -—— n.K;ho yet fome days
Lodg'd in Bethabara ^jjhere "John baptiz'd,'] The poet, I prefume, faid this upon the authority of the firll chapter of St, John's Gofpel, where feveral particulars, which happened feveral days together, arc related concerning the Son of God, and it is faid ver. 28. Thefe things ^ivere done in Bethabara beyond Jor- dan, njohere John tvas ba/tizing.
1 89. One day forth ix-aWd alone, the Spirit leading.
And his deep thoughts.] This u wrong pointed in all the editions thus,
Cnt
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
21
Thought following thought, and flep by ftep led on,
He enter'd now the bord'ring defert wild,
And with dark fliades and rocks environ'd round.
His holy meditations thus purfu'd.
O what a multitude of thoughts at once Awaken'd in me fwarm, while I confider What from within I feel myfelf, and hear What from without comes often to my ears, 111 forting with my prefent ftate compar'd 1 When I was yet a child, no childifli play
^95
200
To
One day forth walk'd alone, the
Spirit leading ; And his deep thoughts, ^c.
But at moft there (hould be only a comma after leading, for the con- ftruftion is, his deep thoughts lead- ing as well as the Spirit. And as Mr. Thyer obferves, what a fine light does Milton here place that text of Scripture in, where it is faid, that ye/us -ivas led up of the Spirit into the ^ojildernefs, and how excel- lently adapted to embellilli his poem ! He adheres ftriftly to the infpir'd hillorian, and yet without any fort of profanation gives it a turn which is vaftly poetical.
191. — till far from track of men,
Thought follo-^ijing thought, &c] I
hope it won't be thought too light
to obferve, that our author might
probably in thefe lines have in view
his favorite romances, where the mufing knights are often defcrib'd lofmg themfelves in forells in this manner. Thyer.
195. meditations'] This is the
reading in Milton's own edition; in all the reft that I have {c&n it is meditation.
201. When I nvas yet a child, no childijh play
To me -ivas pleaftng;] How finely and confillently does iVIilton here imagin the youthful mpditadons of our Saviour ? how diilerent from and fuperior to that fupe^titious trumpery which one meets wi.h in the Evangelium Infantia, and other fuch apocryphal trafh? Vid. Fa- bricii Cod. Apoc. N. Teft, Thyer. He feems to alk' :e to Callimachas, who fays elegantly of young Jupi- ter, Hymn, in Jov. 56.
C 3 0|y
22 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
To me was pleafmg ; all my mind was fet Serious to learn and know, and thence to do What might be public good 3 myfelf I thought Born to that end, born to promote all truth, 205 All righteous things : therefore above my years. The law of God I read, and found it fweet. Made it my whole delight, and in it grew To fuch perfedion, that ere yet my age Had meafur'd twice fix years, at our great feafl 210 I went into the temple, there to hear The teachers of our law, and to propofe
What
0|t; VawQnaa.:, tcc'x}voi h to; Digna setate animus jam turn rxQov taXoi. volvebat adulta.
o , ^'^ And Pindar in like manner prailes
Demophilus. Pyth. Od. iV. 501.
Swift was thy growth, and early xeu©- yap iv ■n-a.iat vi^, ev h j^sAaj;
was thy bloom, Trfea^vg. Our author might allude
But earlier wifdom crown'd thy to thefe paflages, but he ctitninly
infant days. Jortin. alluded to the words of the Apoftle
TT c. 1. ' ^ n .• r I Cor. XIII. II. only inverting:
Henry Stephens s tranflation of , ^, , ^ „,, , ' , ,?
, , -^ ^ r • L the thought, ^rhen 1 ixias a child,
the latter verle IS very much to our t a z / /j «
r- ' 1 /pake as a child &c.
purpole, •''
Verum atate, puer, digna es ^°4. myfelf I thought
meditatus adulta : ^''""J" ^''^f ''"^l ,^Z" " ^"""°^'
all truth,} Alluding to our
or rather his more paraphraftical Saviour's words John XVIII. 37.
tranflation. To this end ivas I horn, and for this
â– XT -I- 1 1 cau/e came I into the ^world, that I
Verum aetate puer, puerih haud j^^/^^^ y^^^ ^.^^^j^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^,^_
more iolebas •' •'
Ludere; fed jam tum tibi feria 210. at our great fcaf] The
cunda i^lacebant, feafi of the pafjover, Luke II. 41.
214. Jnd
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
23
215
What might improve my knowledge or their own 5 And was admir'd by all : yet this not all To which my fpi'rit afpir'd j victorious deeds Flam'd in my heart, heroic adls, one while To refcue Ifrael from the Roman yoke, Then to fubdue and quell o'er all the earth Brute violence and proud tyrannic power. Till truth were freed, and equity reftor'd : Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly firft By winning words to conquer willing hearts, I And make perfuafion do the work of fear ,
220
214. y^nJ ivas admir'd hy all ;] For all that heard him n.vere ajlonijh- ed at his underjlanding and atipwers. Luke II. 47.
219. Brute 'vioience'] So again in the Mafk
And noble grace that dafh'd brute •violence. Thyer.
221. Tet held it more humane, more hewv^nly fir/l &c.] Here breathes the true fpirit of tolera- tion in thefe lines, and the fenti- ment is very fitly put into the mouth of him, who came not to defiroy mens li'ves but to faue them. The allitteration of w's in this line, and the aflbnance of njcinning and luilling have a very beautiful effeft;
By winning words to conquer willing: hearts.
At
vi£lorque volentes
Per populos dat jura, viamque affedat Olympo.
Our author was always a declar'd enemy to perfecution, and a friend to liberty of confcience. He ni^s above himfelf, whenever he ipeaks of the fubjeft; and he mult have felt it very ftrongly, to have ex- prefs'd it fo happily. For as Mr. Thyer juftly remarks upon this paflage, there is a peculiar foftnefs and harmony in thele lints, exad- ly fuited to that gentle fpirit of love that breathes in them ; and that man mult have an inquifuo- rial fpirit indeed who does not feel the force of them.
222. — to co7iqver ixilling hearts i\ Virgil Georg. IV. 561. C 4 vidorque
24 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
|At leaft to try, and teach the erring foul
Not wilfully mif-doing, but unware 225
Mifled ; the ftubborn only to fubdue.
Thefe growing thoughts my mother foon perceiving
By words at times cad forth inly rejoic'd,
And faid to me apart, High are thy thoughts
O Son, but nourifli them and let them foar 230
To what highth facred virtue and true worth
Can raife them, though above example high ',
By matchlefs deeds exprefs thy matchlefs Sire.
For know, thou art no fon of mortal man ;
Though men efteem thee low of parentage, 235
Thy father is th' eternal King who rules
All Heav'n and Earth, Angels and Sons of men 5
A mefTenger from God foretold thy birth
Conceiv'd in me a virgin, he foretold
Thou
— — viftorque volentes negligence of the former editors
Per populos dat jura and printers, who have not fo
which exprefiion of Virgil's, by much as correfted the Errata point-
the way, leems to be taken from ed out to them by Milton himfelf,
Xenophon, Oeconomic. XXI. 12. but have carefully followed all the
Ov yccp Ttccvv ^ot ^onH o>.ov TSTi TO blunders of the firil edition, and
ttya^ov uv^^uTTnov nvcc^y a.7,>.a, Ssio^', increafed the number with new
TO i5i7\o»lu> af^Eiv. I could add ones of their own. This pafl'age
other pafiages of Xenophon, which affords an inflance. In all the
Virgil has manifeftly copied. editions we read.
"Yorfrn. 1 n 1 1 ,
-,^ 4I n II 1 ^ r Lj ^ —the Ituboom only to de^rcxx
220. — thcJtubbornonlytoJubaHe.\ ' ' J^ "J '
We cannot fufficiently condemn the and this being good fenfe, the
miftake
Book!. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 26
Thou fhould'ft be great, and fit on David's throne.
And of thy kingdom there fhould be no end= 241
At thy nativity a glorious quire
Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem fung
To fliepherds watching ::'t tb^-ir folds by night.
And told them the Meffiah nov/ was born 245
Where they might fee him, and to thee they came,
Diredled to the manger where thou lay'fb,
For in the inn was left no better room :
A ftar, not feen before, in Heav'n appearing
Guided the wife men thither from the eaft, 250
To honor thee with incenfe, myrrh, and gold,
By whofe bright courfe led on they found the place.
Affirming it thy flar new grav'n in Heaven,
By which they knew the king of Ifrael born.
Jufl Simeon and prophetic Anna, warn'd 255
By
miftake is not fo eafily detetfled : Virgil. JEn. J. 502.
but in the firil edition the reader ,
is defired in the table of Errata ^^^^^"^ 'f '""^ pertentant gau-
for dejiroy to read M^ue ; and if ^'^ P^*^"'' >""'
we conlider it, this is the more 241. there (hould be no end.']
proper word, more fuitable to the We have rellored the reading of
humane and heavenly charafter of Milton's own edition, Jhould not
the fpeaker; and belldes itanfwers pall, as before
to t\ie fubduc and quell \n \tx. zi^. _,,
The fan of man came not to dejlroy ^^'^'^ ^'"^^ ^^ S'"^^^
mens lives Sec. Luke IX, 56. 255. Juji Simeon and prophetic ZZ-j. — my mother foon perceiving Anna,'] It rnay not be impro- inly rejoic'd,] per to remark how ftriftly our au- thor
2^ PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
By vifion, found thee in the temple', and fpake
Before the altar and the veiled prieft,
Like things of thee to all that prefent ftood.
This having heard, ftrait I again revolv'd
The law and prophets, fearching v^^hat v^as v^rit 260
Concerning the Meffiah, to our fcribes
Known partly, and foon found of whom they fpake
I am ; this chiefly, that my way mull lie
Through many a hard affay ev'n to the death.
Ere 1 the promis'd kingdom can attain, 265
Or work redemption for mankind, whofc fins
Full weight mull be transferr'd upon my head.
Yet
\
thor adheres to the Scripture hif- tory, not only in the particulars which he relates, but alfo in the very epithets which he affixes to the peifons; as here "Juji Simeon, becaufe it is faid Luke II. 25. and the fame man ivas jujl : and pro- phetic Anna, becaufe it is faid Luke 11. 36. and there ivas one Anna a prophete/s. The like accuracy may be obferved in all the reft.
262. and Joon found of<nx:hom
they /pake
I am;] The Jews thought that ^he Mefiiah, when he came, would be without all power and diftinc- tion, and unkno-ujn e-ven to him/elf, \\\\ Elias had anointed and declared
him. Xpir©' S'e ti xai ytyzyviTCHy x«« iTi isa, ayiiUf®^ ert, xa» aJt uvT®-- 'csci) lavrov CKiTCtTon, eoi sp^tt ovyo(,fj.iv T»va, /:<(.£p^fK a,v tX^uv HXta; j^pia*) avToVf xa» (pavifov Traci •Koxriari. Juft. Mart. Dial, cum Tryph. p. 226. Ed. Col. Calton.
266. ' ivho/ejtns
Full lueight mujl be trans/err d upon my head.] Ifaiah LIII. 6.
The Lord hath laid on him the itii~
quity of us all,
271. Not knetv by fight] The*
Jefus and John the Baptill were
related, yet they were brought up
in diiFerent countries, and had no
manner
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
27
Yet neither thus difhearten'd or difmay'd.
The time prefix'd I waited, when behold
The Baptift (of whofe birth I oft had heard, 270
Not knew by fight) now come, who was to come
Before Meffiah and his way prepare.
I as all others to his baptifm came,
Which I believ'd was from above ; but he
Strait knew me, and with loudeft voice proclam'd
Mc him (for it was fliown him fo from Heaven) 276
Me him whofe harbinger he was j and firft
Refus'd on me his baptifm to confer,
As much his greater, and was hardly won :
But as I rofe out of the laving ftream, 280
manner of intimacy or acquain- tance with each other. John the Baptift fays exprefsly John I. 31, 3 3 . And J kne-iv him not ; and he did not fo much as know him by fight, till our Saviour came to his baptifm ; and afterwards it doth not appear that they ever converfed together. And it was wifely or- dered fo by Providence, that the teftimony of John might have the greater weight, and be freer from all fufpicion of any compaft or collufion between them.
278. Refused on me his baptifm to (onfer.
As mtich his greater,'] Here Mil- ton ufes the word greater in the
Heav'n
fame manner as he had done be- fore, Parad. Loft, V. 172.
Thou Sun, of this great world
both eye and foul. Acknowledge him thy greater.
And this, I think, is a proof that the prefent reading there is right, and that both Dr. Bentley's emen- dation and mine ought abfolutely to be rejefled. Thyer.
280. — out of the la'vingflream^ Alluding, I fancy, to the phrafe lu'ver of regeneration ib frequently applied to baprifm. It may be ob- ferved in general oi this foliloquy of our Saviour, that it is not only excellently well adapted to the pre- fent
28
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence The Spi'rt defcended on me like a dove, And hil the fum of all, my Father's voice. Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his. Me his beloved Son, in whom alone 285
He w^as well pleas'd 3 by which I knew the time Now full, that I no more lliould live obfcure. But openly begin, as befl: becomes
Th' authority
fent condition of the divine fpeak- er, but alfo very artfully introduc'd by the poet to give us a hillory of his hero from his birth to the very fcene with which the poem is open'd. T/jyer.
281. eternal doors'] So in
Pial. XXIV. 7, 9. cverlaflhig doors.
286. • • the time
No-jv full.,] Alluding to the
Scripture phiafe, thefulnefsoftime.
When the fulnej's of time avas come
Sec Gal. IV. 4.
293 . For ivhat concerns my kno'w- ledge God rc-ueals.] jefus was led by an inward impulfe to retire into the defert; and he obey'd the motion, without knowing the pur- pofe of it, for that was not re- veal'd to him by God. The whole foliloquy is fornid upon an opi- nion, whichhathauthoritiesenough to give it credit, viz. that Chriji nuas not, by 'virtue cf the pcrfonal union of the tnro fratures, and from the frji tnoment of that union, pof-
fefs''d of all the knozvledge of the A O r O 2, as far as the capacity of a human mind ^juould admit. [See Le Blanc's Elucidatio Status Con- troverfiarum «Sjc. Cap. 3] In his
early years he increas d in <wif-
dom, and in ftature. St. Luke II. 5 2. And Beza obferves upon this place,
that ipfa ©cotut©^ plenitudo
fefe, prout&quatenusipfilibuit, hu- manitati afTumtas infinuavit : quic- quid garriant matKologi, & novi Ubiquitarii Eutychianic Gerhard, a Lutheran profefTor of divinity, has the fame meaning, or none at all, in what I am going to tran-
fcribe. Anima Chrifti, juxta
naturalem, &habitualem fcientiam vera profecit, Xoy^ omnifcio atV yuce-'j fuam, quae eft adu omnia fcire & cognofcere, per aflumtam humanitatem non femper exerente. [Joh. Gerhardi Loci Theol. Tom. i . Loc. 4. Cap. I 2.1 Grotius employs the fame principle, to explain St.
Mark XIII. 32. Videtur mihi,
ni meliora docear, hie locus non impie
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
7 O
Th' authority which I deriv'd from Heaven.
And now by fome ftrong motion I am led
Into this wildernefs, to what intent \ I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know ; /For what concerns my knowledge God reveals. So ipake our Morning Star then in his rife,
And looking round on every lide beheld
A pathlefs defert, duflc with horrid fl:iadeS5
290
295
The
impie pofTe exponi hunc in mo- dum, ut dicamus di'vinam Sapien- tlam, menti humanse Chrifii effec- tus fuos impreffifTe/rci tempoyum ra- tione. Nam quid aliud eft, ft verba non torquemus, ir-^ov/.-i'rfh a-oCua, Luc. II. 52? And our Tillotfon
approv'd the opinion. " It is
•' not unreafonable to fuppole, that *' the Di-vine Wijdom, which dwelt •* in our Saviour, did commani- *' cate itfelf to his human foul ac- *' cording to I\is pleafure, and fo " his human Nature might at fome •' times not knovv' fome things. " And if this be not admitted, " how can we underlland that " paflage concerning our Saviour, *' Luke II. 52. that Jefus gre^^j in *' mjifdom and ftature? [Sermons Vol. IX. P, 273.] Grotiiis could find fcarce any thing in antiquity to fupport his explication: but . there is fomething in Theodcret very much to his parpofe, v.'hich I owe to Whitby's Strifturs Pa-
trum, P, 190. "â– â– 7>!,- [dVAy /y.os-
Or,z, ut videtur,] To»»tTa zar' izEi^o
Biorr.i a.nriy.xhvl't. Non eii Dei
Verbi ignorantia, fed Forms fer- vi, qua: tanta per illud tempus fciebat, quanta Deitas inhabitaas revelabat. Rep.'-eh. Anath. quarti CyrilH, Tom 4 P. 713. If ^ome things might be fuppos'd unknown to Chrift, without prejudice to the union, being not reveal'd to him by the united Word, it will follow that, till fome certain time, even the union itfelf might be unknown to him. This time feems to liave^ been, in Milton's fche.ne, after the foliloquy ; but before the forty days of fairing were ended, and the Demon eiuer'd upon the {c.?ne of aftion : and then was a fit occa- fton to sive him a feeling of his own Itrength, when he v/as juit upon the point of being attack'd by fuch an adverfary. Gallon,
294. So /pake our Morning Star\
So our Saviour is called in the P.i;-
velation XXII. 16. the bright an'i
mornhg
s^
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by human fteps untrod j
And he ftill on was led, but with fuch thoughts
Accompanied of things paft and to come 300
Lodg'd in his breaft, as well might recommend
Such folitude before choiceft fociety.
Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill
Sometimes, anon in fhady vale^ each night
Under the covert of fome ancient oak, 305
Or cedar, to defend him from the dew.
Or harbour'd in one cave, is not reveal'd -,
Nor tafted human food, nor hunger felt
Till thofe days ended, hunger'd then at laft
Among
morningflar: and it Is properly ap- plied to him here at his firll rifing. 302. Such fclitude before cboiceji focieiy.'] This verfe is of the fame meafure as one in the Paradife Loft, IX. 249. and is to be fcann'd in the fame manner.
Forfoli|tudefome|times is { beft
fojciety. Such foliltude bejfore choi^ceft
fo|ciety.
Or we muft allow that an Alexan- drine verfe (as it is called) may be admitted into blank verfe as well as into rime.
307. 07ie cave] Read — fome
cave. y or tin.
310. they at his Jight grevj
mild,'\ All this is very common in defcription, but here very judi- cioufly employ'd as a mark of the returning Paradifiacal ftate.
Warburton.
312. and noxious nvorml
This beautiful defcription is formed upon that fhort hint in St. Mark's Gofpel I. 13. rtW icas iv/th the n.i:ild beajis. A circumllance not mention'd by the other Evangelifts, but excellentlv improv'd by Milton to fhow how the ancient prophecies began to be fulfiU'd, Ifa. XI. 6 — 9. LXV. 25. Ezek. XXXIV. 25; and how Eden was raised in the
ivcajle
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
31
Among wild beads : they at his light grew mild, 3 1 o Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk The fiery ferpent fled, and noxious worm, The lion and fierce tiger glar'd aloof. But now an aged man in rural weeds, 314
Following, as feem'd, the queft of fome flray ewe. Or wither'd flicks to gather, which might ferve Againft a winter's day when winds blow keen, To warn him wet return'd from field at eve, He faw approach, who firfl: with curious eye Perus'd him, then with words thus utter'd fpake. 320 Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place So far from path or road of men, who pafs
In
luajle ^ildernefs. But the word nvorm, tho' joined with the epithet noxious, may give too low an idea to fome readers : but as we ob- ferved upon the Paradife Loll, IX. 1068, where Satan is caWeA fal/e Hvorm, it is a general name for the reptil kind, and a ferpent is called the mortal ixjorm by Shakefpear. 2 Henry VI. Aft III. and fo like- wife by Cowley in his Davideis. Book I.
With that fhe takes
One of her worft, her bell be- loved fnakes. Softly dear luorm, foft and unfeen ({aid fhe).
314. But nozv an aged man &cj As the Scripture is entirely filent about what perfonage the Tempter affum'd, the poet was at liberty to indulge his own fancy; and no- thing, I think, could be better conceived for his prei'ent purpofe, or more likely to prevent fufpicion of fraud. The poet might perhaps take the hint from a defign of Da- vid Vinkboon's, where the Devil is reprefented addreffing himfelf to our Saviour under the appearance of an old man. It is to be met with among Vifcher's cuts to the Bible, and is ingrav'd by Lander- felt. Thjer.
D'-y
hi
32
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
In troop or caravan ? for jQngle none
Durft ever, who return'd, and dropt not here
His carcafs, pin'd with hunger and with drouth. 325
I afk the rather, and the more admire,
For that to me thou feem'il: the man, whom late
Our new baptizing Prophet at the ford
Of Jordan honor'd fo, and call'd thee Son
Of God ; I fav/ and heard, for we fometimes 330
Who dwell this v/ild, conflrain'd by want, come forth
To town or village nigh (nigheft is far)
Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,
What happens new ; fame alfo finds us out. "
To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither,
Will bring me hence j no other guide I feek. 336
By
323. /« troop or cara'vanr'\ A ca- ravan, as Tavernier fays, is a great convoy of merchants, which meet at certain times and places, to put themfelves into a condition of de- fenfe from thieves, who ride in troops in feveral defert places upon the road A caravan is like an army, confifting ordinarily of five or fix hundred camels, and near as many horfes, and fometimes more. This makes it the fafeft way of traveling in Turky and Perfia vvith the caravan, thouph it goes in- deed flower, than in lefs com- panyj, or with a guide alone, as feme will do. Sec Tiavels into
Perfia in Harris '\'^ol. II. B. 2. ch. 2.
3 39. — tciigh roots andfiubs\ This mull: certainly be a miihike of the printer, and inftead ofjlubs it ought to be read Jhrubs. It is no uncom- mon thing to read of hermits and afcerlcs living in deferts upon roots and fhrubs, but 1 never heard of J}ubs beiu'j; ufcd for food, nor indeed is it reconcileable to common fenfe. Some ha-e thought that the axp- cec, which the Scripture fsys were the meat of the Baptiil, were the tops of plants or fhrubs. Thyer. I find the word. J^ubs ufed in Spcn- fer. Faery Queen B- i. Cant. 9. St. 34.
And
Eookl. PARADISE REGAINED.
33
By miracie lie may, rep^y'd the fvvaln, What other way 1 fee not, for wc here Live on tough roots and flubs, to thirfl inur'd More than the Camel, and to drink go far, 340 Men to much mifei-y and hrtrdfliip born 5 But if thou be the Son of God, command That oiit of thcfe hard frones he made thee bread. So flialt thou fave tliyfelf and us relieve With food, whereof we wretched feldom talle. 345
He ended, and the Son of God reply 'd.
Think'ft thou fuch force in bread ? is it not written
(For I difcern thee other than thou feem'fl)
Man lives not by bread only, but each word
Proceeding from the moutli of God, who fed 350
Our
And all about old flocks and/zz/^j feives in his phyfical obfervations
of trees
but this only proves tl'e ufe of the word, and not of the th:ng as feed, ^hicli feems impoCible, and there- fore I embrace the former inge- nious conjcdture.
on Arabia Petra^a p. 389 we can- not rufHv:ienily ad mire the great care and wifdom &f God in providing the camel for the traffic and com- merce of thefe and fuch like defo- late cor:nrries. For if this fervice- chle creature was rot able to Tub-
340. hlore than the caj?:cl,''\ Tt is fitt fevcial days without water, or
commonly faid that cameis will go if it required a quantity of nou-
without water three or four days. riCTment in proportion to its bulk,
Sitim & quatriduo tolerant. Plin. the travelling in thefe pans would
^at. Hilt. Lib. 8. Sed. 'ib. But be either cumberfome and expen-
Tavernier fays, that they will ordj- five, or altogether impracticable, jlarily live without drink eioht or 350 rrcceeding from thi mouth of
nine days. See Harris ibid. And God, I'jbofcd
therefore, as Dr. Shaw juftly ob- Our fathers here ixnth Mama ?'\
Vol. I. D The
34
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
Our fathers here with Manna ? in the mount
Mofes was forty days, nor eat nor drank ;
And forty days Elijah without food
Wander'd this barren wafte ; the fame I now :
Why dofb thou then fugged to me diftruft, 355
Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art ?
Whom thus anfwer'd th'Arch-Fiend now undif-
'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate, Lg'-^i^ ^•
W^ho leagu'd with millions more in rafli revolt
Kept not my happy ftation, but was driven 360
With
The feventh and perhaps feme o- ther editions have pointed it thus,
Proceeding from the mouth of
God ? who fed Our fathers here with Manna ;
In the firft and fecond editions there is a femicolon in both places, which is ftill worfe. A comma would be fufficient after Go.-i, and the mark of interrogrticn ftiould clcfe the period after Manna.
Cahon.
356. Knoiviiig ^-vho I at;i,'\ This -is not to be underllood of LhriU's di^jine nature. The Tempter knew him to be the perfcn declared t'^e Sen of God by a voice frcm Keaven, ver. 385. and tiia.t was :;!! that he knew of him. Can on.
358. 'Tif /rue, I a??: that Spirit
unfortu7itite, &:CjSr;tan's franU-
ner> in confefling who he was,
when he found himfelf difcovered, is remarkable. Hitherto he has been called an aged man, and the Jixain ; and we have no intimation from the poet, that Satan was con- cealed under this appearance, which adds to our pleafure by an agree- able furprife upon the difcovery. In the firit book of the ^neid, ^i)neas bein? driven by a ftorm up- on an unknown coait, and going in compsny with Achates to take a furvey of the country, is met in a thick wood by a lady, in the habit of a huntrefs. She inquires of them if they had feen two fifters of hers in a like drefs, employed in the chace. i^ineas addre/Tes her as Diana, or one of her nymphs, and begs ihe would tell him the name end Itate of the country the tcn^pell had thrown hiin upon. She declines his compliment, informs him llie \vas no Goddefs, but only a Tyrian
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
25
With them from blifs to the bottomlefs deep,
Yet to that hideous place not fo confin'd
By rigor unconniving, but that of:
Leaving my dolorous prifon I enjoy
Lari^e liberty to round this globe of earth, 365
Or range in ch'air, nor far from the Heav'n of Heav'ns
Hath he excluded my refort fometimes.
I came among the ibns of God, when he
Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job
To prove him, and ill ij (Irate his high worth 5 370
And
Tyrian maid, give^^ an acc^tinr of the place, and a full relation of Di- do's hiftory and fetrlement tiere. In return, ^neas acquaints her with his itory, and particularly the lols of great part of hib fleet in tlie late liorin. Upon which fhc ailures him, from an omen which appear- ed to them, that his fl-iips were fafe, bids him e.xpecl a kind reception from the queen ; and then tutting to go away, yErieas dilcovers iier to be his mother, tlie Goddefs of love. If Virfril had n(*t informed us of her bt;;ng Venus, till this time, and in this manner, it would have had an agreeable effw^ft in fur- prifing the reader, as much ss llie did -^neas : but his ccmdodt has been quite the reverfe, for in the beginning of the iloiy, he lets the reader into the fccret, and takes care every now auci tbea to remind him.
Cui mator media fefe tulitobvia fylva, feV.
See y/fi Ejjh^ upon Milfoil's imitatkns of the Ancient!, p. 60.
360. Kepi not m\' kappy Jia'ion^ A manner of fpeaking borrowed from the Scripture. Jude 6. And tf:e Angels I'jhich kept not their firji
efime.
365 . — to rnurdthisghhe of earth,'] Milton ufes the ir.r.ic phral'e in his F;iradi>^- Lolt X. 084. Ipeaking of the jiin :
tjad riu?-Jed uWl ih' horizon— • Thyero
368. / caKc an.ong the fovs of God, kc\ Job I. 6. 'No'v: there ^.':os a day •x:h<n the Jons of God came to pre lent them/ehes before the Lord, and Satan ca.r^c aljo arr.ong than. See too !I. I.
. i> 2 372. r«
36
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
And when to all his Angels he propos'd
To draw the proud king Ahab into fraud
That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,
I undertook that office, and the tongues
Of all his flattering prophets glibh'd with lies 375
To his deftrudion, as I had in charge.
For what he bids I do : though I have loft
Much luftre of my native brightnefs, loft
To be beloved of God, I have not loft
To love, at leaft contemplate and admire 380
What I fee excellent in good, or fair.
Or virtuous, I (liould fo have loft all fenfe.
What
372. To dran.v the proud hhig Ahab intofraud~\ That is, into mif- chief, asfraus fometimes means in Latin. "Jort'in.
The reader may fee an inftance of fraud and fraiis ufed in this fenfe in the Paradife Loft, LX. 643, and the note there. And this ftory of Ahab is relaterl i Kings XXI!. ig &C. / fa<vj the Lord fiiiing on his throne^ cind all the hoji of Hea've>i fatiding by him, on his right hand and en hi\ left. And the l.ordjaid, Who fjall perfyade Ahcd?, that he muv go up a>:dfali ot RaiKoth-gikud ? And one [aid on this 7>:anner, and another ov thai ViCnyter. And there cane forth a '"^f'irit. and ftocd before the Lord, c;:.dfaid, i â– zvill ^erfade him. And
the Lord faid unto him, Where-Tvith? And he faid, I nvill go forth, and I nx-ill be a h'ingfpirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he faid. Thou Jhalt pcrfuade him, and prevail alfo : go forth, and do Jo. And this fym- bolical vifion of Micaiah, in which heavenly things are fpoken of after the manner of men in condefcen- fion to the weaknefs of their capa- cities, oijr author was too good a critic to underftand litterally, the* as a poet he teprefents it fo.
3Sv
â– To hear altent
Thy n.\:ifdom,'\ Milton feems to have borrowed this word and this eniphau'cal manner of applying it fiom Spcnfer, Faery Queen B. 6. Cant. 9. St. z6.
Whilft
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D,
37
What can be then lefs In me than defire
To fee thee and approach thee, whom I know
Declav'd the Son of God, to hear attent 385
Thy wifdom, and behold thy Godhke deeds ?
Men generally think me much a foe
To all mankind : why fliould I ? they to me
Never did wrong or violence j by them
I loft not what I loft, rather by them 390
I gain'd what I have g'^in'd, and v/ith them dwell
Copartner in thcfe regions of the world,
If not difpofer ; lend them oft my aid.
Oft my advice by prcfagcs and figns,
And
Whilft thus he talk'd, the knight
with greedy ear Hung itil! upon his melting
mouth p.ttent. Thyer,
394. Oft my advice ly prcfages andjigns.
And anjz'.ers, orncler, portents and dreams,'\ I. Portents are but odly thrown in here betwixt oracles and dreams ; befides that the mean- ing of the word had been fully ex- prefs'd before hy pr,/nges and/:gf!s. Thefe comprehend all the imagin'd notes of futurity in auguries in/a- crifices, in lightnings, and in all the varieties of pjortents, cjients, prodi- gies. That portent at Aulis, which Hiowed the Greeks the fucccT? and
du'ation of the war they were go- inw upon, is called by Homer lj.iya, ar.ixx a great fign, Iliad. II. 308. What were the Lacedaemo- nians profited before, (laith Cicero De Div. II. 25.) or our own coun- trymen lately by the ojlents and their interpreters ? which, if we mull: believe them to bey%«/ fent b)' the Goda, why were they fo ob- fcure ? Quid igitur aut ojienta, aut corum interpretes, vel Lacedxmo- nlos olim, vel nuper noftros adju- verunt ? qua; iijigna Deorum pu- tanda funt, cur tam obfcura fue- runt ? This paflage of Cicero will lead us to the fenfe of the next word, which very naturally idi" lows pr ef ages zn^jtgns, and is con- D 3 nefted
3^
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
And anfwers, oracles, portents and dreams, Whereby they may dired: their future life. Envy they fay excites me thus to gain Companions of my mifery and woe. At fird it may be s but long fince with woe
395
nested with them. In Cicero we have /fg/:s and their interpreters, and here Jig/is and their hiterpreta- tions ; for this I take to be the meaning of an/'zL-ers. The ha>uf- j'lcian rejpcjija ainongfl: the Romans are obvious authorities. 2. There sre three fpecies of divination, dif- tingiiifhed from the former byyf^>;/, in Cicero's nrft book on that fub- jeift, viz. dreams, 'vaticinations or prophecies, and oracles. Carent au- tem arte ii, qui non ratione, aut conjeflura, obfervatis ac notatis jigms,{t^ concitationequadani ani- mi, aut foluro libeioqiie motu fu- tijra praefentiunc ; quod h fomnian- fibus fspe contingit, & nonnun- quam ^aiicinantibus per furoiem &c. Cujus generis oracala etiarn habendafunt. De Div. I. 18. Thefe th.'-ee frequently occur together ; as again in this firU book. 51. Item \<^\V<ivfcmiiiis, rcalicinationibus, ora- (lilis, &c. And ag.iin in de Nat. Deor. II. 65. iViuJta cernunt ha- rufpices : mukaaugures provident: multa cracuiis dech^rantur, multa <^vaticinat:0'n'uus, VL\a\i'?ij0'nniist (and I will fairly add, tl.o' it may he thought to make againft me) mul- ta pcrtciti:.. Here portents are join d |vith oracula^ 'vuiianationis, and
Nearer
/omnia ; and why might not Milton join them with cracles and dreams ? In anfwer to this I cbierve, that the word pD--icnts in our poet is not only irregularly inferted, but ex- cludes another fpecies of divina- tion out of a place, where the au- thority of Cicero himfelf and in this very paOage too, wouid make one expe£l to find it ; which can- not be faid of p„rtentis. And now perhaps a conjefture may appear not void of probability, that the poet didated,
And anfwers, oracles, prophets, and dreanis. Calton.
I have given this learned note at length, though I can by no means agree to the propos'd alteration. My greateft objection to it is, that i coiiceive Milton would not have inferted prophets betweenor^ic/fj and d>ea,vis,any more than Cicero would have inferted 'vates between oracu/cf s.\\dj omnia. Cicero has faid oraculc^^ n;afic:nuliones, fcn?ria ; 2nd Niiiton in like manner would -have faid by prfjogcs a^.d Jfgtis, and avj-ivers, oracles, prophecies, noK prophets, c;n4 dfcan-.s. But 1 fuppofe the poet was not v» i'ling to ci^cnbt prop he ry to the Ds,v)i j he might think, and very juitly
Book I. PARADISE REG AIN'D. 39
Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof, 400
That fellowfhip in pain divides not fmart,
Nor lightens onght each man's p::^cijUar load.
Small confolation then, were man adjoin'd :
This wounds me moit (what can it lefs ? ) that man,
/
Man
juilly think, that it lay not within his rphere and capacity : and by />or/c///jhe plainly underiiandbronie- thing more than trfjages and Jtgns, as/>5;Vf.v/« are rank'd with movfira and frcdigia in the beit Latin au- thors. The gentleman Teems ap- prehenhve that his lall quotation from Cicero may be turned againfl him : and indeed that pallage ai;d this refiedt fo much light on each other, as would incline one to be- lieve that Milton had it in mind as he was compofing. Multa cernunt haruipices : multa augmes provi- dent: thefeare ihe prejagfs at/tijigns anii anjkvers : multa oraculis decla- rantur, multa vaticinationibus, mul-. ta fomniis, multa portentis : here poricnts 2.Te annumerated with ora- cles and dreams : quibus cognitis, multx fepe res homimim JetJentia atque iitilitate parta (or as Lambin reLGJ, ex ar.hnijcmcntia atque utili- /(^/t7Yir/^)mulraetiam periculade- pulfa funt : the fenie of which is very weil expreiTed by the follow- ing line in Milton,
Whereby they may direct their future life.
400. — novo I feel by pro-: f.
That ftllciv/:j!p in pain S-vides not Jmart,'\ Our author here had in his eye this line of the poet,
Solamen miferis focios habui/Ie doloris. Thyer.
402. Acr lightens ought each man s pecul.ar Uad.^ 1 think it will net be caviling to fay, that each " man's peculiar load Ihould not-be put in the mouth of Satan, who was no man, who had confefled to Chrill that he was the unfortunate Arch-Fiend, and who fpeaks of hinifelf. If Milton had been a- ware of it, he would have corred- ed it thus,
Nor lightens ought e:ich (?«/j pe- culiar load,
or in fome other manner. Befides the word tnan is repeated here too often.
Nor lightens ought each man's peculiar load.
Small confolation then, were man adjoin'd :
This wounds me moft (what can it lefs r ) that ?nan,
Man fall'n (hall be reftor'd, I ne- ver more. Jortin.
404. This nvottnds me moji &cj D 4 Very
40 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book L
Man fall'n fliall be reflor'd, I never more. 405
To whom onr Saviour fternly tlrus reply'd.
Defervedly thou griev'il, compcs'd of lies
From the beginning, and in lies wilt end ;
Who boaft'll releafe from Hell, and leave to come
Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns : thou corn'ft indited, 410
As a poor miferable captive thrrJl
Comes to the place where he before had fat
Among the prime in fplendor, now decos'd,
Ejeded, em.ptied, gaz'd, 'ur.citya, ihunn'd,
A fpedlaclc of ruin or of Icorn 415
To all the hofl of Heav'n : the hapny place
Imparts to thee no happincis, no y>y^
Rather inflames thy torment, rcprefcnting
Loft blifs to thee no more communicable,
So
Very artful. A5 he could r,or ac- one ine-at part of his defign, that
quit hiaifelf of envy and jriifchicf he riiight be able, if polhble, to
he endevors to foften his crimes counterplot and prevent ic. With
by affigning this caufe of them. no Ic'c judgment is our Saviour ic-
IVarburton. preicnted in the following anKer
This wounds me mod (what can it taking no other notice of it than by
lefs ? ) that niari, replying Dcfci'vediy thcu grie-Jf: S^c
Man fall'n (hall be rellor'd, I ne- 'f/.jer.
ver more. 4:6. — t/jc hupp^ place .Xrc ] J'he
The poet very judicioGily makes famt^ noble fcntimcijt ue '^xA aKo
the Tempter conclude with th-fc in Paradiie loil. JX. 467.
lines concerning the refloration of But the hot HcII that always in
fall'n man, in order to lead our Sa- him burns,
viour to fay fomething about the Though in mid Hfcav'n, &c.
iJWnner of it, to know which was Thyer.
417. /;/;-
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 41
So never more in Hell than when in Heav'n. 420
But thou art ferviceable to Heav'n's King,
Wilt thou impute t' obedience what thy fear
Extorts, or pleafure to do ill excites ?
What but thy malice mov'd thee to mifdeem
Of righteous Job, then cruelly to' afHidt him 425
With all inflictions ? but his patience won.
The other fervice was thy chofen taik,
To be a liar in four hundred mouths ;
For lying is thy fuftenance, thy food.
Yet thou pretendTr to truth j all oracles 430
By thee are giv'n, and what confefs'd more true
Among the nations ? that hath been thy craft,
Bv mixins; fomewhat true to vent more lies.
But what have been thy anfwers, what but dark.
Ambiguous
417. Imparts to thee] In all the 426. With all infli^ions ? but his
editions it is printed Imports to thee, patience -««.] So Mr. Fenton
but in the Errata of the firfl: edition points this paiTage in his edition,
we are defired to read Imparts to and fo it fhould be pointed. And
thee. It is no wonder that the er- the verb ^von 1 think is not ofcea
rors of the firft edition are conti- ufed as a verb neuter, but I find
ni:ed in the fubleq^uenc ones, when it fo in Spenfer's Faery Queen,
thofe errors do notmuch difturb che B. i . Cant. 6. St. 39. fenle : but even where they make , j , , n n 1 • 1. j.
cownngni. nonlenie or the panage, °
they are ilill continued; and we had *^^" '^'^'"^
a moll remarkable inftance a little 43^. But ivhat ha've Been thy an- bef'ire in ver. 400. Ne-cer acquaint- Jxvers, it:hat hut dark,'] The
« ior Nearer etquainted. oracles were often fo obfcure and
dubious,
42
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
Ambiguous and with double fenfe deluding, 435
Which they who a&'d have feldom underftood,
And not well underftood as good not known ?
Who ever by confijlting at thy flirine
Return'd the wiier, or the more inflrud:
To fly or follow what concern'd him moft, 440
And run not fooner to his fatal fnare ?
For
dnbiou?, thit there was need of oiher oracles to explain them. Sed jam ad te venio,
Saridle Apollo qui umbilicum cer-
tum terrarum obfides, Unde fuperftiticfa primum Tajva
evafu vox fera,
tuis enim craculis Chryfippus to- torn volumen implevit, paitim fal- frs, ut ego opinor, partim cafu ve- ris, ut fit in omni oratione fepiffi- jne ; partim Jiexiloquis, isf obfcuris, at inteypres egeiJi interpret e, ts Jo' s i^/a ad fortes referenda Jit ; fariiin mnbiguis, Cff qure ad dialcdictiin de- fererJafnt, Cicero De Div. I J. 56. C ait on. Milton in thefe lines about the Heathen oracles Teems to have had in view what Eufebius fays more copictlly upon this fubj^d in the £fth book of his Pra^paraiio Evan- gelica. That learned father rea- fcns in the very fame way about them, and gives many inftances fiom hiilory of their deluHve and double meanings. It may not per- laps be inipertinent to mcution
one by wny of illuflrat/on. Crce- fu5 fending to coni'uit the Dflphic orac'e about the fuccefs of his in- tended expedidon againil the Per- fian received this anfwer,
Croefus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opjm vim,
which by the ambiguity of one word might either fig:;;fy the con- quell of the Perfian cn:pire, or the ruin of his own : but he, as it was natural eno'jgh for an ambitious prince to do, conftruing it accord- ing to his own Haltering hopes, was overcome and loll his kingdom.
Tfyer.
447. But from him or his Angels /i;Y/7^/tv//jUtituretiam eisDeus (Damo:,ibus, ad veritatis manife- llarioncm per ipfos fiendiim, dum divina mylleria tis per Angelos re- ve'antur. The words are quoted from Aquinas (zdazdaeQueft. i 72. Art. 6 ) but the opinion is as old at Icall as St. AuUm, whole authority
he
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
43
For God hath juftly giv'n the nations up
To thy delufions j juftly, fince they fell
Idolatrous : but when his purpofe is
Among them to declare his providence 445
To thee not known, whence haft thou then thy truth,
But from him or his Angels prefident
In every province ? who themfelves difdaining
T'approach
lie and Peter Lombard alled^e for jc. Call on.
This notion Milton \try probably had from TertuHianand St. Auftin. Tertuiiian fpeakingof the Gods of the Heathens and their oracles fays — Difpofitiones etinm Dei & tunc prophetis concionantibus excepe- runt, & nunc ledionibus refonanti- bus carpunt, ita & hinc fumentes jquafdam temporum fortes semulan- tur divinitatem, dum furantur divi- nationem. In oraculis autem, quo ingenio ambiguitates temperent in eventus, fciunt Crceii, fciuntPyrrhi. Apol. C. 22. St. Auilin more a p- pofitely to our prefent purpofe, an- fvvering the Heathen boiAs of their
oracles fa> s tamcn nee ilia ip-
fa, qua; ab eis vix raro & clanculo proferunturj movere nos debent, fi cuiquam Dsmonum extortum ell id prodere cuitoiibusfuis, quod di- diceral ex eloquiis prophetaram, vel oraculis Angelorum. Aug. De Div. Dsc-monum. Stcl. 12. Tom. 6. Ed. Bened. And again Cumenim vuit Deus etiam per infi.aios infer- ^ofqac Ipiiituo aliquem vera cog-
nofcere, temporalia dumtaxat atque ad iitam mortalitatem pertinentia, facile elt, et non incongruum, ut cmnipotens et jullus ad eorum poe- nam, quibus ilia pr^dicuntur, ut m^lum quod eis impendet ante quain veuiat prajnofcendo patian- tur, occulto apparatu minillerio- rum fuorum etiam fpiritibus talibus aiiqaid divinationis impertiat, ut quod audiunt ab Angelis, prtcnun- tient ho.Tiinibus. De Div. Quell, ad Simpl. L. 2. S. 3.Tom.6. The following paffage from the fame place of St. Auftin may ferve to iliullraie what Milton fays above at ver. 432.
that hath been thy craft.
By mixing fomewhat true to vent mere lies.
Mifcent tamen ifti 'Dxmones) fa!- lacias, & verum quod nofle potue- rint, non docendi magis quam de- cipiendi f ne praenunciant. T^hyer.
447, — or his An^eh prefi'ient In e-jcry province ?'\ Milton has here follow'd the Septuagint read- ing
44
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book L
T' approach thy temples, give thee in command
What to the fmailefl: tittle thou ihait fay 450
To thy adorers j thou with trembling fear,
Or like a fawning paralite obey'ft ;
Then to thyfelf afcrib'fl the truth foretold.
But this thy glory Ihall be foon rctrench'd j
No
ing in Deuteronomy. *C)te $ sus-
Warbnrton.
4^3. Tien to thyfelf af crib' Jl the truth foretoU.'] The Demons (Laclantius fays) could certainly forefee, and truly foretel many future events, from the knowledge they had of the djfpofitions of Providence before their fall. And then they aflumed all the honor to themfelves, pretending to be the authors, and doers of what they predifted. Nam cum difpofitiones Dei pra^fentiant, quippe qui mi- nifEri ejus fuerunr, interponunt fe in, his rebus ; ut quascur.quc a Deo vel fada funt, vel fiunr, ipii poti!- firaura facere, aut feciifc videantur. Div. Inll. II. 16. Calion.
456. â– henceforth oracles are
ceasd.'\ I would not cenfure Milton for mentioning the filcnce of oracles, at our Saviour's appear- ing in the world, both here and in his elegant hymn on Chriil's nati- vity, becaufe it adorns the poems, thd' it be a vulgar error. "Jortln. As MJl;on had heforf adopted the
ancient oj Inion of c-acles being the operations of tliC fall'n Angels, fo here alfo again hs follows the fiune authority in making them ceaie at the coming of our Sa- viour. See this maaer fully dif- cufo'd in Fontenelle's hiftory of oracle-, and father Baltus's anfwer to him. 7bycr.
458. at Deiphos'] In the fa- mous controverfy about ancient and modern learning Mr. Wotton re- proves Sir William Temple, for putting Delphos for Delphi, every where in his Eilays. Mr. Boyle juftifies it, and fa\s that it is ufed by all the finefl writers of our tongue, and bcft judges of it, par- ticularly Waller, Dryden, Creech, &c. If tliefe authorities may ju- ftify Sir \A'i'!i3m Temple, they may alio jullify Milton ; but cer- tainly the true way of writing is not Dc/phos in the accufative cafe, but De.phi in the nominative. And though one would not condemn thofe excellent writers, who have unawares fallen into the common error, yet to defend Delphos upon liiis only pretence, that it has been the cuilom of our Englifii writers
to
Book L PARADISE REGAINED.
45
455
No more (lialt thou by oracling abufe The Gentiles ; henceforth oracles are ceas'd, And thou no more with pomp and facrifice Shalt be inquir'd at Ddphos or elievv'here, At leafl: in vain^ for they fliall find thee mute. \ God hath now fent his living oracle 460
Into
to call it fo ; is, as Dr. Bentley re- plies, like the Popifh Prieft, who for 30 years together had read Mumpfinius in his brevir.ry inllead of Sumpjimus ; and when a learned man told him of his blunder, Til not change, fays he, my old Mumpji- mus for your new Su?npjviius.
460. God hath novoftnt his liviag oracle
Into the â– ivorUl'\ This heavenly oracle deiivers himfclf here, in terms clear enough to alarm the Tempter : but it was not time yet to put an end to the temptation by giving him full conviction. Tan- tum vero ei innotuit (Chriftus) quantum voluit : tantum autem vo- luit, quantum oporcuit. [^^'g- ^^ Civ. Dei IX. 21. I have put ei for eis to fuit it to my prefent pur- pofej The Son of God was fent, a man amongft men to teach them nii-va 'voce, conveying his inllruc- tions to the underilanding by the ear. In this view he was a li-ving oracle, and diliinguilh'd from the other oracle, the Holy Spirit, who communicates himfelf by filent im- preHions upon the mind within.
But Chrift had a nobler meaning.
Jn the Greek Fathers he is llii'd
avrc^a'17, C^aaec pi^Xvi, Xoy©^ ^■w>'»
eifenual life, the living counfel, and the living word of God. And St. John fays that in him 'was life, aiid toe life -'vas the light of tne?!, I. 4. This meaning was not unob- ferved by the Tempter. He eafil)r perceived that the eternal Word might be the living oracle intend- ed : and his words a little below ver. 475. feem to be a feign'd ac- knowledgment of vvhat he would not yet believe, tho' he feared it might be true.
But thou art plac'd above me,thou
art Lord; From thee I can and mult fubmils
indure Check or reproof, and glad t*
''Jcape fo quit.
Thou art the firil: begotten of God, and Lord os all things ; and thou canil remand me to that dreadful deep, whiiLer thy t.;under drove me out of ileaven. Cahon.
460. hii li'ving oracle'] We
have
46 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I.
Into the world to teach his final will,
And fends his Spi'rit of truth henceforth to dwell
In pious hearts, an inward oracle
To all truth requifite for men to know.
So fpake our Saviour j but the fubtle Fiend, 465 Though inly flung with anger and difdain, DifTembled, and this anfvver fmooth return'd.
Sharply thou haft infifted on rebuke, And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will But mifery hath wrefted from me : where 470 Eafily canft thou find one miferable, And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth ; If it may ftand him more in ftead to lie. Say and unfay, feign, flatter, or abjure ? But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord j 475 From thee I can and muft fubmifs indure Check or reproof, and glad to 'fcape fo quit. Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,
Smooth
have here correfted an error, which 474. Say and un/ay, feign, fatter,
has prevailed in mod of the edi- or abjure ? ] Might not M\\-
tionSj/oTOwj- oracle inftead of .'/w'«^ ton poflibly intend here, and
oracle ; and another a little after- particularly by the word abjure,
ward, <z«.3' inward oracle inftead of to lafli fome of his complying
an inward oracle. friends, who renounc'd their re-
publicar-
Book I. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 47
( Smooth on the tongue difcours'd, pleadng to th'ear, \ And tuneable as fylvan pipe or fong j 480
What wonder then if 1 deli^iht to hear Her did:ates from thy mouth ? mofl: men admire Virtue, who follow not her lore : permit me To hear thee when I come ((ince no man comes) And talk at leaft, though I defpair to' attain- 485 Thy Father, who is holy, wife and pure. Suffers the hypocrite or atheous prieft To tread his facred courts, and minifler About his altar, handling holy things, Praying or vowing, and vouchfaf 'd his voice 49c To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet Infpir'd ; difdain not fuch accefs to me.
To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow. Thy coming hither, though I know thy fcope, I bid not or forbid ; do as thou find'H: 495
Permiffion from above -, thou can'il: not more.
He
publican principles at the reftora- faying of Medta. Ov. Met. VIL tion ? 'Jhyer, 20.
482. mcjl men admire — ViJeo meliora, proboqae ;
Virtue, ixiho follo-iu not her lore .•] DeCeriorA fequor. Imitated from the well known
427 — anA
48
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book L
He added not j and Satan bowing low His gray diffimulation, difappear'd Into thin air diffus'd : for now began Night with her fallen wings to doublc-iliade The defert ; fowls in their clay nefts were couch 'd ; And now wild hearts came forth the woods to roam.
00
/\.gy. — aft^ Silt an bo'zving /orx' His gray dijjimulation,^ An ex- prefiion this, which your little ivord-catching critics will very pro- bably cenfure, but readers of true tafte admire. It is a true inftrince of the feliciter audet. There is another of the fame kind in this book, where the poet fays, fpeak- ing of the angelic quire, ver. 170.
â– â– and in celeftial meafures
mov'd. Circling the throntand fmging,
niohiie the hand Sung nxith the 'voice- Thyer,
498. dif appeared
Into thin air diffusd : ] So Virgil ©f Mercury. yEn. IV. i~%.
Et procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram.
500. • to double pade
i he defer t -fl He has expreffed the fame thought elfewhere
In double night of darknefs, and of fhades.
And the reader will naturally ob- ferve how properly the images are taken from the place, where the fcene is laid. It is not a de- fcription of night at large, but of a night in the defert ; and as Mr. Thyer fays, is very fliort, tho' poetical. The reafon no doubt was, becaufe the poet had before labor'd this fcene to the utmoit per- fedtion in his ParaJile Loit.
The end gf the Firil Book,
THE
Second Book
o F
PARADISE REGAINED.
Vol. I.
E
51
PARADISE REGAINED.
BOOK
IL
E AN while the new-baptlz'd, 'who yet re- main'd
At Jordan with the Baptift, and had (ecn Him whom they heard (o late exprefly call'd Jefus Meffiah Son of God declar'd,
And
T . Mean iihile the nevj-baptlz^d &c.] The greateil and indeed juil: eft objedion to this poem is the nar- rownefs of its plan, which being confin'd to that fingle fcene of oir Saviour's life on earth, his tempta- tion in the deferr, has too much famenefs in it, too much of the reafoning, and too little of the de- fcriptive part, a defedt moft cer- tainly in an epic poem, which ought to confift of a proper and happy mixture of the inftrudlive and the delightful, Milton was himfelf, no doubt, fenfible of this imperfection, and has therefore very judicioufly contriv'd and in- troduc d all the little digreflions that could with any fort of pro- priety conneft with his fubjed, in order to relieve and refrefh the reader's attention. The following converfation beiwixt Andrew and Simo!"! upon the milling our Saviour fo long, with the Virgin's reflec- tions on the fame occafion, and the
council of the Devils how beft to attack their enemy, are inftances of this fcrt, and both very happily executed in their refpefiive ways. The language of the former is rot glaring and impaffion'd, but cool and unsffeded, correfpondirg moft exadty to the humble pious cha- racter of the fpeakers. Thrt of the latter is full of energy andma- jefiy, and not a whit inferior to their moft fpirited fpeeches in the Paradife Loft. This may be given as one proof out of many others, that, if the Paradife Regain'd is inferior, as indeed I think it muft be ailovv'd to be, to the Paradife Loft, it cannot juftly be imputed, as fo me would have it, to any de- cay of M.ilton'^ genius, but to his being cramp'd down by a more barren and contracted fubjedl.
Thyer.
4. Jefui Meffiah Son cfGodde-
clur''d,'\ This is a great miftake
in the poet. All that the people
£ 2 could
52
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IL
And on that high authority had believ'd, 5
And with him talk'd, and with him lodg'd, I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known,
V/ith others tho' in holy writ not nam'd.
Now miifing him their joy fo lately found,
So lately found, and fo abruptly gone, 10
Began to doubt, and doubted many days.
And
could collefc from the declarations cf John the Baprift and the voice from Keaien was that he was a great prophet, and this was all they did in faCl colleft ; they were un- certain whether he was their pro- mis'd Mefliah. Warburton.
6. y I Kcan
Andrciu flWiVwow.] This founds very profaic ; b'Jt I find a like in- ftance or two in Harrington's iranf- lation of the Orlando Fuiioio. Cant. 31. St. 46.
And calling fiill upon that noble name.
That often had the Pagans over- come,
(I mean Renaldp's houfe of IVicn- talbane.)
And again St. 55.
Further flie did to Brandimart
recount. How fhe had feen the bridge the
Pagan made, (/ 7nean the cruel Pagan Rodo-
mount.)
The oarticulars here related are
founed upon the firft chapter of St John. Two of John's difci- ples, upon his teftimony, folloijoed Jefus : and tkey cavie and Janv 'vjbere he divelt, and ahcde ivith him i hat day. One of the t-vjonjuas An- di-c-iv, Sir/icn Peter''! brother. He firji f.ndeth his oivn brother Simony and Jail h unto him. We ha~je found the Mejpas ; and he brought him to je/us. Thefe incidents our author improves to great advantage ; and as his fubjeft was fcanty and bar- ren, he fhoweth his {kill and judg- ment in embelliihing it with as many particulars, and interefting as many perfons in it, as he poffibly could.
1 3 . Sometimes they thought he might he onljjho-dcn,'] Virg. JEn. Vf. 8-0.
Ollendent terris hunc tantijm fa- ta nee ultra Eife fment.
1 6. And the great Thiflite'] Or Tifsbiteas he is called in Scripture, 1 Kings XVJI. I. Elijah, a native
cf
Book II. PARADISE REGAlN'D.
53
And as the days increas'd, increab'd their doubt : Sometimes they thought he might be only fliown^ And for a time caught up to God, as once Mofes was in the mount, and miffing long ^ 1 5 And the great Thilbite, who on fiery wheels Rode up to Heav'n, yet once again to come. Therefore as thofe young prophets then with card
Sought
of Thi{be or Tifhbe, a city of the country of Gilead beyond Jor- dan. Tet once again to come. For it hath been the opinion of the church, that there would be an Elias before ChrilVs fecond eom- irig as well as before his firft : and this opinion the learned Mr. Mede fupports from the prophecy of iMalachi IV. 5. Behold I imil fend you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LordScQx and from what cur Saviour fays Mat. XVII. 1 1 . Eliaf truly Jhall firjl come, and re- fore all things. Thefe words our Saviour fpake when John Baptift was beheaded, and yet fpeaks as of a thing future, aTrcxararrs-st ^pailfls, and jhall refiore all things. But as it was not Elias in perfon, but only in fpirit, who appeared before our Saviour's firll comingj fo will it alfo be before his fecond. The reader may fee the argu- ments at large in Mr. Mede's Dif- courfe XXV. which no doubt Mil- ton had read, not only on account of the fame and excellence of the
writerj but as he was alfo his fel- low-collegian.
1 8. Therefore as thofe young prO" phets then ivith care
Sought Icf Ehjah, &c] 2 Kings II. 17. They fent fifty men, and they j ought three days, but found him not. So in each place thefe jiigh to Bet ha- bar a : fuch elleipfes, as Mr, Symp- fon obferves, are frequent, and /efpecially in our author. In feri^ cho the city of palms, fo it is called Deuc. XXXIV. 3. and Jofephus, Strabo, Pliny, and all writers de- fer] be it as abounding with thofe trees. jEnon, mention'd John III, 23 as is likewife Saii?n ov Salem, And fohn aljo luas baptizing in Enon near to Salim. But there ap- pears to be no particular rcafon for our authofs calling it Salem old^ unlefs he takes it to be the fame with the Shalem mention'd Gen,- XXXlll. 18. or confounds it with the S alem \\\iGxe. Melchizedeck wa& king.A/.;?(r/6/*r«j,acaii;einthemoun<< taincus part of Peraa or the coun- try beyond Jordan, which river i? well known to ruti tbro' the lake of
M z Qent'
54 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Sought loft Elijah, fo in each place thefe
Nigh to Bethabara j in Jericho 20
The city' of pahns, i^non, and Salem old,
MachtErus, and each town or citv vvall'd
On this fide the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Perasa 5 but return'd in vain.
Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek, 25
Where winds with reeds and ofiers whifp'ring play.
Plain fidiermen, no greater men them call,
Clofe in a cottao;e low together got,
o to o '
Their unexpeded lofs and plaints out breath'd.
Alas, from what high hope to what relapfe 30 Unlook'd for are we fall'n ! our eyes beheld Meffiah certainly now come, fo long Expected of our fathers ; we have heard His words, his vvifdom full of grace and truth ; Now, now, for fure, deliverance is at hand, 3 5
The
Qenezarrth, or the Tea of Tiberias, A fliepherd's hoy, no better do
or the Tea of Galilee, as it is other- him call.
wiie called. So that they fearched ., - , j. , ,
, , / • /- - T J ■^O. Alas, from ivoat hipo hope
in each place on this has ordan, ^ ^ ^ j • i. r ,i j- •
n , ^ / &c bo we read in the nrlt edition ;
or in reraa, •S7£pa> lofcxm, be- • ^ r l • ■• ur ji
, . ^ r ' jj) moiVL of the otners it is ablurdly
vond it. . , '
13/ â– r? . printed
27. rlasn pjhnnien, no greater *â–
men thtm call,'] Imitated from Alas, from that high hope to
the beginning of Spenfer's Shep- what lelapfe,
herd's Calendar.
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D. Jf
The kingdom fhall to Ifrael be reftor'd t
Thus we rejoic'd, but foon our jcy is turn'd
Into perplexity and new amaze :
For whither is he gone, what accident
Hath rapt him from us ? will he now retire 40
After appearance, and again prolong
Our expedlation ? God of Ifrael,
Send thy Meffiah forth, the time is come ;
Behold the kings of th' earth how they opprefs
Thy chofen, to what highth their pow'r unjuft /h.§
They have exalted, and behind them caft
All fear of thee s arife and vindicate
Thy glory, free thy people from their yoke.
But let us wait 5 thus far he hath perform'd.
Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, 50
By his great Prophet, pointed at and fliown
In public, and with him we have convers'd ;
Let
Va: mifero mihi, quanta de fpe de- the Jews. Lord, ivilt iho-u at this
cidi ! Terence Heaut. II. III. 9. time rejiore again the kingdom to
34. full of grace and truth ;] Ifrael ? A(5ts I. 6.
Quoted from John I. \\. The Word 42. God of Ifrael, &c.] This fud-
nvas madeficjh, and dzvelt among us, den turn, and breaking forth into
— full of grace and truth. prayer to God is beautiful as it is
36. The kingdom fhall to Ifrael be furprifing : and the prayer itfelf is
refor''d:^ They are properly coreeived very moch in the fpiri:
ihade to talk in the language, and of the Pfalms, and almofl in the
According to the expectations cf words of fome of ?hem>
E 4 56. Mock
56 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IL
Let us be glad of this, and all our fears
Lay on his providence ; he will not fail,
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, ^^
Mock us with his bleft fight, then fnatch him hence j
Soon we fhall fee our hope, our joy return.
Thus they out of their plaints new hope refume
To find whom at the firft they found unfought :
But to his mother Mary, when flie faw 60
Others return'd from baptifm, not her fon,
Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none.
Within her breaft though calm,h er breaft though pure.
Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd
Some troubled thoughts, which fhe in fighs thus clad.
O
56. Mock us with his blejl fight, But [to come] to his mother
then fnatch him hence ;J Virgil Mary to [come next to fpeak
^n. I. 407. of] his mother. Sanftius obferves,
^ .- that all languages delight in bre-
, ,. . T .L *^ vity. Milton certainly is fond of
Ludis imaeinibus. ;,.•„.. u ui • j i
o It in ours. His itile is exceedingly
^n. VJ. 870. elleiptical, and fometimes crampt
_ . , . , ^ - by an unnatural concifeneC. This
Oilendent terns hunctantum fa- ^^,^^^ ^^ ,,,^ ^^.^ j^^^^ . ^^^ ^
ta neque ultra ^^,^^lj ^^^j^^^ Relieve, that the poet
ElTefinent. Jovtm. dilated
60. But to his mcther Maryl The t> ^ r^ i v.- .u n/r
c . ^^ J- But O / his mother Mary, —
meaning or the coinmon reading â– '
(if it have any, and be not a blun- See the happy efFetfi: of a very fmall
der of the prefs] muft be ad alteration ! The tranfition to the
matrem quod attinet asfior or great mother is freed from an auk-
£is to his mother IVlary ~— for her ward elleipfis ; and the poet brings
part. Or the meaning mi^ht be her_^upon the fccne, with a c itn-
DH.lIionatc
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D. $7
O what avails me now that honour liigh 66
To have conceiv'd of God, or that falute
Hail highly favor'd, among women blert !
While I to forrows am no lefs advanc'd.
And fears as eminent, above the lot 70
Of other women, by the birth I bore,
In fuch a feafon born when fcarce a flied
Could be obtain'd to fhelter him or me
From the bleak air ; a ftable was our warmth,
A manger his ; yet foon enforc'd to fly 75
Thence Into Egypt, till the murd'rous king
Were dead, who fought his life, and milling fill'd
With infant blood the flreets of Betiilehem ;
From
paflionate feeling of her grief. If A fentiment much of rht fame kind
this reading was but poiTefTed of with that in the Paradife Loft,
the editions, nothing could be ob- where upon the fall of our iiv!^
jefted to it. Calton. parents it is faid X. 23.
I am no friend to alterations of the ,• /■3 r j-i r
text, unlefs they are abfolutely ne- ^ ~^'."' ^''^"',v , v"' ^^'^
ceffary. The conlbuaion is t^^^ ' '^"' ^''
But to his mother ivithin her .^^. '/' . . , , , .
L .^/} 4i 1 J r With pity, violated not their
breajt â– motherly cares ana fears uri
get head, and rais'd Jome troubled
thoughts: and if the words were and may alfo ferve to confirm what brought thus near together, there has been obferv'd in the note upon would not perhaps be thought that that place. How much more dig- difficulty and perplexity in the nity and amiablenefs iii this cha- fyntax. r,id;er than in that of a Stoical in-
bl-Withlnherbreaft, though calm, difference aiul freedom from all
her breajl though pure, perturb, uioii as tircy tt'ua it r
Motherly cam anufsarsgot headtl Thyer.
58 PARADISE REGAIN'D, Book IL
From Egvpt home return'd, in Nazareth
Hath been our dwelling many years ; his life 80
Private, unadive, calm, contemplative,
Little fufpicious to any king 3 but now
Full grown to man, acknowledg'd, as I hear,
By John the Baptiil:, and in public ihown,
Son own'd from Heaven by his father's voice ; S^
I Icok'd for fo:ne great change ; to honor r no.
But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold,
That to the fall and rifmg he fliould be
Of manv in Ifrael, and to a fi^n
Spoken againft, that through my very foul go
A fword (liall pierce ; this is my favor'd lot,
My exaltation to afflidtions high -,
Afiiided I may be, it feems, and bleft y
1
n^. in Nazcreth I z'jill not argue thst, nor ^li^HI re-*
Hath been our dnuellirg many years ; ] pine.
She mentions this as part of their But nvhere delays he no^zv ^ fome
dilirelE, becaufe the country of Ga- great intent
iilce, whereof Nazareth was a city, Conceals him ; J Kovv charmingly
was the mod defpifed part of Pa- does Miiton here verify the cha-
'efiine, defpifed by the Jews them- rajfler he had before given of the
feives ; and therefore Nathaniel blefied Virgin in the lines above ?
alketh Philip John 1. 46. Can ^^ichin her breafi though calm, there cny gcod thing c,^:t out of^a- ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ p^^^^
^^'"' '' "'' Motherly cares and fears got
93. /ff.i^cd 1 may be^ it feem!,
auj ileji ^ We fee at one view the piety of
the
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
59
I will not argue that, nor will repine.
But where delays he now ? fome great intent 9 j
Conceals him : when twelve years he Tcarce had feen,
I loft him, but fo found, as well I law
He could not lofe himfelf 5 but went about
His Father's bulinefs ; what he meant I mus'd,
Since underftand j much more his abfence now 100
Thus long to fome great purpofe he obfcures.
But I to wait with patience am inur'd ;
My heart hath been a ftore-houfe long of things
And fay'ings laid up, portending ftrange events.
Thus Mary pond'ring oft, and oft to mind 105 Recalling what remarkably had pafs'd Since firft her falutation heard, with thoughts Meekly compos 'd awaited the fulfilling :
The
the faint, and the tendernefs of the mother ; and ! think _ ,;hir.g can bt conce^v'u more beautifal and movinor than that fudden ftarr of ford vopatence in the -'iird line, Bui iKjhsf^ d:lays ke no--w ? breaking in fc abjubtly upon the coinpos'd refignation exprc-is'd in the two preceding ones. The fame beauty is ccntiiiued in her iuddenly check- ing herfelf, and rcfuming h^: cdlm and refign'd chara-iiler asrain in thefe
words fome gnat itUrnt conceals
kim. Thyer.
103, My heart hath been ajlore- houfe long of things
^n^ Jaxings laid up,
Thui 'Mary pondering eft. ] AHud- ing to w.h3t is faid of her, Luke ]I. 19. But Man p-ept all the/e ihifiis, and pofider'd them i^rhr hsr.rt: and again, ver. ji. but his rP'ther ke.t all thefe nv.ir;gs in her heart ' \o conuftenc js che pait that fhe atli here with her character in Scripture.
1 10-. — -Milh
6o PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IL
The vvhile her Ton tracing the defert wild,
Sole but with holieU: meditations fed, i lo
Into himfelf defcended, and at once
All his great work to come before him fet ;
How to begin, how to accomplish bed:
His end of being on earth, and miffion high ;
For Satan with ily preface to return 1 15
Had left him vacant, and with fpeed was gone
Up to the middle region of thick air.
Where all his potentates in council fat ;
There without fign of boaft, or fign of joy.
Solicitous
110. nvith holiej! meditations 122. from tP element
fed,'] An expreflion very figni- Each of his reign allotted, rightlier
ficant, and the fame wiih that in. caWd
Paradife Loft. III. 37. Po-i'/rs of fire, air, nvater, and
earth beneath,'] It was a notion
i:\itnfeedonthoughtskc. a^^^ng the Ancients, efpecially
Ihyer. among the Platonilb, that there
\\\. Into himfelf defended.'] In were Demons in each element,
fefedefcendere.PerfmsSat.lv. 23. feme vifible, others invifible, in
the aether, and fire, and air, and 115.— ^jjithfly preface to return] ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ p.^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^^.j^
Mr. bympfon propofes to read, ^^^3 ^^^^^^ ^f f^^^j . ^^^^ ^^ ^^^
— with fly purpcfe to return : «''^^'" ^a.^«£j, i; xa» x.aX^o.*, cl-j
bat preface is better, alluding to twk roi^sii,'*, ol ^6i» &e«~o»> <>' ^^ what batan had faid 1. 483, aojaTa, ev re aifii^i, 'k^* -an/g*^ permit me ^^f" ~'' "*' vaacn, ax; i/.n^ev hot- To hear thee when I come, ^V. ff, ^^"^ .^"X,"' f'f"*'?-""' '"*;' ,^^ ». Alcinous in his lummary or the
/..Satan's concluding fpeech at their Platonic do»^Uine fays cap. 5. IVli- Hril'mceting was a preface to their chael Pfellus. in his dialogue con- «}ieu:,g a^ain. cerning the operation of Demons,
from
Book II. PARADISE REGAINED.
6i
Solicitous and blank he thus began 120
Princes, Heav'n's ancient Sons, ethereal Thrones,
Demonian Spirits now from th* element
Each of his reign allotted, rightlier calFd
Povv'rs of fire, air, water, and earth beneath,
So may we hold our place, and thefe mild feats 125
Without new trouble ; fuch an enemy
Is rifen to invade us, who no lefs
Threatens than our expullion down to Hell ;
I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Confenting in full frequence was impower'd, 130
Have
from whenceMilton borrow'd fome of his notions of ipirits, (as we obferved in a note upon the Pa- radife Loll I. 423.) fpeaks to the fame purpofe, that there are many kinds of Demons, and of all forts of forms and bodies, fo that the air above us and around us is full, the earth and the fea are full, and the in moll and deepefl recefTes : 'ao7\7\ct, oocifAoiUv yn'C} y-cit •jzravTo-
^CtTTX T«? tOt«5 y.CCt TO, aUfJidTX'
i^ ii;at 'dhfifri ^juv rov ccipx, tov
^a:' '!i7'.-')ffi OB ya.:ot,v y.xi Sa-
^â– jam: [(3'j9>ac] T057a,-, p. 41. and he divides them into fix kinds, the fiery, the aery, the earthy, the watry, the fubterraneous, and the
lucifugOUS : TO ^KH-BJI'^-JJ, TO Ul- flO*, TO p^SjJJOK, TO iopatOK T£
xai ivcckicv, TO vwo^^onii, to jjh- o-5(p«£; zai dvc-anrSriTov. p. 4^,
Edit. Lutet. Parif. 161 5. But the Demons not only refided in the elements, and partook of their na- ture, but alfo prefided and ruled over them, as Jupiter in the air, Vulcan in the fire, Neprune in the water, Cybele in the earth, and Pluto under the earth.
130. "in full freiueKce] Mil- ton, in his Hiflcry of England, has faid. The aff^mbly was full and frequent : and in Paradife Loft I. 797. the council of Devils was fre- quent and full. Here the adjeiftive is converted into a fubdanrive, and in L 128 : and Shakefpear ufes it in the fame manner. Timon Aft c. Sc. 3.
Tell
62
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Have found him, view'd him, tafled him, but find
Far other labor to be undergone
Than when I dealt with Adam firft of men.
Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell.
However to this man inferior far, 135
If he be man by mother's ilde at leafl,
With more than human gifts from Heav'n adorn'd,
Ferfedions abfolute, graces divine.
And amplitude of mind to greateft deeds.
Therefore I am return'd, left confidence 140
Of my fuccefs with Eve in Paradife
Deceive
Teil A til ens in the frequence of
degree. From lii^h to low throughout.
I'i;^. If he be man hy jncther' s fde at kaf,^ TheTernpter had no jJoubt of Lhnil's being a fnan hy the m')iher''sfid^ : but the vvar\t of a comma in its due pL^ce after nio.n, Kath puzzled both the fenfe and ihe confiruflion. He is mull be '^nderilood at the end of the verfe, \o ftrpport the fyntax.
if he be man, by mother's fide at leaft [he is]. Calton.
We ha\e fiill preferved the point- ing cf Milton's own edition ; for fo0ie perhaps may choofe to join thevvhofe together, and undcrftand ii thus, Satan had heard Jiim de-
clar'd from Heaven, and knew him to be the Son of God ; and now after the trial that he had made of him, he queflions whether he be man euen by the mother's fide.
If he be man by mother's fide at leaft.
And it is the purport of Satan in this fpeech not to fay any thing to the evil Spirits t-hat may lefien, but every thing that may raife their idea of his antagonift.
139. And amplrii/Je of mind to great cjl </c/?rfj.]There is a great der.l of dignity as well as fignifi- cancy in this expreflion, and none certainly could have been better felcfted to exprefs the idea which the poet intended to convey. He bonow'd it very probably from
the
Bock II. PARADISE REGAIND.
63
Deceive ye to perfuafion over-fure
Of like fucceeding here j I fummon all
Rather to be in readinefs, with hand
Or council to afTift ; left I who erfl 14^
Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.
So Ipake th' old Serpent doubting, and from all With clamor was afTur'd their utmoft aid At his command ; when from amidft them rofe Belial, the diftbluteft SpiVit that fell, 150
The fenfualleft, and after Afmodai The flefhlieft Incubus, and thus advis'd.
Set
the following pafTage in Tully's Tufc. Difp. II. 25. Hocigitur tibi ^roYiont, amplitudinem et quafequan- dam e X agger at ionem quam altijjtmam anitni, quas maxime eminet con- temnendisetdefpiciendisdoloribus, unam efle omnium rem pulcherri- mam. Milton had a very happy talent in the choice of words, and indeed it is a very confiderable part of the poet's art. Let the reader but try to fubftitute any ether word of the fame Signification in the place of amplitude in this verfe, and he will foon be convinc'd, that none can be found to fill it up with equal beauty and propriety. Thyer. I ^o. Belial, the dijfoluiejl &c] I have heard thefe three lines ob-
je£led to as harlh and inharmo- nious, but in my opinion the very objeftion points out a remarkable beauty in them. It is true, they don't run very fmoothly off the tongue, but then they are with much better judgment fo contriv'd. that the reader is oblig'd to lay a particular emphaiis, and to dwell as it were for feme time upon that word in each verfe which moil firongly exprefTes the charac- ter defcrib'd, viz. dijfolut^ji., fenfu- alifjl, jiejhliefl. This has a very good efFefl by iraprelTing the idea more llrongly upon the mind, and contributes even in fome meafure to increafe our averfion to the odious charader of Belial by giv- ing an air of deteltation to the
very
64
PARADISE REGAINED. Book II.
Set women in his eye, and in his walk, Among daughters of men the faireft found ; Many are in each region pafTing fair As the noon fky ; more like to GoddelTes Than mortal creatures, graceful and difcreet, Expert in amorous arts, inchanting tongues Perfuafive, virgin majefty with mild And fweet allay 'd, yet terrible t' approach,
^55
i6o Skill'd
very tone of voice with which thefe verfes mufl neceiTarily be read.
Tfyer. 15^. Set ivomen in his eye. Sec. ] As this temptation is not men- tion'd, nor any hint given of it in the gofpcis, it could not fo well have been propofed to our Saviour, jt is nriuch more fitly m^ce the fub- jecl of debcte among the wicked Spiiiti- ihemfelves. All that can W faid in commendation of the power of beauty, and all that can be alledgtd to depreciate it, is here fiimm'd up with greater force and elegance, than I ever remem- ber to have feen it in any other au- thor. And the charader of Belial in the Paradife l.o\\, and the part that he fuiUins there, fufhcientjy Ihow how properly he is intro- duced upon the prefent occafion. f^e is faid to be thefiejhlieji Incubus after jjj7nodai, or /ijmadai as it is written Paradife Loft VT 365, or JJiiicdius IV. 1 68. the luflful Angel, xvho loved Sarah the daughter of
Rague], and deflroyed her feven huToands, as we read in the book of Tobit.
155. â– " P^IP^g f^'^'l Our au- thor had feveral times met vyith this phrafe in his beloved Spenfer and Shakefpear ; and particularly in Romeo's commendations of his mifcrefs. AQ. i. Scene 2.
Show me a miflrefs, that is pa/~
ft fig fair ; What doth her beauty ferve, but
as a note, Where ] may read who pafs'd
^\\2X paJfiHg fair P
161. Skill'd to retire, and in re- tiring dra^jj
Hearts after thept] In the fame manner Milton in hi$ defcription of Eve. Paradife Loft. VIII. 504.
Not obvious, not obtrufive, but
retir'd. The more defirable.
Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets, Milton feems to ufe the word
Book II. PARADISE REGAlN'D.
65
Skii 'd to retire, and in retiring draw Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets. Such objed: hath the pow'r to foft'n and tame Severeft temper, fmooth the rugged'fl brow, Enerve, and with voluptuous hope diflblve, 165 Draw out with credulous delare, and lead At will the manlieft, refoluteft breaft. As the magnetic hardeft iron draws.
WomeHj
mnorous rather in the fenfe of the Italian amorcfo, which is applied to any thing relating to the paffion of love, than in its common Eng- lifn acceptation, in which it gene- rally exprefles fomething of the paffion itfelf. Thjer.
166. Draiu out ivith credulous
dejire,'\ This beautiful expref-
fion was form'd partly upon the
/pes animi credula mutui of Horace.
Od, IV. I. 30.
— fond hope of mutual fire. The ftill-believing, ftill-renew'd defire,
as Mr. Pope paraphrafes it. And as Mr. Thyer thinks, it is partly an allufion to Terence. Andria. IV. I. 23.
— Non tibi fatis efie hoc vifum
folidum eit gaudium Nifi me ladafles amantem, et
falja fpe pt oduceres.
168. y^s the magnetic hardefi iron dra-ix)s.'\ Lucian hath this fi-
VOL.I.
mile in his Imagines Vol. 2. p. 2. Ed. Gr^v. El (5's Kccxui/ri ta^oa- Q>.i-\rHi ae, TK frai jji.v)^ccvri cctto- s-Y)vcti uvT-fji; ; ccTru^u ya-f as avx-
h AiQ®' h rjpax.XEta oga tov atori- ^ov. But if the fair one once look upon you, what is it that can get you from her ? She will draw you after her at pleafure, bound hand and foot, juft as the loadftone draws iron. We may obferve that Milton, by retraining the compa- rifon to the power of beauty over the wifeft men and the moft ftoical tempers, hath given it a propriety, which is lofl in a more general application. See a little poem of Claudian's on the Magnet. It is the 5th of his Eidyllia. Calton, As the magnetic. It fhould be the magnet, or the magnetic Ji one : but Milton often converts iheadjeftive, and ufes it as the fubftantive. Mr. Thyer wifhes fome authority could be found to juftify the omitting of thifi line, which in his opinion \% F very
66
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Women, when nothing elfe, begiiil'd the heart
Of wifeft Solomon, and made him build, 170
And made him bow to the Gods of his wives.
To whom quick anfwer Satan thus return'd.
Belial, in much uneven fcale thcu weigh'fl
All others by thyfelf ; becaufe of old
Thou thyfelf doat'dft on womankind, admiring i j^
Their fliape, their color, and attradive grace,
None are, thou think'ft, but taken with fuch toys.
Before the flood thou with thy lufty crew,
Falfe
very low and mean ; and appears too the more fo, as it immediately follows fome of the fiiieft and moft mafterly verfes in the whole poem. The fimile is in itfelf trite and common, and the conceit implied in the word hardeji boyifli to the laft degree. This fhows that all Milton's learning and genius could not entirely preferve him from be- ing infedted with that fanciful fort of wit, which too much prevailed in the age in which he iiril formed his taile.
117. J^one are, thou think'' Jl^ but taken nuith fuch toys. '\ The line would be clearer, if it run thus,
None are, thou think'ft, taken but with fuch toys. Sympfon.
178. Before t he Jlood See] It is to be lamented that our author has (o often adopted the vulgar notion of
the Angels having commerce with women, founded upon that mifta- ken text of Scripture, Gen. VI. 2. The fans ofGcdJa^w the daughters of men, that they ^were fair ; and they took thsm ivi'ves of all nvhich they chofe. See Paradife Loft III. 463. and V. 447. But tlio' he feems to favour that opinion, as we may fuppofe, to enibellifli his poetry, yet he ftiows elfevvhere that he un- derftood the text rightly, of the fons of Seth, who were the wor- fliippers of the true God, inter- marrying with the daughters of wicked Cain. Paradife Loft XI. 621.
To thefe that fober race of men,
vvhofe lives Religious titled them the fons of
God, Shall yield up all their virtue,
all their fame
Ignobly,
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
67
Falfe titled fons of God, roaming the earth
Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men, 180
And coupled with them, and begot a race.
Have we not feen, or by relation heard.
In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'ft.
In wood or grove by mofly fountain fide.
In valley or green meadow, to way-lay 185
Some beauty rare, Califto, Clym.ene,
Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
Ignobly, to the trains and to the
fmiles Of thefe fair atheills.
I 80. Cajl njs anion e'fes on the daugh- ter s of men, "] In Pfellus's Dia- logue De Oper. D^^m. thefe fenfu- alities feeni to be confin'd to the three loweft orders of evil De- mons : [p. 39. Ed. Gaulm. Lut. Par. 1 61 5.] and Afmodai in the Greek of Tobit is called only a Demon or an evil Demon ; tho' the Talmudifts, Grotius fay?, [not. ad Tobiam] fethim at the head of all the Demons. In our poet's time it was ferioufly believed by very learned men of our own, ad- dicted to the Platonic philofophy, that the Devil had carnal com- merce with witches. See More's Antidote againil atheifiii. B. 3. chap. 12. C alt on.
Too
182. â– or by relation heard,']
Here Milton forgot himfelf. It is a Devil who fpeaks ; yet the words can only fuit the poet. Warburton.
188, many more
Too long,"] A concife way of fpeaking for many inore too long to mention. The author had ufed it before. Paradife Loft III. 473. And indeed more would have been too long, and it would have been better, if he had not enumerated fo many of the loves of the Gods. Califto, Setvele, Antiopa were mif- treffes to "Jupiter ; Climene, and Daphne to Apollo ; Jmymone to liep- tune, and Syrinx to Pan. Thele things are known to every fchool- boy, but add no dignity to a di- vine poem : and in my opinion are not the moft pleafing fubjects in painting any moie than in poetry, tho' wrought by the hand of a Ti- F 2 tian
68
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IL
Too long, then ky'ft thy fcapes on names ador'd, Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, 190
Satir, or Faun, or Sylvan ? But thefe haunts Delight not all > among the fons of men, How many have with a fmile made fmall account Of beauty and her lures, eafily fcorn'd
tian or a Julio Romano. But our author niakes ample amendb in what follows.
190 Apollo, Nrptune, &c] Both here and eliewhere Milton conliders the Gods of the Heathens a^ De- mons, or Devils. Yla,f\is ol $ioi Ttt-'v i^:uv ^uijxo'AU. rial. XCV. 5.
And the notion of the Demons having commerce with women in the fhape of tfie Heathen Gods is very ancient, and is exprefl) af- ferted byJuftinMartyr, from whom probably our author borrow'd it. np-naiTon ya^ r cc^'foeg' ettej to 'Wu^cciov ooctf/.oii; ^Cf.T^rA t7ri(pu- vna,-- 'BJoiriCra.piivoi, y.cn yvvxiy.x^
sixoix^va-cti, X. T. A. For verily I mult tell you, that heretofore theJe impure Spirit; under various apparitions went into the daughters of iren, and defiled boys, and drefs'd up fuch fcenes of horror, that fuch a? enter'd not into the reafon of things, but judg'd by appearance only, ftood aghaft st the fpeders, and being fhrunk up with fear and amazement, and ne- ver imac'ining 'em to be Devils call'd 'em Gods, and invok'd 'em by fuch titles, as every Devil was
All
pleas'd to nick-name himfelf by. And again. But far be it from men of fenfe to harbour fuch opi- nions of the Gods, namely that their Jove the fupreme, and Fatherl of all the Gods, fliould be a par- ricide, and the fon of a parricide,! and be captivated by the vilefl lulls, and defcend upon Ganimede, and a crew of notorious adulteref- fes, and beget children after his own likenefs. But as 1 have faid, thefe were the aftions of wicked Spirits. aXX , u; 'm3oi(pr,f/.sv, oi ^»i- y.ovi; locvTU i77ox^e/.y. Apol. I. p»
10 & 33. Edit. I'hirlbii.
1 96. Remember that Pelican cort' qiiercr, &;c j Alexander the great, who was born at Pella iai Macedonia : and his continence^ and clemency to Darius's queen, and daughters, and the other Per- fian laaies whom he took captive after the battle at Jfius, are com- mended by the hiltorians. Turn quidem ita fe geffit, ut omnes ante eum rcges et continentia et de- mentia vincerentur. Virgines enim regias excelientis forms tam fanfle habuit, quam fi eodem quo ipfe parenie genitae forent : conjugem ejufdem,
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
69
All her alTaults, on worthier thinrrs intent r
Remember that Pellean conqueror,
A youth, how all the beauties of the eaft
He flightly view'd, and llightly overpafs'd 3
How he Urnam'd of Africa difmifs'd
In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid.
^95
200 For
ejufdem, quam nulla jetatis fuas pulchritudine corporis vicit, adeo ipfe non violavit, ut fummam ad- hibuerlt curam, ne quis captive corpori illuderet &c. Quint. Curt. Lib. 3. cap. 9. And this is the more extraordinary, as he was then a young conqueror of about 23 years of age, a )ouih, as Milton exprefTes it. It would have been happy, if he had behaved with the fame moderation in other inllances afterwards.
199. Ho'W he fimarn d of Af'ica &c.] The continence oi Scipio Jfri- canui at the age of 24, and his generofity in relloring a handfome Spani(h lady to her hufband and friends, are celebrated by Polybius Lib. 10. and after him by Livy Lib. 26. cap. 50. and Valerius Maximus Lib. 4. cap. 3. and va- rious other authors. And yet, not- withilanding thefe tellimonies, a noble author hath lately called in queftion the truth of the fadl, and the charaaer of Scipio. " Noiv *' the reputation of the firft Scipio *' was not fo clear and uncontro- *' verted in pniate as in pubiic " life ; nor was he allowed by all
" to be a man of fuch fevere vir- " tue as he alFcfted, and as thac •' age required. Nsevius was " thought to mean him in fome " verfes Gellius has preferved* '• And Valerius Antias made no " fcruple to afTerr, that far from " retloring the fair Spaniard to " her family, he debauched and " kept her. See the Idea cf a fa- " triot king p 204. We hope this is faid only for the fake of a parti- cular application to a particular character, and (houid be forry to have the world deprived of fo fhining an example of virtue, up- on no better authority. For as an excellent writer has obferved upon the occafion, " the words of Nas- " vius are thefe,
Etiam qui res magnas manu fsepe
ceflit gloriofe, Cujus facta viva nunc vigent,qui
apud gentes foius Pra;Uat; ei:m fuus pater cum pal- lio uno ab arnica abduxit.
" Thefe obfcure verfes were in " Gellius's opinion, the foie four = <• dation of Antias's calumny a- " gainft the univerfal concuirence F 3 *' of
70
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
For Solomon, he liv'd at eafe, and full
Of honor, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond
Higher defign than to enjoy his ftate ;
Thence to the bait of women lay expos'd :
But he whom we attempt is wifer far 205
Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,
Made and fet wholly on tli' accomplifiiment
Of greateft things ; what woman will you find.
Though
** of hiftorJans. His ego verfibus ** credo addudlum Valerium An- ** tiatem adverfum Cceteros omnes *' fcriptores de Scipionis moribus "fenfifie. Lib. 6. cap, 8. And " what he thought of this hifto- *« rian's modefly and truth, we *f may colledl from what he tells ** us of him in another place, " where having quoted tv\o tribu- •* nicial decrees, which he fays he ** tranfcribed from records, (ex *' annalium monumentis) he adds, *' that Valeiius Antias made no *.' fcruple to give the lie to them ?* in public. Valerius autem An- *« tias, contra hanc dtcretorum " memoriam contraque auftori- «' tates veterum annalium &c Lib. " 7. cap. 19. And Liiy in his *' 36th book, quoting this Antias " for the particulars of a viclory, *' fubjoins, concerning the num- " ber of the flain, fcriptori pa- *' rum fidei fit, quia in eo augcn *' do non alius inteinperar.f'or eft. i* And he that will amplify on
" one occafion, will diminifh on " another ; for ic is the fame in- '• temperate paffion rhat carries " him indifferently to either." See a Letter to the Editor of the Idea of a patriot king Sec. p. 25, 26.
210. On 'whom his lei Jure ^Jcill 'vouchfafe an eye
Of J'o7id defer t r"] This eje cffoid defere is \ery beautifully expiefled by ^fchylus, whom our author perhaps had in view. Suppl. ver. 101 1.
Ihyer.
214. —as the zone of Venus once Wrought that eft SI on Jo-ue, fa fables tell--, ] Alluding to the famous ftory in Homer, of Juno's borrowing the girdle of Venus, and thereby deceiving Jupiter. Iliad. XiV, 214.
H.
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
7«
Though of this age the wonder and the fame, On whom his leifure will vouchfafe an eye Of fond defire ? or fliould (he confident. As fitting queen ador'd on heauty's throne, Defcend with all her winning charms begirt T' enamour, as the zone of Venus once Wrought that efFed on Jove, fo fables tell -, How would one look from his majeftic brow
2IO
215
H, Mat CtTTO r'/OfO'^H' £^EtlI7a70
la. TETfxlo'
•Trip (p^avsonTuv.
She faid. With awe divine the
queen of love Obey'd the filler and the wife of
Jove : And from her fragrant breall
the zone unbrac d. With various &ill and high em-
broid'ry grac'd. ]n this was every art, and every
charm, To win thewifefl, and the cold- ell warm : Fond love, the gentle vow, the
gay defire. The kind deceit, the ftill-reviv-
ing fire.
Seated
Perfuafive fpeech, and more per- fuafive fighs.
Silence that fpoke, and elo- quence of eyes. Pope.
But the words fo fahks tell look as if the poet had forgot himlelF, and fpoke in his own perf^n rather than m the charafter of Satan.
216. — p'^'f^ ^" majtjiic hrouj Seated as on the top of'-uirtue' s hill,'\ Here is the conilruftion that we often meet with in Milton : from his majeftic brow, that is from the majeftic brow of him feated as on the top of virtue's hill : and the ex- preflion of wriue^s hill was pro- bably in allufion to the rocky emi- nence on which the virtues are plac'd in the table of Cebes, or the arduous afcent up the hill to which virtue is reprefented point- ing in the beft defigns of the juJg- 7nent of Hercules, particularly that by Annibal Caracci in the palace Farnefe at Rome, as well as that F 4 by
72 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Seated as on the top of virtue's hill,
Difcount'nance her defpis'd, and put to rout
All her array j her female pride dejed:,
Or turn to reverent awe ? for beauty flands 220
In th' admiration only of weak minds
Led captive; ceafe to' admire, and all her plumes
Fall flat and flirink into a trivial toy.
At every fudden flighting quite abafli'd :
Therefore with manlier objects we mufl try 225
His conftancy, with fuch as have more fliow
Of worth, of honor, glory', and popular praife ;
Rocks whereon greatefl: men have oftefl: wreck'd ;
Or that which only feems to fatisfy
Lawful defires of nature, not beyond ; 230
And now I know he hungers where no food
Is to be found, in the wide wildernefs ;
The refl: commit to me, I iball let pafs
No'
by Paolo Matthsi, painted by the Kat r^vx^^ to irfuro))' sirr.^ d'n?
direftion of Lord Shaftsbury ; but axpoi- tytticti,
the firfl thought of feating vir- 'Pj^i^hj or,-7rnrcc viXBt, yjxKiitr, -sif
tue on a hill was borrowed from maa.
old Hefiod. Oper. & Dier. I.
288. 228. ha've oftejl "joreck'd ; ]
We read according to Milton's own 1— fjLctxf^ h nui ofQi®- oifA^ its' edition ojtefi, which is better than tLv-xr^v, often in the others.
232. — "wide
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 73
No' advantage, and his ftrength as oft afTay. 234 He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud acclame j Then forthwith to him takes a chofen band Of Spirits likeft to himfelf in guile To be at hand, and at his beck appear. If caufe were to unfold fome ad:ive fcene Of various perfons each to know his part ; 240
Then to the defert takes with thefe his flight j Where flill from fhade to (liade the Son of God After forty days failing had remain'd, Now hungring firft, and to himfelf thus faid. 244 Where will this end ? four times ten days I've pafs'd Wand'ring this woody maze, and human food Nor tafted, nor had appetite ; that fail To virtue I impute not, or count part Of what I fuffer here ; if nature need not, Or God fupport nature without repail 250
Thouo;h
232. ■wide 'vciUerne/s ; ] In tempted him by propofing to him moft of the editions it is falfely his making ftones into bread, and printed ai;;/«' tu/Vd'c'/v/^j. Milton's own account in the firft
book is confident with this : is there
244, Nonv hungring firjl,"] There not therefore a feeming impro- feems, I think, to be a little inac- priety in faying that he tioi.v fifjl curacy in this place. It is plain by hungred, efpecially confidering the the Scripture account, that our Sa- time that mull have neceifarily yiour i'awgTfi/ before the Devil iiril elapfed during Satan's convening
and
74
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
â– 55
Though needing, what praife is it to indure ? But now I feel I hunger, which declares Nature hath need of what (lie afks j yet God Can fatisfy that need feme other way. Though hunger ftiil remain : fo it remain Without this body's wafting, I content me. And from the fting of famin fear no harm. Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed Me hungring more to do my father's will.
It was the hour of night, when thus the Son 260 Commun'd in filent walk, then laid him down Under the hofpitable covert nigh
Of
and confulting with his compa- nions ? T^jer.
2^9. Me hungring more to do my
Father''! 'â– v:ill.'\ In allufion to
our Saviour's words John IV. 34.
My meat is to do the -xv.ll of him that
fent me, and to finijh his ivork.
261. Comp:itn*d in Jilent nualk,
then laid him do-Mil^ Agreeable
to what we find in the Pfalms. IV.
4. Commune ivith your ozun heart
upon your bed, and be Ji ill.
264. And dream' d, as appetite is
nvont to dream, Of meats and drinks, "Y^o thispur- pofe Lucretius with great Ib'ength and elegance. IV. 1018.
Flumen item fitiens, aut fontem propter am^enum
Adfidet, et totum prope faucibus occupat amnem.
266. Him thought, &c.} We fay now, and more juftly, he thought; but him thought is of the fame con- ftru6lion as me thought, and is ufed by our old writers, as by Fairfax Cant. 13. St. 4c.
Him thought he heard the foftly whilUing wind.
He hy the brook of Cherith fioocl &C. Alluding to the account of Elijah. I Kings XVII. 5, 6. He^-ucent and d-iielt by the brook Cherith, that is before fordan : And the ravens brought him bread and fePo in the morning, and bread and fie Jh in the tvening. As what follows, //i' y^--w
the
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
75
Of trees thick interwoven ; there he ilept,
And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, 264
Of meats and drinks, nature's refrelhment fweet ;
Him thought, he by the brook of Cherith flood.
And faw the ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Ehjah bringing ev'n and morn, fbrouMif
Though ravenous, taught t' abftain from what they
He faw the prophet alfo how he fled 270
Into the defert, and how there he flept
Under a juniper j then how awak'd.
He found his flipper on the coals prepar'd.
And by the Angel was bid rife and eat,
the prophet alfo &c, is in allufion to I Kings XIX. 4. &c. But he him- felf -went a days journey into the <vji!dernejs, and came and Jat dozvn
under a juniper-tree yind as he
lay and Jlept ut-der a juniper-tree, behold then, an Angel touched him, and /aid unto him, Arije and eat. And he looked, and behold there 'was a cake baken on the coals, and a criife of n.vater at his head ; ard he did eat and drink, and la: d him do-vun again. And the Angel of the Lord came again the Jccond time, and touched him, and faid, Arife afid eat, becaufe the journey is too great for thee. And he aroje^ and did eat and drink, and njjent in the jlrength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Hovib the 7munt of God, And
And
Daniel's living M^onpulfe and iva- ter rather than the portion of the king's meat and drinlc is celebrated Dan. I. So that, as our dreams are often compofed of the matter of our waking thoughts, our Sa- viour is with great propriety fup- poied to dream of facied perfons and fubjects. Lucretius W . 959.
Et quoi quifque fere ftudio de-
vinflus adh^ret, Aut quibus in rebus multum fu-
mus ante morati, Atque in qua rationefuit conten-
ta magis mens. In fomnis eadem plerumque vi-
demur obire.
His very dreams are rightly made to Ihow our Saviour to have me- ditated
76 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book If.
And eat the fecond time after repofe, 275
The ftrength whereof fuffic'd him forty days ;
Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,
Or as a gueft with Daniel at his pulfe.
Thus wore out night, and now the herald lark
Left his ground nefl, high tow 'ring to defcry 280
The morn's approach, and greet her with his fong :
As lightly from his gralTy couch up rofe
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream.
Failing he went to lleep, and fafting wak'd.
Up to a hiil anon his ileps he rear'd, 285
From whofe high top to ken the profpedl round,
If
ditated much on the word of lines in all his works. Knight's
God. Tale. 1493.
278. Or as a guejl nvhh Daniel The merry lark, meffengere of
at his pul/e.'\ Mr. Sympfon the day,
propofes to read. Or nvas a gueft Salewith in her fong the morow
&c. gray,
, , , 7 , I ,T And firy Phebus ryfith up fo
279. — and ncM t>:e herald lark] h i ht
This is a beautiful thought which ^ J/^jj \^^ q^j^^, j^ j.^j^j^ ^^
modern wit hath added to the nock »u„ r:^v,,
f. . . ,^j r . -r the lipht.
or antiquity. We may lee it rinng _ ^ n i-,
tho' out of a low hint of Theocri- FaeryQueenB. i. Cant.i i. St. 5 i. tus, like the bird from his thatch' d — when Una her did mark
pallat. Idyll. X. 50. Climb to her chaiet, all with
. ^, „ flowers fpread,
Apx^crSa, i «y.^^la,, tyupi^i,^ From Heaven high to chace the
''■°?''^*^^''- chearlefs daik,
Chaucer leads the way to the Eng- With merry note her loud falutes lifh poets, in four of the finell the mounting lark. Calton.
To
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
77
If cottage were in view, fheep-cote or herd ; But cottage, herd, or flieep-cote none he faw, Only' in a bottom faw a pleafant grove, With chaunt of tuneful birds refounding loud ; 290 Thither he bent his way, determin'd there To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the (liade Hi^h rooft, and walks beneath, and alleys brown, That open'd in the midft a woody fcene j Nature's own work it feem'd (nature taught art) 295 And to a fuperftitious eye the haunt [round.
Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs ; he view'd it
When fuddenly a man before him ftcod.
Not
To tliefe inftances we may proper- — • for beaft and bird,
ly add from Shakefpear, Rom. & They to their grajjy couch. Jul. Ad 3. Sc. 7. Thyer.
It was the lark, the i^eralJ of the morn.
And the lark not only furnifhes our author with a molt beautiful de- fcription, but alfo with a moll exaft fimilitude.
As lightly from his gralTy couch
up rofe Our Saviour.
282. ^s lightly from his graJJy couch ] I he fame exprefijon beufesin the Paraciife Loih IV. 600.
29^. ■— and alleys brcv::-!^ This ' idea our author derived from Italy and the Italian poets. He had ex- prelTed it before, Paradife Loft IX. ig88.
where higheft woods impe- netrable
To liar or fun-light, fpread their umbrage broad
And hroz':n as evening.
And the reader may {ee the word explain'd in IVIr. Thyer's note upon Paradife Loft IV. 246. Imbro-jjiid the noontide boi/irs,
299. Not
73
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Not ruftic as before, but feemlicr clad,
As one in city', or court, or palace bred, 300
And with fair fpeech thefe words to him addrefs'd.
With granted leave officious I return. But much more wonder that the Son of God In this wild folitude fo long fliould bide Of all things dellitute, and well I know, 305
Not without hunger. Others of fome note, As ilory tells, have trod this wildernefs ;
zgg. Not rujiic as before, hut Jeemlier clad,'\ The Tempter 3S very properly made to change his appearance and habit with the temptaiijn. In the former book, when he came to tempt our Sa- viour to turn the Hones into bread to fatisfy their hunger, he appear- ed as a poor old man in rural tveeds ; but now when he comes to ofFer a magnificent entertain- ment, he is Jeemlier clad, and ap- pears as a wealthy citizen, or a courtier : and here iiith fair fpeech re addrefTes his words, there it was only ii.'ith n.vDrds thus utter d fpake. Thefe lefTer particulars have a grace and propriety in them, which is well worthy of the reader's ob- fervation.
302. With granted lea'vc] It is true that Satan at parting, in the conclufion of the former book, had zlked leave to come again, but all the anfwer that our Saviour re- turned was
The
Thy coming hither, though I
know t-y fcope, I bid not or forbid ; do as thou
find'fl PermifTion from above.
But as the Tempter mull needs have been a molt impudent being, it was perfedtly in charafter to re- prefent him as taking per/ni/^on for granted lea-ue.
308. Thefv.giiive hcnd-njucmanScc] Hagar, who lied from the face of her miitrefs, Gen. XVI. 6. and is theiefore called zfugiti'-ve; and her name by interpretation (fajs Ainf- worth) is â– ifugiti've oxfrar.ger : but her Ion was nc t a fugitive, but an out -c aft ; fo exaft \\a? our author in tne u^e of his epithets. But then what fliall v/e fay to the words fol- lowing, Ota-caft Kebaioth ? For as Mr. Meadowcourt and others have obferved, Nebaioth was the eldelt fon of Jlhmael, (Gen. XXV. 13.) and grandfon of Abraham and Hagar.
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
79
310
The fugitive bond-woman with her fon
Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing angel ; all the race
Of Ifrael here had famifli'd, had not God
Rain'd from Fleav'n Manna ; and that Prophet bold
Native of Thebez wand'ring here was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat :
Of thee thefe forty days none hath regard,
Forty and more deferted here indeed.
3''5
Hagar. He feems here to be put by miftake for ifhmeel. At leaft it is not ufual to call the father by the name of the fon.
313. Nati-ve of Tkebe:^^ In the firft edition it was fallely printed Thebes, but Thebes ( fays Mr. Mea- dowcourt) was the birth-place of no prophet except blind Tirefias. However this reading hath pre- vailed throughout the editions, though in the table of Errata at the end of the firft edition we are defired to correal and read Thebez, the fame as Th^fie, or Thijhe, or Tijhbe, the birth-place of the pro- phet Elijah. There is a Thebez. mentioned, Judges IX, 50. where Abimelech was flain : and it looks as if our author took that and this to be the fame place. He had be- fore called Elijah the great Thtf- bite ver. 1 6. and he might here more confiHentiy have faid Nati-x)e of Thijhe : but he feems to write fometimes, as if he had a mind
To
to make work for commentators, 313. — -vand ring here ivas ftd"^ It appears that Milton conceived the vv'ildernefs, where Hagar wan- der'd with her fon, and wher« the Ifraelites were iei. with Manna, and where Elijah retreated from, the rage of Jezebel, to be the fame with the wildernefs, where our Saviour was tempted. And yet it is certain that they were very- different places, for the wildernefs, where Hagar wander'd, was the ^zviUcrne/s of Bcer-jheha Gen. XXL 14. and where the Ifraelites were fed with Manna was the vjildcrne/i of Shi Exod. XVI. I . and where Eli- jah retreated was in the n)jild:rmj's,a day' s joumey fro'fT, Beer-fi^eba l Kings XIX. 4. and where our Saviour was tempted, was the 'vjildemefs near Jordan : but our author confiders all that tra6l of country as one and the fame wilJernefs, though diftin- guiih'd by different names from the different places adjoining.
319, Hov^
8o
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
To whom thus Jefus.What conclud'ft thou hence ? They all had need, I as thou feeft have none.
How haft thou hunger then ? Satan reply 'd. Tell me if food were now before thee fet, 320
Would'ft thou not eat ? Thereafter as I like The giver, anfwer'd Jefus. Why (liould that Caufe thy rcfufal ? faid the fubtle Fiend. Haft thou not right to all created things ? Owe not all creatures by juft right to thee 325
Duty and fervice, not to ftay till bid, But tender all their pow'r ? nor mention I
3 T 9. Honv haft thou hunger then /"] Thefe words feem to be wrong, they being neirher an anfwer to the words preceding,
They all had need, I as thou leeft have none ;
nor correfponding to the words of Satan himfclf juft after.
Tell me if food were now before thee fet i^c.
What if we read therefore,
DoJI theu not hunger then ?
Sjfnf/on.
There feems to be no occafion for any alteration. Satan could not doubt, whether our Saviour was hungry, for he knew very well that he was fo, ver. 231.
Meats
And now I know he hungers
where no food Is to be found, in the wide wil-
dernefs :
and ver. 305.
Of all things deftitute, and well
I know, Not without hunger.
But our Saviour had faid
They all had need, I as thou feelt have none ;
and to this Satan replies diredlly and properly, Ho^io haft thou hunger then without having need ?
325. Oive not all creatures hy juft right to thee
Dufv and /er'vue, &c. ] The Tempter is got into the fame cant- ing, diiTembling ftraiii as before
Bookli. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
8i
Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd firft
To idols, thofe youtig Daniel could refufe ;
Nor profFer'd by art enemy, though who 330
Would fcruple that, with want opprefs'd ? Behold
Nature aOiam'd, or better to exprefs.
Troubled that thou fhould'ft hunger, hath purvey 'd
From all the elements her choicefl flore
To treat thee as befeems, and as her Lord 335
With honor, only deign to fit and eat.
He fpake no dream, for as his words had end. Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld
I, 475. Chriik is Lof^ 0/ nature VCT. 335 of this book, and all crea- tures owe him duty and fervice, and that ly right. This could not be true, but on the fuppofuion of his being the Eternal Word ; and to what purpofe could the tempta- tion be continued, if the Devil had been really convinced that he was fo ? Calton.
This part of the Tempter's fpeech alludes to that heavenly declara- tion which he had heard at Jof- d?.n, This is my belo-veiiSor, &c. One may obferve too, that it is much the fame fort of flattering addrefs w'th that which he had before made ufe of to feduee Eve. Paradhfe Loft. JX. 539.
Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
By gift &c. Jbjer.
Vol.. I.
In
3 29 — th'^/e youn^ Daniel could re- fuje;] Dan. I. 8 But Daniel purpcj'ed in his heart that he njjculd not def.le him/elf -xvith the portion of the kittg s meat, nor 'vnth the ^uine nx-hich he drank : and the reafon af- fign'd by commentators is, becaufe in thofe and moft other countries they uftd to offer feme part of whac they eat and drank to their Gods ; and therefore Daniel refufed to par- take of the provifions from the king's table, as of meats offered to idols, and confequently unclean. The poet had before mention'dZ)a- ntel at his pulfe ver. 27 8 : and Mo- fes in the mount, and Elijah rn the" wildernefs are brought in feveral times, as hiltory afFords no in- ftances of abllinence fo like oar Saviour's.
337 He /take nc dream,"] This (^ was
82
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
In ample fpace under the broadeft fhade A table richly fpread, in regal mode, With difhes pil'd, and meats of noblell: fort And favor, beads of chafe, or fowl of game,
340
In
was iKJ dream as before ver. 264. bat a reality. And the ban- quet here furnifh'd by Satan is like that prepared by Armida for her lovers. TaiTo Cant. 10. St. 64.
Appreftar &u. Pherbetta, ou' e
piu den fa L'ombra, e vicino al fuon de
I'acque chiare Fece difculti vafi altera menfa, E ricca di vivande elette, e
care. Era qui cio, ch'ogni ftagion dif-
penfa ; Cio che dona !a terra, o manda
il maie : Cio che I'arte condifce, e cento
belle Servivano al convito accorte an-
celle.
Under the curtain of the green- wood {hade,
Befude the brook, upon the vel- vet grafs.
In inaiTy vefTel of pure filver made,
A banquet rich and coftly fur- nifh'd was ;
All bealts, ail birds beguil'd by fowler's trade,
Ali nfli were there in floods or isa3 thar pafs.
All dainties made by art, and at
the table An hundred virgins ferv'd, for
hulbands able. Fairfax.
340. J table richly fpread. Sec.'] This temptation is not recorded in Scripture, but is however invented with great confiltency, and very aptly fitted to the prefent condition of our Saviour. This way of em- bellilhing his fubjecl is a privilege which every poet has a juft right to, provided he obferves harmony and decorum in his hero's charac- ter ; and one may further add, that Milton had in this particular place ftill a flronger claim to an indul- ger.ce of this kind, fince it was a pretty general opinion among the Fathers, that our Saviour under- went many more temptations than thofe which are mentioned by the Evang^iilb ; nay Origen goes fo far as to lay, that he was every day, whilft he continued in the wilder- nefs, attacked by a frelh one. The beauties of this defcription are too obviou: to efcape any reader of talk. It is copious, and yet ex- prefs'd with a very elegant concife- neis. Every proper circumftance is mentioned, and yet it is not at all clogg'd or incumber'd, as is of- ten the caie, with too tedious a de-
taii
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
H
In paftry bui't, or frofii the fpit, or boil'd, Gris-amber-fteam'd j all fiili from fea or (hore, Frefhet, or purling brook, of fhell or fin, 345
And exqulfitefl: name, for which was drain'd
Pontus
tail of particulars. Ft was a fcene entirely frefh to our author's ima- gination, and noticing lilce it had before occurr'd in his Paradife Loll, for which reafon he has been the more diftufe, and labor'd it with greater care, with the fame good judgment that makes him in other places avoid expatiating on fcenes which he had before defcrib'd. See the note on his fhort defcription of night at the end of the firll book. Jn a word, it is in my opinion work'd up with great art and beau- ty, and plainly fhows the crudity of chat notion which fo much pre- vails among fuperficial readers, that Milton's genius was upon the de- cay when he wrote his Paradife Regain'd. Thyer.
344. Gris-aniher-f.eam^ d \^ Am- bergris or grey amber is eiieemed the beft, and ufed in perfumes and cordials. A curious lady commu- nicated the following remarks upon this palTage to Mr. Peck, which we will here tranfcribe. *' Grey am- ♦' ber is the amber our author heie " fpeaks of, and melts like butter. " It was formerly a main ingre- '* dient in every conceit for a ban- *' quet ; viz. to fume the meat " with, and that whether boiled, ** roalled, or baked ; laid often on *' the top of a baked pudding ;
" which laft I have eat of at an " old courtier's table. And I re- " meniber, in an old chronicle " there is much complaint of the *' nobilities being made fick at " Cardinal Wolfey's banquets, with " rich fcnted cates and dilhes moll • ' coftly drefled with ambergris. I " alfo recollefl I once faw a little *' book writ by a gentlewoman of " Queen Elizabeth's court, where '* ambergris is mention'd as the " haut-gout of that age. I fancy " Milton tranfpofed the word for " the lake of his verfe ; to make " it read more poetically." So far this curious Lady. And Beaumont and Fletcher in the Cullom of the Country. Act Ilj. Scene 2.
Be fure The wines be iufty, high, and
full of fpiiit, And amber^d all.
346. Jnd exquijttejl name,] He alludes here to that fpecies of Ro- man luxury, which gave exqulfite names to lilh of exquilite tafte, fuch as that they called cerebrum Jo'vis, They extended this even to a very capacious difli as that they called clypeum Miver-t'a. The modern Italians fall into the fame wanton- nefs of luxurious impiety, as when they call their exquifite wines by
G 2 jbc
84
Px\RADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coaft. Alas how iimple, to thefe cates compar'd. Was that crude apple that diverted Eve ! And at a ftately fide-board by the wine That fragrant fmell diffus'd, in order flood Tall tripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue
35^
Than
the names of laoymfe Cbnfii and lac Firginh. Warbuiton.
3<^7. Pontus and Lucrine hay, and Afric coafi,'] The fiih are brought to furniili this banquet from all the different parts of the world then known ; from Pontus or the Eiixine fea in Afia, from the Lucrine bay in Europe in Italy, and from the coajl of Africa. And all thefe places are celebrated for different kinds of fifh by the au- thors of antiquity. It would be al- moft endlefs to quote the pafTages. Of the Lucrine lake in particular many derive the name a Ivcrr^ from the abundance of iiOi there taken.
349. that diverted Enje ! ]
It is uicd, as he ufes many words according to their proper fignifica- tion in Latin. Divert 0, to turn afide. We Oiould rather fay per- 'verted.
3^0. And at a fatcly fde-hcayd ^-c] As the frene of this entertain- ment lay in r'he cafl. Milton has with grcatjtidq^m'^nt thrown in this and the foilowjnp- particulars to give it nn air of eaflern orandeur, in which part of iht worlU ic is
well known a great part of the pomp and fpicndor of their feafts confilts in their having a great nnmber of beautiful ilaves of both fexes to attend and divert theguefts with mufic and finging. Thyer.
352. — — of fairer hue
Than Ganymed or H\las ;J Thefe were two niort beautiful youths, and belov'd the one by Jupiter, and the other by Hercules. Ga- n\ med was cup-bearer to Jupiter, and Hylas drew water for Her- cules, and therefore they are both properly mentioned upon this oc- cafion.
355. and Naiades^ Milton
is not to be blamed for writing as others did in his time. But fince the Clitics havedetermin d to write Naides in three fyllables or Nuiades in four, it is time for the Englilh poets to call thefe nvmphs Naids, and not Naiads. Jortin.
356. from AmaUhea''s horn,'\
The fame as the cornu copia; ; the horn of plentv. Am;ilthea was, as fome lay, a NaiJ, the nurfe of Ju- piter, who nourifh'd him with the milk of a goat, whoie horn was af- tei wards made the horn of plenty ; others
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
Than Ganvmed or Hvlas ; diftant more Under the trees now tripp'd,-now folemn flood Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades 355
With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, And ladies of th' Hefperides, that feem'd Fairer than feign'd of old, or fiibled lince
Of
others fay, that Amahhea was the name of the goat.
357. Jnd . adies of th' HeJperiJes, ] If we compare this with what the Devil fays a little lower, ver. 374.
All thefe are Spirits of air and woods and fprings,
we fhall find that they do not tally each to the other, for the Hefpe- rides were neither ladies of woods nor fprin^^s. Sympjon.
What are the Hefperides famous for but the gardens and orchards which they had bearing golden fruit in the wcftern iles of Africa ? They may therefore not improper- ly be rank'd, they and their ladies with the Spirits of woods and fprings.
357. And ladies oftij Hefperides, that Jeeni d icc.^ This is the pointing of the firlt, and all the editions ; but I take it to be wrong. The Demon' feem'd (or were like) nymphs of Diana's train &c, but they were rea!ly fairer than thofe nymphs, &c, v\ere feign'd to be. This I take to be the poet's thought, and therefore the comma fhould be put nherfem'd. Calton.
This is very good fenfe, but it nay be quellion'd whether that feem d may be referred fo far back as to nymphs of Diana s train; and :f thefe Spirits were fonie n;tnphs of Diana s troin, and fome Na:ades, others might as well be faid to be ladies of th' Hefperides ; and then that feem'dwW^ be join'd in conftruftion, as it is plac'd, with what follows.
Fairer than feign'd of old, or
fabled fince Of faery damfels ^c.
But here feems to be fome defe£l in the fyntax. as if the poet had meant to fay Fairer than feign'd of Old, or what has hztnfabledfnce of faery datnjels met in foref luide by knights, &c, of whom he had read in his romances, where it is not fo eafy to trace him, but the name of Sir Pelleas occurs in the Faery Queen B. 6. Cant. 1 2. St. 39.
3s8. or fahled ftniie &'C.]
Some readers may perhaps in this pali'age think our author a little too fond of Ihowing his great reading, a fault which he is indeed fome- times guilty of : but thofe who are convertant in romance-writers, and
G 3 know
g^ PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Of faery damfels met in foreft wide
By knights of Logres, or of Lyones, 360
Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore :
And all the while harmonious airs were heard
Of chiming firings, or charming pipes, and winds
Of gentleft gale Arabian odors fann'd
From their foft wings, and Flora's earlieft fmells. 365
Such was the fplendor, and the Tempter now
His invitation earneftly renew'd.
What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat r Thefe are not fruits forbidden ; no interdicft Defends the touching of thefe viands pure ; 370
Their
know how lavlfh they are in the praifes of their beauties, will I doubt not difcover great propriety in this allufion. Thyer.
363. Of chiming Jlrlngi , cr chartU- ing pipes,'] iJo Spenfer hath ufed l\i&\cxh charms. Faery Queen, B. 4. Cant, 9, St. 13.
Like as the fowler on his guile- ful pipe
Charms to the birds full many a plcafant lay. Calton.
363. ——~ and uuinds
Of gentle/} gale Arabian odors
fanned From their foft avings, and Flora's
ear heft fmells.'] Milton, I fancy, introduc'd this gircumllance in allu-
fion to the cadern cuflom of ufing perfumes at their entertainmenis, for the realoii alledged in the note on ver. 350. He has expreis'd the very fame idea in the Paradife Loll in the following lines IV. 156.
< — now gentle gales Fanning their odoriferous wings
difpenfe Native perfumes, and whifper
whence they flole Tliofe balmy fpoils :
and by this little fpecimen one may fee, as I cbferv'd before, that our poet's imagination did not flag in the latter part of his life, and that there is no difference in the Para- dife Loll and Paradife Regain'd,
but
Book II. PARADISE REGAINED. 2j
Their tafte no knowledge works at leaft of evil. But life preferves, deftroys life's enemy, " Hunger, with fweet reftorative delig^it. All thefe are Spi'rics of air, and woods, and iprings. Thy gentle minifters, who come to pay 375
Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord : What doubt'ft thou Son of God ? fit down and eat.
To whom thus Jefus temp'rately reply 'd. Said'ft thou not that to all things I had right ? And who withholds my pow'r that right to ufe ? 3 80 Shall I receive by gift what of my own, When and where likes me beft, I can command ?
but fuchas was occafioned by the different fubjeils. Thyer.
368. What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat ?\ What feems to be uied here much like the Latin quid, which fignifies both what and why, as we obierved in Paradife Loft. IL 329.
What fit we then [projefting peace and war ?
370. Defends the touching] For- bids, prohibits, hinders, as the word is ufed in Paradife Loft XL 86. XIL 207. where the reader may fee other inftances.
^yg.SaidJi thou not &c] IfChrift was really the eternal living Word «fGody the Tempter knew the cer-
tainty of the confequence, that he
muft o/" right be Lord of all things : iind Chrilt by admitting the laft to be a truth, (as he doth here) confe- quentially aflerts the principle; for one cannot hold without the other,
Saidft thou not that to all things I had right ?
The right of the Son of God being
founded on his ponver, his poiuer muft needs be fully adequate to his right. He therefore adds.
And who withholds my pow'r that right to ufe ?
In the two next lines Chrift's^^r'5 natural propriety is diftinguiih'd from a right by gift,
G 4 Shall
88
PARADISE REGAINED. Book II,
I can at will, doubt not, as foon as thou, Command a table in this wildernefs, And call fwift flights of Angels miniftrant 385
Array 'd in glory on my cup to' attend : Why iliouldft thou then obtrude this diligence, In vain, where no acceptance it can find ? And with my hunger what haft thou to do ? Thy pompous delicacies I contemn, 390
And count thy fpecious gifts no gifts but guiles. To whom thus anfwerd Satan malecontent. That I have alfo pow'r to give thou feeft ;
If
<
Shall I receive by gift what of
my OTxm, "When and where likes me beft,
I can command f Calton.
385. fi'g^^ts of angels'] An
expreliion likewife in Skakefpear. Hamlet, Aft 5. Sc. 6.
AnA fights of angels fing thee to thy reft.
391. . tbv gifts no gifts] Ex-
prefs'd from the' Greek proverb. Sophocles. Ajax 675.
40 1 . — — the far fet fpoil. ] Tet is much fofter than ftch^d, and it is ufed by Chaucer, Squire*s Tale 296.
This ftrangir knight hfet to him full fone ;
and by Spenfer, Faery Queen B. 3. Cant. 1. St. 8.
Whom ftrange adventure did from Britain y>/ .'
and Muiopotmos,
Not Bilbo fteel, nor brafs from
CorinthyV^ ;
and by Johnfon, frol. to Silent Woman,
Though there be none far fet :
and in profe as well as in verfe by Sir Philip Sidney, Arcad. p. 360. Therewith he told her s. far fej tale : Defence of Poetry p. 551. and much lefs with far fet maxims of philofophy : as if our old writers
had
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
89
If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary
What I might have beftow'd on whom I pleas'd, 395
And rather opportunely in this place
Chofe to impart to thy apparent need,
Why (houldft thou not accept it ? but I fee
What I can do or offer is fufped: ;
Of thefe things others quickly will difpofe, 400
Whofe pains have earn'd the far fet fpoil. With that
Both table and provifion vaniili'd quite
With found of harpies wings, and talons heard ;
Only th' importune Tempter ftill remain'd.
And
had a better ear, and ftudied the beauties of found more than the moderns.
40 1 . t-nth that &c] The
breaking off (hort of the verfe ad- mirably expreiles the fudden and abrupt manner, wherein
Both table and provifion vaniih'd
quite With found of harpies wings,
and talons heard ;
in 'which the author has imitated Virgil ^n. III. 225.
At fubitas horrifico lapfu de mon-
tibus adfunt Harpyiae, et magnis quatiunt
clangoribus alas, Piripiuntque dapes.
When from the mountain-tops,
with hideous cry, And clattVing wings, the hungry
harpies fly ; They fnatch the meat. Dryden.
And we have a like fcene in Skake- fpear, in the Tempefl Aft III. vi\icre/e'veral Jirange Jhapes bring in a banquet, and afterwards enters Ariel like a harpy, claps his -ivings upon the table, and luith a quaint de- 'vice the banquet 'vani/hes.
404. Only th'' importune Tempter Ji ill remained,'] The word im- portune is often pronounced with this accent by our old writers, as Spenfer Faery Queen B. i. Cant. 12. St. 16.
And often blame the too impor- tune face ;
and
90
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II,
And with thefe words his temptation purfu'd. By hunger, that each other creature tames. Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd ; Thy temperance invincible befides, For no allurement yields to appetite, And all thy heart is fct on high dellgns, 410
High acftions 3 but wherewith to be achiev'd ? Great adts require great means of enterprife ; Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,
andB. 2. Cant. 8. St. 38.
The which dividing with impor- iune fway ;
and Cant. 11. St, 7.
With greedy malice and impor- tune toil :
whereas now, I think, we com- monly pronounce it with the ac- cent upon the laft fyllable in the adjeflive, and always in the verb, importune.
419. What fcllo^vuers, luhat re- tinue canji thou gain.
Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude, &c] This is a flrange paffage ! I read
Or at thy heels ivhat dizzy mul- titude,
but it does not pleafe me.
Svmpfon.
There are two words unhappily loft in the feccnd line by the negli-
gence of the poet's amanuenfis or printer, which may be reftor'd, I think, with certainty enough. Be- hold them, Reader, in the place they feem to me to have a right to ; confider and judge.
Or at thy heels hc^jo keep the dizzy multitude.
One may almoft venture to deter- min on the fide of thefe claimants, from what our blefled Saviour faith, in the beginning of his reply to this fpeech of the Tempter.
Yet wealth without thefe three
is impotent To gain dominion, or to keep it
gain'd.
Milton's verfes are not always to be meafur'd by counting fyllables on the fingers ends. There are ex- amples enow in him. and other poets, in blank verfe efpecially, of thefe Hypcrcatakdic verfes, as one
may
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
91
A carpenter thy father known, thyfelf Bred up in poverty and ftraits at home, 415
Loft in a defert here and hunger-bit : Which way or from what hope doft thou afpire To greatnefs ? whence authority deriv'fl ? What followers, what retinue canft thou gain ? Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude, 420
Longer than thou canft feed them on thy coft ? Money brings honor, friends, conqueft, and realms :
What
may call ihem ; where the two laft fyllables are redundant. One or two from Milton will be fufficient.
Extolling patience as the trujelt fortitude Samf. Ag. ver. 655.
But this is from the Chorus. Take another from a fpeech of Dalila's, ver. 870.
Private refpefls muft yield j with grave \ authority.
But an inlknce of it from Paradife Loft will be moft to the purpofe, IX. 249.
For fol 1 itude | fometimes \ is beft 1 society. Calton,
This reading makes very good fenTe, and clears the fyntax : but moft readers, I imagin, rather than admit fuch a Hypercalaleiiic verfe, will underftand the dizzy multitude Zi the accufaiive cafe after the
verb gain, making favorable al- lowances for a little inaccuracy of expreflion.
422. Money brings honor, fri ends y conqueji, and tealms : ] Mam- mon in the Faery Queen attempts the virtue of Sir Guyon with the fame pretences. B, 2. Cant. 7, St. II.
Vain-glorious Elf, faid he, doft
thou not weet. That money can thy wants at
will fupply ? Shields, ileeds, and arms, and
all things for thee meet It can purvey in twinkling of an
eye ; And crowns and kingdoms to
thee multiply. Do I not kings create, and throw
the crown Sometimes to him that low in
dull doth lie i
And
gz
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book I L
What rais'd Antipater the Edomlte, And his fon Herod plac'd on Juda's throne, 424 {Thy throne) bat gold that got him puiflant friends ? Therefore, if at great things thou would'ft arrive. Get riches firft, get wealth, and treafure heap. Not difficult if thou hearken to me j Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand ; They whom I favor thrive in wealth amain, 430 While virtue, valor, wifdom fit in want. To whom thus Jefus patiently reply 'd. Yet wealth without thefe three is impotent
And him that reign'd into his
room thruft down, And whom I lull do heap with
glory and renown ? Calton.
423. What raii'd Antipater the Edon.ite, &:c.] This appears to be the fadl from hiftory. When Jofephus I'ntroducesAntipaterupon the Itage, he fpeaks of him as a- bounding with great riches. «l)iX<sv.
HT'i^wv }(^pt\u.a.Tut, y.. T. 'h. Antiq. Lib. XI V. Cap. I. And his fon He- rod was declared king of Judea by the favor of Mark Antony, partly for the fake of the Money which
he promiied to give him-i -va.
Oi y.a- vTTo yfrif/.a,~ uv u'j uvTW H«w-
Mvi, Ibid. Cap. 14.
To
427. Get riches firji^ Quserenda pecunia primum. Hor. Ep. 1. I. 53.
429. Riches are mine, &C.] This temptation we alfo owe to our au- thor's invention, and 'tis very hap- pily contriv'd, not only as it leads the reader gradually on to thofe ftronger ones in the following book, but as it is fo juftly fitted to the character of the 1 empter, the prince of Hell, who was fuppofed by all antiquity to be the king and difpofer of riches. Hence was he ftil'd Pluto from toXst©' divitiae. Spenfer much in the fame taft« places the delije of Mai-imon clofe by the entrance into Hell. Faery Queen B. 2. Cant. 7, St, 24.
Betwixt them both was but a little ftride.
That did thehoufe of riches from
HcU-mouth divide. 7hyer.
432. T»
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
93
To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd.
Witnefs thofe ancient empires of the earth, 435
In highth of all their flowing wealth dilTolv'd :
But men indued with thefe have oft attain'd
In lowed poverty to higheft deeds ;
Gideon, and Jephtha, and the fhepherd lad,
Whofe ofspring on the throne of Judah fat 440
So many ages, and fliall yet regain
That feat, and reign in Ifrael without end.
Among the Heathen, (for throughout the world
To me is not unknown what hath been done
Worthy*
432. 7o '-Mhom thus ye/us kc.'] When our Saviour, a little before, refufed to partake of the banquet, to which Satan had invited hira, the line run thus, ver. 378,
To whom thus Jefus temp'rately reply'd.
But now when Satan has reproach- ed him with his poverty and low circumrtances, the word is fitly al- tered, and the verfe runs thus,
To whom thus Jefus patiently reply'd.
439. Gideon, and J aphtha, and the Jhepherd lad,"] Our Saviour is rightly made to cite his firft in- ftances from Scripture, and of his own nation, which was certainly the belt known to him ; but it is ^ith great ai: that the poet alio
fuppofes him not to be unacquaint- ed with Heathen hillory, for the fake of introducing a greater va- riety of examples. Gideon faith of himfelf, O my Lord, nvbez-eivith Jhall I Jave Ifrael P behild my family is poor in Manajfch, and I am the h'jji in m^ father's houje. Judges VL 15. .'^nd Jephtha -TUijj the fon of an harlot, and his brethren thrujl him out, and Jaid unto him. Thou /halt not inherit in our father^ s houfe, for thou art the fon ofaJirai->ge ttjoman. Judges Xr. 1, 2. And the exalta- tion of David from a fheephook to a fcepter is very well known. He chcfe David alfo hisjer-oant and took him from th: jhe^pfotds. From folloiving the eivs great --with youngs he brought him to feed facob his people, a-'d Jh'ael hii inheritance, Plal. LXXV'Ill. 70, -I.
446. ^iti'
94
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book II.
Worthy' of memorial) canft thou not remember 445
Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus ?
For I efteem thofe names of men fo poor
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches though offer'd from the hand of kings.
And what in me feems wanting, but that I 450
May alfo in this poverty as foon
Accomplifli
446. ^intius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus ?'\ ^intius (not Sluin- ius, as it is in moft of the editions befides the lirft) Cincinnatus was twice invited from foilowing the plough to be conful and diftator of Rome ; and after he had fubdued the enemy, when the fenate would have enriched him witli public lands and private contributions, he rejefted all thefe offers, and re- tired again to his cottage and old courfe of life. Fabricius could not be bribed by all the large offers of king PyrrhuE to aid him in ne- gociating a peace with the Ro- mans'; and yet he lived and died fo poor, that he was buried at the public expenfe, and liis daughters fortunes were paid out of the trea- fury, Curius Dentatos would not accept of the lands which the fe- nate had afiign'd him for the re- ward of hi., vidories : and when the embaffadors of the Samnites offer'd him a large funi of money as he was fitting at the fire and roalling turnips with his own hands, he nobly refuled to take it, fay- ing that it was his ambition not
to be rich, but to command thofe who were fo. And Regulus, after performing many great exploits, was taken prifoner by the Cartha- ginians, and fent with the embaf- fadors to Rome to treat oi peace, upon cath to return to Carthage, if no peace or exchange of prifoners fhould be agreed upon : but Regu- lus was himfelf the firil to diffuade a peace, and chofe to leave his country, family, friends, every thing, and return a glorious cap- tive to certain tortures and death, rather than iuffer the fenate to con- clude a difhonorable treaty. Our Saviour cites thefe inftances of noble Romans in order of time, as he did thofe of his own nation : And as Mr C;ikon obferves, the RoTiiaiis in the molt degenerate tiints were fond of thefe (and fome other like) examples of ancient virtue ; and their writers of all forts delight to introduce them : but the greatcft honor that poetry ever did them, is here, by thepraife of the Son of God.
447. For I ejlsm &;c] The at!- thor
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
95
AccompliHi what they did, perhaps and more ?
Extol not riches then, the toil of fools,
The wife man's cumbrance if not fnare, more apt
To flacken virtue, and abate her edge, 455
Than prompt her to do ought may merit praife.
What if with like averlion 1 rejedl
Riches and realms ; yet not for that a crown,
Golden
thor had here plainly Claudian in mind. De IV. Conf Honor. 412.
Difcitur hinc quantum paupertas
fobria poffit : Pauper erat Curius cum reges
vinceret armis : Pauper Fabricius, Pyrrhi cum
fperneret aurum : Sordida Serranus flexit Didtator
aratra : &c.
And again In Rufinum I. 200.
Semper inops, quicunque cupit. contentus hoUelto
Fabricius parvo fpernebat mune- ra regum,
Sudabatque gravi Conful Serra- nus aratro,
Et cafa pugnaces Curios angulla tegebat.
Haec mihi paupertas opulentior.
And it is probable that he remcm- ber'd here fome of his beloved re- publicans,
— thoft iiamts of men fo poor Who could do mighty things—
and it is poffible chat he might alio think of himfelf, who
— — could contemn Riches though cffer'd from the hand of kings,
if that ftory be true of his having been oftcr'd to be Latin fecretary to Charles the 2d, and of his re- fufing it.
453. Extol tiot riches then, &c.j Milton concliides this book and our Saviour's reply to Satan with a fe- ries of thoughts as noble and juft, or, to fay all in one word, as worthy of the fpeaker as can pof- fibly be imagined : and I think one may venture to affirm, that as the Paradife Regain'd is a poem en- tirely moral and religious, the ex- cellency of which does not confill fo much in bold figures and ftrong images as in deep and virtuous fen- timents e;ipref5'd with a becoming gravity, and a certiin dccer.t ma- jelty, this is as true an inftance of the fublime as the b?ttle!> of the Angels in the Paradifi Lolh
Thyer.
458 — yet net for that a cro'WK,'^
I reje6; them, yet not for that rea-
fon becaufe a crown &c : and in
fetUDg
96 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book 11.
Golden in fhow, is but a wreath of thorns,
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and fleeplefs nights
To him who wears the regal diadem, 461
When on his fhoulders each man's burden lies ;
For therein ftands the office of a king,
His honor, virtue, merit, and chief praife,
That for the public all this weight he bears. 465
Yet he who reigns within himfelf, and rules
Paffions, defires, and fears, is more a king ;
"Which every wife and virtuous man attains :
And who attains not, ill afpires to rule
Cities of men, or headftrong multitudes, 470
Subjedt himfelf to anarchy within.
Or lawlefs paffions in him which he ferves.
But to guide nations in the wav of truth
By
fetting forth the duty and office of Quifnam igitur liber ? Sapiens ; a king, let the friends of thehoufe fibi qui imperiofus, &c. of Stuart confider, whether he in- tended any compliment to the king 473. But lo guide nations &c.] Irj then reigning. this fpeech concerning riches and 466. y'et he ivho reigns nvithin realms, our poet has cuU'd all the hi/nfelf, &cc] Such fcntiments choiceft, finell flowers out of the are inculcated not only by the phi- heathen poets and philofophers lofophers, but alio by the poets, as who have written upon thefe fub- Hor. Od. il. JJ. 9, jefts ; it is not fo much their words,
T . -J 1 J as their fubllance fublimated and
Latius regnes avidum domando . ^ 1 u » l u„ /„„,. „\.^,.^
„ . . ° improv d: but here he loars above
bpintum ^-c. them, and nothing could have given
and Sat. II, VIJ. Z^. , him fo complete an idea of a divine
teacher.
Book II. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 97
By faving dodrin, and from error lead
To know, and knowing worfliip God aright, 475
Is yet more kingly ; this attracfts the foul.
Governs the inner man, the nobler part ;
That other o'er the body only reigns.
And oft by force, which to a generous mind
So reigning can be no fincere delight. 480
Befides to give a kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous, than to affume.
Riches are needlefs then, both for themfelves.
And for thy reafon why they fhould be fought, 485
To gain a fcepter, ofteft better mifs'd.
teacher, as the life and charafter of faih'dire quam accipere ice. Dio-
our blefTed Saviour. cletian, Charles V, and others who
/^Zi.BeJtdes to give a kifigdom Sec] have refign'd the crown, were no
So Hephasftion to thofe who tranf- doubt in our author's thoughts upon
ferred the kingdom of Sidon from this occafion. F'or as Seneca fays,
themfelves to another. Quint. Curt. Thyeil. 111. 529. IV. I. Vos quidem madi virtute,
inquit, eftote, qui primi intellexi- Habere regnum, cafus eft : vir-
ftis, quanto majus effet, regnum tus, dare.
The end of the Second Book.
VoL.L H
1
THE
Third Book
O F
PARADISE REGAIN'D.
H 2
lol
PARADISE REGAIN'D.
BOOK
III.
O fpake the Son of God, and Satan flood A while as mute confounded what to fay. What to reply, confuted and convinc'd Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift j At length collecting all his ferpent wiles, |
With foothing words renew'd, him thus accofls.
I fee thou know'll what is of ufe to know. What heft to fay canfl fay, to do canft do -, Thy adions to thy words accord, thy words To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart lo
Contains
lO, — — t/jy heart
Contains of good, ^wije, ji'jl, the perfect Jkape.'] Milton, no doubt, by the vjovd. Jhape intended toexprefs the meaningof the Greek term iha., but in my opinion it does not at all come up to it, and feems rather harfh and inelegant. There are words in all languages, which cannot well be tranllated without lofing much of their beau- ty, and even fome of their mean- ing ; of this fort I take the word idea to be. TuUy renders n by the
word fpecies with as little fuccefs in my opinion as Milton has done here by his Englilh/Svz^^. Thyer. Of good, nxfe,juji, the perfeSl fhape. 1 fhould rather think it exprefs'd from the pcrfeEla for?na hontflatis, and the forma ipfa hcnejii of Ci* cero. De Fin. II. 15. Habes undi- que expletam et perfeSlam, Tor- quare,yorz'.'<7w honefiatis. Sec. De Off. I. 9. Forry.am quidem ipfam, Marce fili, et tanquam faciem ho^ nefli vidcs ; quae fi oculis cernere- tur &c. And the more, becaufe H 3 he
102 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Contains of good, wife, juil:, the perfedt fhape.
Should kings and nations from thy mouth confult,
Thy counfel would be as the oracle
Urim and Thummim, thofe oraculous gems
On Aaron's bread ; or tongue of feers old 15
Infallible : or wert thou fought to deeds
That might require th' array of war, thy fkill
Of condud would be fuch, that all the world
Could not fuflain thy prowefs, or fubfift
he renders fcrma bv Jhape in the Paradife Lok. l\^ 848.
Virtue in her Jhape how lovely.
1 3 . — as the oracle
TJrim and Thummim, thofe oracu-
lous gems On Aaron s breaji ; &:c.] Aaron's breall-plate was a piece of cloth doubled, of a fpan iquare, in which were fet in fockets of gold twelve precious ftoncs bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Ifrael ingraven on them, which being fixed to the ephod, or upper veft- ment of the high-prielFs robes, was worn by him on his breall on all folemn occafions. In this breaft- plate the lJn?n and Thufnfuim, fay the Scriptures, were put. And the learned Prideaux, after givingfome account of the various opinions COnerning Urim and Thwnmitn, fays it will be fafeft to hold, that the words Urim and f hummim meant only the divine virtue and power,
In
given to the breaft-plate in its con- fecraiion, of obtaining an oracu- lous anfwer from God, whenever counfel was aiked of him by the high-prieft with it on, in fuch man- ner as his word did diredl ; and that the names of U7im and Thum- viim were given hereto only to de- note the clearnefs and perfeftion, which thefe oracular anfwers al- ways carried with them. For Urim fignifieth light, and Thummim per- fedion. But IVlilton by adding
• thofe oraculous gems On Aaron's breafl
feems to have been of the com- mon received opinion among the Jews, that the anfwer was given by the precious ftones, that it was by the fliining and protuberating of the letters in the names of the twelve tribes graven on the twelve Hones in the breait-plate of the high-prieft, and that in them he did read the anfwer. But as
Dr.
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
103
In battel, tliough agaiiTflthy few in arms. 20
Thefe God-like virtues wherefore doft thou hide,
Afiedi[ig- private life, or more obfcure
Jn fivage wildernefs ? wherefore deprive
All earth her wonder at thy a(5ts, thyfelf
The fame and glory, glory the reward 25
That Ible excites to high attempts, the flame
Of mofc ereiled fpi'rits, moft temper'd pure
Ethereal, who ail pleafures elfe defpife,
Dr. Prideaux fays, it appears plain from Scripture, that when tl'^e high-prieft appear'd before the veil to afk counfel of God, the nnfwer was given him by an audible voice from the mercv-feat, which was within behind the veil.
— or tongue of feers old • Infallible :
The poet by mentioning this after Urh/i avdl hummim ieems to allude to anotlier opinion of the lews, that the Holy Spirit fpake to the children of Ifjrael during the ta- bernacle by Urim and Thiimmim, and under ihe firft temple by the prophets. Ste Piideaux Connedc. Parti. Book III.
1 7 . thy [kill
Of conduSi n.voidd be fuch[\ The meaning is, thy flcil! in conducing an army would be fuch, that &-c : fo that there is no occahon tor reading, as Mr. Meadowcourt has propos'd, thy Jkill And condnSl,
All
which would be an alteration for the worfe, the commendation in this place not being o'ihhjlill in t;eneral, but of his Jkill of conduit in particular.
25 giory the re^ward'] Our
Saviour having withllood the al- lurement of riches, Satan attacks him in the next place with the charms of glorv. I have fome- timcs thought, that Milton might poflibly take the hint of thus con- neding thefe two temptations fi cm Speni'er, who in his fecond book of the Faery Queen reprcfcnting the virtue of temperance uncier the charatflcr of Guyon, and leading him through various trials of his conllancy, brings him to the houfe of riches or Mammon'^ dehve as he terms it, and immediately after it to the palace of glory, which he defcribes in his allegorical manner under the figure of a beautiful wo- man called Philotime. Thyer. 27. Cy mcf ciuled fpirits,] The li. 4 author
104-
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
All treafures and all ?ain efteem as drofs.
And dignities and pow'rs all out the higheft ? 30
Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe j the fon
Of Macedonian Philip had ere thefe
Won Alia, and the throne of Cyrus held
At his difpofe ; young Scipio had brought down
The Carthaginian pride ; young Pompey quell'd 35
The Pontic king, and in triumph had rode.
Yet
author here remember'd Cicero. Pro Archia. Trahiraur omnes laudis ftudio, et optimus quifque maxime gloria ducitur. De Off. I. 8. In maxinii? animis iplendi- diffimifque ingeniis pierumque ex- iiftunt honoris, imperii, potentiae, gloris cupidiiates.
3 1 . Thy years are ripe, and over- ripe ;] Our Saviour's tempta- tion was foon after his baptiirn, and he was baptized when he was about thirty years of age. Luke III. 1%, And the Jon of Macedonian Philip, Alexander the great, had ere thefe, before thefe years, nvon ^fa and the throne cf Cyrus, the Perfian empire founded by Cyrus, held at his difpofe ; for Alexander was but 20 when he began to reign, and in a few years overturned the Perfian empire, and died in the 33d year of his age. Young Sci- pio had brought dov:n the Cartha- ginian pride ; for Scipio Africanus was no more than 24 years old, when he was fent pioconful into
Spain, and was on'y between 28 and 29, when he was chofen con- ful before the ufual time, and transferr'd the war into Africa. Tcung Pompey quell'd the Pontic king^ and in triumph had rode. In this in- llance our author is not fo exadl as in the reft, for when Pompey was fent to command the war in Afia againft Mithridates king of Pontus, he was above 40, but had figna- lizcd himfelf by many extraordi- nary adions in his younger years, and had obtained the honor of two triumphs before that time. Pom- pey and Cicero were born in the fame year ; and the Manilian law, which gave the command in Afia to Pompev, was propofed when Cicero was in the 41ft year of his age. But no vvonder that Milton was mifiaken in point of time, when feveral of the Ancients were, and Plutarch himfelf, who fpeak- ing of Pompey's three memorable triumphs over the three parts of the world, his firft over Africa, his fecond
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
105
Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature. Quench not the thirft of glory, but augment. Great Julius, whom now all the world admires. The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd 40 With glory, wept that he had liv'd fo long Inglorious : but thou yet art not too late.
To whom our Saviour calmly thus reply'd. Thou neither doft perfuade me to feek wealth
For
fecond over Europe, and this laft over Afia, fays that as for his age, thofe who afFeft to make the pa- rallel exa6l in all things betwixt him and Alexander the great, would not allow him to be quite 34, whereas in truth at this time he was near 40. ri^ijua ^£ tots
»)v (wj (ji,iv o» y.ct~oc lictiTct, Tu A- Xt^xya^'U 'masU'oii.'Kh'iVTK; wjtcv y.oci <mpo<7QiQuCpi\i; afi^ci) ►£WT£p@-" rut
TOJ? Tarlagazotla 'Sj^oo-rr/iJ. Plut. Vit. Pompeii.
41 . — nj:eptthat heha({li--vdfo long Inglorious : ] Alluding to a llory related of Julius Caefar, that one day reading the hiftory of Alexan- der, he fat a great while very thoughtful, and at laft burft into tears, and his friends wondrina; at the reafon of it, Do you not think, faid he, I have juft caufe to weep, when I confider that Alexander at my age had conquei'd fo many nations, and I have all this time done nothing that is memorable ?
See Plutarch's Life ot Caefar. Others fay, it was at the fight of an image of Alexander the preat— animadverfa apud Herculis temp- lum magni Alexandri imagine in- gemuit ; e: quafi pertaefus ignaviam fuam, quod nihil dum a fe me- morabile adum effet in aetate qua jam Alexander ortcm terrarum lubegiiTet, &c. Suetonil Jul. Czef. cap. 7.
44. T/jou jieitber dcjl perfuade me Sec] fiow admir^ibiy does Milton in this fpeech expofe the emptinefa and uncertainty of a popular cha- racter, and found true gloiy upon its only fure bafis, the approbation of the God of truth .? There is a remarkable dignity of i'entiment runs quite through it, and i think it will be no extravagance at all to affert, that he has comnris'd in this (hort compais the fub/lance and quintefTence of a fubjeil which hasj exercifed the pens of the gteateft mosalilts in all ages. Tiyer.
The julinefs of th:s remark will appear
io6
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
For empire's fake, nor empire to affc6t For glory's fake by all thy argument.
45
For
appear to ^eater advantage by the learned colleflion out of the Hea- then moraliils in the following note of Mr. Joitin.
47. For njohat is glcry &;c] The love of glory is a pafiion deeply rooted in us, aiid difficultly kept under. Tr;v xEto^o^iav, uc, 11-
y.Bv aTTOTihiaBoci, fays Plato, Hcl- vidius Prifcus, as Tacitus relates, was polTcfied of all the virtues which make a great and a good man. He was a Stoic into the bargain, and therefore bound by the principles of his philofophy to fet a fmall value upon the ru ax i(p' yifjAv- yet erant quibus appeten- tior fatna? videretur: quando etiam fapientibus cupido glorias novifTima exuitur. Hill. IV. 5. As at Rome and in Greece a fnear, a crown of oak or laurel, a (latue, a public commendation, was efteemed an ample recompenfe for many brave adtions ; fo it is as true, that not a fev/ of their great men were over fond of fame, and mere flaves to the love of it. Let us fee what the philofophers have faid con- cerning a greedy defne of glor)-, fuch a defire of it as leads men to make it the ruling principle of tlieir aftions and incites them to do well only, or chiefly in order to be admired. We Ihall find them condcm.ning it, and faying things agreeable enough to what Milton
puts into the mouth of our Sa- viour. Jllud autem te aumoneo, ne eorum more, qui non proficere fed conipici volunt, facias aliqua. Seneca, Epill. V. Qui virtutem fuam publjcari vult, non virtuti laborat, fed gloria:. Jd. Epift. CXllI. Cavcnda eft glorias cupi- ditas, is a leubn delivered by one who in that particular did not pradlice what he taught. De Ofii- ciis I.
Laudis amore tumes ? funt certa
piacula, quas te Ter pure ledo poterunt recreare
libello. Hor. Epilt. 1. I.
An quidquam ftultius, quam quos ^ fingulos, ficut operarios barbarof- que contemnas, eos efl'e aliquid putare univerfos ? Cicero, Tufc. «■Difp. V. 36. where Dr. Davies : f B'.gregium hoc monitum Socrati de- betur, qui Alcibiacem, in concio- nem populi prodire veritum, ita ex- citavit : Ov Kxra^foni; ^eitte Tu- xgoiiYi;) iKine ra ay.vTDTtiA.ii ; t» of&/x<x Eiwo/'j avTii' {p'ncroti'l^w ee ru AX^titiaoa, v'jro^aQu/i/ 'S7x?>i» 0 "EuixpocTyii;, eti oe exEi»« TH m toi;
KAeiuS y.ii^uy.m, by. ac, £^19 0 Sw- K^ocrrj^, e orifA,©^ A^riVMtuv ex tS- Tuv -/iG^otra* > "«* £' T6;* Ka6 Etx xa,-ra,(ppoiriTiov, cc^» y.ea luv v;6^&-
io-^imv. Epidetus, Enchir. XLV. fays : Sv5/^ei« it^aKo'^loil©-'' ah-
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 107
For what is glory but the blaze of fame, The peoples prailbj if always praife unmix'd ?
And
/>tj,M,(p£Tai, Kd£>» tfy.a.hiij Hon 'crt- §1 locvTH T^iyei, y.a,'j tk; wj-rov
ccvr^ 'oot.f' lavTu' xa.v •^iyn, hk cnroXoyuTstt. Signa proficientis funt : neminem vicuperat, nemi- nem laudat, de nemine queritur, neminem incufar, nihil de feipfo
dicit, et fi quis ipfum laudet,
ridet laudantem ipfe fecum ; et ii vituperet, non fe purgat. Idem apud Stobsum : Ovain; (p:Xox,fv-
/>ioi©- 0 (piMy.a,}.'^. Nemo pecu- nis amans, et voluptatis, et glo- riae fimul homines amat; fed folus honefti amans. So Plato De Re- pub. I. fays, that a fondnefs of glory is as mean a vice as a fond- nefs of money. Many fuch like pafTages might be added, particu- larly fiom Marcus Aurelius, and other Stoical writers. The Stoics, tho' they refufed to give fame and glory a place amongll good things, yet I think did not flight the efteem of good men : they diftinguifh be- tween gloria and claritas. Gloria multorum judiciis conftat, claritas bonorum. — [Sed claritas] poteft unius boni viri iudicio effe conten- ta. Seneca, Epift. CII. I cannot forbear inferting here a paflage from Seneca, which J believe will pleafe the reader as much as it does me : it relates to that fond hope which we writers, good, bad, and indiiferent, are apt to enter*
tain, that our name and labors (hall be immortal, and it tells us as elegantly as truly what we have to expedl. Profunda fupra nos al- titudo temporis veniet, pauca in- genia caput exferent, et in idem quandoque filentium abitura obli« vioni refulcnt, ac fe diu vindica- bunt. Epill. XXI. We expeft that Time ihouid take the charge of our writings, and deliver them fafe to the lateil pofterity : but he is as furly and whimfical as Charon :
Stabant orantes primi tranfmit-
tere curfum, Tendebautque manus ripse ulte-
rioris amore. Navita fed trillis nunc hos, nunc
accipit illos. All alios longe fummotos ^rcet
arena.
If we have the mortification to fee our works die before us, we may comfort ourfelves with the confi- deration, which Seneca fuggefts to us, that a time will come when the molt excellent and admired com- pofitions fhall peridi. Nor is the confolation much fmaller, which offers itfelf to us, when we look back andconfider ho v many gcod. authors there raufl needs have been, of whom no memorial is left, and how many of whom nothing but the bare name furvives, and how many books are extant indeed, but never read.
Aufsr
io8 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
49
[praife ?
And what the people but a herd confus'd,
A mifcellaneous rabble, who extol
Things vulgar, and well weigh'd, fcarce worth the
They praife, and they admire they know not what,
And know not whom, but as one leads the other -,
And what delight to be by fuch extoll'd.
To live upon their tongues and be their talk, ^^
Of whom to be difprais'd were no fmall praife ?
His lot who dares be Angularly good.
Th' intelligent among them and the wife
Auferabhinc laciimas, Barathro, Sc compefce querelas ;
Lumina iis oculis etiam bonus Ancus reliquit,
Qui melior multis, quam tu, fuit, improbe, rebus.
To thefe motives of contentment under fuch ciicumflances, I need not add what every neglefted au- thor fays to himfelf, that the age he lives in has no tafte. Jorlin.
56. Ofnvhom to be difprais'd ivere no fmall praife t ] So it is in
Milton's own edition, difprais'd ; in moft of the others it is defpii'dj
Of whom to be defpis'd were no fmall praife :
but we have reftor'd the firft read- ing for very obvious reafons.
57. His lot n.K:ho dares be fivgularly good.] A glorious example of
thhfingular goodnefs is exhibited in
Are
the charafter and behaviour of the Seraph Abdiel in the Paradife Loft. And perhaps the poet might think it likevvife his own cafe, and at this time was not without a pleafing refle6lion upon himfelf, who dar''d to be as Angular in his opinions and in his condudl, as any man whatever.
^g. and glory fcarce a fevj is
rais''d.] Seneca would prove in his lozdEpiflle, that the judg- ment of one good man is fufficient to conlHtute this glory or clarity, as he calls it : for glory according to him is the judgment of the many, clarity of the good. If one good man, fays he, thinks well of mc, it is the fame as if all good men thought well of me, becaufe if they all knew me, they would all think as he doth ; fo that the judg- ment of all is really included in that of one* Quia il de me bene
vir
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
109
Are few, and glory fcarce of few is rais'd.
This is true glory and renown, when God 60
Looking on th' earth, with approbation marks
Thejuft man, and divu/ges him through Heaven
To all his Angels, who with true applaufe
Recount his pralfes : thus he did to Job, 64
When to extend his fame through Heav'n and Earth,
As thou to thy reproach may'il well remember.
He afk'd thee, Hall thou feen my fervant Job ?
Famous he was in Heav'n, on Earth lefs known ;
Where
vir bonus fentit, eodem loco fum, quo, fi omnes boni idem fentirent; omnes enim, fi me cognoverint, idem fentient. Par illis idemque judicium eft. Calton.
60. This is true glory andrenonvn, ivhen God &c] Here is a glory that is folid and fubllantial, ex- prefTa (as Tully fays) non adum- brata ; and that will indure, when all the records and memorials of human pride are perifned. There is a pretty pafTage near the end of the laft book of Hieronymus Ofo- rius's treatife De Gloria, where the author is confidering that honor, which confifts in the approbation and applaufe of God and Angels, as a reward of virtue in the life to come. Nam fi laudatoris ampli- tudo ad dignitatis anipiiucationem pertinet, quid elTe poteft Chriiii majeilate magnificentius ? Si ve- lum judicium in certa glorise ra-
tione requirimus, Deus folus inti- mos hominum fcnfus perfpeftos ha- bet. Si laudantis conftantiam at- tendimus, divina mens nuUam in omni sternitate poteft habere mu- tationem. Si lucem et celebrita- tem confideres, tunc clarorum ho- minum laudes coram omnibus an- gelis et hominibus illuftrabuntur. Si ad diutarnitatcm aninium adver- tas, [in my edition it is animad-jsr- tas] nullum tinem funt ullis un- quam fsculis habitura. Quid igi- tur ilia gloria civinius, quam men^ tes cafta; in ilia coelelti regione con- fequentur ? Ell enim dignitate lau- datoris immenfa, fpedlaiorum cele- britate clariflima, diuturnitate tsm- poris infinita. Calton.
6j. He ajk'd thee, HaJ} thou feen
my Jer'vant Job ?] Job I. 8.
And the L:rd faid unto Satan, Haft
thou co'iijidered my fervant Job, that
thire is nom like him in the eai th^
no PARADISE REGAINED. Book III.
Where glory is falfe glory, attributed
To things not glorious, men not worthy' of fame.
They err who count it glorious to fubdue 71
By conquefl: far and wide, to over-run
Large countries, and in field great battels win,
Great cities by allault : what do thefe worthies,
But rob and fpoil, burn, flaughter, and inflave
a ferfeSl and an upright mmi, one thai /caret h God, and ejche-voeth e^'tl. See too II. 3.
dc). Where glory is falfc glory, at- tributed
To things tiot glorious, men net nvorthy DffameC\ True glory (Tully fays) is the praife of good men, the echo of virtue : but that ape of glorv, the random injudi- cious apfjlaiife of the multitude, is of;en beltoued upon the woiil of aflions. Efl enim gloria folida quffdam res et expicfia, non ad- umbrata: caeilconfentiens laus bo- norum, incorrupta vox bene judi- cantium de cxccllente virtute : ca virtuti lefonat tanquam irrago: — ilia autem, qus fe ejus imitatricem cffe volt, temeraria atqne inconfi- derata et plcrumque peccatorum vitiorumque Jaudatrix, fama popu- laris, finiulatione honellatis for- mam ejus pukhritudinemque cor- runipit. Qua Cfficitate homines, cum qvi.Tdam ctiam pra>clara cupe- rent, eaque neicirent nee ubi nee qualia effent, funditus alii everte-
7S Peaceable
runt fuas civitates, alii ipfi occide- runt. Tufc. Difp. III. 2. When Tully wrote his Tufculan Difputa- tions, Julius Csefar had overturned the conftitution of his country, and was then in the highth of his power ; and Pompey had loft his life in the fame purfuit of glory. Of him the alii ipfi occiderunt — may very well be underftood.
C alt on, 7 1 . Tkey err n^jho count it glorious &c] From hence to ver. 88. we have ajuft and complete charafter of the great conquerors of the world, who inflead of being, as they have too often been, the idols of mankind, ought rather to be the principal objefts of their ut- moft averfation The charafler is general, but yet not without parti- cular allufjons ; as when it is faid
muft be titled Godf,
Great Benefadors of mankind. Deliverers,
it is in allufionto the titles oiTheusy Euergctes, and Scter, which have of- ten been afcrib'd by their fyco- phants
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
I II
Peaceable nations, neighb'ring, or remote,
Made captive, yet defcrving freedom more
Than thofe their conquerors, vvlio leave behind
Nothing but ruin wherelbe'er they rove,
And all the florlfliing works of peace dellroy, 80
Then fwell v/ith pride, and muft be titled Gods,
Great Benefad;ors of mankind, Deliverers,
Worfnipt
Plants nnd flatterers to the word of tyrants : and wlien it is faid
One is the fon of jove, of Mars the other,
Alexander is particularly intended by the one, and Romulus by the other, who tho' better than Alex- ander, yet it mull; be faid founded his empire in the blood of his bro- ther, and for his overgrown ty- ranny was at laft deftroy'd by his own fenate. And -certainly the method that Milton has here ta- ken is the befl: method that can be taken of drawing general cha- rafters, by felefting the particulars here and there, and then adjulling and incorporating them together ; as Apelles from the different beau- ties of feveral nymphs of Greece drew his portrait of Venus, the Goddefs of beauty.
74. — What do thefe 'worthies But rob and/p::!, biir7i,Jlaughter,
and injla've Peaceable naticns, n;ighb''r'ing, or
nmote, &c] Milton faith not
a word dircftly of the exploits cf thofe heroes, who in purfiiit of falfe glory had done what Csfar did. He was unwilling perhaps to give his readers occafion to refleft, that there was a Csfar in his own time and country, whom he had prais'd, admir'd, and ferv'd.
C alt on.
8 I . Then f-juell nvith pride, and rduji be titled Gcds, &-c] The fecond Antiochus kin^^ of Syria was called Antiochus 0^'^ or the God: and the learned author De Epoch. Syro-Macedonum p. 151. fpeaks of a coin of Rpiphanes in- fcrib'd ©Etf E7r;(p«v«-:. The Athe- nians gave Demetrius Poiiorcctes, and his father Antigonus the titles of Y.vifysta.i Benefactors, and Xw- T>!§-=? Deli-uerers. The laft was a divine title ; [See Suidas in voce ZwTr^] and they finiili'd the com- pliir.ent by calling their He'ad-ma- gifirate, inllead of A'clon, If^svj 2w;r^i^5, Prieji of the Deliverers. Plut. in vita Deraetrii. Calion.
56, Poor
112 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Worfliipt with temple, prieft and facrifice ;
One is the fon of Jove, of Mars the other ;
Till conqu'ror Death difcover them fcarce men, 85
Rolling in brutifh vices, and deform'd,
Violent or fliameful death their due reward.
But if there be in glory ought of good,
It may by means far different be attain'd
Without ambition, war, or violence ; 90
By deeds of peace, by wifdom eminent.
By patience, temperance : I mention ftill
Him whom thy wrongs with faintly patience borne
Made famous in a land and times obfcure -,
Who names not now with honor patient Job ? 95
Poor
96. Pcor Socrates (nvha next more a place there with Alexander, and memorable >" ) &c.] Milton here Csfar, and the moft celebrated he- does not fcruple with Erafmus to roes of antiquity. See the Tatler place Socrates in the foremoll rank N'' 8i by Mr. Addifon. And the of Saints; an opinion more ami- no lefs ingenious author of the able at leaft, and agreeable to that Temple of Fame has made him i'pirit of love which breathes in the principal figure among the bet- the Gofpel, than the fevere or- ler fort of heroes.
thodoxy of thofe rigid textuaries, -uTirrr-- l ^^t-
i„ ■' •,,• ? 11 c^ Much-fufFrmg heroes next their
who are unwilhng to allow falva- , , =•
tion to the moral virtues of the m, °"°^l.*",^^^' .^ j i r
Heathen. T:hyer. T^°^^, °^^ ^^^^ ""^^^ ^"'^ ^^^'
•^ guilty fame,
^0 ,. Fair Virtue's filent train : fu-
r 1 â– r ^ > J a preme of thele
hquai 1)2 fame to proudet co7ique- -t n- \ ^^•\ c
rors.l And therefore the very ^^'^ ^^^^ ^'"" ^^^ g°^^^^^ 2°'
ingenious author of the vifion of ^^^ ^^'
the Table of Fame has given him And if Mr. Addifon had completed
his
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 113
Poor Socates (who next more memorable ?) By what he taught and fufFer'd for fo doing, For truth's fake fufifering death unjuft, lives now Equal in fame to proudeil conquerors* Yet if for fame and glory ought be done, loO
Ought fuffer'd j if young African for fame His wafted country freed from Punic rage, The deed becomes unprais'd, the man at leaft^ And lofes, though but verbal, his reward. Shall I feek glory then, as vain men feek, 105
Oft not deferv'd ? I feek not mine, but his Who fent me', and thereby witnefs whence I am* To whom the Tempter murm'ring thus reply'd.
Think
his defign of writing a tragedy of the ravages which Hannibal had
Socrates, his fuccefsin all probabi- committed in Italy during the fe-
lity would have been greater, as cond Punic war. the fubjed. would have been better
than that of Cato. 1 06. - — I/eei not mine, but his
Who fent me\ and thereby ivitnefs
101. if young African for ^whence I am.'] I honor my Fa- fame thcr, I Jeek not mine o^^vn glory, fays
His ivafiedconntrs freed fro::i Pu- our Saviour in St. John's Gofpel
nic rage^ This fhows plainly VIII. 49, 50 : and this he urgelh
that he had fpoken before of the as a proof of his divine miffion,
elder Scipio Alricanus ; for he Vll. 18. He that fpeaketh of him-
only can be faid with propriety felf, feeketh his c^Mn glory : hut he
to have freed his -ivajled country that feeketh his glo7y that fent him,
from Punic rage, by transferring the the fame is true, and no unrighteouf
war into Spain and Africa after mf is in him.
V o L. L I 109, Ihinh
114 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
I 10
Think not fo flight of glory ; therein leaft
Refembling thy great Father : he feeks glory,
And for his glory all things made, all things
Orders and governs ; nor content in Heaven
By all his Angels giorify'd, requires
Glory from men, from all men good or bad,
Wife or unwiie, no difference, no exemption ; i ij
Above all iacrifice, or hallov^'d gift
Glory' he requires, and glory he receives
Promifcuous from all nations, Jew, or Greek,
Or barbarous, nor exception hath declar'd i
From
109. Think not fc jlight cf glory ; &c] There is nothing throughout the whole poem more expreflive of the true charafter of the Tempter than this reply. There is in it all the real falfhood of the father of lies, and the glozing fubtlety of an infidious deceiver. The argument is fa'fe and unfound, and yet it is veil'd over with a certain plaufible air of truth. The poet has alfo by introducing this furnifli'd him- felf uich an opportunity of ex- plaining that great queflion in di- vinity, \\\i\ God created the world, and \\ hat is meant by that glory which he expeds from his crea- tures. This may be no improper place to obferve to the reader the author's great art in weaving in- to the body of fo Ihort a work fo
many grand points of the Chrillian theology and morality. Thyer.
I 18. Promifcuous from all nations^ The poet puts here into the mouth of the Devil the abfurd notions of the apologilts for Paganifm. See Themiltius Orat. XII. de Relig. Valent. Imp. 7«t;Ta jo^a.^e ymcj^a.^. &c. p. 160. Warburton.
121. 'To -uhom our Saviour fer- aiently reply'd.l As this poem confifts chiefly of a dialogue be- tween the Tempter and our Sa- viour, the poet muil have labor'd under fom.e difnculty in compofing a fufiicient variety of introductory lines to the feveral fpeeches, anc' it required great art and judgment to vary and adapt them fo propcily as he Lath done to tiie fulijt-Ci in hand. We took notice of a beauty
of
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
^15
From us his foes pronounc'd glory' he exads. 120
To whom cur Saviour fervently reply'd. And reafon ; fmce his word all things produc'd, Though chiefly not for glory as prime end, But to fliow forth his goodnefs, and impart His good comraunicahle to every foul 125
Freely ; of whom what could he lefs expect Than glory' and benedidion, that is thanks, The ilightefl:, eafieft, readiefl: recompenfe From them who could return him nothing elfe, And not returning that would likelieH: render 130
Contempt
of this kind in a note upon IF. 432 : and here we have another inrtance not unworthy of our ob- fervation. When the Tempter had propofed to our Saviour the baits and allurements of glory, he was nothing; mov'd, but repiv'(! with great calmnefs ana compofure of mind. ver. 43,
To whom our Saviour calmly thus reply'd :
but now the Tempter reHeAs upon the ginry of God, our Saviour ;s warm'd upon the occafion, and anfwers with fonie eagernefs and fervor.
To whom our Savioury>rz't';.7/y reply'd.
And this is perfectly juft, and a-
greeable to the true chara6ler of our Saviour, who was all meek- nefs and forbearance in every thing that 1 elated to himfelf, but where God's honour was concern'd, was warm and zealous ; as when he drove the buyers and fellers out of the temple, infomuch that the diiciples apply'd to him the fa}ing of the Pfiilmiil, The zeal of t/nm boyfe hath eaten me up. John JI. 1 7. 128, T he JJighteJ} , eafieP., read'; eft recompenle\ The iame fenti- ment in the Paradife Loft. IV\ 46.
What could be lef. than to afford
liim praife. The eaiisil recompenfe, and pay
him thinks, How due !
I ^O- /nd net returning that\ We 1 2 have
Ii6 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Contempt inftead, difhonor, obloquy ?
Hard recompenfe, unfuitable return
For fo much good. To much beneficence.
But why fliould man feek glory, who' of his own
Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs 135
But condemnation, ignominy', and fhame ?
Who for fo many benefits receiv'd
Turn'd recreant to God, ingrate and falfe.
And fo of all true good himfelf defpoil'd.
Yet, facrilegious, to himfelf would take 140
That which to God alone of right belongs ;
Yet fo much bounty is in God, fuch grace.
That who advance his glory, not their own.
Them he himfelf to glory will advance.
So fpake the Son of God 3 and here again 145
Satan
have replac'd the reading of the Worth or not worth /^«> feeking,
firil edition : moll of the later edi- , , • . i. ./ •
, . but not knowing to whom their
tions iiave it u r r • • .j •. n u u
could refer, 1 imagin d it Inould be
And not returning ivhat \xt \. . .u ; r i •
° Worth or not worth thy leekmg,
which fpoils the fenfe of the paf- , ^ r n j- • i_-u- t-
r T I. J ci A •.• but the fiift edition exhibits this
lage. I had correaed it in my own ,.
book before I had feen the firft edi- &
tion, and Mr. Thyer had done the Worth or not worth the feeking,
7 ,, . , .1 .L r L as Mr. Sympfon propofed to read
I c I . IVorth or not -ivorth the leek- , â– ^ r r
ing,] In all the editions which ^^ conjedure.
I have feen except the iirft, it is \^2i. Reduced a prcjince under Po-
printed ma}tyoke,'\ Judsa was reduced
to
J
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 117
Satan had not to anfwer, but flood ftruck With guilt of his own iin, for he himfelf Infatiable of glory had loft all, Yet of another plea bethought him foon.
Of glory, as thou wilt, faid he, fo deem, 150
Worth or not worth the feeking, let it pafs : But to a kingdom thou art born, ordain'd To fit upon thy father David's throne ; By mother's fide thy father -j though thy right Be now in pow'rful hands, that will not part 155 Eafily from pofTefTion won with arms : Judaea now and all the promis'd land, Reduc'd a province under Roman yoke. Obeys Tiberius ; nor is always rul'd With temp'rate fway ; oft have they violated 160
The
to the form of a Roman province, vernment was not always the moft
in the reign of Auguflus, by Qui- temperate. At this time Pontius
rinius or Cyrenius then governor Pilate was procurator of Judsea ;
of Syria; and Coponius a Roman and if hillory be true, he was a
of the equeftrian order was ap- moft corrupt, and flagitious gover-
pointed to govern it under the title nor. See pardcularly PhiJo de Le-
of Procurator of Judaea ; our Sa- gatione ad Caium.
viour being then (as Dean Pri- i6o. oft ha-ue they njiolated
deaux fays) in the 1 2th year of his The temple, &c] As Pompey did
age, but according to the vulgar particularly with feverai of his offi-
aera, which begins four years later cers, whoenter'd not only into the
than the true time, it was A. D. 8. holy place, but alio penetrated in-
Nor is al-ways rul'd ivith temp'rate to the holy of holici, where none
f^ay : and indeed the Roman go- were permitted by the law to en-
I 3 ter.
ii8 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
The temple, oft the law with foul affronts,
Abominations rather, as did once
Antiochus : and think'il: thou to regain
Thy right by fitting ftill or thus retiring ?
So did not Maccabeus : he indeed 165
Retir'd unto the defert, but with arms ;
And o'er a mighty king fo oft prevail'd,
That by flrong hand his family obtain'd, rnfnrn'd
Though priefls, the crown, and David's throne
With Modin and her fuburbs once content. 170
If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal
And duty j zeal and duty are not flow ;
But on occafion's forelock watchful wait.
They themfelves rather are occafion beft,
Zeal of thy father's houfe, duty to free 175
Thy country from her heathen fervitude -,
So
ter, except the high-prieft alone he would infer that Jefus was to
once in a year, on the great day blame for not vindicating his coun-
of expiation. And this piofana- try againll the one, as yW^zj il/^zc-
tion of the temple might well re- cabeus had done againft the other,
mind the author of a former one He fled indeed into the wildernefs
by Antiochus Epiphanes. See z from the perlecutions of Antio-
Macab. V. chus, but there he took up arms
165. Sa did net Maccabeus :"] The againil him, and obtained fo many
Tempter had conipar'd the profa- victories over his forces, that he
nation of the temple by the Ro- recovered the city and fanduary
mans to that by Aniiochus Epi- out of their hands, and his family
phanes, king of Syria ; and now was in his brother Jonathan ad- vanced
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 119
So flialt thou beft fulfi], beft verify
The prophets old, who fung thy endlefs reign -,
The happier reign the fooner it begins j 179
Reign then j what canfl thou better do the while ?
To whom our Saviour anfwer thus return'd.
All things are beft fulfill'd in their due time,
And time there is for all things, Truth hath faid :
If of my reign prophetic Writ hath told,
That it fhall never end, fo when begin 185
The Father in his purpofe hath decreed,
He in whofe hand all times and feafons roll.
What if he hath decreed that I fhall firft
Be try'd in humble ftate, and things adverfe.
By tribulations, injuries, infults, 190
Contempts, and fcorns, and fnares, and violence,
Suffering, abftaining, quietly expeding,
Without
vanced to the high priefthood, and at Modin, which is famous for no-
in his brother Simon to the priu- thing fo much as being the country
cipality, and fo they continued for of the Maccabees. See i. Maccab.
feveral defcents fovran pontiffs and Jofephns, Prideaux &c.
fovran princes of the Jewi/h nation 183 Jfid time there is for all
till the time of Herod the great : things, Truth hath laid : ] Ec-
tho' their father Mattathias (the clef. III. i.To e-uery thing there is a
fon of John, the fon of Simon, feajhn, and a time to e'very purpofe
the fon of Afmonasus, from whom under the Hea-uen.
the family had the name of Afmo- 187, He in nxjhofe hand all times
nsans) was no more than a prieft and Jeafons roll.] Alluding to
of the courfe of Joarib, and dwelt A6ts I. 7. It is not for you ta kno-uj
I 4 i'^(
120 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Without diftruft or doubt, that he may know
What I can fuffer, how obey ? who befl
Can fuffer, beft can doj beft reign, who firft 195
Well hath obey'd 3 juft trial ere I merit
My exaltation without change or end.
But what concerns it thee when I begin
My everlafting kingdom, why art thou
Solicitous, what moves thy inquifition ? 200
Know'ft thou not that my rifing is thy fall.
And my promotion will be thy deftrudion ?
To whom the Tempter inly rack'd reply 'd.
Let that come when it comes ; all hope is loft
Of my reception into grace ; what worfe ? 205
For where no hope is left, is left no fear :
If there be worfe, the expedlation more
Of worfe torments me than the feeling can,
I would
i^e times or the fr.afons, nuhkh the De Legg. VI. as Urfinus and Da-^ father hath -^ut in bis cvon ponxer, vies have noted.
J n • 1 r n 2o6. For ^vhere no hope is left, is
IQC. heft rei?n, ivho jir/t ,^ ^ , -i\n\ â–
11-111 .1 L ^j \ti ' ui left no fear : &c.| Milton m
lPellhathobt'Yd\\\\&xt\>xoQzh\v .. ' ^ \ a r n • r
. . L > 1 r>- T> this and the nve roljowin? verles
the author remember d Cicero. De , . , ,, , i r i- • .l .
T -L TTT rs • \, • ^ plainly alludes to theie lines in that
Leeib. III. 3. Qui bene imperat, r r v\ ro . • l l
^ .^ ,• 7~ rr K 1 nne fohloquy of Satan s in the be-
paruent auquando necefle elt ; et . . i •', i u i r r»
^ ■1 ,1 ^ . -J . • V gin^ins or the Ath book ot Para-
qui moJeite paret, videtu."", qu! all- 5-r i /i o
^ , . 'i- rr^ ; u dife Loft. ver. loS. quando imperet, dignus ehe. i he
fame fentiment occurs in Ariftotle, So farewel hope, and with hope
PoUt, III. ^-yiL 14. and in Plato, farewel fear,
Farewel
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 121
I would be at the worft ; worft is my port,
My harbour, and my ultimate repofe, 210
The end I would attain, my final good.
My error was my error, and my crime
My crime j whatever for itfelf condemn'd,
And will alike be punifli'd, whether thou
Reign or reign not j though to that gentle brow 215
Willingly I could fly, and hope thy reign,
From that placid afped; and meek regard.
Rather than aggravate my evil flate,
Would ftand between me and thy Father's ire
(Whofe ire I dread more than the fire of Hell) 220
A fhelter and a kind of fhading cool
Interpofition, as a fummer's cloud.
If I then to the worfl: that can be hafle.
Why move thy feet fo flow to what is befl,
Happieft
Farewel remorfe : all good to crime my crime ; "jchateuer it be, it
me is loft ; is for if/elf condemn' d, and nuill alike
Evil be thou my good. — — be punijod kc : and I do not fee
Thyer. how the pafTage is emended, or the
fenfe improv'd by placing the fe-
212. . and my crime" micolon after my crime vjhate-very
My crime ; luhate-uer for itjdf as Mr. Sympfon prefcribes ; or by
condemn d,^ This is the point- blotting out the femicolon after
ing in Milton's own edition, and crime, and putting a comma at
I conceive the expreffion to be el- ^whatever, as Mr. Meadowcourt
leiptical, and this to be the mean- diredls. .,
ing, My error was my error, and my
234. And
122 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Happieft both to thyfelf and all the world, 225
That thou who Vv'orthieft art fliouWil: be their king ?
Perhaps thou linger'H in deep thoughts detain'd
Of th' enterpriie fo hazardous and high ;
No wonder, for though in thee be united
What of perfection can in man be found, 230
Or human nature can receive, coniider
Thy life hath yet been private, moft part fpent
At home, fcarce view'd the Galilean towns.
And once a year Jerufalem, few days 234
Short fojourn; and what thence could'ft thou obferve ?
The world thou haft not feen, much lefs her glory,
Emp-res, and monarchs, and their radiant courts,
Beft fchool of beft experience, quickeft infight
In all things that to greateft aftions lead.
The
i'i^\. And once a year "Jervfalem, fer the emendation, which Mr.
&c] At the feaft of the paflbver, Theobald, Mr. Meadowcourt, and
Luke II. 41. Mr. Thyer have, unknown to each
238. quickeft infight other, propofed.
In all things that to orcateli ac- . , „ . ^ , .
tions lead.\ In all the editions, *■•' <^
and indeed in Milton's own, it is and it was eafy for Milton's ama-
printed nuenfis (his wife moft probably) or
â– , f, â– r ' his printer to miftake the one for
alUlTcrSv '^ '^^ ^'^^'•■- '^^'°^' "'^ '^^ ^'^ ^"'^
^"S ^ ' moft probable emendations, which
but we cannot but think it an error confift in fuch fmall alterations,
of the writer or printer, and pre- When other words are fubftituted,
we
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
123
The wifeft, unexperienc'd, will be ever 240
Timorous and loath, with novice modefty, (As he who I'eeking affes found a kingdom) Irrefolute, unhardy, unadventrous : But I will bring thee where thou foon (halt quit Thofe rudiments, and fee before thine eyes 245
The monarchies of th' earth, their pomp and ftate, Sufficient introdudion to inform Thee, of thyfelf fo apt, in regal arts. And regal myfteries, that thou may'ft know How bed their oppofition to withftand. 250
With that (fuch pow'r was giv'n him then) he took The Son of God up to a mountain high. It was a mountain at whofe verdant feet A fpacious plain out-ftretch'd in circuit Vv'ide
Lay
we ought to have fome better au- thority than conjecture.
242. As he ^^hofeek'pigajfc! found a kingdoTn] Saul, who feeking his father's loft afTes, came to Sa- muel, and by him was annointed king. The Itory is related in I Sam. IX.
253. // -ivas a mountain &C] All that the Scripture faith, is that the Devil took our Saviour up into a high ?nou>i tain, Luke IV. 5. an ex- ceeding high mountain, Mat. IV. 8.
and commentators generally fup- pofe it to be one of the mountains in the neighbourhood cf Jeru'a- lem, Jerufalem being furrounded by mountains, or fome mountain near the wildernefs, near the place where our Saviour was tempted. The Ancients fpeak little concern- ing it, but the Moderns conceive it to be the mountain Qjarantania, as it is now cali'd. Tha: inge- nious traveler, Mr. Maundrel in his Journey from Aleppo to Jeru- falem,
124 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Lay pleafant ; from his fide two rivers flow'd, 255 Th' one winding, th' other flrait, and left between Fair champain with lefs rivers intervein'd. Then meeting join'd their tribute to the fea : Fertil of corn the glebe, of oil and wine ; 259
With herds the paftures throng'd, with flocks the hillsj Huge cities and high towr'd, that well might feern The feats of mightiefl: monarchs, and fo large
The
falem, mentioning the plain of Je- richo, fays that (Mar. 29.) " we *' defcended into it, after about *' five hoars march irom Jerufa- " lem. As foon as we €nter'd the *' plain, we turned up on the left *' hand, and going about one hour *' that way, came to the foot of *' the Quarantania ; which they *' fay is the mountain into which " the Devil took our blefled Sa- " viour, when he tempted him *' with that vifionary fcene of all *' the kingdoms and glories of the <' world. It is, as St. Matthew *' fliles it, an exceeding high *' mountain, and in its afcent not <' only difficult, but dangerous." But this is all conjedure, for the Scripture has not fpecified any par- ticular place, and the Scripture having not afcertained the place, the poet was at liberty to choofe any mountain, that befl fuited his fancy, for the fcene of this vifion. And accordingly he fuppofes the Devil (fuch po^.iJ'r ivas giuen him then) to carry our Saviour many a
league up to a high mountain^ of which he forbears to mention the name out of reverence to the Scrip- ture, which hath likewife men- tion'd no name ; but by his de- fcription of it he muft mean mount Taurus, as Mr.Thyer and Mr. Gal- lon have concurred with me in ob- ferving ; for he defcribes it exaftly in the fame manner as Strabo has defcribed that part of mount Tau- rus, which divides the greater Ar- menia from Mefopotamia, and contains the fources of the two rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Stra- bo Lib. XI. p. 521. Edit. Amftel.
To J' Bti l/OTlWTOtTf'li (/3ojJEJOTaTO|i)
(/.ccXt^cc Eftf 0 Tctv^'^ b^iC^uv Tyiv
Enrevdev ^ a^^oTfgot ^laaiv oZ Tijf Meo-oTTOTafXiav tJ>cws,?itf(iAevoi "BTOTafto*, x«i <7uva'7rToi/T£? aXXij-
Eira tK^i^ovrei ti<; Tnv y.a.^01. n«p- ccx,c, Sa^arlai/, 0 re Ev^^urr,(;, xcti b Tty^K' And the courfe of the rivers is defcribed in the fame manner by Strabo, the Euphrates tuiittdingf,
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
125
The profped was, that here and there was room For barren defert fountalnlefs and dry. 264
To this high mountain top the Tempter brought Our Saviour, and new train of words began.
Well have we fpeeded, and o'er hill and dale, Foreft and field and flood, temples and towers. Cut fhorter many a league j here thou behold'fl
AfTyria and her empire's ancient bounds, 270
Araxes
nuinding, and the Tigris fira]t and fwift as an arrow. Er» it tj.iit,m
^Upa.!/, CKCi^AUl ~U ^SlOfW, v., T. ?â– ..
Dionyfius, and other ancient Geo- graphers give us much the fame defcription : of the Euphrates, he fays ver. j^j. Edit. Wells,
App'.ES'iciig AvTriv r,i\toK>, X. r. A.
and for the fame reafon as Lloyd has remarked in his Didionary, it is called 'vagus Euphrates by Sta- tius, and flrxw.fus by Marcianus Capella. Of the Tigris Djonyfms fays
To» Je /iiet' eh; avyac, 'csQ'rx\/.uit
Ti7|t? Ei/ppEtT*i; ^EgETaj, x. t. X.
And indeed we need only look in- to the map to be fati fied, that the courfe of ihefe rivers anfwers to the defcription li^re given, and
that afterwards they unite their ilreams, and fall together into the Perfian gulf. And as to the ferti- lity of the country, M.lton copies after Dionyfius, but contradts his defcription.
Oy f*Ev Toi xEivji; yE vofA-a; utoc- ff-xro Qazv'f
yipcxicdiy, Mr,^ol? ay^ctiXoKTtv iipio'zana.i' not
aotro y.x^Ttuy. Toiij E9r» y.n>r,i ccfoai^ 'miXa, ev [/.ti
rioiriv, EC de â–ºoM.y; ivayQtci;
K. T. X.
â–ºo/Ay;
26 1 . Huge cities andhigh io-ivr'dfl So alfo in the L' Allegro,
Touored cities pleafe us then.
Turrit a urbes is very common a-
mongfl; the Latin poets. Thyer.
269. — here thou behold' Ji
JJJyria and h<ir empire's ancient
bounds,] A fitter fpot could
not
126 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Araxes and the Cafpian lake, thence on
As far as Indus eaft, Euphrates weft,
And oft beyond ^ to fouth the Perfian bay,
And inacceffible th' Arabian drouth :
Here Nineveh, of length within her wall 275
Several days journey, built by Ninus old,
Of that firft golden monarchy the feat.
And feat of Salmanaffar, whofe fuccefs
Ifrael
not have been chofen to take a view of the AiTyrian empire and its ancient bounds, tbe river Araxes and ihe Caipmn lake to the north, the river Indus to the eaft, the ri- ver Euphrates to the well, and oft beyond, as far as to the Mediterra- nean, and to the fouth the Perfian hay and the deferts of Arabia.
275. Here Nine^ceh, &c] This city was lituated on the Tigris, of length, as Mr. Sympfon iays he means cf circuit, 'uithin her -cvall fever al davs journey, and according to Diodoi us Siculus Lib. II. its cir- cuit was 60 of cur iiiiles, and in Jonaij \\\. 3. it is faid to be an ex- ceeding great city cf three dc^ys jour- ney 20 miles being the common computation oi a da\ 's journey for a fcot- traveler : built by Ninus old, and after him the city is faid to be called h'iKi--veh ; of that firji golden monarchy the feat, a capital city of the Allvrian empire, which the poet ftiles ffc/^fw monarchy, proba- bly in alluiion to the golden head of
the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the four empires ; and J'eai cf Salmanafjhr, who in the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah carried the ten tribes captive into AlTyria 721 years before Chrirt, io that it might nowbeproperly called a long capti-vity.
280. Ti:e:e Babylon, Szc] As Ni- neveh was fituated on the river Tigris, fo was Babylon on the river Euphrates; thei-.onder of all tongues, for it is reckon'd among the I'even wonders of the world ; as ancient as Nineveh, for fome fay it was built by Belus, and others by Se- miramis, the one the father, and the other the wife, of Ninus who built Nineveh ; but rebuilt by him, whoever built it, it was rebuilt, and inlarged, and beautify'd, and made one of tbe wonders of the world by Nebuchadnezzar. (Is not this great Babylon that I ha-ve bu:lt &C. Dan. J V . 30) nx:ho tnvice 'Judah led capti-ve, in the reign of jehoiacbin 2 Kings XXIV. and eleven years
after
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
Ifrael in long captivity ftill mourns ; There Babylon, the wonder of all tongues, As ancient, but rebuilt by him who twice Judah and all thy father David's houfe Led captive, and Jerufalem laid wade. Till Cyrus fet them free ; Perfepolis His city there thou {te{\i, and Badra there -, Ecbatana her flrudure vaft there fhows,
127 280
285 And
after in the reign of Zedekiah, and laid woafle Jerufalern, 2 Kings XXV. in which defolate condition it lay many years, //'// Cyr-.a fet them free, and reftor'd the Jews to their country again. Ezra I. and JI. 2 84. — Perfepolis
His city there thoiifeefl, &c] The city of Cyrus, if not built by him, yet by him made the capital city of the Periian empire : and BaFcra there, the chief city ofBadria, a province of Perfia, famous for its fruitfulnefs. Virg. Georg. \\ 136.
Sed neque IVIedorum fylvs, di-
tiffima terra, Nee pulcher Ganges, atque au-
ro turbidus Hermus, Laudibus Italiascertent,?/©/? ^a^-
tra, neque Indi ^c.
Echatana, the metropolis of Me- dia, her ftruditre 'vnft there Jhoivs, and the ancient hillorians fpeak of it as a very large city ; Herodo- tus compares it to Athens, Lib. f. cap. 98. and Strabo calls it a great
city, ^.lyxM 'to-oAk Lib. XT. p. 522. and Polybiiis fays that it greatly excelled other cities in riches an^' magnificence of build- ings. Lib. X. Jnd Hecatompylos her hundred gates, the name fignifies a city with an hundred gate^, and fo the capital city ofParti.ia was call'd, E>c«T0j(/-7rt.?vov TO Tuv Ilap- Gyaiwv j3«a-iA£(ov, Strabo Lib. XJ. p. 514. as was likewiie Thebes in Egypt for the fame re^fon. Tkeie Sufa, the Shuflian of the holy Scrip- tures, the royal leat of the kings of Perfia, who refided heie in the winter and at Ecbatana in the fum- raer, by Choafpes, fituated on the river Choafpes, or Eulaeus, or Ulai as it is called in Daniel, or rather on the confluence of thefe two rivers, which meeting at Sufa form one greater river, fometimes called by one name, fometimes by the other, amber fireani, fee the fame exprefiion and the conclufion of the note on Paradiis Loft IIL 3159. the drink of none but king:, of which we
will
I2S PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
And Hecatompylos her hundred gates ; There Sufa by Choafpes, amber ftream,
The
will fay nothing, as it is fo fully dif- cufs'd in a note by Mr. Jortin.
289. The drink of none but kings %\ If we examin it as an hiftorical problem, whether the kings of Per- fia alone drank of Choajpes, we (hall find great reafon to determin in the negative, i. We have for that opinion the iilence of many authors, by whom we might have expefted to have found it confirm- ed, had they known of any fuch cullom. Herodotus, Strabo, Ti- bullus, Aufonius, Maximus, Ty- rius, Arillides, Plutarch, Pliny the elder, Athensus, Dionyfius Perie- getes, Euitathius, have mentioned Choafpes (or Eulasus) as the drink of the kings of Perfia or Parthia, or have called it ^aaiXiy.ov l^u^, regia lympha, but have not faid that they alone drank of it. I fay Cho- afpes or Eulaus, bccaufe fome make them the fame, and others counted them difi"erent rivers. The filence of Herodotus ought to be of great weight, becaufe he is fo particular in his account of the Perfian af- fairs ; and next to his, the filence of Pliny, who had read fo many authors, is confiderable. 2. Though it can hardly be expefted that a negative (liould be proved any other way than from the filence of writers, yet fo it happens that ^lian, if his authority be admit- ted, aifords us a full proof that Chcnfpej might be drunk by the
fubje£ls of the kings of Perfia.
Tart aXKcc i(pohot e»7r6io tu Espfil AaSft ro ey. th XoacrTTS. Ettei ^ i»
pV^^TO TW rfaTOTTE^W, El Tl? C^lt
Coup £)c ra Xoacwy, u» ou ^xai-
r.M aiariTi^ ^X'^"' Ettiei' av Ttf- To 0 Si^^ri(;, y.cn ivigyitriv T0» oovTct tio^KTtv, oTi av uTTuXsro T*J oiij/?), El ^*) £K£Ki» iv^i^r). In the carriages •vjhich follo^^ed Xerxes , there njuere abrmdance cf ihirgs luhicb fer'ved only for pomp and ojientat'ton ; thtte nxias aljo the nuater of Cho- afpes. The army being opprefjed <with thirf in a dejert place, and the car- riages not being yet come up, it ivas proclamed, that if any one had of the <7.u/3/^r c/" Choafpes, he Jhould gi've it Xerxes to drink. One nx:as Jound 'who had a little, and that not J-uject. Xerxes drank it, and accounted him Hjoho ga've it him a hevefador, be- caufe he had perijhed 'vjith thirjtj if that little had not been found. Var. Hilt. XII. 40. 3. Mention is made indeed by Agathocles of a certain water, which none but Per- fian kings might drink ; and if any other writers mention it, they take it from Agathocles. We find in Athensus : Ay*Go>t^*); e" riEp- act\:^ (p-ncTiv £i>ai x«t p^ptcryi' xa- >k»/*Evo»' iSuf' mxi ot T8T0 M'
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 129
The drink of none but kings ; of later fame Built by Emathian, or by Parthian hands,
290 The
xut Tov 'S^^icvjrar'jv ccvts rut iiTutouii' run 6c a^iAfc'v eav Ti? tS'Yi, SaiaT©- ri ^r.fux.. y^gathoc.'es
Jays that there is in Perjia a -iva- ter called golden, that it iij'eventy
Jirenrns, that none drinks of it ex- cept the king and his eld.'J} Jon ; and that if any other perfon docs, death is the pitr.ijhment. See He- rodotus, Edit. Gronow p. 591. where this paffage is to he found. 4. It appears not that the golden nvater, and Ch:>afpes were the lame. Eultathius, tranfcrfDing from Aga- thocles, fays : to was^a UiptraK; ^fiiffHD xa^ajLtEvov tow^, oTrep xv y.iiaoi^ iQosy.r,Kciilx, tfJTEp «^£i;, (pacrn, iTTinv cTj y.-n ^xm^^nc, y.xi 0 Ti'v 'TTOcioiitv CCV7H Trpi:r(av- Taj©-* TW/ 0 ctWuy u ti? oth),
^arar©* ir, ^r,f/.ia. Z^jtjjteov
Sb Et xxi TO XsacTrEiov v^c!:p, hiri^ eT7in T^ccrivofjLii^ 0 Yli^auv ^x-
CO.tVC, rOiXVTXV ETTlTi/XtOH xr.^x
«^£i7.xsTo. The Perfians had a 'uja- ier cal ed golden ilfc. !^are, luhe- ther the avater e/'Choaipes, 'ujhich toe Perjian king drank in his expe- ditions, ^Mos forbidden to all others und:r the fa:ne penally. Eullathius in Homer. Iliad. T. p. 1301. Ed. Eafil. 5. It may be granted, and it is not at all improbable, that none befides the king miuht drink of that water of Choafbes, which was boiled and barrel'd ud for Vol. I.
his ufe ir/his military expeditions, 6. Solinus indeed, who is a frivo- lous writer, fays Cboafpes ita dul- cis efl, ut Perfici reges quamdij intra rip:ts Pcrfidis fluir, folis fibi ex eo pccula vendicarint. 7. iVIil- ton, confidered as a poet, with whofe purpoie the fabulous fuited beft, is by no means to be blamed for what he has advanced ; and even the autliority of Solinus is fuCicient to julliify h'm. Milton, when he calls Choafpcs an'cerjiream, feems to have had in view the gol- den -Mater of Agathocles and of his tranfcribers. Jortin.
289. of later fame &c] Ci- ties of later date, buiit by Ema- thian, that is Macedonian, thefuc- ceffors of Alexander in Ana, cr by Parthiari ha-rJ.s, the great Seleu- cia, built near the river Tigris by Seleucus Niqator, one of Alexan- der's captains, and called great to diliinguiih it from others of the fame name ; N'ftbis, another city upon the Tigris, called ahb An- tiochia, Antiochia, quan: Kifbin va- cant. Plin. Nat. Hiil. Lib. 6. Sec^. 16. Artaxata, the chief city of Armenia, feated upon the river A raxes, juxtu Ai-axem Artaxata. Plin. Lib. 6. Seft 10. Teredon, a city near the Perfian bay, below the confluence of Euphrates and Tigris, Teredon infra confiuentem Eubhratis et Tigris. Plin. Lib. 6. Sed. 32. Ciejiphon near Seleucia,
K, the
ijo PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book lit
The great Seleucia, Nifibis, and there
Artaxata, Teredon, Ctefiphon,
Turning with eafy eye thou may 'ft behold.
All thefe the Parthian, now fome ages paft.
By great Arfaces led, who founded firft 295
That empire, under his dominion holds.
From the luxurious kings of Antioch won.
And juft in time thou com'fi: to have a view
Of his great pow'r j for now the Parthian king
In
the winter refidence of die Par- thian Kings. Strabo. Lib. i6. p. 743. Jli thefe cities, which be- fore belonged to the Seleucids or Syro -Macedonian princes, fome- tiraes called kings cf Jltitioch, from their ufual place of refidence, are now under the dominion of the Parthians,whofe empire was found- ed by Arfaces, who revolted from Antiochus Theus according to Pri- deaux 250 years before Chrift. This view of the Parthian empire is much more agreeably and poeti- cally defcribed than Adam's pro- fped; of the kingdoms of the â– world from the mount of vifion
in the Paradife Lofi, XI. 3 85
411; but ftill the anachronifm in this is worfe than in the other': in the former Adam is fuppofed to take a view of cities many years before they were built, and in the latter pur Saviour beholds citie?.
as Nineveh, Babylon &c. in their florifhing condition many years after they were laid in ruins ; but it was the defign of the former vi- fion to exhibit what was future, it was not the defign of the latter to exhibit what was paft.
298. Andjufi in time thou com'fi to ha^ve a <vienu
Of his great po^'r;"] Although Milton in this temptation had no lefs a fcene at his command than all the empires of the world, yet being fenfible how iiKapable his fubjefl was of poetic decoration in many other paits of it, and confidering too, very probably, that a geographic defcription of kingdoms, however varied in the manner of expreflion and diverfi- fied with little circumftances, njuft fcon grow tedious, has very judi- ciously thrown in this digrelTive pifture
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'^ 131
In Ctefiphon hath gatlier'd all his holl 300
Againfl the Scythian, whofe incurfions wild
Have wafted Sogdiana j to her aid
He marches now in hafte ; fee, though from far^
His thoufands, in what martial equipage 304
They iffue forth, fteel bows, and fhafts their arms
Of equal dread in flight, or in purfuit ;
All horfemen, in which fight they moft excel 3
See how in warlike mufter they appear,
lit
piifture of an army mKftering for an expedition, which he has exe- cuted in a veiy mafterly manner. The fame conduft he has obferved in the fubfequent defcription of the Roman empire by introducing into the fcene pr^tors and procon- fuls marching out to their provinces *vith troops, lidlors, rods, and other enfigns of power, and embaffadors fnaking their entrance into that imperial city from all parts of the world. There is great art and de- sign in this contrivance of the au- thor's, and the more as there is no appearance of any, fo natu- rally are the parts conneded.
'Tijer.
299. — '—for noiu the Parthian
king In Ctefiphon hath gat her'' d all his
hoji] When Strabo mentions Ctefiphon, Lib. i6. p. 743. which
we quoted before, he fays that the Parthian kings made it their winte? refidence to prevent the incurfions of the Scythians ; and he defcribes it as a place able to contain a vaft multitude and all preparations and provisions for them : T«uTr,v y
XtXlVKlKOf, lux, (AVI KCcrCCru^jji,iV~
-aro^K «vT» >i(u/L*r,? ifi xai to (ai- ytS©- ToanTon ys '?ff^r/6©- ^^X^' fj-nr,, xa» T7IV xasTacxeurn x. t. A.
and therefore the poet might well fuppofe the Scythians at this time to have made an incurfion into Sogdiana, which was the province next adjoining to them, and the Parthian king to have aflembled a great army at Ctefiphon in order to oppole them.
K
509-
li:
132 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
In rhombs and wedges, and half-moons, and wings.
He look'd, and faw what numbers numberlefs The city gates out-pour'd, light armed troops 3 1 1 In coats of mail and military pride j In mail their horfes clad, yet fleet and ftrong, Prauncing their riders bore, the flow'r and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound ; 315 From Arachofia, from Candaor eaft,
309. In rhofnhs and nveiiges, Rhojfibs is a word for-ned from the Greek ^o^S©- or Latin rho-mhus, a figure of four fiues, which being converted into one of three makes a <vcedge. In re niilitari etiam trans- formatum in triquetrum, cuneum feu roftrum vccamus. Rob. Ste- phens. In Greek it was called
3 10. — ^Mhat numbers numhcrlefs] A manner of expreffion this, tho' much cenfur'd in our author, very familiar with the beft Greek poets, y^fchyl. Prom. 904.
Perfae 682.
Thyer.
313. In mail (I fir horjes clad,"] T'hat this was the pia^v'tice among the Parthians we learn from Juilin XLI. 2. Mnnimentum ipfis cqiiif- que lorica? pluniata? funt, qus S
And
utrumqiie to«o corpore tegunt : and from Appian De Bell. Parth.
ct S' IviTOi •/.aTaTTi^p^ayfy-iioi %aA-
315. Of many prc-uinces from hound to bound ^^ He had mention'd before the principal cities of the Parthians, and now he recounts feveral of their provinces: Araco- fia near the river Indus, p.E%p» Ta Ii^i.' T70Ti*/xa T£T«/:<t£H), Strabo Lib. 1 1 . p. 5 1 6. Candaor not Gan- daor as in fome editions, I fuppofe the Canda'i a people of India men- tion'd by Pliny. Lib. 6. Sed. 18. who are different Father Karduin fays from the Gavdari. Thefe were provinces to the eaf}., and to the north lilargia/ui and Hyrcaniay
Strabo Lib. z. p. 72. and mount Caucafts, and Iberia, which is cal- led dark, as the country abounded with forerti?, Iberi faltuofos locos incolentes. Tacitus Aiinal. Lib. 6. Atrcpatia lay weft of Media, tjj
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
133
And Margiana to the Hyrcanian cliffs
Of Caucafus, and dark Iberian dales,
From Atropatia and the neigh b'ring plains
Of Adiabene, Media, and the fouth 320
Of Sufiana, to Baifara's haven.
He fuv them in their forms of battel rang'd,
How qiick they wheel'd, and fly'ing behind them fliot
Sharp fleet of arrowy fhow'rs againft the face
til fjLiyacXv) Mriottz Trpo? av(Tiv. Strabo Lib. Ii. p. 523. Adiabene was the weftern part of Babylo- nia, aTTo ^£ ^vataq A^ia^i^m, and Strabo fays was a plain country,
^la; £rt> Strabo Lib. 16. p. 745. Sujiana was on the fouth, extend- ing to the Perfian gulf, -^ ^£ %iy-
^a. T»)5 SaT^arT/Js xaS»i;<£», Strabo
Lib. ic. p. 728. where was alfo Baljara s ha-vcn, the fame as Tere- iion beforemention'd. And thus he furveys their provinces from bound to bound. And the reader cannot but remark with pleafure how very exadl he is in his account of cities and countries, and how well he muil have remember'd, and how faithfully he has copied the ancient geographers and hillorians.
3 2 3 . — and flying behind them /hot Sharp Jleet of arrotvy Jhonji/rs^ In the iirft edition it was printed /ho^-w'r by miftake, and is correded Jho-Lurs among the Errata, but this notwithlianding the faulty reading
Of
is follow'd in all the editions fince. Sharp feet Sec is a metaphor, as Mr. Richardfon has noted, not un- like that in Virgil JEn. XI. 610.
— fundunt fimul undique tela Crebra ni-vis ritu.
And the cuflom of the Parthians of (hooting their arrows behind them and overcoming by flight is fo celebrated by hillorians and poets, and is fo well known to every one of the leaft reading, that it is ahnoft needlefs to bring any authorities to prove it. v'nretpivyov ya^ ctixoc iSaXAoHEj oi n«g6ot — —
au^scr^xi, y.oci TJj? (pvyyi; oc(pcn^i\v
TO onc-^^av. Appian de Bel. Parth. Virg. Georg. IIL 31.
Fidentemque fuga Parthum ver- fifque fagittis.
Hor.Od.LXIX.il.
Et verfxs animofum equis Parthum dicere.
K3
326. Th
134 PARADISE REGAINED. Book IlL
Of their purfuers, and overcame by flight ; 325
The field all iron caft a gleaming brown :
Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor on each horn
CuiralTiers all in fteel for ftanding fight.
Chariots or elephants indors'd widi towers
Of archers, nor of lab'ring pioneers 330
A multitude with fpades and axes arm'd
To
326. The field all iron cajl a gleaming bronxin .*] One cannot
pafs over this line without taking notice of the particular beauty and exprei^ivenefs of it. The fenfe contained in it would have ferved a common romance-writer to have fpun out into a paragraph of half a page length. Thyer.
I believe the reader will agree with ine that it greatly exceeds Fairfax. Cant. 1. St. 64.
Imbatteled in walls oUron hrcuon.
and even Virgil, &xi. XI. 60 1 .
turn XzXe. firreus hafiiG
Jlorret ager.
327. "Nor nvanied clouds of foot ^ So we have in Homer Iliad. IV. 274. lEip©- irt^uv, and in Virgil ^n. VI r. 793. nimbus peditum: but as Mr. Thyer obfervcs with me, this verfe is not very coriiftent with ^hat goes before, ver. 307.
All horfemen, in which iight they moft excel ;
nor with what follows to the fame purpofe ver. 344.
Such and fo numerous was theif
chi'valry.
328. Cuirajfiers all in fieeV\ By cuiraffiers are to be underftood horfemen armed with cuirafles, which covered the body quite round from the neck to the wafte. If what Chambers fays in his Dic- tionary be true, viz. that thefe fort of troops were not introduc'd till the year 1 300, Milton has been guilty of a great anachronifm.
Thyer, But it appears that the Parthians had fuch troops, and particularly from the quotation which we lately made from Juftin ; Munimentum ipfis equifque loricse plumata; funt, qu<T utrumque totocorpore tegunt. XLl. 2.
329. elephants indorid n.vith
to'ivsrs^ That is wilh towers upon their backs. The reader mull know very little of Milton's rtile, who knoweth not that it is his me- thod to make ufe of words in their primary
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
^35
To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill. Or where plain was raife hill, or overlay With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke ; Mules after thefe, camels and dromedaries. And waggons fraught with utenfils of war. Such forces met not, nor fo wide a camp, When Agrican with all his northern powers
335
primary and original meaning, ra- rher than according to their com- mon acceptation.
330. — nor of lah'ring pioneers
A multitude &:c.] A'er wanted
the verb in ver. 327, a multitude
<vjith fpadei and axes armd, very
like that in Paradife Loll. I. 675.
as when bands
Of pioneers with fpade and pick- ax arm'd iSc.
333. — ■■■or onjerlay
With bridges rinjers proud, as ivith a yoke •,^ Alluding pro- bably to ^fchylus's defcription of Xerxes's bridge over the Helle- fpont. Perfe ver. 7 1 .
Thyer.
337. Such /ones met not, nor fo nxjide a camp.
When Agrican &c] What Milton here alludes to is related in Boi- ardo's Orlando Inamorato L i. Cant. 10. The number offerees faid to be there alTembled is in-
Befieg'd
credible, and extravagant even be- yord the common excrciv-i^anc/ of romances. Agrican the Tartar king brings into the field no lefs than two millioHs two hundred thoufand ;
Ventidua centinaia di miqiiara Di caualier hauca quel Re nel
campo, Cofa non mai udita - â– â– "â–
And Sacripante the king of Cir- caflia, who comes to the afliflance of Gallaphrone, three hundred and eighty two thoufand. It mud be acknowledged, I think, by the greateft admirers of Milton, that the imprefiicn v^hich romances had made upon his imagination in his youth, has in this place led him into a blameable excefs. Not to mention the notorious fabuloufneft of the faft alluded to, which I doubt fome people will cenfure in a poem of fo grave a turn, the number of the troops of Agrican &c is by far too much difpropor- tion'd to any army, which the Parthian king by any hiftorical K 4 evidence
136 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III,
Beiieg'd Albracca, as romances tell,
The city' of Gallaphrone, from thence to win 340
The fairefl of her fex Angelica
His daughter, fought by many proweft knights,
Both Paynim, and the peers of Charlemain.
Such and fo numerous was their chivalry j
At fight whereof the Fiend yet more prefum'd, 345
And to our Saviour thus his words renew'd.
That thou may'il know I feek not to engage Thy virtue, and not every way fecure On no flight grounds thy fafety j hear, and mark To what end I have brought thee hither and fliown All this fair fight : thy kingdom though foretold 351 By Prophet or by Angel, unlefs thou Endevor, as thy father David did. Thou never fhalt obtain j predi6tion flilJ In all things, and all men, fappofes means, 355
Without
evidence could be fuppofed to bring gun. As Milton fetches his fimile
into the field. , Thyer. from a romance he adopts the
341. Thefaireji of her /ex Ange- terms ufed by thefe writers, viz.
lica &c] This is that Angeli- ^rc-ii:cji and Paymm. Thyer,
ca who afterwards made her ap- 366. — and captive lead a^j^ay her
pearance in the fame charafter in kings
Ariofto's Orlando Furiofo, which Antigonus,andcldHyrcanusbound,'\
was intended as a continuation of Here leems to be a flip of me-
the ftory, which Boiardo had be- oiory in our author. The Par- thian s
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 137
Without means us'd, what it predids revokes.
But fay thou wert pofTefs'd of David's throne
By free confent of all, none oppoiit,
Samaritan or Jew ; how could'ft thou hope
Long to enjoy it quiet and fecure, 360
Between two fuch inclofing enemies
Roman and Parthian ? therefore one of thefe
Thou muft make fure thy own, the Parthian firft
By my advice, as nearer, and of late
Found able by invaiion to annoy 365
Thy country*, and captive lead away her kings
Antigonus, and old Hyrcanus bound,
Maugre the Roman : it fhall be my tafk
To render thee the Parthian at difpofe ; 369
Choofe which thou wilt by conquefl or by league.
By him thou fhalt regain, without him not,
That which alone can truly reinftall thee
In
thians indeed led Hyrcanus away by the Romans. See^Jofephus An- captive to Seleucia, after his eyes tiq. Lib. 14. cap. i 3. De Bell. Jud. were put out, and when he was Lib. i. cap. 13. But it (hould part 70 years of age, fo that he be confidered that Milton himfelf might well be called oU Hyrcanus : was old and blind, and compofing but inftead of leading away Jnti- from memory he might fall into gonus captive, they conftituted him fuch a miftake, which may be par- king of the Jews, and he was af- don'd among fo many excellences . lerwards depriv'd of his kingdom
376. In
138 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
In David's royal feat, his true fucceflbr.
Deliverance of thy brethren, thofe ten tribes
Whofe ofspring in his territory yet ferve, 375
In Habor, and among the Medes difpers'd ;
Ten fons of Jacob, tu^o of Jofeph loft
Thus long from Ifrael, ferving as of old
Their fathers in the land of Egypt ferv'd.
This offer fets before thee to deliver. 380
Thefc if from fervitude thou fhalt reftore
To their inheritance, then, nor till then.
Thou on the throne of David in full glory.
From Egypt to Euphrates and beyond
Shalt reign, and Rome or Caefar not need fear. 385
To whom our Saviour anfwer'd thus unmov'd. Much oftentation vain of flefhly arm. And fragil arms, much inftrument of war
Long
376. ]n Habor, and amon^ the That is the kingdom of Ifrael in Medes difpers'd \\ Thefe were its utmoft extent : for thus the the ten tribes, whom Shalmanefer land was promis'd to Abraham, king of Afiyria, carried captive Gen. XV. i8. Unto thy feed have onto Affyria, and put them in Ha- I ginjen this land, from the rinjer of lah andin Habor by the fi'vcr of Go- Egypt, unto the great ri'ver, the ri- zan, and in the cities cf the Medes. ver Euphrates : and the extent or 2 Kings XVIII. I J. which cities Solomon's kingdom is thus de- were now under the dominioiQ of fcrib'd, i Kings IV. 21. And So- fbe Parthians. lomon reigned o'uer all kingdoms from
384,. From Egypt te Euphrates^ the river (Euphrates) unto the land
cf
3ookIIL PARADISE REGAIN'D. 139
Long in preparing, foon to nothing brought. Before mine eyes thou' haft fet ; and in my ear 390 Vented much policy, and projecfls deep Of enemies, of aids, battels and leagues, Plaufible to the world, to me worth nought. Means I muft ufe, thou fay'ft, predidion elfe Will unpredidt and fail me of the throne: 395
My time I told thee (and that time for thee Were better fartheft off) is not yet come ; When that comes, think not thou to find me flack On my part ought endevoring, or to need Thy politic maxims, or that cumberfome 400
Luggage of war there fliown me, argument Of human weaknefs rather than of ftrength. My brethren, as thou call'ft them, thofe ten tribes I muft deliver, if I mean to reign
David's
of the Philijllnes, and unto the border come. VII. 6. My time is not yet
of Egypt. come.
394. ■frediiiion elfe 401 —-—argument
IVill utiprediSi'] A manner of Of human nveaknefs rather than
fpeaking this, rather too light and offirength\ It is a proof of
familiar for the dignity of the human weaknefs, as it fhows that
fpeaker. Thyer, man is obliged to depend upon
396. My time — ;"; not yet come; ] fomething extrinfecal to himfelf^
Agreeable to our Saviour's man- whether he would attack his ene-
ner of fpeaking in the Gofpel. my or defend himfelf. It alludes
John II. 4. Mine hour is not yet to the common obfervation, that
nature
140 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
David's true heir, and his full fcepter fway 405
To juft extent over all Ifrael's fons ;
But whence to thee this zeal, where was it then
For Ifrael, or for David, or his throne,
When thou ftood'ft up his tempter to the pride
Of numb'ring Ifrael, which coft the lives 410
Of threefcore and ten thoufand Ifraelites
By three days peflilence ? fuch was thy zeal
To Ifrael then, the fame that now to me.
As for thofe captive tribes, thcmfelves were they
Who wrought their own captivity, fell off 415
From God to wordilp calves, the deities
Of
nature has farniihed all creatures with weapons of defenfe except man. See Anacreon's ode on this thought. Thyer.
409. When ihou Jlood'J} up his tempter &c ] Alluding to 1 Chron. XXI. i. And Satan J} ood up againjl Ijrael, and pronjoked Da- 'vid to nimber Ijrael. Milton, we fee, confiders it not as the advice of any evil counfellor, as fome underfland the word Satan, but as the fuggeftion of the firft author of evil : and he expreflbs it very properly by the pride i>f numb'ring Ifrael ; for the beft commentators fuppofe the nature of Dnvid's of- fenie to confilt in pride and va-
nity, in making flefh his arm, and confiding in the number of his people. And for this three things were propofed to him by the pro- phet, three years famin, or three months to be deftroyed before his enemies, or three days peflilence, of which he chofe the latter. So the Lord fent pejlilence upon Ifraely and there fell of Ifrael feventy thou- fand men, ver. 14.
414. As for thofe captive tribe t^ &c.] The captivity of the ten tribes was a punifhment owing to their own idolatry and wicked- nefs. The^ fell off from Cod to •xvorjlAp calves, the golden calves which Jeroboam had fet up in Be- thel
Book III. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
141
Of Egypt, Baal next and Aflitaroth,
And all th' idolatries of Heathen round,
Befides their other worfe than heath'nifli crimes ;
Nor in the land of their captivity 420
Humbled themfelves, or penitent befought
The God of their forefathers j but fo dy'd
Impenitent, and left a^ race behind
Like to themfelves, diftinguifhable fcarcc
From Gentiles, but by circumcifion vain, 425
And God vi'*ith idols in their worfhip join'd.
Should I of thefe the liberty regard.
Who freed as to their ancient patrimony,
Unhumbled,
thel and in D.'-n, and which the poet calU the deities of Egypt, for it is probable i'as feme learned men have conje(;^i.jred) that Jero- boam having converfed with the Egyptians fet up chefe two calves in imitation of the two which the Egyptians worfl'upped, the one called Apis at Memphis the me- tropolis of the upper Egypt, and the other called IVInevis at Hiera- pohs the m^'tropolii of the lower Egypt. Baal next and Afotaroth. Ahab built an altar and a temple for Baalt 1 Kings XVI. 32. and at the fame time probably was in- troduced the worihip of JJhta- rcth, the Goddejs cf the Zidoniam^ 1 Kings XI 5. For Jezebel,
Ahab's wife, who prompted him to all evil, was the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, I Kings XVI. 31. And by the prophets cf the p'o^jes i Kingi XVIII. 19. Mr^ Selden undeV- ftands the prophets oi Ajhtaroth or AJicme: and the groves under e^very green tree 2 Kings XVII. ic. Ihould be tranflated AJhtaroth un- der every sreen tree. See Selden de Diis Syris Syntag. II. cap. 2. But for the wickednefs and idola- t.'-y of the Ifraelices. and their re- jeftion thereupon, and llill conti- nuing impenitent in their captivity, fee 2 Kings XV^II, and the pro- phets in fever;.! places.
430 Head-
142 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book III.
Unhumbled, unrepentant, unreform'd. Headlong would follow' ; and to their Gods perhaps Of Bethel and of Dan ? no, let them ferve 43 i Their enemies, who ferve idols with God. Yet he at length, time to himfelf beft known, Remembring Abraham, by fome wondrous call May bring them back repentant and fmcere, 435 And at their paffing cleave th' Aflyrian flood,
While
• j^'i,0. Headlong ivoulcifoUonv', and to their Gods perhaps Of Bethel and of Dan F ] There is fome difficulty and obfcurity in this paffage ; and feveral conjec- tures and emendations have been ofFer'd to clear it, but none, I think, entirely to fatisfadion. Mr. Symp- fon would read Headlong nvould fall of and isc, or Headlong wjould fall, ho^v and i. e. boiving the A. Sax. participle. But Mr. Cal- ton feems to come nearer the poet's meaning. Whom or what would they follow, fays he ? There wants zn accufative cafe ; and what mull be underflood to complete the lenfe, can never be accounted for by an elleipfis, that any rules or life of language will juftify. He therefore iufpeds, that by fome ill accident or other a whole line may have been loft ; and propofes one, which lie fays may ferve for a commentary at leaft, to explain the %nfe, though it can't be allowed llr an emendation.
Their fathers in their old iniquities Headlong would follow ; <&c.
Or is not the conftrudion thus. Headlong njjould foUonx) as to their ancient patrimony, and to their Gods perhaps Sec i
43 I . — no, let thetnfer've
Their enemies, ivhofer-je idols â– â– with
God. ] This is agreeable to
God's conftant dealing with the
Jewifh nation as recorded in the
old Teilament. Thyer.
436. j^nd at their paffing cleave tV Jfyrian flood, &c] There are feveral prophecies of the refto- rationof Ifrael : but in faying that the Lord would cleave th'Jffyrian flood, that is the river Euphrates, at their return from AlTyria, as he cleft the Red Sea and the river Jordan at their coming from Egypt, the poet feems particularly to al- lude to Rev. XVI. 12. And the fixth Angel pound out his 'vial upon the great ri<ver Euphrates ; and the ixattr thsreof ivas dried ttp, that
the
Book III. MRADISE REGAIN'D. 143
While to their native land with joy they hade, As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft, When to the promis'd land their fathers pafs'd ; To his due time and providence I leave them. 440
So fpake Ifrael's true king, and to the Fiend Made anfwer meet, that made void all his wiles. So fare^ it when with truth fallliood contends.
the ivay of the kings of the eajl and make men go o'uer dry-Jhod : And
might be prepared : and to Ifa. XI. there Jhatl he an high-ivay for the
15, 16. And the Lord Jhall utterly remnant of his people, 'which Jhall he
dejiroy the tongue of the Egyptian left from /Iffyria, like as it avas t&
/ea, and avith his mighty njoind Jhall Ifrael in the day that he came up out
he Jhake his hand ever the riuerj of the land of Egypt, and Jhall /mite it in thefeijetijireams.
The end of the Third Book.
THE
Fourth Book
O F
PARADISE REGAINED.
Vol. I.
H7
PARADISE REGAINED,
BOOK
IV.
PErpIex'd and troubled at his bad fuccefs The Tempter flood, nor had what to reply, Dlfcover'd in his fraud, thrown from his hope So oft, and the perfuafive rhetoric That fleek'd his tongue, and won fo much on Eve, So little here, nay loft ; but Eve was Eve, This far his over-match, who felf-deceiv'd And rafh, beforehand had no better weigh'd The ftrength he was to cope with, or his own : But as a man who had been matchlefs held
lo In
7. This far his over match, tvho felf-decei'v^d Sec ] An ufual conftrudlion in Milton, This far an o-ver -match for \i\m-,^johojelf-decein}'d and rajh, before-hand had no better nveigh'dScc. Neicher is this incon- fiftent, as Mr. Thyer conceives it to be, with what Satan had de- clared in Book II, 131.
Have found him, view'd him,
tafted him, but find Far other labor to be undergone
&c.
He had made fome trials of his ftrength, but had not iufficiently confidered it before-hand ; he had weigh'd it, but ihould have weigh'd it better ; if he had been fully ap- pris'd whom he was contending with, he would have ceafed from the contention.
10. But as a man &c] It is the method of Homer to illuftrate and adorn the fame fubjeft with feve- ral fimiiitudes, as the reader may fee particularly in the fecond book of the Iliad before the catalogue of
L 2 fhipj
148
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
In cunning, over-reach'd where lead he thougiat. To falve his credit, and for very fpite, Still will be tempting him who foils him flill, And never ceafe, though to his fliame the more; Or as a fwarm of flies in vintage time, 15
About the wine-prefs where fvveet mufl is pour'd, Beat off, returns a^ oft wirh humming found; Or furging waves againfl a folid rock,
Though
(hips and warriors ; and our author here follows his example, and pre- fent«s us, as I may fay, with ^.Jhrrg of fimiJitudes together. This fe- cundity and variety of the two poets can never be fufficicntly ad- mired : but Milton, I think, has the advantage in this refpect, that in Homer the loweft comparilbn is fometimes the lall, whereas here in ^lilton they rife in my opinion, and improve one upon anotr.er. The firft has too much famenefs with the Jubjedt it would ilJullrate, and gives us no new ideas. The fecond is low, but it is the lownefs qf Homer, and at the fame time is very natural. The third is free from the defedls of the other two, 3nd lii'es up to Milton's ufual dig- nity and majefly Mr. Thyer, who has partly made the fame observa- tions with me, fays that Milton, as if ccnfcious of the defeds of the two foregoing comparifons, riles up here to hii ufual fublimity, and prefents to the reader's mind an
image, which not only fills and fa- tiiiies the inii^gination, but alfo perfefily expreffes both the un- mov'd ftedfaftne's of our Saviour, and the frulhated bi.fHed attsmpts of yatan.
15. Or as a fzvarm of flies in
'vintage time, &c] The com-
parifon is very juft, and alio in the
manner of Homer. Jliad. XVi 641 ^
Oi d ai£t 'ET£ji itx^on oij.tXioi, w; ore fj(.vicii
y.ctTCx, 'ZSiXXui; fl^tj IV fiK^ipr;, cTE T£ y}\uyo^ afyta. ojie:.
llli vero afndue circa mortuura verfabantur. ut quum mules
In caula fufurrant lafle plenas ad muldras
Tempore in verno, quando lac vafa rigat.
Iliad. XVil. 570.
iVriXi),
tin.
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
149
Though all to lliivers dadi'd, th' affault renew, Vain batt'ry, and in froth or bubbles end ; 2Q
So Satan, whiOrn repuife up )n repulie Met ever, and to lliameiLi] lilence brought. Yet gives not o'er though defp'rate of fuccefs. And his vain importunity purfues. He brought our Saviour to tlie weflern lide 25
Of that high mountain, whience he might behold
Another
Et ei mufcr audaciam pedloribus
imm'nt, Qnse licet a'oada crcbro a cor-
pore liumano, Appetit mordere. Jcrtin.
This fimile is very much in the fame tafle uith one in the fecond jliad of Homer, where be com- pa es the Greek arxny to i-vjarms of files bu'z.xi'ig about lie Jhcp'kercCs tiiilk pail in the Jpririg, *:nd feeniS liable to the /iune ohjedion which is made to that, of Leiiig- too Jmv for the grandeur of the fubjcft. It mufl liowever be aliow'd, that no thing could better exprefs the teaz- ing ceafekfi importunity of the Tempter than this docs. Mr. Pore in his note on this pafTage of Ho- mer obferves that Mntun -zvho ixas a clcje imitator of him, has often co- pied him in thefe humvle co?fi^ari/jnSy and inilances thcfe line; in the en J
of ihc fixth book of his Paradife Loftj where the rebel Angels thun- cier-Hruck by the Meffiah are com- pared to a herd of goats cr tifnorous fock together thro^igd. The obfer- vauon is juft, but very far in my opinion from being verified by the paiTnge produc'd. No image of terror or confiernation could be too low for that exhaufted fpiritlefs condition, in which thofe van- quiili'd Angels mull: at that inllant be fuppofed to be, and chat abjedl timoroulnefs imputed to them, in- ftead of lefTening the dignity of the defcription rather adds to it, by exciting in the reader's mind a gre..ier idea of the tremendous m.^.jeily of the Son of God. This ccmparifon of the flies now before us would have anfwer'd his pur- poftf much better, Thjer.
1 cnnnot entirely agree with my ingenious friend ; for iVJr. Pope is difcourfing there of low images, which are preceded by others of a lofty Ibaii), and on that account
L ? tiiis
150 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Another plain, long but in breadth not wide,
Wafh'd by the fouthern fea, and on the north
To equal length back'd with a ridge of hills, 29
That fcreen'd the fruits of th' earth and feats of men
From cold Septentiion blafts, thence in the midft
Divided by a river, of vi^hofe banks
On each fide an imperial city flood.
With tow'rs and temples proudly elevate
On fev'n fmall hills, with palaces adorn 'd, 35
Porches and theatres, baths, aqueduds.
Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs.
Gardens and groves prefented to his eyes.
Above the highth of mountains interpos'd :
By what ftrange parallax or optic fkill 40
Of vifion multiply 'd through air, or glafs
Of
this comparifon, however fuitahle 35. On /e'-Jn/mall hills, IVixgii
in other refpetfts, would not have Georg. II. 535- been fo proper for his purpofe.
Septemque una fibi muro cir- 27. Another flain^ &c ] The cumdedit arces. learned reader need not be in- formed, that the country here 40. By nvhat Jirange parallax or meant is Italy, w hich indeed is optic /kill &c ] The learned long but not broad, and is wafh'd have been very idly bufy in con- by the Mei.:iterranean on the fouth, tri\ ing the manner in which Satan and fcreen'd by the Alps on the fhowed to our Saviour all the king- north, and divided in the midft by dcms of the world. Some fup- the river Tiber. pofe it was done by vifion ; ethers
by
Book IV. PARADISE REGAINED. 151
Of telefcope, were curious to inquire:
And now the Tempter thus his filence broke.
The city which thou feeft no other deem Than great and glorious Rome, queen of the earth So far renown'd, and with the fpoils enrich'd 4^ Of nations ; there the capitol thou feeft Above the reft lifting his (lately head On the Tarpeian rock, her citadel Impregnab'e, and there mount Palatine, ^50
Th' imperial palace, compafs huge, and high The flru(flure, fkill of nobleft archite(fts. With gilded battlements, confpicuous far. Turrets and terrafes, and glitt'ring fpires; Many a fair edifice befides, more like 55
Houfes of Gods, (fo well I have difpos'd
My
by Satan's creatine phantafms or cbjefta fpecies regnorum ex una
fpecies of difterent kingdoms, and fpeculo in aliud et aliud continud
prefenting them to our Saviour's reflexerit, idque fecerit ufque ad
fight, i5fc. ts'c. But what Milton oculcs Chrilt; In locum Matthaei.
here alludes to is a fanciful notion For want of a proper index I could
which I find imputed to our fa- not find the place in Broughton's
mouscountrymanHughEroughton. works. But Wolfius in his Curs
Cornelius a Lapide in fumming up philologies in SS. Evangelia fa-
the various opinions upon this fub- thers this whim upon him : Alii
jedl gives it in thefe words : Alii cum Hugone Broughtono ad in-
fubtiliter ima^inantur, quod Dse- Itrumenta artis optics fe lecipiunt.
mon permuUa fpecuJa fibi inviccm \'id. Woif. in Matt, IV. 8. Thyer.
L 4 57. Mj
152
PARADISE REGAINED. Book IV.
My aery microfcope) thou may 'ft behold Outfide and infide both, pillars and roofs, Carv'd work, the hand of fam'd artificers In cedar, marble, ivory or gold. 60
Thence to the gates caft round thine eye, and fee What conflux ifluing forth, or entring in, Pretors, proconfuls to their provinces Hafting, or on return, in robes of ftate -,
"^ Liclors
57. Mj aery 7nicrofcope'\ He had called it tele/cope before ver. 42. here micro/cope, being altogether uncertain what fort of glafs it was, or how this vifion was performed : h\xtmic>o/ccpe feems to be the more proper word here, as here our Sa- viour is prefented with a view of minuter objeds.
58. OutJtJe and injide both,'\ So Menippus, in Lucian's Icaro-Me- nippus, could fee clearly and di- ftinftly from the moon cities and men upon the earth, and what they were doing, both nxithout dcors, and nx'tthm where they thought themfelves moft fccret. y.aTay.fij'*? y*'^ e? TfiTi yr.v, lu^ut aaOtti^ ice,'; is-o^et?, ta: « :9^«7rs-, T« yifio- f^ivcc, y.cn a to, i'j iTraiagw fj.oiov, olK^.o, y.a.\ o'noaoc oiy.oi sTr^or.ht,
cicwEiok >.cc;^a.;nv. Luciani Op. Vol. 2. p. 197. Ed. Grasv.
Calto?7. 59. — the hand of fatnd artificers] The handj-xvork, as in Virg. ^n. I. 455.
Artificumque manus inter le ope- rumque laborem Miratur.
66. turjns of horfe] Troops
ofhorfe. A word coined from the Latin turtna. Virg. iEn V. 560. E qui turn turma.
68. — — on the Appian roady Or on th' Emilian,] The Appian
road from Rome led towards the fouth of Italy, and the Emilian to- wards the north ; and the nations on the Appian road are included in ver. 69 — 76 thofe on the Emilian in ver. 77 — 79.
69. — feme from far theji fouth f ' Sjene, and ^where the Jhadonu both
W!: ay falls. Ma ce Nilotic tie,'] Syene fartbejl fouth. How can that be ? when Meroe mention'd in the next line (to fay nothing of other places) was farther <outh. Milton knew it, and thought of it too, as appears from his faying,
—— ivbcre
BooklV.^ PARADISE REGAIN'D.
Licflors and rods, the enfigns of their pow'r,
Leeions and cohorts, turms of horfe and win2:s :
Or embaffies from regions far remote
In various habits on the Appian road,
Or on th' Emilian, fome from fartheft fouth,
Syene', and where the fhadow both way falls,
Meroe Nilotic ile, and more to weft,
The realm of Bocchus to the Black-moor fea^
65
Fr
rom
â– ' ixihere the fbudoTx both nvay
falls, Meroe Nilotic ile.
Sjene being fituate under the tropic of Cancer, the fhadow falls there always one way, except at the fummer folfiice, when the fun is vertical, and then at noon the fl)a- dow falls no way :
umbras nufquam fletflente
Syene. Lucan. JI. 5S7.
But in Meroe the fhadow falls both ways atdifferent times of ihe year, and therefore Meroe muft he far- ther fouth than Syene, and nearer the equator. To this I fay that Milton had in view what he had read in Pliny and other authors, th'at Syene was the limit of the Ro- man empire, and the remoteft place to the fouth that belonged to it ; and to that he alludes. Or it may be faid, that poets have not fcrupled to give the epithets extre- miy uhimi,fartheji, remotejl, to any
people that i;ved a great way off, and that pofliblv Milton intended \!t\-^X fart kejl fouth fhould be fo ap- plied both to Syene and to Mieroe.
fcrtin. He firft mentions places in Africa \ Sye?ie, a city of Egypt on the con- fines of Ethiopia; Ditionis ^gyp- ti efie incipit a fine ./^thiopiae Sy- ene ; Plin. Lib. 5.Se(Sl. 10. Meroe, an iland andcitv of Ethiopia in the liver Nile, therefore called Nilotic ile, fjhere tbejhadcvj both 'UJ ay falls; Rurfus in Meroe (infula hjec ca-
putque gemis -Ethiopum in
amnc Nile habivatur) bis anno ab- fumi umbras ; Plin. Lib. 2. Sefl. 75. 'The reahn of Bocchus, Mauri- tanin. Ti;en JJian nations, among \.\\c\'e.thc gold^'i Cherfoncfe, Malacca the moit fouthern promontory of the Eall Indies, fee Paradife Loft XL 392. and utviof Indian fie Ta- probane, and therefore Pliny (ays it is extra orbem a natura relegata ; Lib. 6. Sed. 24. Then the Euro- pean nations as far as to the T auric
pool.
\
154 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV*
From tlV Afian kings and Parthian among thefe,
From India and the golden Cherfonefe,
And utmoft Indian ile Taprobane, 75
Dufk faces with white filken turbants wreath'd ;
From Gallia, Cades, and the British weft,
Germans and Scythians, and Sarmatians north
Beyond Danubius to the Tauric pool.
All nations now to Rome obedience pay, 80
To Rome's great emperor, whofe wide domain
In ample territory, wealth and power,
Civility of manners, arts and arms,
And long renown, thou juftly may 'ft prefer
Before the Parthian ; thefe two thrones except, 85
The reft are barb'rous, and fcarce worth the fight,
Shar'd among petty kings too far remov'd -,
Thefe
p-oo/, that is thepalusMaeotis ; La- but this (huffling and inconfiflency
cus ipfe Ma;ot)s, Tanain amnem is very natural and agreeable to
ex Riphaeis montibus deflut-ntem the father of lies, and by thefe
accipiens, noviflimum inter Euro- touches his charader is let in a
pam Afiamque finem, &c. Plin. proper light. Lib. 4. Se£t. 24.
, ... 1/7 . /. QO. T/^is emperor Srcl This ac-
^^. -'^'V^fijy '"''yfi f'f' count of the emperor Tiberius re-
Before the P^rthians • ] 1 he ^.. ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ j,^^ j ^^^
Tempter had before adviied our ^ \. • • u- 1
c'Tr. .. „.«f.. .W P.rrhi.n pre^, and there enjoymg his her.
Saviour to prefer the Parthian, K^ /^,^^ .^^ private, aJd in the ill. 303. mean while committing the go-
the Parthian firft vernment to his wicked favorite
By my advice : and miniller Sejanus, together with
the
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 155
Thele having fhown thee, I have {hown thee all
The kingdoms of the world, and all their gJory.
This emp'ror hath no fon, and now is old, 90
Old and lafcivious, and from Rome retir'd
To Capreae an iland fmall but ftrong
On the Campanian fliore, with purpofe there
His horrid lufts in private to enjoy,
Committing to a wicked favorite 9 5
All public cares, and yet of him fufpicious,
Hated of all,- and hating j with what eafe.
Indued with regal virtues as thou art.
Appearing, and beginning noble deeds, 99
Might'ft thou expel this monfter from his throne
Now made a ftye, and in his place afcending
A vidor people free from fervile yoke ?
And
the charafter of this emperor, is editor'? have preferved the firft mif-
perfeftK agreeable to the Roman taken poiiuiug,
hiltories, and particularly thofe of ■• i-
^ Suetonius and Tacitus, who have , — ^"^ '" ^'^, pI^" afcending
painted this mcnfier (as our author ^ ^''â– ^^'â– ' , P^<''P^^ ^"^^ ^'""^ ^^'"-
. cd!s him) in fuch colors as he de- '''^'^ y^*^^ ^
ferred to be delcribed in to po- por the meaning is not that our
Iterity . Saviour ajcending a 'vidor might free
&c, but aJce/uUng might J'ree a -vic-^
10 1 . —a7!d i?: his place afcending ^^^. ^^,^y^.^ ^ 3 ^^^ Romans are ufter-
A --viaor pe plejrce &c] Tht-je ^y^^ds called ver. 132. (hould be no comma after 'viSfcr
accoruing to the author's ov/n cor- That people vidor once iffc. rettion i but yet I think all the
115. On
156 PARADISE REGAINED. Book IV.
And with my help thou may 'ft j to me the power
Is giv'n, and by that right I give it thee.
Aim therefore at no lefs than all the world, 105
Aim at the high'eft, without the high'eft attain'd
Will be for thee no fitting, or not long,
On David's throne, be prophefy'd what will.
To whom the Son of God unmov'd reply'd.
Nor doth this grandeur and mnjeftic (how no
Of luxury, though call'd magnificence,
More than of arms before, allure mine eye,
Much lefs my mind ; though thou {liould'ft add to tell
Their fumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feafts
On citron tables or Atlantic ftone, 1 1 5
(For I have alfo heard, perhaps have read)
Their
115. On citron tables or Jila/ttic ter were Greek wines, much ad-
J}ont\'\ Tables made of cif-cn mired and commended by the An-
wood were in fuch requeft among cients.
the Romans, that Pliny calls it iig. Crxjlal and wyrrhine cups
men far um infaiiia . They were beau - in-.boli d â– luith gems
tifully vein'd and fpotted. See his And finds of pearl,'] Cryfial and
account of them Lib. i3.Seft. 29. wyrr/v'w cups are often join'd to-
I do not find that \\\t Atlantic fione gether by ancient authors. Mur-
or marble was fo celebrated : the rhina et criltallina ex eadem terra
Numidicus lapis zx\i.Kumidtcum7nar- efFodimus, quibus precium faceret
mor are often mention'd in Roman ipfa fragilitas. Hoc argumentum
authors. opum, hxc vera luxuriae gloria
117. Their nvines of Selia,Cales. exiftiniata eft, habere quod pofTet
and Falertie, ftatim totum perire. Plin Lib. 33.
Chios and Crete,] The three for- Seft. 2. We fee that Pliny reckons
mer were Italian, and the two lat- myrrhint cups among foflils ; Sca-
liger,
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
^S?
Their wines of Setia, Cales, and Falerne, Chios and Crete, and how they quaff in gold, Cryftal and myrrhine cups imbofs'd with gems And ftuds of pearl, to me fliouldTt tell who thirft And hunger ftill : then embaffies thou fliow'ft 1 2 1 From nations far and nigh ; what honor that, But tedious wafte of time to fit and hear So many hollow complements and lies, Outlandifli flatt'ries ? then proceed'fl; to talk 125 Of th' emperor, how eafily fubdued. How glorioufly ; I fliall, thou fay'ft expel A brutifh moniler : what if I withal Expel a Devil who firft made him fuch ? Let his tormenter confcience find him out ? 130
For
liger, Salmafius and others contend from this verfe of Piopertius IV. V. 26.
Murrhseque in codla focis,
Parthis pocula
j that they were like our porcelane : ' but if they were fo very fragil as they are reprefented to be, it is i not eafy to conceive how they I could htivihofi'd^ithgefns and ftuds ! tf pearl. J fupp^'fe our author af- ; lerted it from the words imm?di- I atel> following in Pliny. Nee hoc I fuit fatis : turba gemmarum pota- j mus, et fmaragdis teximus calices :
ac temulentis caufa tenere Indiani juvat : et aurum jam accelTio eih Or perhaps the words unhopd^vitb gems Sec refer only to gold firft men- lion'd, which is no unufual con- ftru£lion. T/.-'ej quaff in gold itn' ho/s^d -v.ith gems aiidjiuds of pearl. I 30. Let his tormentor co?i/cieuce find him out ; ] Milton had in view what Tacitus and Sjetoaius have related. Tacitus Ann. VJ. 6. Infigne vifum elt earum Ca:faris litterarum initium ; nam his verbis exorfus eft : ^id fc iham -vobis P C. an! quomodo JcnbatJi. aut quid omnitio nonfcribam hoc tempore ? Dii
me
158 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
For him I was not fent, nor yet to free
That people vidtor once, now vile and bafe,
Dcfervedly made vafTal, who once juft,
Frugal, and mild, and temp'rate, conquer'd well,
But govern ill the nations under yoke, 135
Peeling their provinces, exhauftcd all
By lud and rapin j firfl: ambitious grown
Of triumph, that iniulting vanity j
Then cruel, by their fports to blood inur'd
Of fighting beads, and men to beafts expos'd,
Luxurious by their wealth, and greedier flill.
140 And
me De a que pejus perJani quamperire quotidie Jentio, Ji fcio, Adeo facj- nora atque flagitia fua ipfi quoque in fupplicium verterant. Sueto- tonius Tiber. 67. Poflremo femet ipfe pertrefus lalis epiftola; princi- pio tantum ncn fumniam malorum iuoruin profeflus elt : ^idfcrikam S:c, where perhaps it ihould be, mli epiftolae principio. "Jortin.
140. Of fghting beafis, and 7nen to heajis expos' d,'\ T\\t fighting heajh are a poor indance of the Roman cruelty in their fports, in compa- rifon of the gladiators, who might have been introduced fo naturally, and eafily here, only by putting the word gladiators in place of the ether two, that one may very well be farpris'd at the poet's omitting them. See Seneca's 7th epiille. Cation^
1 45 . Or could of tniKurd flaves
make outnvard free ? ] This
noble fentiment Milton explains
more fully, and exprefles more dif-
fufively inhis Paradife Loft. XII.90.
— Therefore fince he permits
Within himfelf unworthy pow'rs to reign
Over free reafon, God'in judg- ment juft
Subieftshim from without to vio- lent lords ; k3c. to ver. \o\.
So alfo again in his 12th Sonnet, j
Licence they mean when they
cry Liberty ; For nvho lo-z'es that muji frfi be
njoije and good.
No one had ever more refin'd no- tions of true liberty than Milton, and I have oftCH thought that there never
i
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 159
And from the daily fcene effeminate.
What wife and valiant man would feek to free
Thefe thus degenerate, by themfelves inflav'd,
Or could of inward flaves make outward free ?
Know therefore when my feafon comes to fit
On David's throne, it fliall be like a tree
Spreading and overOiadowing all the earth,
Or as a ftone that fliall to pieces dafh
All monarchies befides throughout the world,
And of my kingdom there fhall be no end :
Means there fhall be to this, but what the means,
145
150
Is
never was a greater proof of the weaknefs of human nature, than that he with a head fo clear, and a heart I really believe perfeftly honeft and difinterefted, fhould con- cur in fupporting fuch a tyrant and profefs'd trampler upon the liber- ties of his country as Cromwell was. Thyer.
1 46, Kno'w therefore --when my fea- fon comes to fit &c] A particu- lar manner cfexpreffion, but fre- quent in Milton ; as if he had laid. Know therefore when the feafon comes for me to fit on David's throne, it Jhall be like a tree ijc. For his Jeajon to be like a tree fays Mr. Sympfon is ftrange language, and therefore reads / ihall be like a tree : ba^ // reter^ to 1 1. rone. The i throne of David Ihall then be like
a tree Scc ; alluding to the parable of the muftard-feed grown into a tree, fo that the birds lodge in the bra7iches thereof. Matt. Xill. 32. and to (what that parable alfo re- fpecls) Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree 'whole highth reached unto hca--jen, and th: fight thereof to the end of all the earth, Dan. IV\ i i. Tertullian alfo compares the king- dom of Chrill to that of Nebu- chadnezzar. SeeGrotiusin Matt. Or as a ftone &c ; alluding to the ftono in another of Nebuchadnez- zar's dreams, which brake the image in pieces, and {o this king- dom y/^a// break in pieces, and con- fume all theje kingdoms, and it fi?aU fi and for ever. Dan. K. 44. And of my kingdim there fi:)all be no end : the very words of Luke 1. 33. with only the neceffary ciiange of
the
i6o PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Is not for thee to know, nor me to tell.
To whom the Tempter impudent reply'd. I fee all offers made by me how flight 155
Thou valueft, becaufe offer'd, and rejed'fl : Nothing will pleafe the difficult and nice, Or nothing more than ftill to contradidt : On th' other fide know alfo thou, that I On what I offer fet as high efteem, 160
Nor what I part with mean to give for nought j All thele which in a moment thou behold'il:, The kingdoms of the world to thee I give -, For giv'n to me, I give to whom I pleafe. No trifle j yet with this referve, not elfe, 165
On this condition, if thou wilt fall down, And worfliip me as thy fuperior lord, Eafliy done, and hold them all of me ; For what can lefs fo great a gift deferve ?
Whom
the perfon ; and of his kingdom there fentence is better as a general cb-
jhall be no e7id. fervation.
x:^-]. 'Nothing '^viU pleafe the difi- 1 66. On this condition^ if thou.
cult and nice,'] Mr. Jortin and nj^ilt fall donvn. Sec] In my
Mr. Sympibn fay that perhaps we opinion (and Mr. Thyer concurs
fhould read with me in the fame obfervation)
, ,._ , . . there is not any thing in the dif-
thee difficult and nice : ^^^^^j^j^ ^^^ ^onj^^ of the whole
but I think the idus falls better poem fo juftly liable to cenfure as jn the common reading, and the the aukward and prepofterous in- troduction
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. t6i
Whom thus our Saviour anfvver'd with difdain. 1 never lik'd thy talk, thy offers lefs, 171
Now both abhor, fince thou haft dar'd to utter Th' abominable terms, impious condition 5 But I indure the time, till which expir'd, Thou hail: permifnon on me. It is written 17^ The firil of all commandments, Thou (halt worfhip The Lord thy God, and only him (halt ferve ; And dar'ft thou to the Son of God propound To worfhip thee accurs'd, now more accurs'd For this attempt bolder than that on Eve, iSo
And more blafphemous ? which expedt to rue. The kingdoms of the world to thee were given, Permitted rather, and by thee ufurp'd j Other donation none thou canfl: produce : If giv'n, by whom but by the king of kings, iS^ God over all fupreme ? if giv'n to thee,
By
troduftion of this incident in this our Saviour wou'Id accept the
place. The Tempter Ihould have kingdoms of the world upon ik' a-
propofed the condition at the bomtnable terms of falling down
fame time that he oirerd the and worihipping him, juft after he
gifts ; as he doth likewife in Scrip- had rejeded theiti unclogg'd with
ture : but after his gifts had been any terms at all r Well might the
1 abfolutely refas'd, to what pur- author fay that Sataii impudent re-
I pofe was it to propofe the imphus p'^fd : but I think thac doth not
\iondition ? Could ke imagin iha? entirely folve the obje<^ion.
I Vol. I. M 191, r«
i62 PARADISE REGAINED. Bock IV.
By thee how fairly is the givex^ now- Repaid ? But gratitude in thee is loft Long fince. Wert thou fo void of fear or fliame, As offer them to me the Son of God, 1 90
To me my own, on fuch abhorred pacft, That I fall down and worfliip thee as God ? Get thee behind me ; plain thou now appear'ft That evil one, Satan for ever damn'd.
To whom the Fiend with fear abafh'd reply 'd. Be not fo fore offended, Son of God, 196
Though fons of God both Angels are and Men, If I to try whether in higher fort Than thefe thou bear'ft that title, have propos'd What both from Men and Angels I receive, 200 Tetrarchs of fire, air, flood, and on the earth Nations befides from all the quarter'd winds,
God of this world invok'd and world beneath ;
Who
i
191. 7*0 »/(? wy o-cK,] The right, him whofe (on he is; and being
which the Demon pretends to, like him, it neccflarily follott's. that
over the kingdoms of the world, he is lord and king. S. Athanaf.
is hy gift ; but Chrill clames them Or. 3. centra Arianos. Op. Vol. I.
zs his 0^1. nhy nature, and by virtue p. 387. Edit. Col. Caltcn.
of his Sonjhtp. 'Y:@^ •J'a^ uv ts 19I. abhorred pact ^^ Hq
©ja, o/Aoi©H at;TS a» em" oixa^ ufes the word /«<:?, as it is the tech-'
h uv, 'Tsct.vluq Er» Jiat yv^i^ y.ut nical term for the contraifis of for-
^aaiMvi;. For being the Son of cerers with the Devil. H'arburlon. God, he muil of courfe be like
203. God
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
163
Who then thoa art, whofe coming is foretold To me fo fatal, me it mof*: concerns. 205
The trial hath indamag'd thee no way, Rather more honor left and more efleem 3 Me nought advantacr'd, mifilno; what I aim'd. Therefore let pafs, as they are tranfitory, The kingdoms of this world j I fliall no more 210 Advife thee; gain them as thou canft, or not. And thou thyfclf feem'ft otherwife inclin'd - Than to a worldly crow^n, addidled more To contemplation and profound difpute, As by that early adion may be judg'd, 215
When flipping from thy mother's eye thou went'ft Alone into the temple, there waft found Amongfl the gravefl Rabbles difputant On points and queflions fitting Mofes chair, 219 Teaching not taught ; the childhood fliows the man,
As
203. Go:i cf th'a ivcrld ini'ok'/] Milton purfues the fame notion, which he had adopted in his Para- dife Loft, of the Gods of the Gen- tiles being the fall'n Angels, and he is fupported in it bv the autho- rity of the primitA'e fathers, who are very unanimous in accuilr.g the Heathens of worfhippir.a; Devils
for Deities.
T/jje
rV
217. there ivq^/oum/] In
Milton's own edition and in moft of the following ones it was print- ed by miftake v.-as found ; but the fyntax plainly requires iijaji^ as there is tho-u. n.^e-nfjl in the verfe preceding.
219. f^f'-"g Mofes chair,']
M fes chair was the chair, in which the dodors fitting expounded the
M 2 law
164
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
As morning (hows the day. Be famous then
By wifdom j as thy empire muft extend,
So let extend thy mind o'er all the world
In knowledge, all things in it comprehend :
All knowledge is not couch'd in Mofes law, 225
The Pentateuch, or what the Prophets wrote ;
The Gentiles allb know, and write, and teach
To admiration, led by nature's light;
And with the Gentiles much thou muft converfe.
Ruling
law either publicly to the people, or privately to their difciples. The Scribes and Pharjtes Jit in Moju chair, ctti iy,:, Muaiu; xaSso^*?.
Mat. XXUI. 2.
221. — — Be famous then
By ijcifdomi] VVe are now come to the lait teirptation, properly lb called ; and it is v.Oi th the reader's while to obTerve how well Saran has purfued the fcheme which he had propofed in council. If. 225.
Therefore with manlier objects
we muft try Kis conllancy, with fuch as have
more (how Of worth, of honor, glory, and
popular praife.
The gradation alfo in the fereral allurements propos'd is very fine ; and I believe one may juftly fay, that there never was a more ex- alted fylleni of morality compris'd in fo fhort a compafs. Never were thf ^rgiimenis for vice Jrefs'd up
in more delufive colors, nor were they ever anfwer'd with more fo- lidity of thought or acuteuefs of reafonin'j. Thycr.
230. RiiHfrg them by perfuafion as thou mtu/i^Ji ; ] Alluding to thofe charming liiles I. 221.
Yet held it more humane, more
heav'nly firil By willing words to conquer
willing hearts. And make perfuafion do the
work or fear.
But Satan did not hear this : it was part of our Saviour's felf-converfe and private meditation.
236. — this fpeeutar mount ] Th i mount of Jpeiulotion, as m Para- di!c Lo£ Xli. 588, where fee the note.
237. Ifeflnvani, much 71 eater by Jouihwej}, j This cor»efponds
exadly to our Saviour's (uppos'd
fiiuatioB upon mount Tau-us. Tlie
following
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
165
Ruling them by perfuafion as thou mean'ft; 230 Without their learning how wilt thou with them, Or they with thee hold converfation meet ? How wilt thou reafon with them, how refute Their idolifms, traditions, paradoxes ? Error by his own arms is bell: evinc'd. 235
Look once more e'er we leave this fpecular mount Weftwardj much nearer by fouthweil:, behold Where on the -^gean fhore a city llands
following defcription of Athens and its learning is extremely grand and beautiful. Milton's Mufe, as was before obferved, is too much cramped down by the argumenta- tive calt of his fubjeft, hut emerges upon every favorabJe occafion, and like the fun from under a cloud burfts out into the fame bright vein of poetry, which fhines out more frequently, tho' not more ftrongly, in the Paradife Loft. Thjer.
238. Where on the ^gean Jhore a city ftands\ So Milton caufed this verfe to be printed, whereby it appears that he would have the word A^Jgra>! pronounced with the accent upon the hrlt fyilable as in Paradife Loft. I. 746. and as Fair- fax ohen ufes it, as was there re- marked. Built nobly, and Homer in his time calls it a 'well built city, sl'xIf/xEsov wIoA-jG^ov. Iliad. II. 546 pure the air, and light the /oil, Attica being a mountainous coun- try, the foil was light and barren,
Built
and the air fliarp and pure, and therefore faid to be produdive of lliarp wits. T--^^ ivn^ocaiav ru»
mjj.uTaTHc uno^oti oian- Plato in Timrto p. 24. V"ol. 3. Edit. Serr. Athenis tenue ccelum, ex quo acu- tioresetiani putantur Attici. Cicero de Fato. 4. Jthensthe eye rf Greece, and fo Demofthenes foniewhere calls it oipSaA/^©' 'EX'Kci'^©-, but I cannot at prefent recolledl the place ; and in Juftin it is called one of the two eyes of Greece, Sparta bsing the other, Lib. 5. cap. 8 ; arid Catullus calls Sirmio the eye ofilandsXXXlL i.
Peninfularum Sirmio, infularum-
que Ocelle :
but the metaphor is more properly applied to .^duns than any other place, as it was the great feat of learning.
M 3
239.— 2i»rf
i66 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book iV.
Built nobly, pure the air, and light the foil,
Athens the eye of Greece, mother of arts
And eloquence, native to famous wits
Or hofpitable, in her fweet recefs,
City' or fuburban, ftudious walks and fhades ;
240
239. ' pure the air, and light
the /oil,] This is from L'io
Chryfoftom. See Spanheim on Cal-
limachus. p. 444. De Attica cs-
torcquin dicit Dio Chr) foft. Orat.
7. p. 87* ">«' yx^ Tr)" p^wja;- a- ^ccixv, Hcii Tcv oLi^a, v.H(po)/, eJJ'e enim regionem tenui folo, ac levem acrem, prout una voce "kiitioyian; eadem Attica, poft Thucydidcni r.etnpe pag. 2. a Galeno dicitur, T.fu- T^cTTT. cap. 7. Aeris autem ^^ettIci- T^jraeidem tribuit Ariflides, Germ. Sacr. 6. p. 642. Athens was built between two fmall rivers Cephifus and liifTus ; and hence it is call'd, in the Medea of Euripidcf, Uj^wj -TroTxixuv ';^o^^^ See tiie chorus at the end of the 3d Ad. The ef- feft of thefe waters upon the air is very poetically reprefcnted in the fame beautiful chorus.
Ta> K^Trgiy y.?i»;V^aa-n/ uipv- cci.u.v.a.v x.'^^k: y.ciiac7rKV(7Xt
Pulchrifluique ad Cephifj flaenfa Vei^erem fcrunt [ ex Cephifo ]
exhauri- entem, regionem perfiaflc,
See
Mediocres ventorum Dulce fpirantes auras.
Calto
244, See there the oU've grove of Academe,
Plato's retirement, &C.] ETravcX- Gwy ^e Etc A^viva.<;, ^uTi^i^iv ev A- xaor.f/.ix. 10 a^ tfi yviji.ta.atov, w^o- ccriioy a.'Kcruoic, aaro th®^ hp<^©* ovojiccabiv Ax-CiCTi^/.H, xaGc6 x«i Et/-
Ev svay.ict; ^^oiAOiavv Ai'.ao"»;|x« SeS.
"â– y.ai ira.<pv) m t*) Ay.!x,or,yLicc,
etda, Tot TrXsiro^ %t''^<"' onTt^iae (pi'^o(7'j(puv. loiv ncci JKy.a,or,i/,u.iy.vi "JTfoc-Tiyo^Evffl â– /) csTT avTH al^taK;,
Being return'd to Athens from his journey to Egypt, he fettled him- felf in the Academy, a gyninaiium or place of exercife in the iuburbs of that city, beiet v.ith v.'oods, taking name from Acade.mus, one of the heroes, as Eupolis,
In facred Academus fhady walks.
— — and he was buried in the Aca- demy, where he continued moll of his time teaching philofophy, whence the feci which fprung from him was called Academic. See Piogenes Laertius, and Stanley in
th?
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
167
See there the olive grove of Academe,
Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird 245
Trills her thick- warbled notes the fummer long ;
There flow'ry hill Hymettus with the found
Of bees induftrious murmur oft invites
To
the life of Plato The Academy is always defcribed as a woody lliady place, as here in Laeitius, and in Horace, Ep. II. II. 45.
Atque inter f.lvasAcademi quae- rere verum ;
but Milton diRinguifhes it by the particular name of tbe oli%.'e grcve of Academe y for the olive was par- ticularly cultivated about Athens being fiicred to Minerva the God- defs of the city, and he has befides the exprefs authority of Ariftopha- nes Nf^sAai Aft 3. Scene 3.
A^^ EK AxaoTip'.iai' uaTtwj, vita rati fjio^icnc uvi^^e^iK;,
Sed in Academiam defcendens, fub facris o'ivis fpatiaberis.
Where the Attic bird, the nightin- gale, for Philomela, who accord- ing to the fables was changed into a nightingale, was the daughter of Pandion king of Atheni, and for the fame reafon the nightingale k called Aithis in Latin, quafi Attica avis. Martial Lib. i. Ep. 46. Edit. Weftra.
Sic, ubi multifona fervet facer Atthide lucus.
Im^xohnCecropias offend it pica querelas,
Ludovicus de la Cerda in his notes upon ^ irgii obferves, how often the ancient poets have made ufe of the cornparifon of the nightingale ; Sophocles has it no lefs than feven times, Homer twice, and Euripides and feveral others : and we ob- ferved upon the Paradife Loft, how much Milton was delighted with the nightingale ; no poet has in- troduc'd it fo often, or fpoken of it with fuch rapture as he ; and per- haps there never was a ver/e more exprefiive of the harmony of this fweet bird than the following,
Trills her thick-warbled notes the fummer long.
So that upon the whole I believe it may be afferted, that Plato's Aca- demy was never more beautifully defcribed than here in a few lines by Milton. Cicero, who has laid the fcene of one of his dialogues there, De Fin. Lib. V. and had been himfelf upon the fpot, has not painted it in more lively colors.
247. There fold' ry hill Hymettus &c] And fo Valerius Flaccus calls it Florea juga Hymetti, Argonaut.
M 4 V.
i68
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
To fludious mufing ; there IliiTus rolls
His whilp'ring ftream : within the walls then view
The fchools of ancient fages ; his who bred 251
Great Alexander to fubdue the world,
J-^yceum there, and painted Stoa next ;
There
V. 344. and the honey was To Hmch elteem'd and celebrated by the Ancients, that it was reckon'd the bail of the Artie honey, as the Attic honey u as faid to be the belt in the world The poets ohen fpeak of the murmur of the bees as inviting to fleep, \ irg. Ed. I. 56.
Sacpe levi fomnum fuadebit ini e
cpe 1 lufu
plurro ;
but Milton gives a more elegant turn to it, and fays that it ui-vitRs to ftudious Piufing, which was more proper indeed for his purpofe, as he is here defcribing the Attic learning.
240. — there IliJJ'/is rolls
His •■whifi)'' ring Ji ream .-j Mr. Cal- ton end Mr. Tnyer have obferved with me, that Plato hath laid the fceneofhis Pha;drus on the barks and at the fpring of this pleafant
river. — j^apis:Ta. ^Sf xat y.a.^a.^y, xcti oiupociv Tci vaaTtac (pctnita-i,
Nonne hinc aquulas puras ac pellu- cidsjucundo murmure confluunt? Ed. Serr. Vol 3. p. 229. The phi- lofophical retreat at the fpring- tiead is beautifully defcribod by Plato in the next page, where So- ff^lgs aii4 Phasdrijs ^re rej^refented
fitting on a green bank fhaded with a fpreadiugpiantan, of which Cicero hath faid very prettily, that it feemeth to have grown not fo much by the water which is de- fcribed, as by Plato's eloquence ; quas mihi videtur non tarn ipfa aquula, qua; defcrihitur, quam Pia^ tonis oratione creviile. De Orat, J. 7.
253. Lyceum there, and painted Stoa next .•] Lyceum was ano- ther gymnafium of the Athenians, and was the fchool of Ariftotle, who had been tutor to Alexander the great, and was the founder of the (eft of the Peripatetics, fo calrd ctTTo Ta i(ipiizix,'in\i fiom his <v:alk!ng and teaching philofophy, Stoa was the fchool of Zeno, w hofe difciples from the place had the name of Stoics ; and this Stoa or portico, being adorn'd with variety of paintings, was called in Greek Uoi-z.i'K-n or various, and here by Milton very properly the painitd Stoa. See Diogenes Laertius in the lives of Arillotle and Zeno. But there is fome rcafon toquelHon, whether the Lyceum was ivithin the avails, as Milton afferts. For Sui- das fays exprefsly, that it was ^ place in the fuburbs, built by P§-
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 169
There thou flialt hear and learn the fecret power Of harmony in tones and numbers hit 255
By voice or hand, and varions-meafur'd verfe, iEolian charms and Dorian lyric odes, And his who gave them breath, but higlier fung,
Blind
ricles for theexercifing of foldiers: and I find the icholiali; upon Ari- llophanes In the Irene fpenks of going into the Lyceum, and going out of it again, and leiumlng back into the city : — — £i^ to Auxf-ot £»- 9-io»Ii; - - - jtak tau'hiv i^iovltr, ex t» Avy.HH, y-xi aTTiorls? £i? f/i" 'iroXiv.
257. ^oUan charms and D^rran lyric odes, 1 j^'olian chc.rnts,
^olia carmina, verfes fuch as thole of Aicasu-s and Sappho, who were both of Mitylene in Lefbos, an iland beloiif^ing to the /Lclians. Hor. Od. III. XXX. 13,
Princeps j^ollum carjiien ad Italos Deduxifle modos.
Od. IV. III. 12.
Fingent jEoUo carmine nobilem.
Dorian lyric odes, fuch as thofe of Pindar, who calls his Aw^van (pag- pfy« the Dorian harp, Olymp. I. 26. L^p\u m-ihxu I>orian buf- kin, Olynip. ill. 9 Aw^tsk xof>t« Dorian hymn, Pyth. Vlil, 29.
258. ^nd his 'who gave them breath, &c] Our author agrees
^vith thoie writers, who fpeak of JHomer as the father of all kinds
of poetry. Such wife men as Dio- nyiius the HalicarnaiTean, and Plu- tarch, have attempted to fiiow, that poetry in all its forms, trage- dy, comedy, ode, and epitaph, are iricliided in his works. See the ingenious author of the Inquiry into the life and 'writings of Homer inlargingupf^n this fubjefl. Sedl.i 2. Blind Ale lijigencs thence Homer call'd\ our author here follows Herodotus in his account of the life of Ho- mer, that he was born near the river Meles from whence he had the name of Melefigenes, TtGerat ov(iu,ec 101 vra-id lAe^icriytKec, ccBjO ra TroTotfAS mv i7Ta»ivfji.iav ?.aCa<7«, and becaufe he was Hind, thence he was called Homer 5 jix*) Ipm^ fiiT'-Osf 61 xat rBiOfAix OfjLv.p®^ ivt-
avf.'.Co^'/ie' o; yoLp Kvi^moi t»? tv- (p7\sr oi^vi^iic, ?v£ys3-»». Whofe potm Ph:ebus challcngd for his O'wn, &\' ludir.g :o a G:t^^- epigram in the fiiil book of the Anthologia,
Kcidov fj.iv lyuv, s^acpcccffi $1 Si.©- 0^»f^,
which Mr. Fenton has inlarged and applied to Mr. Pope's Englilh Iliad.
262. In
170 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV,
Blind Melefigenes thence Homer call'd,
Whofe poem Phoebus challeng'd for his own. 260
Thence what the lofty grave tragedians taught
In Chorus or Iambic, teachers beft
Of moral prudence with delight receiv'd
In brief fen tentious precepts, while they treat
Of fate, of chance, and change in human life ; 265
High adlions, and high pafTions befb defcribing :
Thenc e
262. In Chorus or Jambic,'\ Thefe may be iaid to be the two confti- luent parts of the ancient tragedy, which was wriuen either in lain- bic verfe, or in verfes of various meafures, whereof the Chorus uiu- ally confifted. And the charaftcr here given of the ancient Greek tragedy is very juft and noble ; and the Englifh reader cannot form a better idea of it in its higheft beau- ty and perfedlion than by reading our author's Sampfon Agoniftes.
267. ThcKce to the famous oratory repair, &c. ] How happily
does Milton's verfification in this and the following lines concerning the Socratic phiJofophy exprefs what he is defcribing ! in the firft we feel as it were the nervous ra- pid eloquence of Demoithtnes, arvd the Irtrer have all the sentle- ncfs and foftnefs of the humble *nod eft character of Socrates.
Thyer.
268. Thofe ancient,'] For Milton -,v3s of the fame opinion as Cicero,
who preferred Pericles, Hyperides, ^fchines, Demolthenes, and the orators or their times to Demetrius Phalereus and thofe of the fubfe- quent ages. See Cicero de claris Oratoribus. And in the judgment of Quintilian Demetrius Phalereus was the firf} who vv'eaken'd elo- quence, and the lail almoll of the Athenians who can be called an orator : is primus ir.cHnaffe elo- quentiam dicitur — uhimus eft fere ex Atticis qui dici poffit orator. Delnftit. Orat. X. i.
270. — and fulmi n d o--ver Greece,] Alluding (as i\ir. Jortin has likewife obferved) to what Ariftophancs has faid of Pericles in his Acharnenfes. Aft 2. Scene 5.
Since I have mention'd this paf- fage, I will add, that Cicero has al- luded to it in his Orator 9, fpeak- ing of Pericles. Qui fi tenui ge-
nere
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 171
Thence to the famous orators repair,
Thofe ancient, whofe relirtlefs eloquence
Wielded at will that fierce democratie,
Shook th' arfenal and fulmin'd over Greece, 270
To Macedon and Artaxerxes throne :
To fage philofophy next lend thine ear.
From Heav'n defcended to the low-rooft houfe
Of Socrates j fee there his tenement.
Whom
nere uteretur, nunquam ab Arifto- phane poeca fulgere, tonare, per- mifcere Grsciam didus efTet. Dio- dorus Siculus has quoted it like- wife Lib. 12. and afcribed it to Eu- polis the poet, the fame who is mention'd by Horace.
Eupolis, atque Cratinus, Ariflo- phanefque poetse.
-EroirjT*!? — ^ HE^uAeji? ofAf^TB-i©^ Kr"i;CTT, iZpoi-roi, cviixvxx rriv 'EM»Ja. Cicero had at firll fallen into the fame miftake as Diodorus, which is often the cafe of writers who quote by memory ; and there- fore defires Atticus to correct the copies, and for Eupolis to put in Arifiophanes. Cic. ad Att. XII. 6. mini erit gratum, fi non modo in libris tuis, fed etiam in aliorum per libraries tuos Ariflophanem repo- fueris pro Rupoli. The minake v/as coirecled according to his de- fire ; at leaft it is fo in all the re- maining copies and editions.
27 1 . To Macedon and Artaxerxes throne : ] As Pericles and others fulmind o-ver Greece to Artaxerxes throne againll the Perfian king, fo Demollhenes was the orator parti- cularly, \\\\ofulmind o^ucr Greece to Macedon agamll king Philip in his orations therefore denominated Philippics.
273. From Hea-Jn defceTided to the lonx:-rooft houfe
Of Socrates;'] Mr. Calton thinks the author alludes to Juv. Sat. XI. 27,
e ccelo defcendit yni/9»
as this famous Delphic precept was the foundation of Socrates's philo- fophy, and fo much ufed by him, that it hath pafled with fome for his own. Or as Mr. Warburton and Mr. Thyer conceive, the au- thor here probably alludes to what Cicero fays of Socrates, Socrates antem primus philofophiam devo- cavit e ccelo, et in urbibus coUoca-
vir.
172
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Whom well infpir'd the oracle pronounc'd 275
Wifeft of men ; from whofe mouth iflued forth Mellifluous ilreams that water'd all the fchools Of Academics old and new, with thofe Sirnam'd Peripatetics, and the fe(5l Epicurean, and the Stoic (evere ; 280
Thefe here revolve, or, as thou lik'fl:, at home, Till time mature thee to a kingdom's weight ; Thefe rules will render thee a king complete Within thyfelf, much more with empire join'd.
To
vit, et in domus etiam introduxiL Tufc. Difp. V. 4. But he has given a very different fenfe to the words cither by defign or miHake, as Mr. Warburton obferves. It is properly call'd the lotv-roo// huuje ; for 1 believe, faid Socrates, that if I could meet with a good pur- chafer, I might eafily get for my goods and houfe and all live pounds.
av fjt-oi av» Tri oixta xai t« ovra
Xenophon Oeconomit. five minas or Attic pounds were better than ii.xteen pounds of our money, a mina according to Barnard being three pounds eight (hillings and nine pence.
275, Whom -well infpir^d the oracle pronounced
Wifefi of men i j The verfe deli-
vered down to us upon this occa- fion is this.
Of all men Socrates is the wifefl.
See Diogenes Laertius in vita So- cratis. IVJr Calton adds, that the Tempter defigns iiere a compli- ment to himfcif ; for he would be underitood to be the infpirer.
2j6. • from tvhofe mnuth iffued forth &c]Thus Quintiliancalls Socrates fnns philofophorum, I. 10. and as the ancients looked upon Homer as the father of poetry, fo they elleemcd Socrates the father of moral philofophy. The diffe- rent fedls of philofophers were but fo many different families, which all acknowledged him for their common parent. See Cicero Aca- demic.
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 173
To whom our Saviour fagely thus reply 'd, 285 Think not but that I know thefe things, or think I know them not ; not therefore am 1 iLort Of knowing what I ought : he who receives Light from above, from the fountain' of light. No other dodtrin needs, though granted true j 290 But thefe are Ailfe, or little elfe but dreams, Conjedtures, fancies, built on nothing firm. The firft and wifeft of them all profefs'd To know this only, that he nothing knew;
demic. I. 4. Tufc. Difp. V. 4. and particularly De Orat. HI, 16, 17. 'The quotation would be too long to be inierted. See likewife Mr. Warburton's account of the Socra- tic fchool. B. 3. SeH. 3. of the Di- vine Legation.
283. The/e rules nvi/l render thee &c] Afk ^<jhat rules, and no an- fwer can be regularly given : afk rLK-h-fe, and the anfwer is eafy, There is no mention before of rules ; but of poets, orators, phi- lofophers there is. We fhouid read therefore,
Their rules will render thee a king complete. Call on.
285. To nx:hom our Sa'viour fagely thus reply' d.'\ This anfwer of our Saviour is as much to be ad- mired for folid reafoning, and the tiany fublime truths contained in
The
it, as the preceding fpeech of Sa- tan is for that fine vein of poetry which runs through it : and one may obferve in general, that Mil- ton has quite throughout this work thrown the ornaments of poetry on the fide of error, whether it was that he thought great truths belt exprefs'd in a grave unaffected f^ile, or intended to fuggefl this fine moral to the reader, that fimple naked truth will always be an over- match for falfhood though recom- mended by thegayefl rhetoric, and adorned with the moft bewitching^ colors. Thyer.
293. Thefrji and n.Ki/eJ! Kif them- nil] 'iiOcr2ites profefs'd to knotu this only, that he nothing knevj. Hie in omnibus fere fermonibus, qui ab iis, qui ilium audierunt, per- fcripti varie, copiofe funt, ita dif- putat, ut nihil adflrmet ipfe, refci-
lat
174 PARADISE REGAINED. Book IV.
The next to fabling fell and frnooth conceits j 295
A third fort doubted all things, though plain fenfe 3
Others in virtue plac'd felicity,
But virtue join'd with riches and long life -,
In corporal pleafure he, and carelefs eafe j
The Stoic laft in philofophic pride, 300
By him call'd virtue -, and his virtuous man,
V/ife,
lat alios : nihil fe fcire dicat, niii id ipfum : eoqne prasftare ceteris, quod illi qus nefciant fcire fe pu- tent ; ipfe, fe nihil fcire, id unum fciat. Cicero Academic. I, 4. 295. T^e next to fablivg fell and fitfboth conceits ;] See Parker's Free and impartial cenfure of the Platonic philofophy. Oxford 1667. p. 71. " Plato and his followers •' have communicated their notions " by emblems, fables, fymbols, *' parables, heaps of metaphors, *' allegories, and all forts of my- " ftical reprefcntations, (as is vul- *' garly known.) All which, upon " the account of their obfcurity " and ambiguity, are apparently •' the unfitteft figns in the world " to exprefs the train of any man's " thoughts to another: For befides •* that they carry in them no in- ♦• telligible affinity to the notices •' which they were defign'd to in- *' timate, the powers of imagina- " tion are fo great, and the in- '• fiances in which one thing may *' refemble another are fo many, ♦' that there is fcarce anv thintj in
*' nature, in which the fancy can- *' not find or make a variety of* " fuch fymbolizing refemblances ; " fo that emblems, fables, fym- " bols, allegories, tho' they are " pretty poetic fancies, are infi- " nitely unfit to exprefs phllofo- " phical notions and difcoveries of
" the natures of things. The
" end of philofophy is to fearch *' into, and difcover the nature of " things ; but I believe you under- " fland not how the nature of any '* thing is a< all difcoverered by " making it the theme of allegori- " cal and dark difcourfes-"
Calton.
2C)6.A third fori doubted all things t
though plain fenfe -.y^ Thefe were
the Sceptics or Pyrrhonians the
difciples of Pyrrho, who afferted
nothing, neither honell nor dif-
honeft, juft nor unjuil, and fo of
every thing ; that there is nothing
indeed fuch, but that men do all
things by law and cultom ; that in
every thing this is not rather than
that. This was called the Sceptic
philofophy freni its continual in-
fpeftion.
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
175
Wife, perfect in himfelf, and all poffefiing,
Equals to God, oft fliames not to prefer,
As fearing God nor man, contemning all 304
Wealth, pleafure, pain or torment, death and life,
Which when he lifts he leaves, or boafts he can,
For all his tedious talk is but vain boaft,
Or fubtle fhifts conviction to evade.
Alas
fpediion, and never finding ; and Pyrrhonian from Pyrrho. See Stan- ley's life of Pyrrho, who takes his account from Diogenes Laertius,
297. Others in -virtue &cc] Thefe were the old Academics, and the Peripatetics the fcholars of Ari- fiotle. Honefte autem vivere, fru- entem rebus iis, quas primas ho- mini natura concilitt, et vetus Aca- demia cenfait, et Arif.otcles : ejuf- que amici nunc proxime videntur accedere. Cicero Academic. II. 42. Ergo nata eft fententia vete- rum Academicorum et Peripateti- corum, utfinem bonorum diccrent, fecundum naturam vivere, id eft, virtute adhibita, frui priniis a na- tura datis. <Je Fin. II. 1 1.
299. In corporal plea/ure he, and carclefs eaje ;] Epicurus. Con-
firmat autem illud vel maxime, quod ipfa natura, ut ait ille, ad- fcifcat et reprobet, id eft, volupta- tem ct dolorem : ad haec, et quae fequamur et qus fugiamus, refert omnia. Cicero dePin. f. 7.
300. The Stoic laji <ic] The rea- fon why Milton reprefenti our Sa-
viour taking fuch particular notice of the Stoics above the reft, was probably becaufe they made pre- tenfions to a more refin'd and ex- alted virtue than any of the other fed?, and were at that time the moft prevailing party among the philofophers, and the moft rever'd and efteem'd for the ftriflnefs of their morals, and the aufterity of their lives. The pidure of their •virtuous man is perfedlly juft, as might eafily be ftiovvn from many pafiages in Seneca and Antoninus, and the defefls and infufficiency of their fchenie could not poflibly be fet in a ftronger light than they are by our author in the lines fol- lowing. Thyer.
303. Equals to God,] In Milton's own edition, and al! following, it is Equal to God : but I cannot bnt think this an error of the prefs, the fenfe is fo much improved by the addition only of a fingle letter.
Equals to God, oft ftiames rot to prefer,
307. For ail his tedious talk is but -uatn boaji.
Or
176 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Alas what can they teach, and not miflead,
Ignorant of themfelves, of God much more, 310
And how the world began, and how man fell
Degraded by himfelf, on grace depending ?
Much of the foul they talk, but all awry,
And in themfelves feek virtue, and to themfelves
All glory arrogate, to God give none, 315
Rather accufe him under ufual names,
Fortune and Fate, as one regardlefs quite
Of mortal things. Who therefore feeks in thefe
True wifdom, finds her not, or by delulion
Far worfe, her falfe refemblance only meets, 320
An empty cloud. However many books,
Wife
Or fubtk Jkift$\ Vain hoafts xf\z\.Q timents of ancient philofophy up-
to the Stoical paradoxes, and Jubtle on this point in the following
pifts to their dialectic, which this words : — propter virtutera
feft fo much cultivated, as to be as enim jure laudamur, et in I'irtufe
well known by the name Dialedrci rtBe gloriamur : quod non contrn-
as Stoici. Warburton. geret, fi id donum a Deo, non a
-_,.,/.,, ,, nobis haberemus. At vero aut
^12. Much of the Jcul they talk, , -i n- „ » .^ f^^iK^^;
•^ < „ TO L«/i hononbus audti, aut re tamiliari,
but cU anvrvA bee what Mr. . r r j • • ~ «-,xv; r„
„, , , /!i . . • /■L aut fi ahud quippiam nacti iu-
Warburton has laid upo? this lub- c » •.• u • » j„^ ,i;.v,.,^
•n- urjT » ri.r\- m^s fortuiti boni, aut depulimus
lecl in the hrlr volume oitheDi- ,• v r^- „,-„o o^;^.,r.
-• . , . mall, cum Diis gratias agimus,
Tine Legation. ^^^ ^jj^j, ^^^^^ j^^^j alTumptum
l\A^. Andinthemftl'uesjcek'virtuey arbitramur. Num qui s, quod bo-
and to themfelves nus vir efTet, gratias Diis egit un-
All glory arrogate, to God ginje quam ? At quod dives, quod ho-
none,'\ Cicero fpeaks the fen- noratus, quod incoluniis. Ad
rem
Book IV. Px4.RADISE REGAIN'D. 177
Wife men have fald, are wearifome ; who reads
Inccfiantly, and to his reading brings not
A fpirit and judgment equal or fuperior,
(And what he brings, what needs he elfewhere feek ?)
Uncertain and unlettlcd llill remains, 326
Deep verb'd in books and ihallow in himfeif,
Crude or intoxicate, colleding toys,
And trifles for choice matters, worth a fpunge ;
As children galhering pebbles on the Ihore. 330
Or if I would delight my private hours
With mufic or with poem, where fo foon
As in our native lan-^'uao'e can I find
o o
That folace ? All our law and flory ftrow'd
With
rem autem ut redeam,j'W/a'//7« Z'(7f Incejpintly, &c] See the fame omnium mortalium efi, fortunam a jiift fer.frrient in Paradife Lolt Deo petenelam^a fe ipfo fumendam ejje Vil. 126.
/i/izfA?//<2OT. DeNat. Deor. IIJ. 56. r> » i ^ j • c ^ j
•^ ^ r^y z But knowledge is as food, and
IVarburtO)!, j i r needs no kls
321. Jn empty cloud,"] A me- Her temp'rance over appetite,
taphor taken from the fable of &c. Thyer.
\\\Gn,\\\iCytm\iX2.c A an empty cloud ^ /i j 1 1 i • r ,
,- T i2C. And vj bat he ontiirst ivbat
tor a Juno. » i, ;/- / , ' l^ t--,,
322, Wife men ha--ve fatdj] Al- poet make? the eld fophirter the lading to Ecclef. XII. 12. Of Devil always bufv in his trade. making many bo'As there is no end, 'Tis pity he fnould make Jefus (a* and much fi ltd ^ is a ^.•.rarinefs of the he does here) ufs the fame arms. ficjh. ' V/arburton,
322. n.vho reads
V o !.. I. N 355 — cur
178 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
With hymns, our pfalms with artful terms infcrib'd. Our Hebrew fongs and harps in Babylon, 336
That pleas'd fo well our victors ear, declare That rather Greece from us thefe arts deriv'd -, III imitated, while they loudefl fing The vices of their Deities, and their own 340
In fable, hymn, or fong, fo perfonating Their Gods ridiculous, and themfelves paft fhame. Remove their fweliing epithets thick laid As varnifli on a harlot's cheek, the reft, Thin fown with ought of profit or delight, 345
Will
335" " ""*" Pf^^"'^ nvith artful that --wajled uSy required of us mirth,
terms infcrib^d,'\ He means the faying. Sing us one of the fongs of
infcriptions often prefixed to the Sion.
beginning of feveral pfalms, fuch o m i r> ^
^ L u- r r • M %'\^' I hat rather Lrreece from us
as To the chief mufician upon Ne- •'•' ? r j ■■, j t ^i.-
vi 1 rr ^1 1 • r r • theje arts deri'u d\ I his was
hiloth, To the chief mufician on , ^ ,i . 'J,
•.T . , cu • -.u cu- the iyltem in vogue at that time.
Neeinoth upon bheminith. Ship;- t n litl j j r j
• ^ r-n, -1 i\/T- u* f T> It was eltabhlhed and fupported
paion of David, Michtam of Da- ., „ ,. . , ^^ ,
^.j o * J » .1, • with valt erudition by Bochart,
vid, &c, to denote the various j • i ' ,
, . J r r 1 -A . and earned to an extravagant and
kinds or pfalms or inltruments. -i- i i i i ^rr
n A Tj L /â– J / X even ridiculous length by Huetius
'I'lo.Ui'.r Hebrc-iv Jongs a?id harps j /-^ » rPr r
•'^ . n / ! and Gale. Uarburton. in Babylon,
That pleas (ifo •x'.cll our viSiors ear,'] 343. fnuelling epithets] Greek
This is faid upon the authority of compounds. Warburton»
Pfal. CXXXV^II. I &c. By the ri- The hymns of the Greek poets to
'vers of Babylon, there n.ve fat do-tvn, their Deities confifl: of very little
jea ijue nvept, -zvhen nve remembred more than repeated invocations of
Sion. We hanged our harps upon the them by divForent .lames and epi-
luillonxs in the midjl thereof. For thets. Our Saviour very probably
there they that earned us ainay cap^ alluded to thefe, where he cautions
tive, required of us a fong j and they his difciples againft vain repetitions
and
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
179
Will far be found unworthy to compare
With Sion's fongs, to all true taftes excelling,
Where God is prais'd aright, and God-like men.
The Holieft of Holies, and his Saints j
Such are from God infpir'd, not fuch from thee, 350
Unlefs where moral virtue is exprefb'd
By light of nature not in all quite lofl.
Their orators thou then extoli'ft, as thofe
The top of eloquence, ftatills indeed,
And lovers of their country, as may feem; 355
But herein to our prophets far beneath.
As
and much fpeaking {^a.r%7.oyioc) in their prayers. Matt. VI. 7.
Tiyer.
346. Will far be found unn.<jor thy to compare
With Sio7i's fongs,'] He was of this opinion not only in the de- cline of life, but likewife in his earlier days, as appears from the preface to his fecond book of the Reafon of Church- Go'vernment, " Or if Gccafion fliall lead to imi- *' tate thofe magnific odes and " hymns wherein Pindarus and " Callimachus are in molt things *' worthy, fome others in their " frame judicious, in their matter ** moll an end faulty. But thofe *' frequent fongs throughout the ** law and prophets beyond all *' thefe, not in their divine argu-
" ment a!one, but in the very crl- " tical art of compofition, may " be eafily made appear over all *' the kinds of lyric poetry, to be " incomparable ''
350. Such are from God infpir'd^ not Juch from thee,
XJnteJs -where moral •virtue is ex~ preJi'dScc] The fenfe of theJe lines is obfcure and liable to m\{- take. The meaning of thera is, poets from thee infpired are not fuch as thefe, unlefs where moral virtue is exprefled &c.
McadcwcDurt.
353. as ihrfe] 1 fhould pre- fer— Hi t hough . Calton.
354. Jiatfi\ Or flatefmen.
A word in more frequent ule for- merly, as in Shakefpear, Cymbe- line Ad 2. Scene 5.
N 2 I
i8o PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
As men divinely taught, and better teaching The foHd rules of civil government In their majeftic unaffedted ftile Than all th' oratory of Greece and Rome. 360
In them is plaineft taught, and eafiefl: learnt, What makes a nation happy', and keeps it fo. What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat ; Thefe only with our law befl form a king.
So fpake the Son of God ; but Satan now 365 Quite at a lofs, for all his darts were fpent, Thus to our Saviour with ftern brow reply'd.
Since neither wealth, nor honor, arms nor arts,
Kingdom nor empire pleafes thee, nor ought
By me propos'd in life contemplative, 370
Or adive, tended on by glory', or fame,
What doft thou in this world ? the wildernefs
For
I do believe, 380. fulnefs of time,'] Gal.
{Ztaufi though I am none, nor ]V. 4. U hen the fulnefs of the like to be ;) time n.vas co7ne, God /eat forth his
and Hamlet Aft q. Sc. %. 'o^ ,v r„. j . ;, • v
â– > -' 302. !/ J read ou^ht tn tic a-
I once did hold it, as o^x Jiaiifs ''-'en, &c] A fatire on Cardan,
do, iz'c. who with the boldnefs and impiety
of an atheift and a madman, both
362. makes happy and keeps fo] of which he was, call the nativity
Hor. Epifl. 1. VI. 2. of Jefus Chrilt, and found by the
— facere et fervare beatum. great ar\d illulbious concourfe of
Richard/on. iiars at his birth, that he mull
needs
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. i8i
For thee is fitteft place ; I found thee there,
And thither will return thee ; yet remember
"What I foretel thee, foon thou fhalt have caufe 375
To wifh thou never hadft rejeded thus
Nicely or cautioufly my offer'd aid.
Which would have fet thee in fliort time with eafe
On David's throne, or throne of all the world,
Now at full age, fulnefs of time, thy feafon, 380
When prophecies of thee are heft fulfill'd.
Now contrary, if I read ought in Heaven,
Or Heav'n write ought of fate, by what the ftars
Voluminous, or fingle characters.
In their conjunction met, give me to fpell, 385
Sorrows, and labors, oppofition, hate
Attends thee, fcorns, reproaches, injuries.
Violence and flripes, and laflly cruel death ^
needs have the fortune which be- nifed by the Devil, vvithout fhovv-
fel him, and become the author ing at the fame time the abfur-
of a religion, which ihould fpread dity of it. He has thertrore very
itfelf far and near for many ages, judicioufly made h'm blunder in
The great Milton with a juft indig- the exprellion, of portendiKg a king-
nation of this impiety hath fati- dom 'which ivas <u:ithout beginning.
rized it in a very beautiful man- This deftroys all he wo./ld inli-
ner, by putting thefe reveries into nuate. The poet's condufl; is fine
the mouth of the Devil : where it and ingenious. See Warburton's
is to be obferved, that the poet Shakefpear Vol. 6. Lear Aft i.
thought it not enough to difcredit Sc. 8. judicial ajirology by making it patro-
N 3 399.— »n»
I 82
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
A kingdom they portend thee, but what kingdom, Real or allegoric I difcern not, 390
Nor when, eternal lure, as without end, Without beginning; for no date prefix'd Dire(5ts me in the ftarry rubric fet.
So fay'ing he took (for fbill he knew his power Not yet expir'd) and to the wildernefs . 395
Brought back the Son of God, and left him there, Feigning to difappear. Darknefs now rofe, As day-light funk, and brought in louring night Her fliadowy ofspring, unfubftantial both.
Privation
399. — unfuhjlantial both,'] His philoibphy is here ill placed. It daihes out the image he had jnft been painting. Warburton,
408. â– â– and foon 'with ugly dreams &c.] It is remaikaLle,
that the poet made the Devil begin his temptation of Eve by working on her imagination in dreams, and to end his temptation of Jefus in that manner. I leave it to the cri- tics to find out the rcafon ; for I will venture to fay he had a very good one. Warburton.
409. — and either tropic new ""Gan thunder, and both ends of
Hcavn, the clouds &cj Place the Hops thus :
— - and either tropic now
'Gan thunder, and both ends of Heav'n. the clouds t^fc.
It thunder'd from both tropics, that is perhaps from the right and from the left. The Ancients had very different opinions concerning the right and the left fide of the world.' Plutarch fays, that Ari- flotle, Plato, and Pvthagoras were of opinion, that the eaft is the right fide, and the weft the left ; but that Empedocles held that the right fide is towards the fummer tropic, and the left towards the winter tropic. Ui^a.yc^a.c, DXa-
tec u\oc,ToKiy.<» [JLi^ifi, a (p u! 71 a^- ^v) T>jf i<.tvi)(Tius' a^ifi^cx, 01, TO,
ret icdTX rev Bspnov rpoTrmov' a-
£f.
rgoTTJ
fjytg*
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
183
400
Privation mere of light and abfent day. Our Saviour meek and with untroubled mind After his aery jaunt, though hurried fore, Hungry and cold betook him to his reft, Wherever, under fome concourfe of fliades, Whofe branching arms thick intertwin'd might fhield 405
From dews and damps of night his flielter'd head, But fhelter'd flept in vain, for at his head The Tempter watch'd, and foon with ugly dreams Difturb'd his fleep -, and either tropic now 409
'Gan
De Placit. Philof. II. lo. Aiyv-n- Tiot ciotrcci TO. ju,E)i lua,, t» xoo-- iaH ts^uGUXW ni/oci, roc oe /zs^®^
Tov, ugiT^^ci. Id. de Ifid. p. 363. If by either tropic be meant the right fide and the left, by both ends of Hewun may be underftood, he- fore and behind. I know it may be objefled, that the tropics cannot be the one the right fide, and the other the left, to thofe who are placed without the tropics : but I do not think that objection to be very material. I have another ex- pofition to offer, which is thus : It thundered all along the Heav'n, from the north pole to the tropic of Cancer, from thence to the tro- pic of Capricorn, from thence to
the fouth pole. From pole to' pole. The ends of Hea'v'n are the poles. This is a poetical tempelt, like that in Virgil &xv. I.
Intonuere poll â–
Id eft extremse partes cceli — — a quibus totum coelum contonuifle fignificat. Servius. fortin.
Mr. Sympfon propofes to read and point the paifage thus ;
and either tropic now
'Gan thunder ; at both ends of Heav'n the clouds iffc :
Mr. Meadowcourt points it thus ;
and either tropic now
'Gan thunder, and both ends of Heav'n : the clouds ^c :
But after all I am ftill for pre- N 4 ferving
iS4 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
'Gan thunder, and both ends of Heav'n, the clouds-
From many a horrid rift abortive pour'd
Fierce rain with lightning mix'd, water with fire
In ruin reconcil'd ; nor flept the winds
Within their ftony caves, but rudi'd abroad
From the four hinges of the world, and fell 415
On the vex'd wildernefs, whofe tallcil: pines,
fcrving Milton's own puritluation, unlefs there be very good reafon for departing from it, and 1 under- lland the paflage thus : r.7id either tropic tion.v gan thur.aer, it thunder- ed from the north and from the fouth, for this I conceive to be Milton's meaning, tho' the expref- fion is inaccurate, the fituation of our Saviour and Satan being not within the tropics : and both ends of Hea-u'n, that is, and frcm or at both ends of Heav'n, the pr^-epo- fition being omitted, as is frequent in MiUon, and feveral initjnces were given in the notes on the Pa- radife Loft. See particuiarly Dr. Pearce's note on I. 282. and iv ova hcth ends cf Hea'v'n, the clcuds &c. This Itorm is defcrib'd very much like one in TaiTo, which was raif- ed in the fame manner by evil Spirits. See Canto 7. St. 114, 1 15. for I would not lengthen this note, too long already, with the quotation.
4. 1 2 , . nxjater nx^ith fre
In ruin reconcil'd :'\ That is, join- ing together to do hurt. Warburton.
1 hough
This bold figure our poet has bor- row'd from ^Elchilus, where he is defcribing the llorm, which fcat- ter'd the Grecian fleet. Agamem- non, ver. 639.
Svvii:[jLoaa.v yap, otTE? sp^Giro' to-
Tiv^ xat Bx^.ao'crci, kat t« ■Ericrr'
<t9c(^oiTS -,0V ovTr,vov A^yuuv Tt^ot- Tci'. Thyer.
Or perhaps it means only n.i:ater and fre failing do-zvn both together j according to Milton's ufage of the word ruin in Paradife Lolt, J. 46. VI. 868.
415. From the four hinges of the nx:orld,'\ That is from the four cardinal points, the word car dines fignifying boih the one and the other. This, as was obferved be- fore, is a poetical tempelt like that in Virgil, .^n. I. 85.
Una Eurcfque Notufque ruunt,
creberque procellis Africus.
And as Mr. Thyer adds, tho' fuch Horais
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
185
Though rooted deep as high, and ilurdleft oaks Bow'd their flifi necks, loaden with ftormy blalls, Or torn up (lieer : ill waft thou flirouded then, O patient Son of God, yet only ftood'!!: 420
Unlliaken ; nor yet flay'd the terror there, Infernal ghofcs, and Helliih furies, round r{")-„-;el'i Environ'd thee, fome howl'd, ibnie yell'd, fome
Some
florms are unknown to us In tliefe parts of the world, yet the ac- counts we have of hurricanes in the Indies agree pretty much with them.
417. Though rooted deep as high,'\ Virgil Georg. If. 291. iEn. IV.
4+5-
— quantum vertice ad auras iEthereas, rantum radice in Tar- lara tendit, Richard/on.
420. •■yet only Jlood"]}
IJnJhaken ; t^c] Milton Teems to have raifed tljis fcene out of what he found in Eufebius de Dem. Evan. Lib 9. [Vol. 2, p. 434. Ed. Col.] The learned father ob- ferves, that Chwll was tempted forty days and the fame number of nights ' K«i ETTEi^nwEp rif/.i^xii
rsercTa.^ccyioiiTu, xat t«.(; roaccvTonq vv^m iTriipoc^ito. And to thefe night temptations he applies what is faid in the gilt Pfahn, v. 5. and
6. Ov (^'jQr.^Tiffri CLTto (poQa vi:x]i-
^iva. Thou fhalt not be afraid for any terror by night, — oc-no it^ot.y-
^ar©- iv ^JteTEt c.aTrogst'C^EKji;,
nor for the danger that walketh in daikneis. The iiiil is thus pa- raphras'd in the Targum, (tho' with a meaning veiy diiierent from Eufebius's) Non timebis a ti/Kore DeS7}:cnutn qui ambulant in nodle. The Y\tndi?. jurround our Redeemer with their threat? and tenors ; but they have noefTefl.
Infernal ghofts, and HclliQi fii- lies, rout:d
En-viroti'd thee. This too is from Eufebius, [ibid, p. 435"] Ewitcre^ nv tu 'zsa^uC^av ovva.iJ.i\q ic:c)'.y)^ct,i ty.L'y./^av Ci'j~ov. — —
quoniam dum tentabatur, maligna; pottllates i/fum circuinjlabant. And their rcj-zulfe, it feems, is predid- ed in the 7th verfe of this Pfalm : A ihoujaiid jhallfall bejlde thee, and ten ihoujaad at tly right hand, hut it Jhnll not come nigh thee. Caltog. 422. Infernal ghofis, hz\ This taken fiom the legend or the pic- tures of St. Anthony's temptation. U arhurton. This defcription is taken from a print which I have feen of the temptation of St. Anthony. Jorim., •426. — /;//
i86 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Some bent at thee their fiery darts, while thou Satfl unappall'd in calm and finlefs peace. 425
Thus pafs'd the night fo foul, till morning fair Came forth with pilgrim fteps in amice gray. Who with her radiant finger ftill'd the roar Of thunder, chas'd the clouds, and laid the winds. And griily fpedres, which the Fiend had rais'd 430 To tempt the Son of God with terrors dire. And now the fun with more effedual beams Had chear'd the face of earth, and dry'd the wet From drooping plant, or dropping tree ; the birds. Who all things now behold more frefh and green. After a night of ftorm fo ruinous, 436
Clear'd up their choiceft notes in bufli and fpray
To
426. • //// morning /air devotion ; in amice gray, in gray
Came forth &;c] As there is a cloathing ; amice, a proper and fig-
ftorm riiifed by evil Spirits in Taflb nificant word, derived from the
jjs svtll as in Milton, fo a fine Latin amicio to clothe, and ufed by
morning fucceeds after the one as Spenfer, Faery Queen. B. i. Cant.
well as afier the other. See Tallb 4 St. 1 8,
Cant. 8. St. I. But there the . >j • i_ t • i_i j j
^^» -vz. f L .J r Array d in habit black, and
morninp; comei nvtih a forehead of . 1 •
f J •./ ^ X /■7v / aniice tnm,
rolcanciivithafoctofpold; con la ... , ' 1 1 r
/ , J- ,- ■> J, •• J' u„..„ -Like to an holy monk, the ler-
fronte di roje, e co pie d cro ; here . , -'. '
• ; .-7 /7 A ■• Vice to begin.
•luith pilgrim Jteps in amice gray, as °
Milton deibribes her progrei? more 428. Who nvith her radiant Jinger leifurely, firit the gray morning, JiilPd the roar
and afterwards the fun rifing : iviih Of thunder, chai'dthe clouds, &c]
pilgrim Jleps, with the flow folemn This is a very pretty imitation of pace of a pilgrim on a journey of a paiTage in the firll yEneid of Vir- gil.
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 187
To gratulate the fweet return of morn ; Nor yet amidfl this joy and brighteft morn Was abfent, after all his mifchief done, 440
The prince of darknefs, glad would alfo feem Of this fair change, and to our Saviour came, Yet with no new device, they all were fpent, Rather by this his laft affront refolv'd, DefpVate of better courfe, to vent his rage, 445 And mad defpite to be fo oft repell'd. Him walking on a funny hill he found, Back'd on the north and weft by a thick wood ; Out of the wood he ftarts in wonted fhape. And in a carelefs mood thus to him faid. 450
Fair morning yet betides thee. Son of God,
After
gil, where Neptune is reprefented 430. And grijly fpeiires,'\ Very
with his trident laying the ftorm injudicious to retail this popular
which ^olus had raifed. ver. 142. fuperftition in this place.
c,. . ,.„ , . ., War hurt on.
Sic a.t, e^ djao CUIUS tumida ,.^. Andno-.vthefunhz-] There
<Equora placat, j^ j^ ^j^;^ defcription all the bloom
Colkaafque fugat nubes, folem- of Milton's youthful fancy. See
que re ucit. ^^ evening fcene of the fame kind.
There is the greater beauty in the in the Paradife Loft. II. 488.
Englifh poet, as the fcene he is de- . , r
f^v!k;„„ ,,«j„, .^k,-. ^u^..^; c^.,.„ As when from mountam tops
Icnbing under this charming nguie s q-i
is perfectly confiftent with the
&c. Thjer.
courfe of nature, nothing being 435- IVho all things no^M beholdX
more common than to fee a flormy Doth not the fyntax require, that
night fucceeded by a pleafant fe- we fhould rather read
rene morning. Ihyer, Who all things now beheld — ?
453- ^i
i88 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
After a difmal night ; I heard the wrack As earth and iky would mingle 5 but myfelf Wasdiflant; and thefe flaws, though mortals fear them As dang'rous to the pillar'd frame of Heaven, 455 Or to the earth's dark bafis underneath. Are to the main as inconiiderable, And harmlefs, if not wholefome, as a fneeze To man's lefs univerfe, and foon are gone ; Yet as being oft times noxious where they light 460 On man, beail:, plant, wafteful and turbulent, Like turbulencies in th' affairs of men, Over whofe heads they roar, and feem to point, They oft fore-fignify and threaten ill : This tempeft at this defert moft was bent ; 465 Of men at thee, for only thou here dweirft. Did I not tell thee, if thou didfl: rejed The perfect feafon offer'd with my aid To win thy deftin'd feat, but wilt prolong All to the pufli of fate, purfue thy way 470
Of
453. A earib and fi^} ivouU JV/^/2-^r,?, et tantas audetis tollere m;vg/e;] Virgil i£n. I. 137. moles? Rkhardjon.
455. jIs dang'rous to the pillar d \?.m c/xlum terrnmque, meo fine frameofHeaiien,'] So alfo in
numir.e, venti, the Maik
— if
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 189
Of gaining David's throne no man knows when,
For both the when and how Is no where told,
Thou (halt be what thou art ordain'd, no doubt ;
For angels have proclam'd it, but concealing
The time and means : each adl is rightlieft done, 475
Not when it mud, but when it may be beft.
If thou obferve not this, be fure to find.
What I foretold thee, many a hard alTay
Of dangers, and adverfities, and pains.
Ere thou of Ifrael's fcepter get faft hold ; 480
Whereof this ominous night that clos'd thee round,
So many terrors, voices, prodigies
May warn thee, as a fure fore-going fign.
So talk'd he while the Son of God went on I And flay 'd not, but in brief him anfwer'd thus. 485
Me worfe than wet thou find'll: not ; other harm Thofe terrors whicli thou fpeak'il of, did me none j I never fear'd they could, though noiling loud And threatning nigh ; what they can do as figns
Betokening
â– if this fail, tremlU, and are aP.oniJh'd at his n-
The pillar d firmament is rotten- proof. Thyer.
neis. 467. Did I not tell thee, &c ]
In both, no doubt, alluding to Job This fentence is dark and pei- XX Vi, II, 2"/,?^ pillars of Heaven plex'd, having no proper exit.
501. Fcr
jgo PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Betokening, or ill boding, I contemn 490
As falfe portents, not fent from God, but thee ; Who knowing I fhall reign pall thy preventing, Obtrud'ft thy offer'd aid, that I accepting At leafl might feem to hold all pow'r of thee, Ambitious Spl'rit, and wouldft be thought my God, And ftorm'ft refus'd, thinking to terrify 496
Me to thy will ; deiift, thou art difcern'd And toil'ft in vain, nor me in vain moleft.
To whom the Fiend now fwoln with rage reply 'd. Then hear, O Son of David, Virgin-born 3 500
For Son of God to me is yet in doubt : Of the MelTiah I have heard foretold By all the Prophets ; of thy birth at length Announc'd by Gabriel with the firfl: I knew. And of th' angelic fong in Bethlehem field, 505 On thy birth-night, that fung thee Saviour born. From that time feldom have I ceas'd to eye
Thy
501. For Sen of Go J to p:e is yet briel told the bleffed woman (Luke
in doubt ;] The Tempter had 1-35. The Holy Ghoji Jhcll come upon
heard Chrift declar'd to be Son of thee, and the po<vjer of the Higheft
God by a voice from Heaven. He Jhall cverfiadc-xv thee ; therefore al/t
allows him to be virgin-horn. He that holy thing <ivhich Jhall be born
hath no Icruples about the annun- of thee jhall be called the Son of God.)
ciadon, and the truth of what Ga- and yet he doubts of his being the
Son
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 191
Thy infancy, thy childhood, and thy youth, Thy manhood laft, though yet in private bred ; Till at the ford of Jordan whither all 5 1 o
Flock'd to the Baptift, I among the reft, Though not to be baptiz'd, by voice from Heaven Heard thee pronounc'd the Son of God belov'd. Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view And narrower fcrutiny, that I might learn 515
In what degree or meaning thou art call'd The Son of God, which bears no fingle fenfe ; The Son of God I alfo am, or was, And if I was, 1 am ; relation ftands 3 All men are Sons of God 3 yet thee I thought 520 In fome refpedl far higher fo declar'd. Therefore I watch'd thy footfteps from that hour. And follow'd thee ftill on to this vvafte wild ; Where by all beft conjcdtures I colled: Thou art to be my fatal enemy. 525
Good
Son of Go^ notwkh^anding. This relates to what he was }>iore than
is eafily accounted for. On the man, -Morth calling Son of God, that
terms of the annunciation Chrift is worthy to be cslicrd 6\/r of God
might be the Son of God in a fenfe in that high and proper fenfe, in
very particular, and yet a mere which his fonfhip would infer his
man as to his nature : but the doubt divinity. Calton.
538. .-cvi«/
192 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
Good reafon then, if I before-hand feek
To underf{:and my adverfary, who
And what he isj his wifdom, pow'r, intent ;
By parlj or compofiticnj truce, or league
To win him, or win from him what I can. 530
And opportunity I here have had
To try thee, (ift thee, and confcfs have found thee
Proof againfl; all temptation, as a rock
Of adamant, and as a center, firm,
To th' utmofl: of mere m.an both wife and good, ^2 5
Not more j for honors, riches, kingdoms, glory
Have been before contemn'd, and may again :
Therefore
538 — — f^haf more thou art than man.
Worth r.atning Son cfGcdby t'oice from heaten, ] See Bilhop Pearicn on the Creed, p. io6. " We murt find yet a more pe- " cu'iar ground of our Saviour's " filiation, totally dillincl from any " which belongs unto the reft of *' the Sons of God, that he may ** be clearly and fully acknow- *' Icdged the onj b(golten Son. *• For alcho' to he born of a vir- *' gin be in itfelf miraculous, yet " is it not fo far above the pro- " di:£lion of all mankind, as to ♦' place him in that fingular emi- ** nence, which muft be attributed " to the only-begctien. • Vv'e read
** of Adam the Son cf God as well
" as Seth the Son of Adam : Luke " III. 38. and furely the framing " Chrift out of a woman cannot " fo far tranfcend the making " Adam out of the earth, as to " caufe fo great a diftance, as we " muil believe, between the firft " and fecond Adam. Calto/i.
541. — afid •-ijithciit -I'.-.'/'g
Ofhippogrif !cc ] Here Milton defign'd a refledtion upon the Ita- lian poets, and particularly upon Arioflo. An hiptogrif is an ima- ginary creature, part like an horfe and part like a gryphon. See Orlando Furiofo Cant. 4. St. 18. or 13th Stanza of Harringtch's tranflation.
Onlv
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 195
Therefore to know what more thou art than man. Worth naming Son of God by voice from Heaven, Another method I rnufl now begin. 540
So fay'ing he caught him up, and without wing Of hippogrif bore through the air fublime Over the wildcrnefs and o'er the plain ; Till underneath them fair Jerufalem, The holy city lifted high her towers, 545
And higher yet the glorious tern, pie rear'd. Her pile, far off appearing like a mount Of alabafter, topt v/ith golden fpires : There on the highcfl pinnacle he fet
The
Only the bead he rode w.';-*; not hither and thither ; b'Jt Milton
of art, vvor.ld infinuare that he em ploy "d
But gotten of a gafFeth and a no fjch majliinery.
mare, 549. Thereon the high'^Jl pinnacle
And like a ^^rifFeth had the for- he Jit
mer part. 7he Son cfGod,'] He has chofen
As vvings and head, and claws to I'ollow the order obferved by
that hideous are, St. Luke in plr,cing this te.tiptation
And pafTing {Iren^^th and force, laft, becaufe if he had with St, Mat-
and ventroub heart, thew introduc'd it in t'.ie middle.
But all the rell may u ich a hone it would have broke that fine thred
compare. of moral reafoning, which is ob-
Such beafh as thefe the hills of fsrvcd in the courfe of the other
Ryfee yield, temprationsr. Thyer.
Though in thefe parts they have In the Gofptl a^ccount of the
been fcen but fecld. temptation no difcovery is made
of the incarnation ; and this grand
Ariofto ficquently makes u^e of my'i^cry is as little known to the
ihii creature to ccnve^ his heioes Teir.pter at the end, as at the b;;-
Vol.1. O ginning.
194 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
The Son of God, and added thus In fcorn. 550
There ftand, if thou wilt fland j to ftand upright Will afk thee fkill ^ I to thy Father's houfe Have brought thee', and highefb plac'd, highefl: is beft. Now Ihow thy progeny j if not to ftand, Caft thyfelf down j fafely, if Son of God : 5^^
For
ginning. But now, according to Milton s fcheme, the poem was to be clos'd with a full difcovery of it : there are tl'ree circumftances therefore, in which the poet, to ferve his plan, hath varied from the accounts in the Gofpels. i.The critics have not been able to afcer- tain what the Tilipvyiov or pir.- nacle (as we tranflate it) was, on which Chrift was fet by the De- mon : but whatever it was, the Evangelilts make no difficulty of his ftanding there. This the poet (following the common ule of the •word pwfiacle in oor own language) fuppofeth to be fcmethinglike thofe on the battlements of our churches, a pointed fpire, on which Chrifi: could not ftand without a miracle. 2. Jn the poem, the Tempter bids Chrill give proof of his preten- lions by {landing on the pinnacle, or by calling himfelf down. In the Gofpels, the Jail only is or could be fuggelled. 3. In the Gof- pel account the prohibition T/jou /halt not tempt the Lord thy God is alleged only as a reafon w hy Chrift (whofc divinity is concealed there)
muft not throw himfelf down from the top cf the temple, becaufe this would have been tempting Cod. But in the poem it is applied to the De- mon, and his attempt upon Chriil; ; who is thereby declared to be the Lord his God. Calton.
561. Tempt not the Lord thy God : he /aid a72d Jiood : J Here is what we may call after Ariftotle the uvctftu^tcru;, or the difcovery. Chrift declares himfelf to be the God and Lord of the Tempter ; and to prove it, ftands upon the pinnacle. This was evidently the poet's meaning, i. The miracle (hows it to be fo ; which is other- wife impertinently introduc'd, and againft the /ule,
Nee Deus interfit, nifi dignus
vindice nodus Inciderit. — —
It proves nothing but what the Tempter knew, and allow'd be- fore. 2. There is aconnedion be- tween Chrift's y/y/;zo- undjlandingt which demonilrates that he Jlood, in proof of fomeching he had /aid. Now the prohibition, lempt not the
Lord
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 19c
For it is written, He will give command Concerning thee to his Angels, in their hands They (hall up lift thee, left at any time Thou chance to dalli thy foot againft a ftone.
To whom thus Jefus ; Alfo it is written, 560
Tempt not the Lord thy God : he faid and ftood :
But
Lord thy God, as alleged in the Gcf- pels from the Old Teilanient, was in no want of fjch an atteltation : but a miracle was wanting to julli- fy the application of it to the Tempter's attack upon Chrifl ; it was for this end therefore that he ftood. Calton.
I cannot entirely approve this learn- ed Gentleman's expofition, for I am for underftanding the words, Alfo it is ix'titten Tempt 7ict the Lord thy God, in the fame fenfe, in which they were fpoken in the Gofpels; becaufe I would not make the poem to differ from the Gofpel account, farther than necefiity compels, or more than the poet himfelf has madeit. The Tempter fet our Saviour on a pinnacle of the temple, and there required of him a proof of his divinity, either by ftanding, or by cafting himfelf down as he might fafely do, if he was the Son of God, according to the quotation from the Pfalmill. To this our Saviour anfwers, as he anfwers in the Gofpels, It is ivtitten again Thou Jhalt n'A tempt the Lord thy God, tacitly inferring that his
calling himfelf down would be tempting of God. He /aid, hegave this realbn for not calling himfelf dov.n, andf.ood. \Y\i Jlanding â– ^xo- perly makes the diicorery, and is the principal proof of his progeny that the Tempter requir'd : Ni-jj Jho^jj thy progeny. Hisyir.^<7n!g con- vinces Satan. His fia'.d.yzg is con- fidered as the difplay of his divi- nity, and the immediate caufe of Satan's /^7//; and the grand con- trail is tormed between the fand- ir.g of the one and the Jaii of the other.
He faid, zvA Jiood :
But Satan fmitten with a.Tiaze- mentyt-//.
and afte»*wards ver. 571.
Fell whence he ftood to fee his victor fall.
and ver. 576
So ftruck with dread and anguilh ftll the Fiend.
and ver. 5S1.
So Satan /f//.
O 2 563. As
196 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
But Satan fmitten with amazement fell.
As when earth's fon Antasus (to compare
Small things with greateft) in IraiTa fbrove
With Jove's Alcides, and oft foil'd ftill rofe, 565
Receiving from his mother earth new ilrength,
Frell:! from his fall, and fiercer grapple join'd,
Throttled at length in th' air, expir'd and fell j
So after many a foil the Tempter proud,
Renewing frelh aifaults, amidfl his pride 570
Fell whence he Ifood to fee his victor fall.
And as that Theban monfter that propos'd
Her
^S'^.Js ivhen earth's fon Antaus"] This fimilein the perfon of the poet amazingly £ne. Warburtcn.
04. in Iro.£a Jlrcve
With yo-ve" s Alcides,~\ Iraffa is a place in Libya, mention'd by He- rodotus, IV. 158. £rt ^6 tu yue^u TSTw nvouci I^cccrci, and from him by Stephanus Byzant, who fays, I^uc-a., ToTj-©' Ai'ovr.c, ei? o» fts-
^oT©- where Berkelius notes,
Hujus urbis quoque meminit Pin- darus Pyth. IX. fed duplicis (read duplici i) fcribitur:
Oiot AiSt/£rff-«c a.\i.-
<pt yVfUiX.'^ iZccv
l^oio-ffeti 'S-^'^ TTo^if At.ai- a, fji.irct v.aAXixOjUOK
Ad quem locum fie fcribit Sclio-
liaftes : l^xaaot tsto^k A»bti»7;, i» wxijcTEv Avian©', ayj o 'TraT^ot.iiTu^ Hja>cAei, Ex.eii'©' yx^ oiuXhaaan Tot; Ysoioic, ov xcti a.iii'Kiv Hpx- >i>.Yi^. Pindarus nomen urbis genere foem. protulit, quod Schol. alio lo- co numero multitudinis & genere neut. effert : Enot ya.^ (paam, on 0 WTvo H§aK?v£ac y-ocrayoHcr^iti Aiicck^, i^ccjcrivi; Vt *'^o Ig«<r- aui/ Tuii £v TV) TptTwuoi ^ifxivj, u; (pr,3-i <^iciy.vort:. Prom whence we may obferve, that in Herodotus and Stephanus, Iraja is the name of a place, in Pindar and his Scho- liaft, the name of a town : that the name is Ira/a in Herodotus, Hira/a in Stephanus, (though perhaps it fhould be Ira/'u, '\^xs-x, there ) Jraja in Pindar and his Scholiaft :
that
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
197
Her riddle', and him who folv'd it not, devour'd.
That once found out and folv'd, for grief and fpite
Caft herfelf headlong from th' Ifmenian fteep 3 ^'/^
So ftruck with dread and anguiili fell the Fiend,
And to his crew, that fat confulting, brought
Joylefs triumphals of his hop'd fuccefs.
Ruin, and defperation, and difmay.
Who durft fo proudly tempt the Son of God. 580
So Satan fell ; and ftrait a fiery globe
Of Angels on full fail of wing flew nigh,
Who on their plumy vans receiv'd him foft
From
that the Scholiaft fays, Ant^us dwelt at Irajfa, not he who wreftled with Hercules, but one later than him ; which, if true, makes againft Mil- ton : that he afterwards adds, that according to the opinion of fome, the Antaus whom Hercules over- came was \^acrciv',, who i^aajcuv, which Berkelius takes to be the genitive of ret 'I^cca-cu, though it may be of ai Tgacr^ai. Jortin.
Antaut dwelt at the city Irajfa, according to Pindar, But it was not there that he wreftled with Hercules, but at Lixos, according to Pliny. Lixos vel fabulofifTime antiquis narrata. Ibi regiaAntaei, certamenque cum Hercule. Nat. Hift. Lib. 5, cap. i. MeadoiMcourt. 572. And as that Thehan monjler Ifcj The Sphinx, whofe riddle be-
ing refolved by Oedipus, flie threw herfelf into the fea. Statius Theb. L 66.
Si Sphinges iniquae Callidus ambages te prasmon- ftrante refolvi.
^81. — — anijirait a fiery globe Of Angels &cj There is a pecu- liar fbftnefs and delicacy in this de- fcription, and neither circumftances nor words could be better feleded to give the reader an idea of the eafy and gentle defcent of our Sa- viour, and to take from the ima- gination that horror and uneafinefs which it is naturally fiU'd with in contemplating the dangerous and uneafy fituation he was left in.
Toyer.
So Pfyche was carried down from
O 3 the
198 PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
From his uneafy ftatlon, and upbore A3 on a floting couch through the blithe air, Then in a flow'ry valley fet him down On a green bank, and fet before him fpread A table of celeil:ial food, divine, Ambrofial fruits, fetch'd from the tree of life, And from the fount of life ambrofial drink. That foon refredi'd him wearied, and repair'd What hunger, if ought hunger had impair'd. Or thirft; and as he fed, angelic quires Sung heav'nly anthems of his vidiory Over temptation, and the Tempter proud.
5^5
590
595 True
the rock, by zephyrs, and laid lightly on a green and flovvry bank, and there entertain'd with invifible mufic. See Apulcias. Lib. IV'.
Richordfon. ■5 8 5 . ^/ 0« afiotiv.g couch through the blithe air,"] Which way fo- ever I turn this term blithe, it con- veys no idea to me fuitable to the place it occupies : r.or do my dic- tionaries aid me in the leafl. The place is certainly corrupted, and oupht to run fo,
through the lithe air.
Our author ufes the word in his Paradife Loft in the fenfe requii'd here,
and wrcath'd
Hii /;.'.^v probofcis. JV. 347.
I make no doubt of the certainty of this conjedlure. Sjmpfon.
I queftion whether others will have fo good an opinion of this emen- dation, as the Gentleman feems to entertain of it himfclf. I conceive through the hhthe air to be much the fame as if he had faid through the glad air, and the propriety of fuch a metaphor wants no j unifica- tion or explanation.
t;93. — — angelic quires
Hung hea'v'nh anthems of his -vie- /wv] As Milton in his Para- dife Loff had reprefented the Angels finging triumph upon the MeiTiah's vidory over the rebel Angels ; fo here again with the fame propriety they are defcribed celebrating his fuccefs
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D.
199
True Image of the Father, whether thron'd In the bofom of blifs, and light of light Conceiving, or remote from Heav'n, inflirin'd In fleiLly tabernacle, and human form, Wand'ring the wildernefs, whatever place, 600
Habit, or ftate, or motion, ftill expreffing The Son of God, with God-like force indued' Againft th' attempter of thy Father's throne, And thief of Paradife ; him long of old Thou didft debel, and down from Heaven cafl 605 With all his army, now thou haft aveng'd Supplanted Adam, and by vanquifliing
Temptation,
fuccefs againft temptation, and to be fure he could not have poffibly concluded his work with greater dignity and folemnity, or more agreeably to the rules of poetic de- corum. Thjer.
596. 7rue Image cf the Fat her y &cj
Cedite Romani fcriptores, cedite Graii.
All the poems that ever were writ- ten, muft yield, even Paradife Loll mult yield to Regain'd in the gran- deur of its clofe. Chrift ftands triumphant on the pointed emi- nence. The Demon falls with amazement and terror, on this full proof of his being that very Son
of God, whofe thunder forced him out ofjHeaven. The blelTed An- gels receive new knowledge. They behold a fublime truth eftablilh'd, which was a fecret to them at the beginning of the temptation ; and the great difcovery gives a proper opening to their hymn on the vic- tory of Chrift, and the defeat of the Tempter. Calton,
600. <whate-verfiacef
Habit, or Jlatey or motion^ Pro- bably not without allufion to Ho- race Ep. I. XVII. 23.
Omnis Ariftippum decuit color, et flatus, et res.
605. T^hou didji debel'] Debeiiare fuperbos. Virg. ^n. VI. 853. O 4 619. — like
20O PARADISE REGAIN'p. Book IV.
Temptation, haft regained loft Paradife ; And fruftrated the conqueft fraudulent : He never more henceforth will dare let foot 6 1 o In Paradife to tempt ; his fnares are broke : For though that feat of earthly blifs be fail'd, A fairer Paradife is founded now For Adam and his chofen fons, whom thou A Saviour art come down to re-inftall 615
Where they fhall dwell fecure, when time ftiall be,
Of
619. — Uke an autumnaJ Jlar
Or l!ght}7!ng'\ The pott does here, as in other places, imitate profane authors and Scripture both to<»ether. Like an autujnnal Jlar, Kt^p ovu^ivcj E^aXihdoi'. Jliad. V. c. Or Jike lightning fall from Heanjen, Luke X. 18 / beheld Sa- tan as lightning fall from Hcan:en.
624. Abaddon'\ The name of the Angel of the bottomlefs pit. Rev. IX. II. Here applied to the bot- tom^efs pititfelf. In this conclud- ing hymn of the Anp^els, the poet has taken fome pains, to fhow the fitnefs and propriety of giving the name of Paradife Regain'd to fo confin'd a iubjeft, as our Saviour's temptation. Confin'd as the fuhjcfl was, I make no qneftion that he thought the Paradife Regain'd an epic poem as well as the Paiadife Loft For in his invocation he un- dertakes
to tell of deeds
ilbove heroic;
and he had no notion that an epic poem muit of neceflity be formed after the example of Homer, and according to the precepts of Ari- ftotle. In the introduftion to the fecond book of his Rcnjon ofChio-ch~ Go'vtrnment he thus delivers hisfen- timents. " Time ferves not now, " and perhaps I might feem too ^ profufe to give any ceitain ac- *' count of what the mind at home, " in the fpacious circuits of her " mufing, hath liberty to propofe " to herfelf, though of highert "hope, and hardell attemptmg; " whether that epic form whereof *' the two poems of Homer, and " thofe other two of V irgil and *' 1 affo are a diffufe, and the book " of Job a brief model : or whe- " ther the rules of Ariilotle hcre- " in are ftritftly to be kept, or na- " ture to be followed, which in " them that know art, and \:.\e. " judgment, is no tranfgreffion, but '• an enriching of art." We fee
that
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 201
Of Tempter and temptation without fear. But thou, infernal Serpent, fhalt not long Rule in the clouds; like an autumnal ftar Or lightning thou (lialt fall from Heav'n, trod down Under his feet: for proof, ere this thou feel'd: 621 Thy wound, yet not thy laft and deadliefi: wound. By this repulfe receiv'd, and hold'il: in Hell No triumph ; in all her gates Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt ; hereafter learn with awe 625
To
that he look'd upon the book of job, as a brief model of an epic poem : and the fubjeft of Paradife Regain'd is much the fame as that of the book of job, a r^ood man triumphing over temptation : and the greateft part of it is in dia- logue as well as the book of Job, and abounds with moral argu- ments and reflections, which were more natural to thatfeafon of life, and better fuited Milton's age and infirmities than gay florid defcrip- tions. For by Mr. Elwood's ac- count, he had not thought of the Paradife Regain'd, till after he had finilli'd the Paradife Loft : (See the Life of Milton) the firfthintofit was fuggelled by Elwood, while Milton refided at St. Giles Chal- font in Buckinghamfliire during the plague in London ; and after- wards when EUvood vifited him in London, he fhow'd him the poem tiniili'd, fo that he was not long in conceiving, or long in writing it :
and this is the reafon why in the Paradiie Regain'd there are much fewer imitations of, and allufions to other authors, than in the Pa- radife Loft. The Para;!iie Loft he was Ic.ng in meditating, and had laid in a large ftock of materials, which he had coUefled from all authors ancient and modern : but in the Paradife Regain'd he com- pofed more from memory, and with no other help from books, than fuch as naturally occurred to a mind fo thoroughly timf^ur'd and feafon'd, as his was, with all kinds of learning. Mr. Thyer makes the fame obfervation, particularly with regard to the Italian poet'>. From the very few allufions, fays he, to the Italian poets in this poem one may draw, I think, a pretty conclufive argument for the reality of thole pointed out in the notes upon Paradife Loft, and ftiow that they are not, as fome may imagin, mere accidental coinci- dences
202
PARADISE REGAIN'D. Book IV.
To dread the Son of God : he all unarm'd Shall chace thee with the terror of his voice From thy demoniac holds, poileffion foul, Thee and thy legions ; yelling they fhall fly, And beg to hide them in a herd of fwine,
630 Left
dences of great geniufes writing upon limilar fubjtdls. Admitting them to be fiich onlv, no tolerable reafon c m be aiiign'd why the fame fhould not occur in the iame man- ner m the Paradife Regain'd : whereas upon the other fuppofition of their being real, the difference of the two poems in this refpeft is eahly accoumed for. It is very ca;tain, that Milton form'd his firll defi:;n of wntin^j an epic poem very focn after his return from Italy, if not before, and highly probable that he then intended it after the Italian model, as he fays, fpeaking of this defign in his Rea- fon of C hiirch-G o'vei nment , that " he *' apply'd hinifelf to that refolu- *< tion which Ariofto follow'd a- *' gainft the pcrfuafions of Bembo, *• to fiX all the art and induftry he ** could nnite to the adorning of *' his native tongue" — and again that he was then meditating " what *' king or knight before the Con- *• queit might be chofen in whom *' to lay tiie pattern of a Chriftian *' hero, as TaiTo gave to a prince *' of Italy his choice, whether he " would command him to write of " Godfrey's expedition againfl the •* Infidels, or Belifarius againfl the
*' Goths, or Charlemain againfl " the Lombards." This would na- turally lead him to a frequent pe- rufal of the choicell wits of that country; and altho' he dropt his firft fcheme, and was fome confi- derable time before he executed the prefent work, yet flill the im- preffions he had firft receiv'd would befrefh in his imagination, and he would of courfe be drawn to imi- tate their particular beauties, the' he avoided following them in his general plan. The cafe was far otherwife when the Paradife Re- gain'd was compos'd. As Mr. El- wood informs us, Milton did not fo much as think of it till he was ad- vanced in years, and it is not very likely, confidering the troubles and infirmities he had long labor'd un- der, that his fludies had been much empioy'd about that time among the fprightly ] talians, or indeed any writers of that turn. Confillent with this fuppofition we find it of a quite different flamp, and inflead of allufions to poets either ancient or modern, it is full of moral and philofophical reafonings, to which fort of thoughts an afHi(Sed old age muft have turned our author's mind.
Book IV. PARADISE REGAIN'D. 203
Left he command them down into the deep Bound, and to torment fent before their time. Hail Son of the moft high, heir of both worlds, Queller of Satan, on thy glorious work Now enter, and begin to fave mankind. 63 5
Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek Sung vidtor, and from heav'nly feaft refrefli'd Brought on his way with joy ; he unobferv'd Home to his mother's houfe private return'd.
THE END.
VoU.p. ito^
SAMSON AGONISTES,
Dramatic Poem.
The AUTHOR
JOHN MILTON.
Ariilot. Poet. Cap. 6.
T^ayuSiX fAiyi.niTi<; ir^x^iuq o-^rai^aiaf, &C.
Tragoedia eft imitatio adionis ferias, &c. per mlferl- cordiam et metum perficiens talium affedtuum luftrationera.
[ 207 ] Of that fort of Dramatic Poem which Is called Tragedy.
TRAGEDY, as it was anciently compos'd, hath been ever held the graveft, moraleil, and moft pro- fitable of all other poems : therefore faid by Ariftotle to be of power by raifing pity and tear, or terror, to purge the mind of thofe and fuch like palTions, that is, to tem- per and reduce them tojuft meafure with a kind ot" dsHghr, ftirr'd up by reading or feeing thofe pafilons well imitated. Nor is Nature wanting iii her own elFefts to make good his affertion : for fo in pliyfic things of meianchoiic hue and quality are us'd againlt melancholy, four againft four, fait to remove fait huniors. Hence philofophers and other graveft writers, as Cicero, Plutarch and others, frequently cite out of tragic poets, both to adorn and illuilraie their difcourfe. The Apoille Paul him.felf thought ic not un- worthy toiniert *a verfe of Euripides into the text oi Holy Scripture, i Cor, XV. 33. and Parceus commenting on the Revelation, divides the whole book as a tragedy, into adls dirtinguifh'd each by a chorus of heavenly harpings and fong between. Fleretofore men in hig efl dignity have labor'd not a little to be thought able to compofe a tragedy. Of that honor Dionyfius the elder was no lefs ambitious, than before of his attaining to the tyranny. Auguftus C^far alio had begun his Ajax, but unable to pleafe his own judgment with what he had begun, left it unfinifh'd. Seneca the philofopher is by fome thought the author of thofe tragedies (at leaft the befb of them) that go under that name. Gregory Nazianzen, a Father of the Church, thought it not unbefeeming the fan6lity of his
* a 'verfe of Euripides\ The verfe en from the Thais olMenander, and
here quoted is E-uil communications it is extant among the fragments of
corrupt good manners : but I am in- Menander. p. 79. Le Clerc's Edit.
clin'd to think that Milton is mif- ^r r a^
taken in caliing it a verfe oi'Euri- ^^'"f''^'*' ''^^ ^f"^^ '''""'^''" ''â– ''^^'^-
fides ; for JeroiTie and Grotius (who Such flips of memory may be foun^
puoh'lh'd the fragments of Menan- fometiines in the beit writers. As we
der; and the belt commentators, an- observed before, Diodorus Siculus
cient and modern, fay th;u it is tak- cites Eupoiia imiead ofAnftophanes.
perfon
[ 208 ]
perfon to write a tragedy, which is intitled Chrift fuffering. This is mention'd to vindicate tragedy from the fmall efteem, or rather infamy, which in the account of many it undergoes at this day with other common interksdes ; hap'ning through the poets error of intermixing comic ftuffi with tragic fadnefs and gravity ; or introducing trivial and: vulgar perfons, which by all judicious hath been counted abturd •, and brought in without difcretion, corruptly to gratify the people. And though ancient tragedy ufe no prologue, yet ufing fometimes, in cafe of felf-defcnfe,, or explanation, that which Martial calls an epiftle ; in be- half of this tragedy coming forth after the ancient manner,, much different from what among us pafTcs for beff, thus; much before- hand may be epiflled ; that chorus is here in-' troduc'd after theGreek manner, not ancient only but mo- dern, and ilill in ufe among the Italians. In the modclingj therefore of this poem, with good reafon, the Ancients! and kalians are rather follow'd, as of much more authority^ and fame. The meafure of verfe us'd in the chorus is of all forts, caird by the Greeks Monoftrophic, or rathen Apalelymenon,withoutregard had toStrophe, Antiftrophe,. or Epod, which were a kind of iianza's fram'd only fori the mufic, then us'd with the chorus that fung; noteflential to the poem, and therefore not material ; or being divided, into ftanza's or paufes, they may be call'd Alla'oflropha.l Divifjon into aCl and Icene referring chiefly to the flage (to which this work never was intended) is here omitted. It fufnces if the whole drama be found not produc'd be- yond the tilth a(5t. Of the ftile and uniformity, and that comm.only call'd the plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but fuch oeconomy, or difpofition of the fable as may ftand beft with verfimilitude and deco- rum ; they only will beft judge who are not unacquainted with j^fchylus, Sophocles, andEuiipides, the three tragic poets unequal'd yet by any, and the beft rule to all who en- devor to write tragedy.Thecircumfcripticn of time, where- in the whole drama begins and ends, is according to ancient rule, and beft example, within the fpacc of 24 hours.
THE,
THE ARGUMEr^T,
Samfoii made captive, blind, and now in the prifon at Gaza, there to labor as in a common work- houfe, on a feftival day, in the general celTation from labor, comes forth into the open air to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to lit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be vilited by certain friends arid equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who feek to com- fort him what they can ; then by his old father Manoah, who endevors the like, and withal tells him his purpofe to procure his liberty by ranfome } laftly, that this feaft was proclamed by the Phili- ftines as a day of thankfgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more trou- bles him. Manoah then departs to profecute his endevor with the Philiftian lords for Samfon's re- demption ; whQ in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and laftly by a public officer to re- quire his coming to the fcaft before the lords and people, to play or (how his ftrength in their pre- lence ; he at firft refuies, difmiiiiiig the public of- ficer with abfolute denial to come ; at length per- fuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the fecond time with great threatnings to fetch him : the Cho- rus yet remaining oil the place, Manoah returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his fon's de- liverance ; in the midft of which difcourfe an He- brew comes in hafte, confufedly at iirft, and after- ward more diftindly relating the cataftrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philiftines, and by acci- dent to himfelf ; wherewith the tragedy ends.
Vol. L P THE
1^ H E PERSONS.
Samson.
M A N o A Hj the Father of Samfon^
Da LI LA, his Wife.
Harapha of Gaih.
Public Officer.
Meffenger.
Chorus of Danites.
The Scene before the Prifon in Gaza.
211
SAMSON AGONISTES.
Samson. Little onward lend thy guiding hand To thefe dark fteps, a little further on j For yonder bank hath choice of fun or fhade : There I am wont to fit, when any chance Relieves me from my taflc of fervile toil, Daily' in the common prifon elfe injoin'd me, Where I a prifoner chain'd, fcarce freely draw The air imprifon'd alfo, clofe and damp, Unwholefome draught : but here I feel amends,
Sam/on AgoniftesJTht fubjefl but a very indiiFerent one for a drama- tic fable. However he ha3 made the bell of it. He feems to have chofen it for the fake of the fatire on bad wives. VJ'arburton.
Sam/on Agcn-fiei] That is Sam- ibn an aftor, Samfon reprefented in a play. A^'WHri-:. ludio, hi- ftrio, ador fcCnicus.
Sam/on ] Milton after the ex- ample of the Greek tragedians, whom he profefTes to imitate, opens his drama with introducing one of its principal perfonages explaining thellory upon which it is founded. 7hyer.
I . J little oni'jard Und thy guiding hand
The
To thfe dark /ieps,'] So Tirefias in Euripides, Phsniffe ver. 841.
(p>.'M 'sro^i &c. Richardjon^
3. For yonder bank'] The fcene of this tragedy is much the fame as that of the O ^tTrag ettj y.o>.U)iu in Sophocles, where blind Oedipus is conduded in like manner, and reprefented fitting upon a little hill near Athens : but yet I think there is fcarcely a fingle thought the fame in the tuo pieces, and 1 am fure the Greek tragedy can have no pretence to be elteemed better, but only becaufe it is two thoufand years older.
P 3.
M, To
212 SAMSON AGONISTES.
The breath of Heav'n frefh blowing, pure and Tweet, With day-fpring born j here leave me to refpire. 1 1 This day a folemn feafl: the people hold To Dagon their fea-idol, and forbid Laborious works i unwillingly this reft Their fuperftitlon yields me -, hence with leave 1 5 Retiring from the popular noife, I feek This unfrequented place to find fome eafe, Eafe to the body fome, none to the mind From reftlefs thoughts, that like a deadly fwarm Of hornets arm'd, no fooner found alone, 20
But rufli upon me thronging, and prefent Times paft, what once I was, and what am now, O wherefore was niy birth from Pleav'n foretold Twice by an Angel, who at laft in fight Of both my parents all in liames afcended 25
From
xi^.'To Dagon tbnr/i'a-ido},'] For and the fecond time the Angel
Milton both here and in the Piira-- afcended in the flame ot the altar.
dife Lort follows the opinion of judges XIII. 3, 11, 20.
thofe, who defcribe this idol as 2b. and from j'onie great aci,'\
part man, pari fith. I, 462. Mr. Sympfon fays that the true
_. , . , „ reading is
Dagon his name, fea mcniier, °
upward man as from fome great aft ;
And downward fifh. i. . .1 . u u ji r a •
but the poet would hardly \zy Ann
24. Tn.vice by an Jn^^h] Once a fiery column Jcc as from fome
to his motiier, and again to lus fa- great ad &c; and therefore ue may
ther Mancah and his mother both, /eiain an J, and as may be under-
Itcod
SAMSON AGONISTES. 213
From off the altar, where an offering burn'd,
As in a fiery column charioting
His god-like prefence, and from fome great ad:
Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race ?
Why was my breeding order'd and prefcrib'd 30
As of a perfon feparate to God,
Defign'd for great exploits ; if I muff die
Betray'd, captiv'd, and both my eyes put out,
Made of my enemies the fcorn and gaze ;
To grind in brazen fetters under tafk 35
With this Heav'n'gifted ff rength ? O glorious ftrength
Put to the labor of a beaff, debas'd
Lower than bondflave ! Promife was that I
Should Ifrael from Philiftian yoke deliver ;
Afk for this great deliverer now, and find him 40
Eyelefs in Gaza at the mill with flaves,
Himfelf
ftood tho' not cxprefs'd As in a fy liable capti'v^d : but our old au-
^ery column charioting isc, and as thors give it the fame pronuncia-
from fome great acl l5c. tion as Milton, Spenfer. Faery
33. Bttrayd^capti'v'd,'] It fhould Queen. B. 2. Cant. 4. St. 16.
be pronounced with the accent up- Thus when as Guyon Furor had
on the lad fyllable, as afterwards capti'u'd :
^'^'â– - ^94- andB. 3. Cant. i. St. 2.
To dogs and fowls a prey, or But the ra/zzi^'^^Acrafia hefent:
elfe captWd. and Fairfax Cant. 19. S. 95.
I think we commonly pronounce Free was Erminia, but capti'vd
it with the accent upon the ftrft her heart.
P 3 53. But
215 SAMSON AGONISTES,
Himfelf in bonds under Philiftian yoke : Yet ftay, let me not radily call in doubt Divine predicftion ; what if all foretold Had been fulfill'd but through n^ine own default. Whom have I to complain of but myfelf ? 46
Who this high gift of fbrength committed to me^ In v/hat part lodg'd, how eafily bejreft me, Under the feal of filence could not keep, But weakly to a woman mufl reveal it, 59
O'ercome with importunity and tears. O impotence of mind, in body ftrong ! But what is firength without a double fliare Of wifdom, vaft, unwieldy, burdenfome, Proudly fecure, yet liable to fall ^^
By weakefl fubdeties, not made to rule. But to fubferve where wifdom bears command ! God, when he gave me ftrength, to fhow withal How flight the gift was, hung it in my hair. Put peace, I mud not quarrel with the will 60
Of
5 3 . Buf ^jjhat h Jirength ivifhoui^ Nos animo ; quantoque ratem qui
a double Jkare temperat &c. Jortin.
Ofn.vifdomM'] Ovid. Met. Xni. jj^^^ Q^ jjj jy^ g
363. â– '.
Tu vires fine mente geris — Vis confili expers mole ruit fua.
=— tu tantura corpore prodes^j Richard/on.
69. — or,.
SAMSON AGONISTES. 215
Of higheft difpenfatlon, which herein
Haply had ends above my reach to know :
Suffices that to me ftrength is my bane.
And proves the fource of all my miferies ;
So many, and fo huge, that each apart 65
Would afk a life to wail, but chief of all,
O lofs of fight, of thee 1 moft complain !
Blind among enemies, O worfe than chains.
Dungeon, or beggery, or decrepit age !
Light the prime work of God to me' is extin<Sl, 70
And all her various objed:s of delifyht
AnnuU'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd.
Inferior to the vileft now become
Of man or worm j the vilefl here excel me.
They creep, yet fee, I dark in light expos'd y^
To daily fraud, contempt, abufe and wrong.
Within doors, or without, dill as a fool.
In powV of others, never in my own ;
Scarce half I feem to live, dead more than half.
O
69. or decrepit age /] So it is — beggery in decrepit age !
printed in the firll edition ; the la- ter editors have omitted or, con- Want join'd to the weaknefTes of eluding I fuppofe that it made the helplefs age, fays he, would render verfe a fyllable too long. Mr: Cal- it a very real mifery. ton propofes to read
P 4 Sy. And
2l6
SAMSON AGONISTES.
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,
Irrecoverably dark, total ecllpfe
Without all hope of day !
O firil: created beam, and thou great Word,
Let there be light, and light was over all ;
Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime dec^ree ?
The fun to me is dark
And filent as the moon.
When flie deferts the night
Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.
Since light fo necelTary is to life.
And almofl life itfelf, if it be true
8;
90
That
87. And Jthnt as the mean, Src] There cannot be a better note on this paffage than what Mr. War- burton has written on this verfe of Shakefpear 2 Henry VI. Aft I. Sc. 8.
Deep night, dark night, the fi- lent of the night.
^E he filent of the night is a claiTical expreffion, and means an interlu-
liar night arnica filentta luna.
So Pliny, Inter omnes vero con- venit, utiliffime in coitu ejus flerni, quern diem alii interlunii, alufilen- ^/Vlunas appellant. Lib. 16. cap. 39. In imitation of this language, Mil- Spn fays,
Th^ fun to me is ^ark.
And filent as the moon. When fhe deferts the night Hid in"hervacant inter/unarcave,
8g. Hi J in her 'vacant interlunar ca-ve-l Silen) luna is the moon at or near the change, and in con- juniftion with the fun. Plin. i. Lib. 16. c. 39. The interlunar cave is here called i-acanty quia luna ibi vacat opere et rninifterio fuo, bc- cauie the moon is idle, and ufelefs, and makes no return of light.
MeadoHjocDurt. Alluding, I fuppofe to th^ fame notion, which he has adopted from Hefiod in his Paradife Loft. V'L 4.
There is a cave
Within the mount of God, fall by his throne,
â– ^ Where
SAMSON AGONISTES. 217
That light is in the foul.
She all in every part ; why was the fight
To fuch a tender ball as th' eye confin'd,
^o obvious and (o eafy to be quench'd ?
And not as feeling through all parts difFus'd,
That flie might look at will through every pore ?
Then had I not been thus exil'd from light,
As in the land of darknefs, yet in light,
To live a life half dead, a living death,
And bury'd ; but O yet more miferable !
Myfelf my fepulchre, a moving grave,
Bury'd, yet not exempt
95
100
By
Where light and darknefs in per- petual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns. §ee the note on this place. Tijer.
50. Sir.ce light fo necejfury is to life, &c.] This intermixing of his philofophy very much weakens the force and pathos of Samfon's complaint, which in the main is excellent, but I think not altoge- ther To fine as the poet's lamenta- tion of his own blindnefs at the beginning of the third book of the Paradife Loft ; fo much better does every body write from his own feeling and experience, than when he imagines only what another ^•ould fay upon the fame occafion.
109. To liiit 0 life half dead, a
lining death,'] The fame thought occurs in the following paflage of Euripides, Supp. 966.
K«i vvv «7r«i?, uTtxv^ Tr,puay.u) Svfyinoren&'i
O'jt' tv ^uciv a^.^fxtifj^itrif
Xfc'f'? oti TIKI TUiO iff^vcru fJI,tl-
So alfo in Sophocles, Antig. 1283.
â– Tu; ya^ iiaovcc<;
tyu Ztrn THTci', «^^' i[i'l'v^ov rytf- ^«i xixgov. Thyer.
102, Myfelf my fepulchre, a msv" ing grave,] This thought is not
2i8 SAMSON AGONISTES.
By privilege of death and burial
From worfl: of other evils, pains and wrongs, 105
But made hereby obnoxious more
To all the miferics of life.
Life in captivity
Among inhuman foes.
But who are thefe ? for with joint pace I hear 1 10
The tread of many feet fleering this way ;
Perhaps my enemies, who come to ftare
At my afflidion, and perhaps t' infult.
Their daily pradice to afflid me more.
Chorus,
This, this is he j foftiy a while, 1 1 5
Let us not break in upon him ;
O change beyond report, thought, or belief!
S^e how he lies at random, carelefly diifus'd,
With lan8:ui£h'd head unpropt.
As
very unlike that of Gorgias Le- A common man would have faid ontinus, who called vultures li'uing bearing this q.vay. Warburton.
fspulchres, yvsrc; tix-i/vyoi rct(poi,
for which he incurred the in- Ii8. See bsiv he lies at random.,
dignation of Longinus ; whether f«>-(f/f/^ a'/^/jV,] This beauti-
jufily or no i Ihall not fay. fill application of the word diffus'd
Jortin. Milton has borrow'd from the
Latins. So Ovid ex Ponto. IIJ.
III. — — Jieering this nxiay ;] If III. 7.
this be the right reading, the meta- Publica me requies curarum fom-
phor is extremely hard and abrupt. nus habebat,
Fufaque
SAMSON AGONISTES, 219
As one paft hope, abandon'dj 120
And by himfelf given over ;
In flaviQi habit, ill-fitted weeds
O'er-worn and foil'd j
Or do my eyes mifreprefent ? Can this be he.
That heroic, that renovy^n'd, 125
Irrefiftible Sampfon ? whom unarm'd
No flirength of man, or fiercefl: wild beafl could
withftand ;
Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid,
Ran on imbattel'd armies clad in iron,
And weaponlefs himlelf, 130
Made arms ridiculous, ufelefs the forgery
Of brazen (hield and fpear, the hammer'd cuirafs,
Chaly'bean temper'd fteel, and frock of mail
Adamantean proof;
But fafeft he who flood aloof, 135
When
Fufaque erant toto languida Chalyhean with the third fyllable membra toro. Thyer. long according to Heinfius's read-
ing of that verfe of Ovid. Fafl. IV. 153. C hah' bean temper'd Jieel, ] 405.
That is, the beli temper'd llee! by ,, ^ . . /--i « 1 ••
.\. ni I L 1, c -^s erat in pretio : Chalybeia
the Lhalybes, who were famous (T ] h t â–
among the Ancients for their iron
works. Virg, Georg. I. 58. but Milton makes it Hiort by the
At Chalybes nudi ferrum [^'"t Pf^l'^'f-' ^'^Z^-^ "t^ '^^'"'^
he had before ufed ^gean for
Jh e adje(^iye fhould be pronouac'4 -^^ /«».• and Thjejiean for Thyejiean.
136. When
220 SAMSON AGONISTES.
When infupportably his foot advanc'd,
In fcorn of their proud arms and warlike tools,
Spurn'd them to death by troops. The bold Afcalonite
Fled from his lion ramp, old warriors turn'd
Their plated backs under his heel ; 140
Or grov'ling foil'd their crefled helmets in the dufl.
Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,
The jaw of a dead afs, his fword of bone,
Athoufand fore-fkins fell, the flow'rof Paleftine, 144
In Ramath-lechi famous to this day. n ^^
^ [bore
Then by main force puU'd up, and on his fhoulders The gates of Azza, poft, and mafTy bar, Up to tl;e hill by Hebron, feat of giants old,
No
136. When infupportahly his foot he cafl aivay ihejaiv-hone out of his
ad-janc' d,'\ For this nervous hand, and called that place Ramatb-
exprefTiOn Milton was probably in- lechi, that is, the lifting up of the
deDied to the following lines of jaiu-bone, or cajling anvay of thg
Spenfer. Faery Queen, B. i . Cant, jaxv-bone, as it is render'd in the
â– 7^ St. II. margin of our bibles.
_, , t 1 • 1 . T. r >j 147- T^he pates of Azza, "X If the
That when the knight he fpy'd, ^^^'^^^ ^^^ ^^^J^ ^^^ alliteration
he gan ad-^ance ^^^ ^^ ^^^j^, ^^^1^ j^^^^
With huge force, and /«>//cr/- ^^^^^
able main. Thyer.
,38. 7he bold Afcalomte ] The ^^^ g^^« °^ ^^^'^^
inhabitant of Afcalon, one of the So he does within fix lines of the
ilve principal cities of the Phili- end of this play,
ttines, mention'd i. Sam. VI. 17. â– , r>
r r> ,// i •/-.«.. ^„ ■whence Gaza mourns. li].;. In Ramath-lechi famous to
fhfs day :} Judges XV. 17. — I can't help remarking the great
SAMSON AGONISTES. 221
No journey of a fabbath-day, and loaded fo ;
Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heaven.
Which fliall I firft bewail 151
Thy bondage or loft fight,
Prifon within prifon
Infeparably dark ?
Thou art become (O worft imprifonment !) 155
The dungeon of thyfelf i thy foul rnlain"^
(Which men enjoying fight oft without caufe com-
Imprifon'd now indeed,
In real darknefs of the bodv dwells,
Shut up from outward light 160
T' incorporate with gloomy night 5
For
difFerence there is betwixt Ben Johnfon's Chorus's, and our au- thor's. Old Ben's are of a poor fimilar regular contexture ; our au- thor's truly Grecian, and noble, diverlified with all the meafures our language and poetry are ca- paple of, and I am afraid not to be read in the manner Milton defign'd them. Sym^fon.
I47. pojiy and majjy bar^
Mr. Meadowcourt propofes to read pojisy as being more contormable to Scripture, Judg. XVI. 3. And Samjon lay till midnight, and arcje at midmgbt, and took the doors of the £ate of the ctty, and the two pofts>
and ^..vent an.i:cy i>:ith them, bar and all: and^-,;j is certainly better on this account, bat perhaps Milton might ^rtitx pcjl as fomewhat of a fofter found.
( ^8. Hebron, /eat of giants
eld,] For Hebron was the city of Arba, the father of Anak, and the feat of the Anakims. Jofh. XV'. 13, 14. And the Anakims were giants, which come of the giants. Numb. XIII. 3>
I^T. . cf: -â– :'.:hcut caufe com'
plain] So IVIilton himfelf cor- rected it, but all the editions con- tinue rhe c!d erratum complain" d.
162. A"
222
SAMSON AGONISTES.
For inward light alas
Puts forth no vifual beam.
O mirror of our fickle ftate,
Since man on earth unparallerd ! 165
The rarer thy example ftands,
By how much from the top of wondrous glory,
Strongeft of mortal men.
To loweft pitch of abjed: fortune thou art falln.
For him I reckon not in high eflate 1 70
Whom long defcent of birth
Or the fphere of fortune raifes >
But thee whofe ftrength, while virtue was her mate^
Might have fubdued the earth,
Univerfally
162. For in-ivard light alas Puts forth 710 'vijiial bea?n.^ The expreflion is fine, and means the ray of light, which occaiions 'vifion. Mr. Pope borrow'd the expreffion in one of his juvenile poems,
He from thick films fliall purge
the njifiial ray. And on the fightlefs eye-ball pour
the day.
Either he millook his original, and fuppofed Milton meant by njifual ray the fght, or at lealt thought himfelf at liberty to ufe it in that highly figurative fenfe. See what is laid on the paifage in the laft edi- tion of Mr. Popes works.
H'arhurton.
172. Or the fphere of fortune
raifes ;] Fortune is painted on
a globe, which by her influence
is in a perpetual rotation on its
axis. Warburton.
178. He f peaks, ^ We have fol- low'd Milton's own edition ; moft of the others have it Hefpake.
181. From EJhtaol and Zora'i fruitful 'vale] Thefe were two towns of the tribe of Dan. Jofn. XIX. 41. the latter the birth-place of Samfon Judg. XIII. 2. and they were near one another, j^ijtl the Spirit of the Lord began to tnove hit/i at tifnes in the camp of Dan be- i-Tveen Zorab and Ejhtaol, judg. Xill. 25. And they were both fituated in the i\illey, jodi. XV. 33.
and
SAMSON AGONISTES. 223
Univerfally crown'd with higheft praifes. 175
Samson.
I hear the found of words, their fenfe the air DifTolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. Chorus.
He fpeaks, let us draw nigh. Matchlefs in might.
The glory late of Ifrael, now the grief;
We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown
From Efhtaol and Zora's fruitful vale 181
To vifit or bewail thee, or if better,
Counfel or confolation we may bring,
Salve to thy fores ; apt words have pow*r to fwage
The tumors of a troubled mind, 1 85
And
and therefore the poet with great 184.— — aptnxiordi haiie po-w'r
exaftnefs fays EJhtaol and Zora^i /^/ivfl^f&c] Alluding to thefe
fruitful njale. lines in iEfchylus. Prom. Vin^.
182.70 njifit or be-wail thee, ] The 377.
poet diftated ^ „ a
To vifit and bewail thee : St»
The purpofe of their vifit was to ^''^''^ ""''"''" "^"' '*^e" ^'^•
benKiailhim ; or if better, (that is if Or to this paflage in Menander.
they found it more proper) to ad-
^ife or comfort him. Veniebat au- ^^'^'^ >*? '"' ^'"'""^ faf/^a^i-
tem ad Eumenem utrumque genus /xoyov. ihyer.
hominum, et qui propter odium Or perhaps to Horace, Epift. I.
fru£lum oculis ex ejus caju capere vel- J, -ia^
lent, [See above ver. 112. to fare
at my afflidion^ et qui propter vete- Sunt verba et voces, quibus hunc
rem amicitiam colloqui confolarique lenire dolorem
cuperent. Corn, Nepos in vica Eu- Poffis, et magnani morbi depo-
inenis. Calton, nere partem.
224 SAMSON AG6nISTES,
And are as balm to fcfler'd wounds.
Samson*
Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I learn
Now of my own experience, not by talk,
How counterfeit a coin they arc who friends
Bear in their fuperfcription, (of the moft 190
I would be underftood) in profp'rous days
They fwarm, but in adverfe withdraw their head.
Not to be found though fought. Ye fee, O Friends,
How many evils have inclos'd me round ; 194
Yet that which was the worft now leaft afflidls me,
Blindnefs, for had I fight, confused with fhame.
How could I once look up, or heave the head.
Who like a foolifh pilot have fliipwrack'd
My
ig^.Tet that nxjhich^vas the HMorJi the part of the Chorus is written
noi» leafi affiids me^l There is in the very fpirit of the Ancient?,
no inconfillence in this with what and is formed exaftly according to
he had faid before ver. 66. the precepts of Horace. De Arte
but chief of all. Poet. 193.
O lofs of fight, of thee I moft ^^^^j^ Chorus, officium^
^°"^P'^'"- que vinle
When he was by himfelf, he con- Defendat ; neu quid medics in-
lider'd his blindnefs as the luorjl of tercinat aftus,
evils ; but new, upon his friends Quod non propofito eonducat et
coming in and feeing him in this haereat apte.
wretched condition, it leajl affiids Ille bonis faveatque, ct concilie-
ms, fays he, as being fome cover tur amicis ;
to his fhame and confufion. Et regat iratos, ct amet pacare
210. Taxnot di-vine difpcfal; &c] tumCBtes : As this whole play, fo particularly
SAMSON AGONISTES.
22^
My vefTel trufted to me from above, Glorioufly rigg'd ; and for a word, a tear, 200
Fool, have divulg'd the fecret gift of God To a deceitful woman ? tell me, Friends, Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool In every ftreet ? do they not fay, how well Are come upon him his deferts ? yet why ? 205 Immeafurable ftrength they might behold In me, of wifdom nothing more than mean ; This with the other fliould, at leaft, have pair'd, Thefe two proportioned ill drove me tranfverfe* Chorus. Tax not divine difpofal J wifefl meil 210
Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd ;
Ille dapes laudet menfje brevis ;
ille falubrem Juftitiam, legefque, et apertis
otia portis : file tegat commifla, Deofq[ue
precetur et oret, Ut redeat rriiferis, abeat fortuna
fuperbis.
The Chorus muft fupport an ac- tor's part ;
Defend the virtuous, and advife with art ;
Govern the choleric, the proud appcafe,
And the fhort feafts of frugal tables praife ;
V 0 i., I.
And
The laws and jufiice of vvcll-
govern'd ftates. And peace triumphant with hef
open gates. Intrulted fecrets let them ne'er
betray, But to the righteous Gods with
ardor pray. That fortune with returning
fmiles may blefs Afflifted worth, and impious
pride deprefs. Yet let their fongs with apt co- herence join, Promote the plot, and aid the
main delign* • Francis^
QL Sush
226 SAMSON AGONISTES.
And iliall again, pretend they ne'er (o wife.
Dejed: not then fo overmuch thyfelf,
Who haft of forrow thy full load befides ;
Yet truth to fay, I oft have heard men wonder 2 1 5
Why thou {houldft wed Phllillian women rather
Than of thy own tribe fairer, or as fair.
At leafl of thy own nation, and as noble.
S A M SON.
The firjfl: I faw at TImna, and {lie pleas'd
Me, not my parents, that I fought to Wed 220
The daughter of an infidel : they knew not
That what I motion'd was of God j I knew
From intimate impulfe, and therefore urg'd
The marriage on j that by occafion hence
I might begin Ifrael's deliverance, 225
The work to which I was divinely call'd.
She proving falfe, the next I took to wife
(O that I never had ! fond wiih too late,)
Was
5uch is the charader and office of JiiJ} I/azv at Timna &c. ver. 219.
the Choras, as prefciib'd by this the next i took to ix-ifeSiCXtx. z2-j.
great critic and poet, and it was 219. The frjl 1 faiu at Timna,^
never exemplified more fully than Judg. XIV. 1. And Samfon ixient
in the Chorus of Milton. doivn to Twinaih^ andfaiv a n.voman
216. — PhiliJIiati'womenrather'] in Tzmnath of the daughter: of the
So it is printed in Milton's own Philijiings. See.
edition, and vootnan is a miftake of 222. That ivhat I motion d nj.'ds
the other editions ; for more than ofG:d;'\ It was printed /r^a-
one are mention'd afterwards. Jhs ttott'd which is fenfe indeed, but
Milton
SAMSON AGONISTES. 227
Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila, That fpecious monfter, my accoinplifh'd fnare. 230 I thought it lawful from my former ad, And the fame end -, ftill watching to opprefs Ifrael's oppreflbrs : of what now I fuffer She was not the prime caufe, but I myfelf. Who vanquish 'd with a peal of words (O weaknefs f) Gave up my fort of filence to a woman. 236
Chorus.
In feeking juft occafion to provoke The Philiftine, thy country's enemy, Thou never waft rcmifs, I bear thee witnefs t Yet Ifrael ftill ferves with all his fons. 240
Samson.
That fault I take not on me, but transfer
On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes.
Who feeing thofe great ad:s, which God had done
Singly by me againft their conquerors,
AcknoW-
Milton himfelf in the table of Er- There feems to be a quibble in the
rata rubiiituted motion'd which is ufe of this epithet. I'Varburton.
betrer : but the hrit error hath llill za^i.That fauit k.z'l Milton cer-
prevailed in all the editions. tainly intended to reproach his
229. Was in the njale of Sorecy countrymen indireftly, and as plain- Da/iia,] Judg. XVI. 4. Jnd ly as he dared, with the P.eftora-
h came to fafs apcr-ward, that he tion of Charles If, which he ac-
lot-ed a nx'cman in the 'valley of So- counted the rcfloration ofilaverVj,
rek, mohoje name ^was Dalilak, ucc. and with the execution of the Re-
230. ——' my ticcQmpl!jh''d/>.a7e,^ ^icides. He purines the fame Tub-
228 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Acknovvledg'd not, or not at all confider'd 245
Deliverance ofFer'd : I on th' other fide
Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, fcioer •
The deeds themfelves, though mute, fpoke loud the
But they perfilled deaf, and would not feem 249
To count them things worth notice, till at length
Their lords the Philillines with gather'd pow'rs
Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then
Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but forecafting in what place
To fet upon them, what advantag'd befl : 255
Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent
The harrafs of their land, befet me round;
I willingly on feme conditions came
Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me
To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey, 260
Bound with two cords ; but cords to m.e were threds
Touch'd with the flame : on their whole hofl: I flew
Unarm'd,
jeft again 678 to 700. I wonder And he luent ^ctv>7, avd diveh in tie
how the liceniers of thofe days let tap of the rock Etam. Then the Phi-
it pafs. yortin. hjtines ivent up, and pitched in Jw
Z47 . Us'd no ambition'] Going a- dah Szc.
bout with ftudioufnefs and aftcfla- 268. But ^vhat more oft in natiotis
tion to gain praife, as Mr. Richard- groq.vn corrupt, &c] Here Mr.
fon iays, alluding to the origin of Thyer has anticipated me by ob-
the word in l.atin. ferving that Milton is very uniform,
2f;3. Safe to the rock of Etham a.- well asjoil, in his notions of li-
'ttw/Y/ZrV, &c] Judg. XV\ 8, bercy, alivay-s attrib-uiing the lofs
of
SAMSON AGONISTES. 229
Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd
Their choiceft youth i they only liv'd who fled.
Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe, 265
They had by this pofTefs'd the tow'rs of Gath,
And lorded over them whom now they ferve :
But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,
And by their vices brought to fervitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty, 270
Bondage with eafe than ftrenuous liberty ;
And to defpife, or envy, or fufpe^t
Whom God hath of his fpecial favor rais'd
As their deliverer; if he ought begin.
How frequent to defert him, and at lafl 275
To heap ingratitude on worthieft deeds ?
Chorus.
Thy words to my remembrance bring ^
How Succoth and the fort of Penuel
Their great deliverer contemn'd,
The
of it to vice and corruption of oration to the Roman people a-
morals : but in this pafTage he very gainft Sulla, preferved among the
probably intended alfo a fecretfatir fragments of Salluft annuite
upon the Englifh nation, which ac- legibus impofuis ; accipite otium
cording to his republican politics cum fervicio ; but for myfelf
had by reftoring the King chofen potior vifa eft periculofa liber-
bondage n.>jith eafe rather than7?rf- tas, quieto f«rvitio. Tiuoui liberty. And let me add that 278. Hoixj Succoth and the fort of
the fentiment is very like that of i'^««f/ &c] The men of Succoth
iEmilius Lepidus the conful in his and of the tower of Penuel re-
Q^ 3 fufed
230 SAMSON AGONISTES.
The matchlefs Gideon in purfuit 280
Of Madian and her vanquifh'd kings : And how ingratcful Ephraim Had dealt with Jephtha,, who by argumentj Not worfe than by his fhield and fpear. Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite, 285
Had not his prowefs quelj'd their pride In that fore battel, when io many dy'd Without reprieve adjudg'd to death, For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. Samson.
Of fuch examples add rae to the roll, 29©
Me eafily indeed mine may negle(fl:s But God's propos'd dehverance not fo. Chorus.
Jufl are the ways of God,
And juftifiable to men j
Unlefs
fufed to give loaves of bread to of thechiidrenofAmmon Judg.XI.
Gideon and his three hundred nien a;- 2 7.For his vidory over the Ain=
purfuing after Zebah and Zalmun- monitesthe Ephraimite? envied and
na kings of Midian. See Judg. quarrel'd with him ; and threaten'd
VlII. 4 — 9. to burn his houfe with fire : but
2^1. Jiidhotvingrateful Ephraim Jephthah and the men of Gilead
&:c.] Jephtha fubdued the children fmote Ephraim, and took the paf-
of Ammon ; and he is faid to have fages of Jordan before the Ephra-
defc^i^cd Jfrael by argument not ivorfe imites, and there flew thofe of them
/^«« ^^' /7A-^;?j on account of the mef- who could not rightly pronounce
fage which he fent unto the king the word 5i';^^o/^/^, and there fell at
-â– " â– â– ' ' ' â– â– â– tha:
SAMSON AGONISTES. 231
Unlefs there be who think not God at all : 295
If any be, they walk obfcure j
For of fuch dodrine never was there fchool,
But the heart of the fool,
And no man therein dodtor but himfelf. 299
Yet more there be who doubt his ways not jufl, As to his own edids found contradiding, Then give the reigns to wandring thought, Regardlefs of his glory's diminution ; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, ftill lefs refolv'd, 305
But never find felf-fatisfying folution.
As if they would confine th' Interminable,
And tie him to his own prefcript,
Who made our laws to bind us, not himfelf.
And hath full right t'exempt 310
Whom fo it pleafes him by choice
From
that time two and forty thoufand thing rather too quaint and fanci-
ofthem. Seejudg. XII. i — 6. ful in this conceit, and it appears
2q8. Bui the heart of the fool,'] the worfe, as this fpeech of the
Alluding to Pfal. XIV. i. and the Chorus is of fo ferious a nature,
fentiment is not very unlike that of and fill'd with fo many deep and
a celebrated divine. " The fool folemn truths. Thyer.
** hath f aid tn his heart, There is no 303. Regardle/s of his glory's di-
*♦ God : and who but a fool would minution ; ] This expreffion is
*' have faid fo ? " ftrong as anciently underftood. Ci-
299. And no man therein doHor cero de Orat. II. 39. Majejiatem
but himfelf.'] There is fonie> pop. Rom. minufre is the fame as cri-
0^4. mea
232 SAMSON AGONISTES,
From national obftridion, without taint
Of fin, or legal debt j
For with his own laws he can beft difpenfe.
He would not elfe who never wanted means, 315 Nor in refpecfl of th' enemy juft caufe To fet his people free, ;
Have prompted this heroic Nazarite, Againft his vow of ftrideft purity, To feek in marriage that fallacious bride, 320
Unclean, unchafte.
Dov/n reafon then, at leaft vain reafonings down. Though reafon here aver That moral verdidl quits her of unclean : Unchafte was fubfequent, her ftain not his, 325
But fee here comes thy reverend Sire With careful ftep, locks white as down, Qld Manoah 1 advife
Forth^
pien laefe inajeftatis. Corn. Nepos was not unclean, yet the law of
Agef, 4.. rsligionem minuere is vio- Mofes held her to be fo. I don't
|are. JLichardJon. know why the poet thought fit to
319. -.— 'uoo)} ef fir i SI eft purity^ make his hero fcepticize on a point,
^ot a vow of celibacy, but of as irreconcile^ble to reafon, which
ftridell purity from Mofaical and may be very well accounted for by
Jegal uncleannefs. Warburton. the bed rules of human prudence
324. T^hat moral <verdtB quits her and policy. The inftitution of Mo-
ef unclean : ] That is. By the fes was to keep the Jewifh people
|avv pf nature a Philillian woman diftind and feparate from the na-*
SAMSON AGONISTES. 233
Forthwith how thou oughtft to receive him. Samson. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330
With mention of that name renews th' aiTauIt.
M A N o A H.
Brethren and men of Dan, for fuch ye feem. Though in this uncouth place ; if old refpe6t. As I fuppofe, towards your once glory 'd friend. My fon now captive, hither hath inform'd 335
Your younger feet, while mine caft back with age Came lagging after ; fay if he be here. Chorus.
As fignal now in low dejedted flate. As earft in high'eft, behold him where he lies. Man o AH.
O miferable change ! is this the man, 340
That invincible Samfon, far renown'd,
The
tfens. This the lawgiver efFedled before Manoah, for it is not to be
by a vaft variety of means : one fuppofed that any of his friends
of which was to hold all other na- fhould be more concern'd for his
tions under a legal impurity ; the welfare, or more defirous to vifit
baft means of preventing intermar- him than his father,
riages with them. Warburton. 340- O miferable change ! Scci
336. — nxjhile mine caft buck ^jjith This fpeech of Manoah's is in my
age'\ This is very artfully and opinion very beautiful in its kind,
properly introduc'd, to account The thoughts are exaftly fuch as
for the Chorus coming to Samfon pne may fuppofe would occur to
the
234 SAMSON AGONISTES.
The dread of Ifrael's foes, who with a ftrength Equivalent to Angels walk'd their ftreets, None offering fight j who fingle combatant Duel'd their armies rank'd in proud array, 345
Himfelf an army, now unequal match To fave himfelf againfl: a coward arm'd At one fpear's length. O ever failing trufl: In mortal ftrength ! and oh what not in man Deceivable and vain ? Nay what thing good 350 Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane ?
the mind of the old man, and are exprefled with an eameflnefs and impatience very well fuited to that anguifh of mind he muft be in at the fight of his fon under fuch mi- icrable afflifled circumftances. It is not at all unbecoming the pious grave charafter of Manoah to re- prefent him, as Milton does, even complaining and murmuring at this djfpofition of Heaven, in the firft bjtternefs of his foul. Such fudden iSarts of infirmity are afcribed to Ibme of the greateft perfonages in Scripture, and it is agreeable to that well known maxim, that religion may regulate, but can never eradi- cate natural pailions and afFedions. 7fyer.
J^2. 1 pray'd for children^ and thought harrennefs
In nvedlock a reproach ; } Some lines from a fragment of Euripides
may be introduced here. They are very beautiful, and not imper- tinent.
KaXev ^6 'crovla X^^l* '^'"' ''^''"
AXX* n^iv tfTw ?^«^wfOf, no iOHV
fij To»j ecTTdKrt, xat -nroSw d'e-
anyfMvoiq, TicctS'uv nofvuy iv oo/xok tof
Mulier, amicum folis hoc magni
jubar, Dulce et tueri maria cum venti
fUent :
Duke
SAMSON AGONISTES, 235
I pray'd for children, and thought barrennefs In wedlock a reproach ; I gain'd a fon. And fuch a fon as all men hail'd me happy j "\yho would be now a father in my (lead ? 355
O wherefore did God grant me my requeft. And as a bleffing with fuch pomp adorn'd ? Why are his gifts defirable, to tempt Our earneft pray'rs, then giv n with folemn hand As graces, draw a fcorpion's tail behind ? 560
For this did th' Angel twice defcend ? for this
Ordain'd
Duke eft et amnis largus, et ver- And was wandng in the beginning*
nans humus :
Sunt aliis pulchra multa, qua -^"^ ^^^^ * ^^^ as all men hail'd
poflum addere. me happy ;
Sed crede nullum gratius fpefta- ^^ ^jj^^^ j^j^^^lf ^^^^^^^^ .^^ ^^^
cuiumeit, ,. . fo Mr. Jortin and Mr. Sympfon
iyuam to t querelas or bit at is te- • r% >j -» a. i j u j a j
•"^ . rJ ^ conjeaur d It Ihould be read. And
r- k- ' a It ' at the time of writing this, in all
Lonjpicere Jiorem liberum orient em u k-i-» »u ..u l .j
J â– probability the author remember d
the happy father in Terence. An-
Eurjp. Barnes, p. 443. Calton. dria 1. 1. 69.
354. And fuch a fon &c ] It is ^""^ '^ '"^^^ placebat, turn uno very hard that the editors of Mil- „ ""'^ j'.^"" °"]"'^, , ton have never taken the pains to ^°"^ '^'^"^' ^^ ^^"^^^ f°"""« corred the errors of the firft edi- ^ "'^^^' , , ...
tion, which he had himfelf cor- ^' "^j."'" ^^^^'^^ talnngemo refted. This verfe at firft was print- pr^ditum.
ed imperfeft, and it has been fol- , . , . . /• f
low'd in all the editions, ^59-— '^^«^^'^ « -with folemn
hand Such a fon as all men hail'd me As graces^ draiu a fcorpion^s tail happy- behind? '\ He has rais'd this
beautiful
236 SAMSON AGONISTES,
Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant
Seledl, and facred, glorious for a while,
The miracle of men ; then in an hour
Infnar'd, affaulted, overcome, led bound, 365
Thy foes derifion, captive, poor and blind.
Into a dungeon thruft, to work with flaves ?
Alas methinks whom God hath chofcn once
To worthieft deeds, if he through frailty err,
He (hould not fo o'erwhelm, and as a thrall 37P
Subjedt him to fo foul indignities.
Be it but for honor's fake of former deeds,
Samson.
Appoint not heav nly difpofltion, Father;
Nothing of all thefe evils hath befall'n me
Butjuftly; I myfelf have brought them on, 575
Sole author I, fole caufe : if ought feem vile,
As vile hath been my folly, who' have profan'd
The myftery of God giv'n me under pledge
Of vow, and have betray 'd it to a woman,
ACanaanite, my faithlefs enemy. 380
This well I knew, nor was at all furpris'd,
But
beautiful imagery on the following him a fcorpion ? He was not always text, Luke XI. 12. If a fon Jhall fo happy. Warburton,
afii of his father an e^g, 'will he offer 373. Jppoint] Th^t is, ajraign,
furamon
SAMSON AGONISTES. 237
But warn d by oft experience : did not (lie
Of Timna firfl betray me, and reveal
The fecret vvrefted from me in her highth
Of nuptial love profefs'd, carrying it ftrait 385
To them who had corrupted her, my fpies,
And rivals ? In this other was there found
More faith, who alfo in her prime of love,
Spoufal embraces, vitiated with gold.
Though offer'd only, by the fent conceiv'd 390
Her fpurious firft-born, treafon againfl me ?
Thrice fhe aiTay'd with flattering pray'rs and fighs.
And amorous reproaches, to win from me
My capital fecret, in what part my ftrength
Lay ftor'd, in what part fumm'd, that fhe mJght know;
Thrice I deluded her, and turn'd to fport 396
Her importunity, each time perceiving
How openly, and with what impudence
She purpos'd to betray me, and (which was worfe
Than undilTembled hate) with what contempt 4c©
She fought to make me traitor to myfelf .;
Yet the fourth time, when mufl'ring all her wiles.
With
fummon to anfwer. Warhnrton. 401. She fought^ So it is in Mil- 391 . — tr euj on again ji mi?'\ By our ton's own edit:on ; in moft of \^ft laws called petty trearon.<^/(rc;«r^ca. others She thought.
411.— C
238 SAMSON AGONISTES.
With blandifh'd parlies, feminine aflaultSi
Tongue- batteries, fhe furceas'd not day nor night
To ftorm me over-watch'd, and weary 'd out, 405
At times when men feek moft repofe and reft,
I yielded, and unlocked her all my heart, i
Who with a grain of manhood well refolv'd
Might eafily have fhook off all her fnares :
But foul effeminacy held me yok'd 410
Her bond-flave ; O indignity, O blot
To honor and religion ! fervile mind
Rewarded well with fervile punifhment !
The bafe degree to which I now am fall'n,
Thefe rags, this grinding is not yet fo bafe 4 1 5
As was my former fervitude, ignoble.
Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,
True flavery, and that blindnefs worfe than this.
That faw not how degenerately I ferv'd.
M A N O A H.
I cnnnot praife thy marriage choices. Son, 420
Rather
411 .— — O ivdign'iiy ! O hlot &c] proach upon the mentioning of his
Nothing could give the reader a weaknefs. Beiides there is lome-
better idea of a great and heroic thing vaftly grand and noble in hi3
fpirit in the circumftances of Sam- reflection upon his prefent condi-
fon, than this fudden guft of in- tion on this occaiiofi, dignation and paiEonatc feli-xe-
Thefe
SAMSON AGONISTES. 239
Rather approv'd them not ; but thou didft plead Divine impulfion prompting how thou might'ft Find fome occafion to infeft our foes. I ftate not that 3 this I am fure, our foes Found foon occafion thereby to make thee 425 Their captive, and their triumph j thou the Iboner Temptation found'ft, or over-potent charms To violate the facred truft of filence Depofited within thee -, which to have kept Tacit, was in thy pow'r : true j and thou bear'fl 430 Enough, and more, the burden of that fault ; Bitterly haft thou pay'd, and ftill art paying That rigid fcore. A worfe thing yet remains. This day the Philiftines a popular feaft Here celebrate in Gaza -, and proclame 435
Great pomp, and facrifice, and praifes loud To Dagon, as their God, who hath deliver'd Thee, Samfon, bound and blind into their hands, Them out of thine, who flew'ft them many a (lain.
So
Thefe rags, this grinding is not thered them together, for to o^er a yet fo bafe &C. Thyer, great facrifice unto Dagon their God,
and to rejoice ; for they /aid. Our
434. This day the Philifiines a p6- God hath delivered Sam/oH our eneiKj
fular feafi &c ] Judg. XVI. 23. into our hand, &:c. This incident
Then the lords cf the Philijiinis ga- the poet hath finely improv'd, and
with
24© SAMSON AGONISTES.
So Dagon lliall be magnify'd, and God, 440
Befides whom is no God, compar'd widi idols, Difglorify'd, blafphem'd, and had in fcorn By the idolatrous rout amidft their wine 5 Which to have come to pafs by means of thee, Samfon, of all thy fuiFcrings think the heavieft, 445 Of all reproach the moJft with fliame that ever Could have befall'n thee and thy father's houfe» Samson. Father, I do acknowledge and confefs That I this honor, I this pomp have brought To Dagon, and advanc'd his praifes high 450
Among the Heathen round ; to God have brought Difhonor, obloquy, and op'd the mouths Of idolifts, and atheifts 5 have brought fcandal To Ifrael, diffidence of God, and doubt In feeble hearts, propenfe enough before 455
To waver, or fall off, and join with idols ; Which is my chief afflidion, fliame and forrow. The anguifh of my foul, that fuffers not
Mine
with great judgment he hath put 472. and thefe nxiords
this reproach of Samfon into the I as a prophecy recei've ; ] This
mouth of the father, rather than method of one perfon's taking an
any other of the dramatis perfong?. omen from the words of another
W?5
SAMSON AGONISTES. 241
Mine eye to harbour fleep, or thoughts to reft. This only hope relieves me, that the ftrife 460
With me hath end ; all the conteft is now 'Tvvixt God and Dagon ; Dagon hath prefum'd. Me overthrown, to enter lifts with God, His deity comparing and preferring Before the God of Abraham. He, be fure, 465 Will not connive, or linger, thus provok'd. But will arife, and his great name aifert : Dagon muft ftoop, and (hall ere long receive Such a difcomfit, as fliall quite defpoil him Of all thefe boafted trophies won on me, 470
And with confufion blank his worfhippers. M A N o A H.
With caufe this hope relieves thee, and thefe words I as a prophecy receive ; for God, Nothing more certain, will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name 475
Againft all competition, nor will long Indure it doubtful whether God be Lord,
Or
was freq-jently praflic'd among the of Samfon is in other places ; but
Ancients : and in thel'e words ihe Manoah, as it was natural, accepts
downfall of Dagon's worfliippers is the good omen without thinking of
artfully prefigniiied, as ths death the evil that is to follow.
Vol. 1. R 5C0. That
242 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Or Dagon. But for thee what fhall be done ? Thou muft not in the mean while here forgot Lie in this miferable loathfome plight 480
Negleded. I already have made way y.
To fome Philiflian lords, with whom to treat About thy ranfome : well they may by this Have fatisfy'd their utmoft of revenge 484
By pains and llaveries, worfe than death infli(5led On thee, who now no more canft do them harm. Samson. Spare that propofal, Father, fpare the trouble Of that felicitation ; let me here. As I deferve, pay on my punifhment -, And expiate, if poffible, my crime, 490
Shameful garrulity. To have reveal'd Secrets of men, the fecrets of a friend. How hainous had the facl been, how deferving Contempt, and fcorn of all, to be excluded
All
500. That Gentiles in their para- mique impotentiam, et fuperbilo-
bles condemn &iC.'\ Alluding to quentiam. Euripides afligns the
the ftory of Tantalus, who for re- fame punifhment, and for the fame
vealing the fecrets of the Gods reafon. Oreftes 8. was condemn'd to pains in Hell.
Cicero Tufc. Difp. IV. l6. hn S^-ok avS^ww®' uf
poetas impendere apud inferos fax- Koi»9; T^ajre^'/]; «|tf/*' ^X"*
um Tantalo faciunt ob icelera, ani- tcro>»
Axo-
SAMSON AGONISTES. 243
All frlendfliip, and avoided as a blab, 495
The mark of fool fet on his front ?
But I God's counfel have not kept, his holy fecret
Prefumptuoufly have publifh'd, impioufly.
Weakly at Icaft, and (liamefully : a fin
That Gentiles in their parables condemn 500
To their abyfs and horrid pains confin'd.
M A N O A H.
Be penitent and for thy fault contrite. But a(5l not in thy own afflidion. Son ; Repent the fin, but if the punifliment Thou canft "avoid, felf-prefervation bids ; 50^
Or th' execution leave to high difpofal, And let another hand, not thine, exa(5t Thy penal forfeit from thyfelf ; perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt ; Who ever more approves and more accepts 5 1 o (Bed pleas'd with humble' and filial fubmifiion)
Him
Ay.o^xro)! ic-/} '/"huffjav, unr^iTviv " in his eye that fine paffage of voa-ov. " Virgil, ^n. Vf. 617.
Mr. Warburton's remark is that — fedet, seternumqae fedeblt
" the ancient myftagogues taught, InfelixThefeus, Phlegyafque mi» *' that the Gods punillied both the ferrimus omnes
•' revealers and the violators of Admonet, et magna teftatur vo- " their myfteries. Milton had here ce per umbras i^c.
R 2 531,— »e«#
244 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Him who imploring mercy fues for life, Than who felf-rigorous choofes death as due ; Which argues over-jufl, and felf-difpleas'd For felf-offenfe, more than for God offended. 515 Rejed: not then what offer'd means j who knows But God hath fet before us, to return thee Home to thy country and his facred houfe, Where thou may'ft bring tiiy offerings, to avert His further ire, with pray'rs and vows renew'd ? 520 Samson. His pardon I implore 5 but as for life, To what end Ihould I feek it ? when in ftrength All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts Of birth from Heaven foretold, and high exploits, Full of divine inffind:, after fome proof 526
Of ad:s indeed heroic, far beyond The fons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd,
Fearlefs
531. notie daring my affront.'] edition; in mofi: of the others it
None daring to contend with me, is abfurdly corrupted into hotloiif
and meet me face to face, accord- pledge.
ing to the etymology of the word.
See the note on Paradife Loft, IX. 538. — — all my precious feece,"]
330. Read of my precious fleece. Thus
53 ij. hallo^vd pledge] This in Paradife Loft, L 596. the fun in
is the genuin reading of the firll a mifl is Ihorn of his beams : and
IX.
SAMSON AGONISTES. 245
Fearlefs of danger, like a petty God I walk'd about, admir'd of all and dreaded 530
On hoflile ground, none daring my affront. Then fwoll'n with pride into the fn are I fell Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, Soften'd with pleafure and voluptuous life ; At length to lay my head and hallow'd pledge 535 Of all my ftrength in the lafcivious lap Of a deceitful concubine, who fhore me Like a tame weather, all my precious fleece, Then turn'd me out ridiculous, defpoil'd, Shav'n, and difarm'd among mine enemies. 540 Chorus. Defire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, Thou couldft reprefs, nor did the dancing ruby Sparkling, out-pour'd, the flavor, or the fmell. Or tafte that chears the hearts of Gods and men, 545
Allure
IX. 1059. Samfon from the harlot- ivhen it moveth itjelf aright. Mr.
lap wak'd fhorn o/"his ftrength. Thy er has made the fame obfer-
Meadovjcourt. vation.
5/^3. — nor did the dancing ruby 545- Ortajlethat chears the heart
&c] The poet here probably al- o/"Go«'j ^aWzw^w,] Taken from
ludes to Prov. XXIII. 31. Look not Judg. IX. 13. — ix-ine nxhich chear-
tbou upon the nx'ine nuhen it is red, eth God and man, Milton fays Gods,
luhenit giveth his color in the cu^j which is a jult paraphrafe, mean-
R 3 ing
246 SAMSON AGONIST£S.
Allure thee from the cool cryftallin flream. Samson.
Wherever fountain or frefli current flow'd Againfi: the eaftern ray, tranflucent, pure With touch ethereal of Heav n's fiery rod, I drank, from the clear milky juce allaying 550 Thirft, and refrefli'd ; nor envy'd them the grape Whofe heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. Chorus.
O madnefsj to think ufe of ftron^eft wines And flrongefl drinks our chief fupport of health. When God with thefe forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, ftrong above compare, 556 Whofe drink was only from the liquid brook.
Samson.
jng the Uero-Cocls of the Heathen. Gods aiid men is the reading of
Jotham is here fpeaking to an ido- Milton's own edition, and more
iatrous city, that ran a ivhoringaf- agreeable to the text of Scripture
ter Baaiim, and made Baal-herith than in the common editions Gods
their God : A God fprung from or men. among men, as may be partly col-
ledled from his name, as well as 547, Wherenjer fountain or frejh
from diverfe other circumftances current fio^ d
of the flory. Hefiod in a fimilar Againji the cajlern ray, hz\T\i\%
cxpreffion fays that //'/? 'z;f^^^^z?f^o/' circumftance was very probably
the fates purfued the cruna of Gods fuggefted to our author by the
and men. Thcog. v. 220. following lines of TafTo's poem
del Mondo creato. Giornata 3.
A»T m^^itiv Ts ^lu^i &C. St. 8, lyarhurion,
o
SAMSON AGONISTES. 247
Samson. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not complete Againft another objed: more enticing ? What boots it at one gate to make defenfe, 560 And at another to let in the foe, Effeminately vanquifli'd ? by which means, Now blind, difliearten'd, fham'd, diflionor'd, quell'd, To what can I be ufeful, wherein ferve My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, But to fit idle on the houfhold hearth, 566
A burd'nous drone ^ to viHtants a gaze. Or pity'd objedt, thefe redundant locks Robuftious to no purpofe cluftring down. Vain monument of ilrength j till length of years
And
O liquidi criftalli, onde s' eftin-
gua L'ardente fete a miferi mortali : Ma piu falubre e, fe tra viue
pietre Rompendo 1' argentate, e fredde
corna, Incontra il nuouo fol, che il puro
argenco Co' raggi indora Thyer.
557. Whofe drink 8ic ] Samfon was a Nazarite, Judge XIII. 7. therefore to drink no wine, nor
fliave his head. See Numb. VI. Amos II. 1 2. RichardJo7i.
566. But to fit idle on the houjhold hearth, &c] It is fuppos'd, with probability enough, that Mil- ton chofe Samfon for his fubjeiS, becaufe he was fellow-fufferer with him in the lofs of his eyes ; how- ever one may venture to fay, that the fimilitude of their circumllances in this refpedt has enrich'd the poem with feveral very pathetic defcriptions of the mifery of blind- nefs. Thyer,
R 4 571. — craKfi
24^
SAMSON AGONISTES.
And fedentary numnefs craze my limbs 571
To a contemptible old age obfcure ? Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, Till vermin or the draff of fervile food Confume me, and oft-invocated death 575
Haflen the welcome end of all my pains. Man o a h. Wilt thou then ferve the Philiilines with that sift Which was exprefly giv'n thee to annoy them ? Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age outworn. 580 But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer From the dry ground to fpring, thy thirft t' allay After the brunt of battel, can as ^afy
Caufe
^71 . craze my limbs'] He ufes
the word craze much in the fame manner as in the Paradife Loft XII. 2 JO. where fee the note ; and I would always recommend it to the reader, when an uncommon word cipecially occurs in two or more different flace*, to compare the places together for the better un- deritan'Ung of our author. I can- not always refer to the particular places in thefe notes, but the in- dexes may be of ufe for this pur- pofe.
^81. But God n.vho caui d a foun- tain lit thj prayer
From the dry ground to fpring, ?zz\ Judg. XV. 18, 19. Andhe ixaif.re athirft, and called on the Lord, ajid /aid. Thou haji given this great de~ li'verance into the hand of thy Jer- 'vant, afid no^vjhall I die for thirjl^ and fall into the hand of the uncir- cumcifed? But God clave an hoi- lc-A> place that ux'as in the jaiv, and there came ^zvater thereout; andavhen he had drunk, his fpirit came againy and he revi-ved. We fee that Milton differs from our tranf- lation. Our tranflation fays that God claije an holloiv place that Kvas in the ja-iv : but Milton
fays
SAMSON AGONISTES>
249
Caufe light again within thy eyes to fprlng, Wherewith to ferve him better than thou hail: ; 585 And I periijade me fo j why elfc this ilrengLh Miracidous vet remaininrr in thole locks ? His mij:lit: continues in thee not for nouo;ht. Nor fliali his wondrous gifts be fruflrate thus.
S A M S O N.
All otherwife to me my thouglits portend, 590 That thefe dark orbs no more fiiall treat with light. Nor th' other light of life continue long. But yield to double darknefs nigh at hand : So much I feel m.y genial fpirits droop, My hopes all flat, nature within me feems 595
In all her ftyidions -weary of herfelf,
My
fays that God caused a fountain from the dry ground tojpring, and herein he follows the Chaldee paraphraft and the belt commentators, who underitand it that God made a cleft in Icme part of the ground or rock, in the place called Lehi, Lehi fignifying both a jaw and a place fo called.
588, His tnight continues &c] A fine preparative, which raifes our expectation of fnme great event to be produced by his ftrength.
IVarburton.
504. 5c 7nuch I feel my genial /pi- nts droop, iScc] Here Milton in
the perfon of Samfon defcribes ex- aiSliy his own cafe, what he felt, and what he thought in fome of his melancholy hours. He could not have wrote fo well but from his own feeling and experience, and the very flow of the verfes is melancholy, and excellently adapt- ed to the fubjcft. As Mr. Thyer expreflbs it, there is a remarkable folemnity and air of melancholy in i the very found of thefe verfes, and the reader will find it very difficult to pronounce them without that grave and ferious tone of voice which is proper for the occafion.
600 — and
250 SAMSON AGONISTES.
My race of glory run, and race of iliame. And I ihall Ihortly be with them that reft. Man o AH.
Believe not thefe fuggeftions which proceed From anguilli of the mind and humors black, 600 That mingle with thy fancy. I however K
Muft not omit a father's timely care To profecute the means of thy deliverance By ranfome, or how elfe: mean while be calm, And heahng words from thefe thy friends admit. Samson.
O that torment fliould not be confin'd 606
To the body's wounds and fores. With maladies innumerable In heart, head, breaft and reins ; But muft fecret paflage find 6ro
To
600. and humors blacky Th' animal fpirits ^r.
That mingle ^.vitb tb\ fancy .^Thxs q^ • • »u tv/t n
. n ^ • f ■u -^ ■^ vjo aoain in the Maik,
very jult notion of the mind or °
fancy's being aiFeifled and as it - . â– 'tis but the lees
were tainted with the vitiated hu- And fettlings of a melancholy
mors of the body Miltcn had be- blood. Thyer.
fore adopted in his Paraiife Loft,
where he introduces Satan in the 606. O that torment Jhouli not he
fhape of a toad at the ear of Eve. fc«/$"«V&c.] Milton, no doubt,
IV. 804. was apprehenfive that this long de-
Or if. infpiring venom, he might fciiption of Samfon's grief and
taint jnifery
SAMSON AGONISTES. 251
To til' Inmoft mind. There exercife all his fierce accidents, And on her pureft fpirits prey, As on entrails, joints, and limbs. With anfwerable pains, but more intenfe, 615
Though void of corporal fenfe. My griefs not only pain me As a lingring difeafe, But finding no redrefs, ferment and rage, Nor lefs than wounds immedicable 620
Rankle, and feftcr, and gangrene, To black mortification.
Thoughts my tormentors arm'd with deadly flings Mangle my apprehenfive tenderefl parts, Exafperate, exulcerate, and raife 625
Dire inflammation, which no cooling herb
mifery might grow tedious to the reader, and therefore here with great judgment varies both his man- ner of exprefling it and the verfifi- cation. Thefe fuddcn ftarts of im- patience are very natural to perfons in fiich circumftances, and this rough and unequal meafure of the verfes is very well fuited to it. Thytr. 623. Thoughts my lor?nentors arm'd vjith deadly Jiings
Or
"Man^h &c] This defcriptive ima- gery is fine and well purfued. The idea is taken from the efFedls of poifonous falts in the ffomach and bowels, v.hich flimulate, tear, in- flame and exulcerate the tender fibres, and end in a mortification, which he calls death's henumming Dpiiwi, as in that ftage the pain is over. Warburton,
637. Or
252 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Or medicinal liquor can afTwage,
Nor breath of vernal air from fnowy Alp.
Sleep hath forfook and giv'n me o'er
To death's benumming opium as my only cure : 630
Thence faintings, fwoonings of defpair,
And fenfe of Heav'n's defertion.
I was his nu riling once, and choice delight. His deflin'd from the womb,
Promis'd by hcav'nly mefl'age twice defcending. 635 Under his fpecial eye
Abftemious I grew up, and thriv'd amain j He led me on to mightieft deeds Above the nerve of mortal arm Againfl th' uncircumcis'd, our enemies : 640
But now hath caft me off as never known,
And
627. Or jfiediclnal liquor can a/- Their KeJidnal g\xra.
JixageAWtxt nieiiidt!aris\>xo- , _ . - ^r t tt
nouncM wuh the accent upon the . :, '—-/''"»/'' °'^'y ^^P-1 ^f
lall fyllable but one, as in Latin : "^" ^f ^l' T-r"?' n tt F"^'*^
which is more mufical than as we ^' '"/'^^ ^^'^^'^^ ^^^ "• ^2°-
commonly pionounce \x. meduinal ^'^^ ^"any a frozen, many a
with the accent upon the laft fylla- ^'^''y -^^P-
ble but two, or med''cincJ^s i\Ji!ton Jlp in the ftrid etymology of the
has ufcd it in the Mafk. The fame word iigniiies a mountain white
inufical pronunciation occurs in with fnow. We have indeed ap-
Skakefpear. Othello Ad 5. Sc. lo. propriated the name to the high
Drop tears as fall as the Arabian mountains which feparate Italy
trees from France and Germany ; but
any
SAMSON AGONISTES.
253
And to thofe cruel enemies, Whom I by his appointment had provok'd. Left me all helplefs with th' irreparable lofs Of light, referv'd alive to be repeated The fubjedt of their cruelty or fcorn. Nor am I in the lift of them that hope ; Hopelefs are all my evils, all remedilefs ; This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, No long petition, fpeedy death. The clofe of all my miferies, and the balm. Chorus. Many arc the fayings of the wife In ancient and in modern books inroll'd, Extolling patience as the trueft fortitude ; And to the bearing well of all calamities.
645
650
any high mountain may be fo cal- led, and fo Sidonius ApoUinaris calls mount Athos, fpeaking of Xerxes cutting throatrh ir. Carmen
11. 510.
cui ruptus Athos, cui remige
Medo
Turgida fylrofam currebant ve- la per Alpem.
And the old GlofTary interprets Alps by op l\r,y\a. high mountains, 633. / ac-«i hii nurjling once «S:c]
655 AU
This part of Samfon's fceech is little more than a repetition of what he had faid before, ver. 23.
O wherefore was my birth from
Heav'n foretold Twice by an Angel i^c.
But yet it cannot jufily be imputed as a fault to our author. Grief though eloquent is not tied to forms, and is befjdes apt in its own nature frequently to recur to and repeats its fcurce and object. Thyer. 656. All
254 SAMSON AGONISTES.
All chances incident to man's frail life,
Confolatories writ
With iludy'd argument, and much perfuafion fought
Lenient of grief and anxious thought :
But with th' afflided in his pangs their found 660
Little prevails, or rather feems a tune
Harfh, and of diflbnant mood from his complaint 5
Unlefs he feel within
Some fource of confolation from above,
Secret refrefhings, that repair his flrength, 665
And fainting fpirits uphold.
God of our fathers, what is man ! That thou tow'ards him with hand fo various. Or might I fay contrarious,
Temper'ft
d'^S. All chances incitient to 7nap''s ccnfolafcries are -writ ijohh Jludyd
frail life, .S.c] There is a full argujnent, and much perfuafian is
flop at the end ot this line in all fought &c.
the editions, but there fliould be 659. Lenient of griefs Exprefb'd
only a comma, as the fenie evinces, from v\ hat we quoted before from
the conftrudion being And conjola- Horace Epift. 1. 1. 34.
loties --writ n.vith &c to the hear 1717 o ^ l -l 1
Mo ,,-,, ,• r ^r o J buHt Verba ct voccs Quibus huDC
luell &c. Milton himlelr corrected ) â– , 1 ^
. . , P „ ,. • 1 1 Itnne dotorem
jt in the nrlt edition ; but when an r, n-
, . . , ^ I'oilis. error is once made, it is lu.e to
be perpetuated through all thee- 660. But ivith th'' affliiied kc]
ditions. Here was another error perpetua-
658. — and much perfuaf en fought^ ted through all the editions,
I fuppofe an error of the prefs for ^^ . . m-n j c^
f I, \\j k ^« But to th' afflided l^c,
fraught. Warburton.
i conceive the conftrudlion to be, Milton himfelf corre<fled it, and
certainly
SAMSON AGONISTES. 255
Temper'fl thy providence through his iliort courfe.
Not ev'nly, as thou rul'fi: 671
Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute.
Irrational and brute.
Nor do I name of men the common rout,
That wand'ring loofe about ^j^
Grow up and periili, as the fummer flie.
Heads without name no more remember'd,
But fuch as thou haft folemnly eleded.
With gifts and graces eminently adorn'd
To fome great work, thy glory, 680
And people's fafety, which in part they' efFe'd :
Yet toward thefe thus dignify 'd, thou oft
Amidft their highth of noon
Changeft
certainly their found prevails with • fed cur idem,
th' affiiftedis better than prevails to Qui tanta regis, Tub quo vafli iF aflided. Pondera mundi librara luos
66 1 . — or rather feems a tune Diicunt orbes, hominum nimium
Harp?, and of diffunant mood &cc^ Securus abes ; non foliicitus
Alluding to Ecclus. XXII. 6. A ProdclTe bonis, nocuiiTe malis ? tale out of feafon is as mufic in Scc. to the end. Thyer,
mourning. Thyer.
667. God of our fathers, <vjhat is (^in .Heads nuithout name no more man ! &c] This and the fol- remember d,'\ Milton here pro- lowing paragraph to ver. 701:. bably had in view the Greek term feems to be an imitation of the for this lower clafs of mortals. Chorus in Seneca's Hippolytus, They llile them ava^iBf^oi or u-joc- where the immature and unde- gi6;x»!Toi, men not number'd, or not ferved fate of that young hero is worth the numbring. Thyer.
lamented. Ad IV. 971,
t^l.^-their
256
SAMSON AGONISTES.
Changefi: thy count'nance, and thy hand with no regard Of highefl favors pad 685
From thee on them, or them to thee of fervice.
Nor only dofc degrade them, or remit To life obfcur'd, which were a fair difmiffion, r]-,^u But throw'il them lower than thou didfl exalt them
Unfeemly
693. t'~eir car cafe!
'Tc chgs a77d fo-\,vh a prey,] Plainly alluding to Homer's Jliad I. 4.
0 EAWgsa T£t.'p^£
695. Or 10 ih' ufjiiji trihunals, under chunge of times, lv'c] Here no doubt iViilton reflec^ted upon the tijals and fuitcrings of i'lia party after the Reiteration ; and probahly he might have in mind particularly the cafe of Sir Harry Vane, whom he has fo highly ce- lebrated in one of his fcnnets. If thfje thev Jcape, perhaps in po-verij &c ; this was his own caie ; jie efcaped with life, but lived in po- verty, and though he was always very ibber and temperate, vet he was much afhiftcd with the gout an«l other panful dljecfes in crude old ci^e, cruda JeneQus, when he was not yet a very old man :
Though not difordinate, yet
caulelefs fufF'ring Thepunilhmentdrdifiblutedays.
Some time after I had written this, I had the plealirj to find that
I had fallen into the fame vein of thinliing with iVIr.Warbarton : but he has open'd and purfued it much farther with a penetration and live- linefs of fancy peculiar to Ijimfclf. .
God of our fatlicrs *â–
to ver. 704. â–
is a bold expolluiation with Provi- dence for the ill fuccels of xk^^ good old caufe.
But fuch as thou haft folemnly
eleded, With gifts and graces eminently
adcrn'd To fome great work, thy glory,
In thefe three lines are ceicribed the characters ot the Heads of tr.e Independent Enthuhalls,
which in part they eifeft :
That is by the overthrow of the monarchy, without being able to raife their projeded republic.
Yet toward thefc thus dignify'd,
thou oft Amidit their highth of noon Changeft thy count'nance
After
690
SAMSON AGONISTES,
Unfeemly falls in human eye,
Too grievous for the trefpafs or omifTlon ;
Oft Jeav'il: them to the hoftile fword
Of Heathen and profane, their carcafes
To dogs and fowls a prey, or dfc captiv'd ; 694
Or to th' unjuft tribunals, under change of times,
After Richard had laid down, all power came into the hands of the enthufiaftic Independent Republi- cans, when a fudden revolution, by the return of Charles II, broke all their raeafures.
with no regard
Of higheft favors paft
From thee on them, or them to thee
of feiijice.
That is without any regard of thofe iavors fhown by thee to them in their wonderful fuccefles againft ty- ranny and fuperftition [Church and State] or of thofe fervices they paid to thee in declaring for reli- gion and liberty [Independency and a Republic].
Nor only doll degrade ^c Too grievous for the tre/pa/s or omijjion ;
By the tre/pafs of thefe precious faints Milton means the quarrels among themfelves : and by the omij/ion the not making a clear ftage in the conftitution, and new- modeling the lavj as well as na- VoL, L
And
tional religion as Ludlow advifed. capti'-Jd ;
Several were condemned to perpe- tual imprifonnient, as Lambert and Martin.
Or to th' U7jjt:fi tribunals under change of times i^c.
The trials and condemnation of Vane and the Regicides. The concluding verfes defcribe his own cafe.
If thefe they fcape, perhaps in
fcoerty ■Painful dijcajes and deforrrCd — Though not difordinate, yet
caufelefs fufF'ring The punijhment of dijfolute days :
Llis lofTes in the Excife, and hi.s gout not caufed by intemperance. But Milton was the moil heated enthufiaft of his time ; fpeaking of Charles the firll's murder in his Defenfe of the People of England
he fays Quanquam ego hsc di-
vino potius inftindlu gcfta effe cre- diderim, quoties memoria repeto
S 700 â– If,
o
1
258 SAMSON AGONISTES.
And condemnation of th* ingrateful multitude. If thefe they fcape, perhaps in poverty With ficknefs and difeafe thou bow' ft them down, Painful difeafes and deform'd. In crude old age ; 700
Though not difordinate, yet cauilefs fuff'ring The punifhment of difTolute days : in fine, Juft or unjuft alike feem miferable, For oft alike both come to evil end. 704
So deal not with this once thy glorious champion. The image of thy flrength, and mighty minifter. What do I beg ? how haft thou dealt already ? Behold him in this ftate calamitous, and turn His labors, for thou canft, to peaceful end.
But
700. In crude olJage;"] Crude 'ji^. Like a ftately Jhip Sic] The old age in Virgil and in other wri- thought of comparing a woman to ters xsjirong and robujiy a fhip is not entirely new. Plautus
has it in his Pxnulus. I. II. i. â– cruda Deo viridifque fe-
neftus. Negotii fibi qui voiet vim pa-
rare. But Milton ufes frWif here for /r^- Navem et mulierem, hxc duo mature and coming before its time, as comparato.
<ruda funera in Statius : old age Nam nullje magis res duse plus brought on by poverty and by fick- negotii
nefs, asHefiodfaysE^y. 93. Habent, forte fi occeperis or-
nare, ^c.
Tety^^ttrxtiffi. Jortin. Of Tar/us, there is frequent mea-
tioft
SAMSON AGONISTES.
259
But who is this, what thing of fea or land ^ 710 Female of fex it feems, That fo bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Comes this way failing Like a {lately fliip
Of Tarfus, bound for th' iles 715
Of Javan or Gadire
With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fili'd, and ftreamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, An amber fent of odorous perfume 720
Her harbinger, a damfel train behind -, Some rich Philiftian matron (he may feem. And now at nearer view, no other certain
Than
tion in Scripture of ihe Jl^ip of "name oi Jhip-tire was, I pre-
Tarjhijh, which Milton as well as " fume, from its giving the wearer
feme commentators might conceive " fome refemblance of a /hip [zs
to be the fame as Tarfus in Cilicia : " Shakefpear fays) in all her trim :
bound for th' iles of J wo an, that is " with all her pennants out, and
Greece, for Javan or Ion the " flags and ftreamers flying. Thus
fourth fon of Japheth is faid to *' Milton in Sarafon Agoniltcs
have peopled Greece and Ionia : " paints Dalila. This was an
or Gadire, Tcchi^a, Gades, Cadiz. " image familiar with the poets
Mr. Warburton in his notes upon *' of that time. Thus Beaumont
Skakefpear, Merry Wives of Wind- "and Fletcher in their play of
for A(ft III. So. 8. fpeaking of the " Wit without mony SI?f
fiip-tire, fays "it was an open " /preads fattens as the kings Jhipt
** head-drefs, with a kind of fcarf " do can'vas &c,"
• *• depending from behind, Its
S z 726, Tit
ilo SAMSON AGONISTES.
Than Dalila thy wife. 724
Samson. My Wife, my Traitrefs, let her not come near me.
Chorus. Yet on fhe moves, now ftands and eyes thee fix'd, About t' have fpoke, but now, with head dedin'd Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, flie weeps, And vrords addrefs'd feem into tears difTolv'd, Wetting the borders of her filken veil : 730
But now again fhe makes addrefs to fpeak. Dalila. With doubtful feet and wavering refolution I came, ftill dreading thy difpleafure^ Samfon, Which to have merited, without excufe, I cannot but acknowledge J yet if tears 735
May
•jzS.TetonJhemo'veSfScc] Like and therefore it is more likely to
Ifmene in the Antigone of Sopho- be true.
cles ver. 532. 729- -'^"^ ivords addrefs^ d Scc'\
This verfe is printed imperfeft in
Kai />t»?v 'cr^o TrfXain f^' J<7iA.yji/vi moft of the editions,
O^Xuh^<p«, HccTco ■^uK^v t.l^o- j^^^ ^^^^^^ sddrcfs'd feem tears
'*°^'' ., . . difTolv'd.
Totv that being wanted which is in the
*P£9<^ aKTxvniy firft edition,
TiW uo^ra «r«e£.«v. ^,^j ^^^^^ addrefs'd feem into
• «> T • J nyr rnt. 'i_ t tcars diflolv'd.
Mr. Jortm and Mr. Thyer both
concurr'd in the fame obfervation, Mr, Jortinconjeftur'd it fhould be
fo
1
SAMSON AGONISTES. 261
May expiate (though the fact more evil drew In the perverfe event than I forefavv) My penance hath not flacken'd, though my pardon No way aflur'd. But conjugal affection Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt, 740
Hath led me on, defirous to behold Once more thy face, and know of thy eftate, If ought in my ability may ferve To lighten what thou fuffer'fl:, and appeafe Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745 Though late, yet in fome part to recompenfe My rafli but more unfortunate mifdeed. Samson. Out, out Hyasna ; thefe are thy wonted arts, And arts of every woman falfe like thee.
To
fo read, without feeing the firft forming fo fine a contrail to each
edition. other. Thyer.
732. With doubtful feet kc] The fcene between Samfon and Dalila 748. Out, out Hy<sna; ] The is drawn up wiih great judgrr.ent. hya:na is a creature (omewhat like and particular beaury. One cannot a wolf, and is faid to imitate a hu- conceive a more artfal. foft, and man voice fo artfully as to draw perfuafive eloquence than that people to it and then devour them, which is put into the mouth of Da- So Solinus, the tranfcriber of Pliny, lila, nor is the part of Samfon lefs cap. 27 Multa de ea mira : pri- to be admir'd for that Item and re- mum quod fequitur ftabula pallo- folute firmnefs which runs through rum, et auditu afliduo addifc/t vo- ir. What alfo gives both parts a camen, quod exprimere poilit imi- great additional beauty is their tatione vocis humanae, ut in homi-
S 3 nem
262 SAMSON AGONISTES.
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750 Then as repentant to fiibmit, befeech. And reconcilement move with feign'd remorfe, Confefs, and promife wonders in her change, Not truly penitent, but chief to try Her hufband, how far urg'd his patience bears. His virtue or weaknefs which way to affail : 756 Then with more cautious and inftrucSed ikill Again tranfgrefTes, and again fubmits ; That wifeft and beft men full oft beguil'd, With goodnefs principled not to reje(^ 760
The penitent, but ever to forgive, Are drawn to wear out miferable days, Intangled with a pois'nous bofom fnake. If not by quick deftrudtion foon cut off As I by thee, to ages an example. 765
Dal I LA. Yet hear me, Samfon ; not that I endevor To lefTen or extenuate my offenfe. But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd
By'
ncm aftu accitum no£le faeviat. A 'Tis thus the falfe hyxna makes celebrated tragic writer makes ufe her moan,
of the fame comparifon. Orphan, To draw the pitying traveler to A^ i, her den J
Your
SAMSON AGONISTES. 263
By* itfelf, with aggravations not furcharg'd,
Or elfe with juft allowance counterpois'd, 770
I may, if poffible, thy pardon find
The eafier towards me, or thy hatred lefs.
Firft granting, as I do, it was a weaknefs
In me, but incident to all our fex,
Curiofity, inquifitive, importune yy^
Of fecrets, then with like infirmity
To publifh them, both common female faults :
Was it not weaknefs alfo to make known
For importunity, that is for nought,
Wherein confifled all thy ftrength and fafety ? 780
To what I did thou fhowd'ft me firft the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and fhould not :
Nor fhould'ft thou have trufted that to woman's frailty:
Ere I to thee, thou to thyfelf waft cruel.
Let weaknefs then with weaknefs come to parle 785
So near related, or the fame of kind.
Thine forgive mine j that men may cenfure thine
The gentler, if feverely thou exa(fl not
More
Your fex are fo, fuch falfe dif- Otway to the men ; which with the femblers all, i^c, greater juftice, let the critics and
the ladies determin. Milton applies it to a woman, but
S 4 840. Kttstuing
264 SAMSON AGONISTES.
More flrength from me than in thyfelf was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'fl: hate, 790
The jealoufy of love, pow'rful of fway
In human hearts, nor lefs in mine towVds thee,
Caus'd what I did ? I (aw thee mutable
Of fancy, fear'd leil one day thou would'fl: leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore 795
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmeft :
No better way I faw than by importuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my power
Thy key of ftrength and fafety : thou wilt fay,
Why then reveal'd ? I was axTur'd by thofe 800
Who tempted me, that nothing was defign'd
Againfl; thee but iiit cuftody, and hold :
That made for me j I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprifes,
While I at home fat full of cares and fears, 805
Wailing thy abfence in my widow'd bed ;
Here I fhould fhll enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prifoner, not the Philiftines,
Whole to myfelf, unhazarded abroad,
Fearlefs at home of partners in my love. 810
Thefe reafons in love's law have paft for good.
Though
SAMSON AGONISTES. 265
Though fond and reafonlcfs to fome perhaps ; And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much woe, Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain'd. Be not unlike all others, not auftere 815
As thou art ftrong, inflexible as fteel. If thou in ftrength all mortals doft exceed. In uncompaffionate anger do not fo. Samson. How cunningly the forcerefs difplays Her own tranfgreffions, to upbraid me mine ? 820 That malice not repentance brought thee hither, By this appears : I gave, thou fay 'ft, th' example, I led the way ; bitter reproach, but true ; I to myfelf was falfe ere thou to me ; Such pardon therefore as I give my folly, 825
Take to thy wicked deed ; which when thou fee'ft Impartial, felf-fevere, inexorable, Thou wilt renounce thy feeking, and much rather Confefs it feign'd : weaknefs is thy excufe. And I believe it, weaknefs to refift 830
Philiftian gold : if weaknefs may excufe. What murderer, what traitor, parricide, Inceftuous, facrilegious, but may plead it ?
All
266 SAMSON AGONISTES.
All wickediiefs is weaknefs : that plea therefore With God or Man will gain thee no remiilion. 835 But love conflrain'd thee j call it furious rage To fatisfy thy luft : love feeks to' have love ; My love how could'ft thou hope, who took'il: the way To raife in me inexpiable hate, Knowing, as needs I muil:, by thee betray 'd ? 840 In vain thou ftriv'fl: to cover fliame with Ihame, Or by evalions thy crime uncover 'fl more. Dal I LA. Since thou determiu'd weaknefs for no plea In man or woman, though to thy own condemning, Hear what aifaults I had, what fnares befides, 845 What fieges girt me round, ere I confented 3 Which might have aw'd the beft refolv'd of men, The conftanteft, to' have yielded without blame. It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay 'ft. That wrought with me ; thou know'fl the magiftrates
And
840, Knowing, as needs 1 mvji, 842. Or by eniajions'] This is the
by thee betray d?'\ The fame reading of the old editions, and
manner of fpeaking as in Paradife particularly of Milton's own : the
Loft. IX. 792. later ones have
A J I i »• J »!. ■^<"' by evafions ■•
And knew not eating death ; ^^^^^ / ^^^ ^^ pj^^ ^^j j^^^l_
where fee Mr. Richardfon's note. ligible.
850,— -/^«tf
SAMSON AGONISTES. 267
And princes of my country came in perfon, 851
Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urg'd,
Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil duty
And of religion, prefs'd how juft it was,
How honorable, how glorious to intrap 855
A common enemy, who had deftroy'd
Such numbers of our nation : and the priefl
Was not behind, but ever at my ear.
Preaching how meritorious with the Gods
It would be to infnare an irreligious 860
Difhonorer of Dagon : what had I
T' oppofe againft fuch pow'rful arguments ?
Only my love of thee held long debate,
And combated in filence all thefe reafons
With hard contefl : at length that grounded maxim
So rife and celebrated in the mouths 866
Of wileft men, that to the public good
Private refpedts mufl yield, with grave authority
Took
850. — — thou knoivji the ma- the ftory, and improves every in-
gijirates cident. And princei of my country came in 864. — — all thefe reafons^ We
perfon,'] Judg. XVf. ^. And the follow the reading of Milton's own
lords of the Philijiines came up unto edition, and not of the Others ——
her, and /aid unto her Sec. So exaft all their reafons, \% Milton in all the particulars of
934. Tbf
268 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Took full poffeffion of me and prevail'd j Virtue, as I thought, truth, duty fo injoining. 870 Samson. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end ; In feign'd religion, fmooth hypocrify. But had thy love flill odioufly pretended. Been, as it ought, fincere, it would have taught thee Far other reafonings, brought forth other deeds. 875 I before all the daughters of my tribe And of my nation chofe thee from among My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'fl:, Too well, unbofom'd all my fecrets to thee, Not out of levity, but over-power'd 880
By thy requeft, who could deny thee nothing ; Yet now am judg'd an enemy. Why then Didll thou at firft receive me for thy hufband, Then, as lince then, thy country's foe profefs'd ? Being once a wife, for me thou waft to leave 88^^ Parents and country j nor was I their fubje(^. Nor under their protedion but my own, Thou mine, not theirs : if ought againfl: my life Thy country fought of thee, it fought unjuftly, Againft the law of nature, law of nations, 890
No
SAMSON AGONISTES. 269
No more thy country, but an impious crew Of men confpiring to uphold their ftate By worfe than hoftile deeds, violating the ends For which our country is a name fo dear ; 894
Not therefore to be' obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee ; To pleafe thy Gods thou didft it ; Gods unable T' acquit themfelves and profecute their foes But by ungodly deeds, the contradidion Of their own deity, Gods cannot be; Lefs therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd. 900 Thefe falfe pretexts and varnifli'd colors failing. Bare in thy guilt how foul muft thou appear ? D A n L A, In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worfe, whatever be her caufe. 904 Samson. For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath -, Witnefs when I was worried with thy peals. Dal I LA. I was a fool, too rafh, and quite miftaken In what I thought would have fucceeded beft. Let me obtain forgivenefs of thee, Samfon, Afford me place to ihow what recompenfe 910
Tow'ards
270 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Tow'rds thee I intend for what I have mifdone, Mifguided ; only what remains paft cure Bear not too fenfibly, nor ftill inlift T* afflidl thyfelf in vain : though fight be loft, Life yet hath many folaces, enjoy 'd 9 1 5
Where other fenfes want not their delights At home in leifure and domeftic eafe. Exempt from many a care and chance to which Eye-fight expofes daily men abroad. I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 920
Their favorable ear, that I may fetch thee From forth this loathfomc prifon-houfe, to abide With me, where my redoubled love and care With nurfing diligence, to me glad office. May ever tend about thee to old age 92 5
With all things grateful chear'd, and fo fupply'd, That what by me thou' haft loft thou leaft (halt mifs. Samson. No, no, of my condition take no care ;
It
^'i,\. Thy fair incbanted cup, and of chara£ler to reprefent Samfon
nuarbling charms] Alluding no acquainted with the mythology of
doubt to the ftory of Circe and the that country ? It feems the more
Sirens, but did not our author's odd as the allufion to the adder
fondnefs for Greek learning make immediately following is taken
ItCiio. here forget that it is a litCle out from Scripture. 7hjtr.
He
SAMSON AGONISTES. 271
It fits not J thou and I long lince are twain : Nor think me fo unwary or accurs'd, 9^0
To bring my feet again into the fnare Where once I have been caught j I know thy trains Though dearly to my coft, thy gins, and toils j Thy fair inchanted cup, and warbling charms No more on me have pow'r, their force is null'd. So much of adder's wifdom I have learn'd 936
To fence my ear againft thy forceries. If in my flower of youth and ftrength, when all men Lov'd, honor'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'ft hate me Thy hufband, flight me, fell me, and forego me; 940 How wouldfl: thou ufe me now, blind, and thereby Deceivable, in mofl: things as a child Helplefs, thence eaflly contemn'd, and fcorn'd. And lafl: negled:ed ? How wouldfl: thou infult. When I mufl: live uxorious to thy will 945
In perfedt thraldom, how again betray me, Bearing my words and doings to the lords
To
He might as well be fuppofed to 936. Somuchafadder''siij?/Jom I
know the ftory of Circe and the ^«<i/f/p^r«VjTheallufion is ro
Sirens as of Tantalus i^c before Pfal. LVIII. 4, 5. They are like the
ver. 500. and there is no more deaf adder, that Jioppeth her ear ;
impropriety in the one thaa in the ^hkh inillnot hearken to the voice of
other. charmers, (harming ne%/erfo ^wifely.
973. On
272 SAMSON AGONISTES.
To glofs upon, and cenfuring, frown or fmile ? This jail I count the houfe of liberty 949
To thine, whofe doors my feet ihall never enter. Dal I LA.
Let me approach at leaft, and touch thy hand. Samson.
Not for thy life, left fierce remembrance wake My fudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. At diftance I forgive thee, go with that j Bewail thy falfhood, and the pious works 955
It hath brought forth to make thee memorable Among illuftrious women, faithful wives : Cherifh thy haften'd widowhood with the gold Of matrimonial treafon : fo farewel.
D A L I L A.
I fee thou art implacable, more deaf 960
To
gjl-On both his ivings, one hlackf Fama vero nulla prorfus perit,
the other nvhitey quam quidem multi
Bears great ej} names in his ivild Populi divulgant, quippe dea aeryfight.'\ I think Fame has quidem eft et ipfa.
pafTed for a Goddefs ever fmce He-
liod deify'd her: 'E§y. 763. Milton makes her a God^ I know
not why, unlefs fecundum eos, qui
0»!p,»9 ^'' a TK «r«^wa» a7ro^^l/- dicunt utriufque fexus participatio-
Ta», i» T(*a 7ro^^o^ nem habere numina. So in his
A«M <l>>j/i*»{ao-4. S»<©« yv T»s %r\ Lycidas he fays (unlefs it be a
x«» «fT>j. falfe print)
So
1
SAMSON AGONISTES, 273
To pray'rs, than winds and feas, yet winds to feas
Are reconcil'd at length, and fea to (hore :
Thy anger, unappeafable, flill rages.
Eternal tempeft never to be calm'd.
Why do I humble thus myfelf, and fuing 96^^
For peace, reap nothing but repulfe and hate ?
Bid go with evil omen, and the brand
Of infamy upon my name denounc'd ?
To mix with thy concernments I defifl
Henceforth, nor too much difapprove my own. 970
Fame if not double-fac'd is double-mouth'd.
And with contrary blafl proclames moft deeds j
On both his wings, one black, the other white.
Bears greateft names in his wild aery flight.
My name perhaps among the circumcised 97J
In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering tribes^
To
So may fome gentle Mufe Bears greateft names in his ^widt
With lucky words favor my de- aery fiight.
A J / ' /r * What Milton fays of Fame's bear-
And as he palfes turn, . "^ t. • •
And bid fair peace be to my fa= !-"S great names on his wings,
ble ftiroud. £T?r^T^ P^'^^^ ^'■°"' ^°'^" '•
Od. II. II. 7.
Where Mu/e is the mafculine for Ilium aget penna metuente folvi
poet is very bold. Perhaps it fhould Fama fuperftes. Jortia, be:
Vol. I. T ^se.—mj
274 SAMSON AGONISTES.
To all poflerity may ftand defam'd.
With maledidion mention'd, and the blot
Of falfhood moft unconjugal traduc'd.
But in my country where I moft defire, 980
In Ecron, Gaza, Afdod, and in Gath,
I lliall be nam'd among the famoufefl:
Of women, fung at folemn feftivals.
Living and dead recorded, who to fave
Her country from a fierce deftroyer, chofe 985
Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb
With odors vifited and annual flowers ;
Not lefs renown'd than in mount Ephraim
Jael, who with inhofpitable guile
Smote Sifera fleeping through the temples nail'd.
Nor {hall I count it hainous to enjoy 991
The public marks of honor and reward
Conferr'd upon me, for the piety
Which
q86. —' my tomh So it is faid afterwards of Samfon,
U'ith oJars njifited and annual m • • ir n. n r /ir i a -\ u/u * • c -A • The virgins alio mail on feaftful
Jto^ers',] What is laid m i =
Scnpture of thedauchter of Jeph- -trr.. i • «. u vi, a
*i. I. .1^.1 J V. c ir } V lilt his tomb ^v^th flowers,
thah, that the daughters of Ijrael
rvjent yearly to lament her, I'eems to 988. Not lefs renonjot^d than in
imply that this folemn and perio- mount Ephraim
dical vifitation ofthe tombsofemi- y<jf/,] Jael is celebrated in the
nent pevfons was an eallern cullom. noble fong of Deborah and Barak,
T.hjer, Judg.
SAMSON AGONISTES, 275
Which to my country I was judg'd to' have fhown. At this who ever envies or repines, 99J
I leave him to his lot, and like my own. Chorus. She's gone, a manifeft ferpent by her fling Difcover'd in the end, till now conceal'd. Samson. So let her go, God fent her to debafe me. And aggravate my folly, who committed 1000
To fuch a viper his moil facred trull Of fecrefy, my fafety, and my life. Chorus. Yet beauty, though injurious, hath ftrange power, After offenfe returning, to regain Love once pofTefs'd, nor can be eafily 1005
Repuls'd, without much inward pafiion felt And fecret fling of amorous remorfe.
Samson.
Judg. V. and Deborah dwelt he- 'Otw ^e p.*j t«5'' e^l^ " yvw/Ajj
tiveen Ramah and Beth-el in mount (pi>.a,,
Ephaim, Judg. IV. 5. Kn\i<^ t ckuvx rsgytTw, xay«
T*0£.
QQC. j4i this nxiho ever en<vies or ,-> • , 1. r .. j*
^^^ ^. Cui autem nsc non lunt cordi,
repines, m *-
T/^ ;• , J- 1 ^ J 11 Illequefua amet, et epomea. i league him to hts lot, and like my ^ ° n 1.
o^wn.j Teucer to the Lhorus
in Sophodes's Ajax ver. 1060. loo^.Tetbeautyf though injurious,
T 2 hatk
276 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Samson.
Love-quarrels oft in pleaiing concord end, Not wedlock-treachery indang'ring life. Chorus.
It is not virtue, wifdom, valor, wit, 10 10
Strength, comelinefs of fhape, or ampleft merit That woman's love can win or lone inherit ; But what it is, hard is to fay, Harder to hit,
(Which way foever men refer it) 10 15
Much like thy riddle, Samfon, in one day Or fev'n, though one fliould mufing lit.
If any of thefe or all, the Timnian bride Had not fo foon preferr'd
Thy paranymph, worthlefs to thee compar'd, ic2o
Succeflbr
hath Jirange poiver, &c] This truth Milton has finely exemplified in Adam foro-iving Eve, and he had full experience of it in his own cafe, as the reader may fee in the note upon Paradife Loft, X. 940. for I would not repeat it here. 1008. Lo've-quarrels oft inpleaftng concord end,'\ Terence Andria III. III. 23.
Amantiam irae, amoris integra- tio eft.
10 10. Lis not virtue, Sec] How-
ever juft the obfervation may be, that Milton in his Paradife Loft feems to court the favor of the fe- male fex, it is very certain, that he did not carry the fame complai- fance into this performance. What the Chorus here fays outgoes the very bictereft fatir of Euripides who was called the Woman-hater. It may be faid indeed in excufe, that the occafion was very provoking, and that thefe reproaches are ra- ther to be look'd upon as a fud- den ftart of refentment, than cool
dnd
SAMSON AGONISTES. 277
Succeflbr in thy bed,
Nor both (o loofely difally'd
Their nuptials, nor this laft fo treacheroufly
Had fliorn the fatal harveft of thy head.
Is it for that fuch outward ornament 1025
Was lavifh'd on their fex, that inward gifts
Were left for hafle unfinifh'd, judgment fcant.
Capacity not rais'd to apprehend
Or value what is befl:
In choice, but ofteft to affed the wrong ? 1030
Or was too much of felf-love mix'd.
Of conftancy no root iniix'd,
That either they love nothing, or not long ?
Whate'er it be, to wifefl: men and beft Seeming at firil all heav'nly under virgin veil,
and fober reafoning. Thyer.
Thefe refleftions are the more fe- vere, as they are not fpoken by Samfon, who might be fuppofed to utter them out of pique and refent- jnent, but are deliver'd by the Cho- rus as ferious and important truths. But by all accounts IVlilton himfelf had fufFer'd fome uneafinefs through the temper and behaviour of two of his wives ; and no wonder there- fore that upon fo templing an oc- cafion as this he indulges his fpleen a little, depreciates the qualifica-
Soft,
tions of the women, and aflerts the fuperiority of the men, and to give thefe fentiments the greater weight puts them into the mouth of the Chorus.
1020. Thy parany7nphy'\ Bride- man. But Samfon' s nvife^wasgi'ven to his companion, vjhom he had ufed as his friend. Judg. XIV. 20.
Riihardfon. _
1034.—- to luifefl men and befi\ Read to the ^wifefl man. See the
following expreffions in his war/
— draws him awry. Meadiivcourt,
T 3 We
278 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Soft, modeft, meek, demurCj
Once join'd, the contrary flie proves, a thorn
Inteftin, far within defeniive arms
A cleaving mifchief, in his way to virtue
Adverfe and turbulent, or by her charms 1040
Draws him awry inflav'd
With dotage, and his ienfe depray'd
To folly and fhamefi::! deeds which ruin ends.
What pilot fo expert but needs muft wreck
Imbark'd with fuch a fleers-mate at the helm ? 1045
Favor'd of Heav'n who finds One virtuous rarely found, That in domeftic good combines : Happy that houfe his way to peace is fmooth ; But virtue which breaks through all oppofition, 1050 And all temptation can remove,
Mofl
We have fuch a change of the a cleaving mifchief allude to the number in the Paradife Loft JX. poifon'd fhirt fent to Hercules by 1183. his wife Deianira. Meadonjucourt.
in ivomen overtrufting
Lets her will rule ; reftraint _/?>£â–
will not brook, And left to hofelf, &c :
apd we juftified it there by a fimi- l^r inflance from Tei-ence.
1 o ^8. — far uurthrn cifenfroe arms A deci'ving m<fchicf,'] The words
1046. Fa'vor^d of Hea'v'n ivho finds &c] If Milton like Solo- mon and the Son of Sirach fati- rizes the women in general, like them too he commends the vir- tuous and good, and efteems a good wife a bleffing from the Lord. Prov. XVllL 23, Whofo fndetb
SAMSON AGONISTES. 279
Moil fhlnes and moft is acceptable above.
Therefore God's univerfal law Gave to the man defpotic power Over his female in due avv'e, 1 055
Nor from that right to part an hour, Smile flie or lour : So fliall he leaft confufion draw On his whole life, not fway'd
By female ufurpation, or difmay'd. 1060
But had we bell: retire, I fee a ftorm ?
Samson. Fair days have oft contradted wind and rain.
Chorus. But this another kind of tempeft brings.
Samson. Be lefs abftrufe, my riddling days are paft.
Chorus.
findeth a ^joife, findeth a good things in his fixth, and the latter in his
and obtaitieth fauor of the Lord, tenth fatir.
XIX. 14. A prudent nuife is from the
Lord, Ecdns. XXVI. i , 2 . Blejfed 106 1. But bad we bejl retire &c]
is the man that hath a 'virtuous 'wife. Read
for the number of his days /hall be t» ^ 7 j l n. ..•
double. A ^virtuous ixoman rejoicetb
her hufband, and he Jh all fulfil the or
years of his life in peace. &i.z. This t» .. 7 j »^ u n.
- \, \. i Ji J But /barf «/ we belt retire ——
IS much better than condemning
all without diftinCtion, as Juvenal Sjmpfon,
and Boileau have done, the former
T 4 1075 Eis
2So SAMSON AGONISTES:
Chor u s. Look now for no inchanting voice, nor fear 1065 The bait of honied words j a rougher tongue Draws hitherward, 1 know him by his ftride. The giant Harapha of Gath, his look Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud. Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither I lefs conjedlure than when firfl: I faw 1071
The fumptuous Dalila floting this way : His habit carries peace, his brow defiance, Samson Or peace or not, alike to me he comes.
Chorus. His fraught we foon fhall know, he now arrives.
Harapha. I come not, Samfon to condole thy chance, 1706 As thefe perhaps, yet wifti it had not been,
Though
1075. His fraught] Vor fraught Rapha maylikewife fignify fimply
ttSi^ fraight. Meadowcourt. a giant. OfJiockrenonjcn^dasOg,
1079. Men call me Harapha, &c] for Og the king of Baflian was of
This charafter is fiftitious, but is the race of the Rephaim, whofe
properly introduced by the poet, bed was nine cubits long, and four
and not without fome foundation broad. Deut. III. ii. Or Anak, the
in Scripture. Arapha or rather father of the Anakims, and the
Rapha (fays Calraet) was father of Emims old, Deut. II. lo, 1 1. a peo-
the giants of Rephaim. The word pie great , and manj/, and tall as the
Anakirni »
SAMSON AGONISTES. 281
Though for no friendly' intent. I am of Gath, Men call me Harapha, of ftock renown'd As Og or Anak and the Emims old 1080
That Kiriathaim held, thou know'ft me now If thou at all art known. Much I have heard Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd Incredible to me, in this difpleas'd, That I was never prefent on the place 1085
Of thofe encounters, where we might have try'd Each other's force in camp or lifted field : And now am come to fee of whom fuch noife Hath walk'd about, and each limb to furvey, If thy appearance anfwer loud report. 1090
Samson.
The way to know were not to fee but tafte. Harapha.
Doft thou already fmgle me ? I thought
Gyves
Anahms ; njjhich alfo ivere acMutit- thaim, or the plain of Kiriathaim.
ed giants or Rephaim, as the Ana- „ r , ,„
kims, but the MoabUes call thim ,- , ,, ,•'->,,â–
Emims. That Kiriathaim held, Ifthouatallartkno^n.]^t^%
for Gen. XIV. c. Chedorlaomer, "^^t ^° [P'^^ '" '^^ ^P'"' ^''^^^'
and the kings that 'were imth him, "^°V"r n ^"^o^^^ ' ^^'
Jmote the Rephaims in Afhteroth radife Loft 1\ . 830.
Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, Not to know me argues your-
(in^ the Etfums itt Shaueh Kiriu- felves unknown,
1093. Gyveil
282 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Gyves and the mill had tam'd thee. O that fortune Had brought me to the field, where thou art fam'd To' have wrought luch wonders with an afs's jaw ; I (hould have forc'u thee foon with other arms, 1096 Or left thy carcafs where the afs lay thrown : So had the glory' of prowefs been recover'd To Paleftine, won by a Philiftine 1099
From the unforeikinn'd race, of whom thou bear'ft The highefl name for valiant ads ; that honor Certain to' have won by mortal duel from thee, I lofe, prevented by thy eyes put out. Samson. Boaft not of what thou wouldfl have done, but do What then thou wouldfl:, thou feeft it in thy hand. Har aph a.
To combat with a blind man I difdain, 1 106
And
10^^. Gyves] Chains, fetters. That lets it hop a little from her
Cymbeline, Aft 5. Sc. 3. hand,
-.„ n T , Like a poor prifoner in his twiil-
Muft I repent ? j
T J ■1 1 • ed gyves,
I cannot do u better than mgy^ves. ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^j^^^j pj^^^j^j j^
Romeo and Juliet. Aft 2. Sc. 2. back again,
Juliet to Romeo. So loving jealous of his liberty,
'Tis almoft morning. I would ^^''^'''^ ^^"^- 5- St. 42.
have thee gone, Thefe hands were made to fhake
And yet no farther than a wan- fharp fpears and fwords.
ton's bird.
Not
SAMSON AGONISTES. 283
And thou haft need much wafhlng to be touch'd; Samson. Such ufage as your honorable lords Afford me' affaflinated and betray 'd, Who durft not with their whole united powers mo In fight withftand me fingle and unarm'd, Nor in the houfe with chamber ambuflies Clofe-banded durft attack me, no not fleeping, Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me. 1 1 1 5 Therefore without feign'd fliifts let be affign'd Some narrow place inclos'd, where fight may give
thee. Or rather flight, no great advantage on me ; Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet And brigandine of brafs, thy broad habergeon, 1 1 20
Vant-
Not to be ty'd in gyves and XLI. 26. The /'word of him that
twilled cords. layeih at him cannot hold, the /pear ^
the dart, nor the habergeon. Spen-
1120. And brigandine of bra/s, fer Faery Queen. B. 2. Cant. 6.
<S:c] Brigandine, a coat of mail, St. 29.
Jer XLVI. f—/>^rbijh the /pears, r^^^^^ -y^ ^^^y^^^^ ^j^^j^ y^^.
and put on the bngand.nes. LI. 3 . , ^^^f difmaii'd,
Agatn/l him that bendeth, let the ^^j \^y^^^ ^^^^ ^^^j^ ^^y^^^,^
archer bend his boiv, ana a?ain/t him 1 r „i i„
J 1-^ 1 1 ■fin ■1 L • manly Ipalles.
that li/tetb himfel/up in his bngan- ^
dine. Habergeon, a coat of mail Spalles that is (houlders. Fairfax
for the neck and fhoulders, Job Cant. i. St. 72.
Some
284 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Vant-brafs and greves, and gauntlet, add thy fpear, A weaver's beam, and feven-times-folded iliield, I only with an oaken ftafFwill meet thee, And raife fuch outcries on thy clatter'd iron, 11 24 Which long fhall not withhold me from thy head, That in a little time while breath remains thee, Thou oft flialt wi{h thyfelf at Gath to boaft Again in fafety what thou wouldft have done To Samfon, but iliall never fee Gath more.
H A R A P H A.
Thou durfl: not thus difparage glorious arms, Which greateft heroes have in battel worn, 1 13 1 Their ornament and fafety, had not fpells And black inchantment, fome magician's art,
Arm'd
Some fliirts of mail, fome coats His fliield was pierc'd, hisvant-
of plate put on, 6race cleft and fplit.
— and fome a haberz^on. _ r i i ^
* Gre-ves, armour for the legs, i Sam.
Vant-hrafs or Fantirace,zvant-hT!LS, XVII, 6. j4na he had grtves ofbrafs
armour for the arms. Troilus and upon his legs. Gauntlet, an iron
Creffida. Aft i. Sc. 6. Neflor glove. 2 Henry IV. Act i. Sc. 3.
Ipeaks. old Northumberland fpeaks.
I'll hide mv filver beard in a gold - . Hence therefore, thou nice
beaver, crutch ;
And in my 'vantbrace put this A fcaly gauntlet now with joints
wither'd brawn. of fteel
Fairfax. Cant. 20. St. 1 39. ^"^^ S'ove this hand.
His left arm wounded had the 1 1 2 1 . — — add thy /pear. Sec] Jcnight of France, This is Milton's own reading : the
other
SAMSON AGONISTES. 285
Arm Q thee or charm'd thee ftrong, which thou from
Heaven Felgn'dfl: at thy hirth was giv'n thee in thy hair, 1 J 3 5 Where ftrength can lead abide, though all thy hairs Were bridles rang'd like thofe that ridge the back Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines. Samson.
I know no fpells, ufe no forbidden arts ;
My truft is in the living God, who gave me 1 140 At my nativity this flrength diffused No lefs through all my finews, joints and bones, Than thine, while I preferv'd thefe locks unlLorn, The pledge of my unviolated vow. For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy God, 1 145
Go
other editions have and thy /pear, in which this fcene is laid, fince
which is not fo proper, for it can- we are informed in Scripture that
not well be faid in conftrudtion, they were at that time much
â– put en thy fpear. A nueaver' s beam, addided to magical fuperftition.
as Goliath's was, i Sam. XVII. 7. But yet it is very probable, that
And the Jiaff of hii fpear nx-as like a Milton adopted this notion from
'wea'vifs beam, and his brother's, the Italian Epics, who are very
2 Sam. XXI. 19. the fiaff of njuhofe full of inchanted arms, and fome-
fpear luas like a nv amber's beam, times reprefent their heroes invul-
Andfev'n-iimej folded Jhield,zsvja.s nerable by this art So Ariolto's
Ajax's, clypei dominus feptemplicis Orlando is defcribed. Thyer.
Ajax, Ovid. Met. XIII. 2. 11 38 or ruffled porcupines.^
I I 32. bad not fpells &c] Who can doubt that Milton here
This is natural enough in the mouth had Shakefpear in mind ? Hamlet
of Harapha, and no ways incon- Aft I. Sc. 8,
fiftent with the manners of the age
And
286 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Go to his temple, invocate his aid
With folemneft devotion, fpread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now
To fruPcrate and diflblve thefe magic fpells,
Which I to be the power of Ifrael's God 1 1 ^o
Avow, and challenge Dagon to the tell,
Offering to combat thee his champion bold,
With th' utmoft of his Godhead feconded :
Then thou (halt fee, or rather to thy forrow 1 154
Soon feel, whofe God is ftrongeft, thine or mine.
H A R A P H A.
Prefume not on thy God, whate'er he be. Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off Quite from his people, and deliver'd up Into thy enemies hand, permitted them ^^ S9
To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd fend thee Into the common prifon, there to grind Among the flaves and affes, thy comrades, As good for nothing elfe, no better fervice With thofe thy boift rous locks, no worthy match
For
And each particular hair to Hand 1 162. —— ihy comraJes,] With on end, the accent upon the lall fyllable as
Like quills upon the fretful per- in i Henry IV". Aft 4, Sc. 2. cupine% *^ Ami
SAMSON AGONISTES. 287
For valor to afTail, nor by the fword 1 165
Of noble warrior, To to flain his honor, But by the barber's razor beft fubdued. Samson. All thcfe indignities, for fuch they are From thine, thefe evils I deferve and more. Acknowledge them from God inflidted on me 1 170 Juftly, yet defpair not of his final pardon Whofe ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the fuppliant ; In confidence whereof I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight, 1 175
By combat to decide whofe God is God, Thine or whom I with Ifrael's fons adore.
H AR APH A.
Fair honor that thou dofl thy God, in trufling He will accept thee to defend his caufe, A Murderer, a Revolter, and a Robber. 1 180
Samson. [thefe ?
Tongue-doughty Giant, how dofl thou prove me
Ha-
And his commdesy that daft the that is valiant. See Skinner. %«-
• world afide o-t/ro^^. ^Efchylus. Sepiem con-
] And bid it pafs. tra Thebas. 617. Richard/on.
1 181. Tongue-doughtyl Doughty
288 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Ha R AP H A.
Is not thy nation fubjedt to our lords ?
Their magiftrates confefs'd it, when they took thee
As a league-breaker, and deliver'd bound
Into our hands : for hadft thou not committed 1 185
Notorious murder on thofe thirty men
At Afcalon, who never did thee harm,
Then like a robber ftripp'dft them of their robes ?
The Philiflines, when thou hadft broke the league.
Went up with armed powers thee only feeking, 1 190
To others did no violence nor fpoil.
Samson.
Among the daughters of the Philiftines
I chofe a wife, which argued me no foe j
And in your city held my nuptial feaft :
But your ill-meaning politician lords, 1 195
Under pretence of bridal friends and guefts.
Appointed to await me thirty fpies.
Who threatning cruel death conftrain'd the bride
To wring from me and tell to them my fecret.
That folv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200
When I perceiv'd all fet on enmity,
As
1222. Who now defies thee thrice^ arms to give the challenge and to This was the cuftom and the law of found the txwnpet thrift. In al-
lufion
SAMSON AGONISTES. 289
As on my enemies, wherever chanc'd, I us'd hoftility, and took their fpoil To pay my underminers in tlieir coin. My nation was fubjeifled to your lords. 1 205
It was the force of conquefl ; force with force Is well ejedcd when the conquer'd can. But I a private perfon, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bound, prefum'd Single rebellion, and did hoflile adts. 12 10
I was no private but a perfon rais'd With ftrength fufficient and command from Heaven To free my country j if their fervile minds Me their deliverer fent would not receive, But to their mafters gave me up for nought, 1 2 1 5 Th' unworthier they ; whence to this day they ferve. I was to do my part from Heav'n affign'd, And had performed it, if my known offenfe Had not difabled me, not all your force : i Thefe fliifts refuted, anfwer thy appellant 1220
Though by his blindnefs maim'd for high attempts, 1 Who now defies thee thrice to fmgle fight,
Ar.
I lufion to the fame praftice Edgar hy the third found of the trumpet,
1 appears to fight with the Baftard Lear. Ad 5. Sc. 7.
I Vol. I. U 1231. O
290 SAMSON AGONISTES. As a petty enterprife of fmall enforce.
H A R A P H A.
With thee a man condemn'd, a flave inroll'd, Due by the law to capital punifliment ? 1225
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Samson.
Cam'fl: thou for this, vain boafler, to furvey me, To defcant on my ftrength, and give thy verdid: ? Come nearer, part not hence fo flight inform'd 3 But take good heed my hand furvey not thee. 1230
H A R A P H A.
O Baal-zebub ! can my ears unus'd Hear thefe dishonors, and not render death ? Samson.
No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable j bring up thy van, My heels are fetter'd, but my fill is free. 1235 ;
H AR A P H A.
This infolence other kind of anfwer fits.
Samson.
1 23 1. O Baal-zehub !'\ He is in the notes on the Paradife Loft,
properly made to invoke Baal- and the learned reader may fee
zebub, as afterwards to fwear by more in Selden. Ajlaroth^ that is the deities of the
Philiftines and neighb'ring nations, 1248. ^ hough fame di'vulge him
of whom we have faid fomething &c. j So it plainly Ihould bi- as
MiUon
SAMSON AGONISTES. 291
Samson. Go baffled coward, left I run upon thee. Though in thefe chains, bulk without fpirit vail, And with one buffet lay thy ftrucfture low. Or fwing thee in the air, then dafh thee down 1 240 To th' hazard of thy brains and fliatter'd fides.
H A R A P H A.
By Aftaroth ere long thou ihalt lament Thefe braveries in irons loaden on thee. Chorus. His giantfhip is gone fomewhat creft-faln, Stalking with lefs unconfcionable ftrides, 1245
And lower looks, but in a fultry chafe. Samson. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five foni'. All of gigantic fize, Goliah chief Chorus. I^e will directly to the lords, I fear, 1250
And
Milton himfelf correfted it, and are mention'd 2 Sam. XXf. i 5— 22, not di-'vulg^d as it is in all the edi- Thefe four ivere horn to the giant or tions. Father offi'vefns &c. The to Harapha in Gath, and fell by the ftory of Goliath of Gath is very hand of Dax'id, and by the hand of well known ; and the other four his fer-u ants.
\3 2 1309' — remark
292 SAMSON AGONISTES,
And with malicious counfel ftir them up Some way or other yet further to afflidt thee.
Samson. He muft allege fome caufe, and offer'd fight Will not dare mention, left a queftion rife Whether he durft accept th' offer or not, ^^5S
And that he durft not plain enough appear'd. Much more afBidion than already felt They cannot well impofe, nor I fuftain 5 If they intend advantage of my labors, ^^59
The work of many hands, which earns my keeping With no fmall profit daily to my owners. But come what will, my deadlieft foe will prove My fpeedieft friend, by death to rid me hence, The worft that he can give, to me the beft. Yet fo it may fall out, becaufe their end 1265
Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed.
Chorus. Oh how comely it is, and how reviving To the fpirits of juft men long opprefs'd ! When God into the hands of their deliverer 1270 Puts invincible might
To
SAMSON AGONISTES. 293
To quell the mighty of the earth, th' opprefTor,
The brute and boifl'rous force of violent men
Hardy and induftrious to fupport
Tyrannic pow'r, but raging to purfue "^"^7^
The righteous, and all fuch as honor truth j
He all their ammunition
And feats of war defeats
With plain heroic magnitude of mind
And celeftial vigor arm'd, X280
Their armories and magazines contemns,
Renders them ufelefs, while
With winged expedition <
Swift as the lightning glance he executes
His errand on the wicked, who furpris'd 1285
Lofe their defenfe diftradled and amaz'd.
But patience is more oft the exercife Of faints, the trial of their fortitude,
j Making them each his own deliverer,
I And vidor over all 1290
i That tyranny or fortune can inflid:.
I Either of thefe is in thy lot, Samfon, with might indued Above the fons of men ; but %ht bereav'd
U 3 May
294 SAMSON AGONISTES.
May chance to number thee with thofe 1295
Whom patience finally mafi: crown.
This idol's day hath been to thee no day of reft. Laboring thy mind
More than the working day thy hands. And yet perhaps more trouble is behind, 1300
For I defcry this way Some other tending, in his hand A fcepter or quaint ftait he bears. Comes on amain, fpeed in his look. By his habit I difcern him now ^3^5
A public officer, and now at hand. Kis meflage will be iliort and voluble. Officer.
Hebrews, the pris'ner Samfon here I feek. Chorus.
His manacles remark him, there he fits. Of f I c e r.
Samfon, to thee our lords thus bid me fay j
This
1309. remark him, ] Di- are defired to read rate. No won-
jftinguilh him, point him out. dcr the firft reading is followed in
Richard/on. all the editions, when it is fenfe ;
131 3. furpajpng human rafe,] for it would have been followed in
Jn the firft edition it was printed all probability, though it had made
race, but in the table of Errata we nonlcnfe.
1325.— ;w«»3-»
SAMSON AGONISTES. 29^
This day to Dagon is a folemn feaft, 131 1
With facrifices, triumph, pomp, and games ; Thy ftrength they know furpalTing human rate, And now feme pubhc proof thereof require To honor this great feaft, and great aliembly ; 13 15 Rife therefore with all fpeed and come along, Where I will fee thee hearten'd and frefli clad To' appear as fits before th' illuftrious lords.
S A -M S ON.
Thou know'fl I am an Hebrew, therefore tell them, Our law forbids at their religious rites 1320
My prefence 3 for that caufe I cannot come. Officer. This anfwer, be aiTur'd, will not content them.
Samson. Have they not fword-players, and every fort Of gymnic artifts, wreftlers, riders, runners, Juglersand dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, 1325 But they muft pick me out with fhackles tir'd.
And
1325. mummers, mimics,'] It mirs? The table of Errata to the
was printed mummers, mimirs ; firft edition hath fet us right, in- mumrne) s are mafkers according to ftrufting us to read mimics, but Junius, Skinner, and the other not one of the editions have fol- etymologirts ; but what are mi- lowed it.
U 4 ^347' Pif^f^ps
296 SAMSON AGONISTES.
And over-iabor'd at their public mill, To make them fport with blind adivity ? Do they not feek occafion of new quarrels On my refufal to diftrefs me more, ^33^
Or make a game of my calamities ? Return the way thou cam'ft, I will not come* Officer.
Regard thyfelf, this will offend them highly. Samson.
Myfelf ? my confcience and internal peace. Can they think me fo broken, fo debas'd 133 5
With corporal fervitude, that my mind ever Will condefcend to fuch abfurd commands ? Although their drudge, to be their fool or jefter. And in my midft of forrow and heart-grief 1339 To (how them feats, and play before their God, The worft of all indignities, yet on me Join'd with extreme contempt ? I will not come. Officer.
My mefTagc was impos'd on me with fpeed.
Brooks
1347. Perhaps thou (halt ha've — it may with mine
ccufe to forronjj inJc(.l?\ Here Draw their own ruin who at- the catallropbe is anticipated, as tempt the dged.
t)5fore ver, 1 ?66.
And
SAMSON AGONISTES, 297
Brooks no delay : is this thy refolution ? 13 44
Samson. So take it with what fpeed thy mefTage needs.
Officer. I am forry what this ftoutnefs will produce.
Samson. Perhaps thou flialt have caufc to forrow' indeed.
Chorus. Confide r, Samfon j matters now are ftrain'd Up to the highth, whether to hold or break ; He's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350 Thy words by adding fuel to the flame ? Exped: another mefTage more imperious, More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear. Samson. Shall I abufe this confecrated gift Of ftrength, again returning with my hair 1355 After my great tranfgreflion, fo requite Favor renew'd, and add a greater fin By profl:ituting holy things to idols j
A
And fuch anticipations are ufual as cannot be perfe<JlIycomprehend- with the beft dramatic writers, ed, till they are fully explain'd by who knowing their own plan open the event. The fpeaker himfelf it by degreesj and drop fuch hints can only be foppofcd to have fome
general
298 SAMSON AGONISTES.
A Nazarlte in place abominable Vaunting my (trength in honor to their Dagon ? Belides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous, 1361 What a6t more execrably unclean, profane ? Chorus. Yet with this Hrength thou ferv'fl the Phihilines, Idolatrous^ uncircamcis'd, unclean. Samson. Not in their idol-worfliip, but by labor 1365
Honeft and lawful to deferve my food Of thofe who have me in their civil power. Chorus. Where the heart joins not, outward ads defile not.
Samson. Where outward force con{lrains,the fentence holds. But who conflrains me to the temple' of Dagon, 1 37c Not dragging ? the Philiftian lords command. Commands are no conftraints. If I obey them,
general meaning, and not a diflinfl conception of all the particulars, {omewhac like the hi<^h priell in the Gorpel, who prophefied with- out his knowing it.
1377, 3^1?/ that he may difpenfe &c] Milton hcr^ prob bly had in view the ftory of Naaman the Sy-
rian's begging a difpenfation of this fort from Eliiha, which he feem- ingly grants him. See 2 Kings V. 18, 19. Thyer.
1384. I 'with this nie£}nger ivill go along, '\ With what mefl'en- ger ? It was not exprefsly faid be- fore that the meiienger was com- ing;
SAMSON AGONISTES. 299
I do It freely, vent'ring to difpleafe God for the fear of Man, and Man^ prefer. Set God behind : which in his jealoufy ^375
Shall never, unrepented, find forgivenefs. Yet that he may difpenfe with me or thee Prefent in temples at idolatrous rites For fome important caufe, thou need'ft not doubt. Chorus.
How thou wilt here come offfurmounts my reach. Samson.
Be of good courage, I begin to feel 13 Si
Some roufing motions in me which difpofe To fomething extraordinary my thoughts. I with this meffenger v/ill go along. Nothing to do, be fure, that may dillionor I385
Our Law, or ftain my vow of Nazarite. If there be ought of prefage in the mind, This day will be remarkable in my life
By
ing ; it was implied indeed in what the Chorus, but feems hardly a
the Chorus had faid, fufficient intimation to a blind
man, unlefs we fuppofe him to
How thou wilt here come ofF j^^^^^ ^^^^ ^j^g meflenger was com-
furmounts my reach : j^^^ ^^ ^^^ j-^^g impulfe that he
and this might very well be un- felt roufing him to fomething ex-
derftood by a man, who could fee traordinary.
the mefTenger coming as well as
1404. Majteris
300 SAMSON AGONISTES.
By fome great ad, or of my days the lafl:. 1 3^9
Chorus.
In time thou haft refolv'd, the man returns. Officer.
Samfon, this fecond meflage from our lords To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our Have, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge. And dar'fl thou at our fending and command Difpute thy coming ? come without delay j ^395 Or we iLall find fuch engins to aflail And hamper thee, as thou fhalt come of force, Though thou wert firmlier faften'd than a rock. Samson.
I could be well content to try their art, ^399 Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. Yet knowing their advantages too many, Becaufe they (hall not trail me through their flreets Like a wild beaft, I am content to go. Mafters commands come with a pow'r reliftlefs To fuch as owe them abfolute fubjedtion j 1405 And for a life who will not change his purpofe ?
(So
1404. Makers commarJs kc^ tray'd itfelf hadit notbeen cover'd This was a feint, but it had be- by ver. 1408,
Yet
SAMSON AGONISTES. 301
(So mutable are all the ways of men) Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our Law. Officer.
I praife thy refolution : doff thefe links : 14 10 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free. Samson.
Brethren farewel ; your company along I will not wifli, left it perhaps offend them To fee me girt with friends j and how the fight 14 15 Of me as of a common enemy. So dreaded once, may now exafperate them I know not : lords are lordlieft in their wine j And the well-feafted prieft then fooneft fir'd With zeal, if ought religion feem concern'd; . 1420 No lefs the people on their holy-days Impetuous, infolent, unquenchable : Happen what may, of me expedt to hear Nothing diftionorable, impure, unworthy Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myfelf, 1425
The
Yet this be fure &c. War burton. That is of going, not what he faid 1410. I praife thy re/olutioa : '\ lall. Richard/on,
1463. That
302 SAMSON AGONISTES.
The laft of me or no I cannot warrant. Chorus. Go, and the Holy One Of Ifrael be thy guide
To what may ferve his glory beft, and fpread his name Great among the Heathen round j 1430
Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to fland Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field Rode up in flames after his meflage told Of thy conception, and be now a fhield Of fire J that Spirit that firft rufli'd on thee 1435 In the camp of Dan Be efficacious in thee now at need. For never was from Heav'n imparted Meafure of flrength fo great to mortal feed. As in thy wondrous adions hath been feen. .1440 But wherefore comes old Manoah in fuch haflie With youthful fteps ? much livelier than ere while He feems : fuppoiing here to find his fon, Or of him bringing to us fome glad news ?
Ma NOAH.
Peace with you, Brethren j my inducement hither
Was
' 1463. That fart wojl re-uerenc'd I doubt not, in this place indulges Dagon and hi} priejis :'\Mi\x.ovi, that inveterate fpleeu, which he
always
Sx^MSON AGONISTE3. 30^
Was not at prefent here to find my Ton, H4^*
By order of the lords new parted hence To come and play before them at their feafl. I heard all as I came, the city rings, And numbers thither flock, I had no will, 1450 Left I fliould fee him forc'd to things unfeemly. But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly To give ye part with me what hope I have With good fuccefs to work his liberty. 1454-
Chorus.
That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee ; fay, reverend Sire, we thirft to hear. M A N o A H.
I have attempted one by one the lords
Either at home, or through the high ilreet pafling.
With fupplication prone and father's tears,
T' accept of ranfome for my fon their pris'ner. 1460
Some much averfe I found and wondrous harih.
Contemptuous, proud, fet on revenge and fpite ;
That part moft reverenc'd Dagon and his prieils :
Others more moderate feeming, but their aim
Private reward, for which both God and State 1465
They
always bad againft cublic and efta- application forSamfon's deliverance blilVd rehgion. He nsight alfo p^ - gi ce at his own cafe after the hr.^-. i.;4chiiaefcripaor;ofManoah's Reuoration. Ih^er..
304 SAMSON AGONISTES.
They eafily would fet to fale : a third More eenerous far and civil, who confefs'd They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd Their foe to mifery beneath their fears, The reft was magnanimity to remit, ^47^
If fome convenient ranfome were propos'd. What noife or fhout was that ? it tore the iky. Chor us.
Doubtlefs the people fhouting to behold Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of ftrength before them (hown, Man o AH.
His ranfome, if my whole inheritance 1476
May compafs it, (hall willingly be paid And number'd down : much rather I (hall choofe To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richeft. And he in that calamitous prifon left. 1480
No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him. For his redemption all my patrimony.
If
1490. It Jh all he my delight &c] cularly natural and moving in this
The character of a fond parent is fpeech. The circumftance of the
extremely well fupported in the old man's feeding and foothing
jjerfon of Manoah quite through his fancy with the thoughts of
the whole performance ; but there tending his fon and contemplating
is in my opinion fomething parti- him ennobled with fo many fa- mous
SAMSON AGONISTESe 305
If need be, I am ready to forgo And quit : not wanting him I fliall want nothing. Chorus. Fathers are wont to lay up for their fons, 1485 Thou for thy fon art bent to lay out all : Sons wont to nurfe their parents in old age, Thou in eld age car'ft how to nurfe thy fon Made older than thy age through eye-fight loft.
M AN o A H.
It fhall be my delight to tend his eyes, I49^ And view him fitting in the houfe, ennobled With all thofe high exploits by him achiev'd. And on his fhoulders waving down thofe locks, That of a nation arm'd the ftrength contain'd : And I perfuade me God had not permitted 1495 His flrength again to grow up with his hair Garrifon'd round about him like a camp Of faithful foldiery, were not his purpofe To ufe him further yet in fome great fervice,
Not
mous exploits is vaftly expreffive and flatter himfelf even with the
of the doating fondnefs of an old hopes of God's refloring his eyes a-
father. Nor is the poet lefs to be gain Hope as naturally arifes in the
admir'd for his making Manoah mind in fuch a fituation, as doubts ^;
under the influence of this pleaf- and fears do when it is overclouded
ing imagination go ftill further, with gloomiaefs and melancholy. Vol. I. X rV-
3o6 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Not to fit idle with fo great a gift 1500
Ufelefs, and thence ridiculous about him. And fince his ftrength with eye-fight was not loft, God will reftore him eye-fight to his ftrength. Chorus. Thy hopes are not ill founded nor feem vain •Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon ^5^5
Conceiv'd, agreeable to a father's love, In both which we, as next, participate. Ma n o a h. I know your friendly minds and — O what noife! Mercy of heav'n, what hideous noife was that! Horribly loud, unlike the former fliout. 1510
Chorus. Noife call you it or univerfal groan. As if the whole inhabitation perifla'd!
Blood,
1 504. Tiy hopes are not ill founded and how fudden is the change from
?ior feem njain good to bad ! The one renders
Of his de/i'very,] This is very the other more ftnking and af- proper and becoming the gravity feding. of the Chorus, as much as to in- timate that his other hopes were 1508. — and — O luhat noife! fond and extravagant. And the &c.] It mull be very pleafing to art of the poet cannot be fuffi- the reader to obferve with what cientlyadoiired in raifing the hopes art and judgment JVIilton prepares and expectations of his perfons to him for the relation of the cata- the higheft pitch juft before the ftrophe of this tragedy. This dreadful catallrophe. How great abrupt Aart of Manoah upon hear-
ing
SAMSON AGONISTES. 307
Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noife. Ruin, deftrudlion at the utmoft point. M A N o A H. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noife : Oh it continues, they have flainmyfon. 15 16
Chorus. Thy fon is rather flaying them, that outcry From flaughter of one foe could not afcend. Man o a h. Some difmal accident it needs muft be ; What fliall we do, ftay here or run and fee? 1520 Chorus. Beft keep together here, lefl: running thither We unawares run into danger's mouth. This evil on the Philiftines is fall'nj From whom could elfe a general cry be heard ?
The
ing the hideous noife, and the de- what had happen'd. What gives
fcription of it by the Chorus in it the greater Itrength and beauty
their anfwer, in terms fo full of is the fudden tranfition from that
dread and terror, naturally fill the foothing and flattering profpeft
mind with a prefaging horror pro- with which Manoah was enter-
per for the occafion. This is ftill taining his thoughts to a fcene fo
kept up by their fufpenfe and rea- totally oppofit. Thyer.
foning about it, and at laft raifed 1512. — inhabitation'\ Oiy.»/*6iin.
to a proper pitch by the frighted Richardfon.
and diftradled manner of the Mef- ^S^\' *" '^^ utmoji point. \
fenger's coming in, and his hefita- Al ultimo fegno. Richardjon, tlon and backwardnefs in telling
X z 1529, — U
3o8 SAMSON AGONISTES.
The fufferers then will fcarce molefl us here, 1525
From other hands we need not much to fear.
What if his eye-fight (for to Ifrael's God
Nothing is hard) by miracle reftor'd,
He now be dealing dole among his foes,
And over heaps of flaughter'd walk his way ? 1530
M A N O A H.
That were a joy prefumptuous to be thought.
Chorus. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible For his people of old ; what hinders now ? M A N o A H. He can I know, but doubt to think he will ; Yet hope would fain fubfcribe, and tempts belief. A little flay will bring fome notice hither. 1536
Chorus.
I 529. — he dealbig dole\ Diftri- courag'd the fame hope in himfelf,
touting his gifts and portions among now defponds and reclions it pre-
hi's enemies, from a Saxon word /umptuous in another. Such changes
fa)'s Skinner, but Mr. Upton in of our thoughts are natural and
his remarks upon Ben. John fon's common, efpecially in any change
three plays p. 31. derives the of our fituation and circumftances.
vvord dole from the Greek x-ro ts Fear and hope ufually fucceed
^n'Kn:', diftribuere. By the way each other like ague and fever,
we ma V obferve, that the Chorus And it was not a flight obfervation
here entc^rtains the fame pleafing of mankind, that could have ena-
hope of Samfon's eye-Jight being by bled Milton to have underftood and
miracle reftar'dy which he had be- defcrib'd the human paflions fo
fore tacitly reproved in Manoah, exaifUy. and Manoah wUp had before §n-
1536. A
SAMSON AGONISTES. 309
Chorus.
Of good or bad (o great, of bad the fooner ; For evil news rides poft, while good news baits. And to our wiih I fee one hither fpeeding, An Hebrew, as I guefs, and of our tribe. 1540
Messenger.
O whither fliall I run, or which way fly The fight of this fo horrid fpedtacle. Which erft my eyes beheld and yet behold ? For dire imagination flill purfues me. But providence or inftind: of nature feems, 1545 Or reaibn though difturb'd, and fcarce confulted. To' have guided me aright, I know not how. To thee firfl: reverend Manoah, and to thefe My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
1536. yf /iff/e ft ay ivill bring fome notice hither.] The text of the firft edition wants the nine lines preceding this, and the line that follows it : but they are fup- plied in the Errata. This line in that edition is in the part of the Chorus, as I think it ought to be ; and fo is the next but one, in that and all the editions; though it feems to belong rather to Manoah. The line between them, which is wanting (as I juft now obferved) in the text of the firft edition, in
As
the Errata and in all the editions fince is given to the Chorus, but the poet certainly intended both them and Manoah a (hare in it. Chor. a little ftay will bring
fome notice hither Of good or bad fo great. Man. Of
bad the fooner; For evil news rides poft, while
good news baits. Chor. And to our wilh I fee one
hither fpeeding. An Hebrew, as I guefs, and of our
tribe. Call on. X 3 1552. — and
3IO SAMSON AGONISTES.
As at fome diftance from the place of horror, 1550 So in the fad event too much concern'd. M A N o A H. The accident was loud, and here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear notj No preface needs, thou feeft we long to know. Messenger. It would burft forth, but I recover breath And fenfe diftrad:, to know well what I utter. 1556
M A NO A H.
Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer.
Messenger. Gaza yet (lands, but all her fons are fall'n. All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n. M A N o A H. Sad, but thou know 'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft The defolation of a hoftile city. 1 56 1
Messenger. Feed on that firft, there may in grief be furfeit.
M A N o A H.
1552. and here before thee"] liimfelf correfled it in the table of
Here again the old error was care- Errata, to which corred^ion as well
fully preferved through all the edi- as the reft no regard was paid in
•iions. In the firft edition it was any edition, though it improves
T^r'micd and heard before thee', but the fenfe greatly,
we have correfled it, as Milton j^^^. Ne preface needs,] No pre- face
SAMSON AGONISTES. 311
M A N O A H.
Relate by whom.
Messenger. By Samfon.
M A N o A H.
That ftill lefTens The forrow, and converts It nigh to joy. Messenger. Ah Manoah, I refrain, too fuddenly ^5^5
To utter what will come at laft too foon^ Left evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear fliould pierce too deep. M A N o A IT. Suipenfe in news is torture, fpeak them out.
Messenger. Take then the worft in brief, Samfon is dead.
M A N o A H. The worft indeed, O all my hope's defeated 1571 To free him hence! but death who fets all free
Hath
face is wanting. NeeJj is a verb tive in Shakefpear. Julius Caefar
neuter here as in Paradife Loft Aft 4. Sc. 4.
X. 80. where fee the note. \x7-»u »i,- n r n j/j o
— With this flie fell dijlrad,
1556. And fenfe diJlraS.'] The And (her attendents abfent) fwal-
word is ufed likewife as an adjec- low'd fire.
X 4 Twelfth.
312 SAMSON AGONISTES;
Hath paid his ranfome now and full difcharge. What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves "^575 Abortive as tlie firft-born bloom of fpring Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's froft! Yet ere I give the reins to grief, fay firft. How dy'd he; death to life is crown or (hame. All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he, 1580 What glorious hand gave Samfon his death's wound ? Messenger. Un wounded of his enemies he fell.
M A N o A H.
Wearied with flaughter then or how r explain.
Messenger. By his own hands.
M A N o A H.
Twelfth-Night Aft 5. Sc. 5. with from fome of the Philiftian
^, ^ , |, , lords, and of its being fo fuddenly
They fay poor gentleman! he s extinguifli'd by this Teturn of ill
much ^.Jira^. f^^^^^^^ jhan that of the early
1576. Jbortive as the firft-born bloom, which the warmth of a
bloom of fpring Sec] As Mr. few fine days frequently pulhes
Thyer fays, this fimilitude is to forward in the fpring, and then
be admired for its remarkable juft- it is cut off by an unexpeded re-
refs and propriety : One cannot turn of winterly weather. As
poffibly imagin a more exadl and Mr Warburton obferves.this beau-
perfccl image of the dawning hope tiful palfage feems to be taken
which Manoa.'> had conceived from from ohakefpear. Henry VIH Aft
«he favorable anfwer he had met 3. Sc. 6.
This
SAMSON AGONISTES. 313
M A N o A n. Self-violence? what caufe Brought him fo foon at variance with hinafelf 1585 Among his foes ?
Messenger.
Inevitable caufe At once both to deflroy and be deftroy'd; The edifice, where all were met to fee him. Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd. M A N o A H.
O laftly over-ftrong againft thyfelf ! 1 590
A dreadful way thou took'ft to thy revenge. More than enough we know 5 but while things yet Are in confufion, give us if thou canft, Eye-witnefs of what firft or laft was done,
Relation
This is the flate of man ; to day Upon which Mr. Warburton re- he puts forth marks, that as Tpring frofts are
The tender leaves of hopes, to not injurious to the roots of fruit- morrow bloffoms, trees, he fhould imagin the poet
And bears his blufhing honors wrote Jhooty that is, the tender
thick upon him ; Jkoot on which are the young
The third day comes a froft, a leaves and blojfoms. The compa-
killing froft; rifon, as well as expreffion oi njpsy
And when he thinks, good eafy is jurtertoo in this reading. Shake- man, full furely fpear has the fame thought in
His greatnefs is a ripening, nips Love's Labor Loft.
his root ; Byron is like an envious fheap-
And then he falls, as I do. — ing froil
That
314 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Relation more particular and diftind:. 4595
Messenger. Occaflons drew me early to this city, And as the gates 1 enter'd with lun-rife, The morning trumpets feftival proclam'd Through each high flreet: little I had dlfpatch'd. When all abroad was rumoi'd that this day i6oo Samfon fhould be brought forth, to fhow the people Proof of his mighty flrength in feats and games ; I fonow'd at his captive ftate, but minded Not to be abfent at that fpecflacle.
That bites the firft-born infants of the fpring.
See Warburton's Shakefpear. Vol . 5 .
1596. OccaJionsJreiu me early &c] As I obferved before, that Mihon had with great art excited the readei's attention to this grand event, fo here he is no lefs careful to gratify it by the relation. It is circumllantia], as the importance of it requir'd, but not fo as to be tedious or too long to delay our expectation. It would be found difficult, I believe, to retrench one article without making it defedive, or to add one which fhould not ap- pear redundant. The pifcure of Samfon in particular ivith head in- elirHd and eyes Jtx'd, as if he was addreffing himfelf to that God who
The
had given him fuch a meafure of flrength, and was fumming up all his force and refolution, has a very fine effeft upon the imagination. Milton is no lefs happy in the fub- limity of his drfcription of this grand exploit, than judicious in the choice of the circumftances pre- ceding it. The poetry rifes as the fubjeft becomes more interefting, and one may without rant or ex- travagance fay, that the poet feems to exert no lefs force of genius in defcribing than Samfon does flrength of body in executing.
Thyer.
1 604 ahfent at that /pelade']
The language would be more cor- reft, if it was abjent from that fpedade.
1 605 . The building lua} a/pacious theatre
Half
SAMSON AGONISTES. 315
The building was a fpaclous theatre 1605
Half-round on two main pillars vaulted high, With feats where all the lords and each degree Of fort, might fit in order to behold; The other fide was open, where the throng On banks and fcaffolds under fky might fland; 16 1 o I among thefe aloof obfcurely flood. The feaft and noon grew high, and facrihce Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, highchear, and wine, When to their fports they turn'd. Immediately Was Samfon as a public fervant brought, i 6 1 5
In
Half-round on tiuo main pillars 'vaulted high. Sec] Milton has finely accounted for this dreadful cataftrophe, and has with great judgment obviated the common objedion. It is commonly aflced, how fo great a building, contain- ing fo many thoufands of people, could reft upon two pillars fo near placed together : and to this it is anfwered, that inftances are not wanting of far more large and ca- pacious buildings than this, that have been fupported only by one pillar. Particularly, Pliny in the I 5th chapter of the 36th book of his natural hiftory, mentions two theatres built by one C. Curio, who lived in Julius Caefar's time; each of which was fupported only by one pillar, or pin, or hinge.
tho' very many thoufands of people did fit in it together. See Poole's Annotations. Mr. Thyer further adds, that Dr. Shaw in his travels obferving upon the eaftern method of building fays, that the place where they exhibit their diverfions at this day is an advanc'd cloyfter, made in the faihion of a large penthoufe, fupported only by one or two contiguous pillars in the front, or elie at the center, and that upon a fuppofition therefore that in the houfe of Dagon, there was a cloyfter'd ftrufture of this kind, the pulling down the front or center pillars only which fup- ported it, would be attended with the like cataftrophe that happen'd to the Philiftines. See Shaw's tra- vels, p. 283.
1619— f«/^i-
3i6 SAMSON AGONISTES.
In their ftate livery clad; before him pipes And timbrels, on each fide went armed guards, Both hciTe and foot, before him and behind Archers, and (lingers, cataphra^ls and fpears. At fight of him the people with a fliout 1620
Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praife. Who' had made their dreadful enemy their thrall. He patient but undaunted where they led him. Came to the place, and what was fet before him, Which without help of eye might be alTay'd, 1625 To heave, pull, draw, or break, he ftill perform'd All with incredible, ftupendious force, None daring to appear antagonift. At length for intermifiion fake they led him Between the pillars; he his guide requeued 1630 (For fo from fuch as nearer flood we heard) As over-tir'd to let him lean a while With both his arms on thofe two mafly pillars. That to the arched roof gave main fupport. He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon 1635
Felt
1619. '—— cataphra£ls\ Men or In feveral editions it is printed con- horfes completely arm'd, from xa- fufiony but Mr. Thyer, Mr. Symp- ra^ftt,a-<Ti) armis munio. fon, and every body few that it
1649. WitJ!:> horrible convuJ/ton'] fhould he convuljion, andfo it is in
Milton'^
SAMSON AGONISTES. 317
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd, And eyes'faft fix'd he flood, as one who pray'd, Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd : At laft with head ered: thus cry'd aloud, Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd 1640 I have perform'd, as reafon was, obeying. Not without wonder or delight beheld : Now of my own accord fuch other trial I mean to {how you of my ftrength, yet greater ; As with amaze fliall flrike all who behold. 1645 This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd. As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, thofe two mafly pillars With horrible con vulfion to and fro, 1649
He tugg'd, he fhook, till down they came and drew The whole roof after them, with burft of thunder Upon the heads of all who fat beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counfellorSj or priefts. Their choice nobility and flovv'r, not only Of this but each Philiftian city round ^^55
Met
Milton's own edition. And in the the firfl: edition: and there are feve- next line it ihould not be He fugged, ral pafTages which we have corred- betook, as it is abfurdly in fome edi- ed by the help of the firfl edition, tions, but He tugg'd^ bejhook, as in without taking notice of them.
1667. — in
3i8 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Met from all parts to folemnize this feafl. Samfon with thefe immix'd, inevitably PuU'd down the fame deftrudion on himfelf ^ The vulgar only fcap'd who flood without. Chorus.
O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious ! 1660
Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd The work for which thou waft foretold To Ifrael, and now ly'ft victorious Among thy ilain felf-kill'd
Not willingly, but tangled in the fold 1665
Of dire neceffity, whofe law in death conjoin'd Thee with thy flaughter'd foes in number more Than all thy life had flain before. Semichorus.
While their hearts were jocond and fublime,
Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, 1670
And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats,
Chaunting their idol, and preferring
Before our living Dread who dwells
In
1667. "— — in numher more than they ivhich he Jle-xv in his life. Than all thy life had fain hefore.'\ 1 674. In Silo] Where the taber-
Judges XVI. 30. So the dead 'which nacle and ark were at that time.
ke fen/j at his death, ivere more iSSz.SofofidaremortalmenyScc]
Agreeable
SAMSON AGONISTES. 319
In Silo his bright fanduary : Among them he a fpi'rit of phrenzy fent, 1675 Who hurt their minds, And urg'd them on with mad defire To call in hade for their deftroyer -, They only fet on fport and play Unweetingly importun'd 1680
Their own deflrudion to come fpeedy upon them. So fond are mortal men Fall'n into wrath divine, As their own ruin on themfelves t' invite, Infenfate left, or to fenfe reprobate, ^685
And with blindnefs internal ftruck. S E M I c H o R u s. But he though blind of fight, Defpis'd and thought extinguifh'd quite, With inward eyes illuminated, His fiery virtue rous'd 1690
From under afhes into fudden flame. And as an evening dragon came,
AfTailant
Agreeable to the common maxim, came &c.] Mr. Calton fays that Mil- Quos Deu3 vult perdere dementat ton certainly dilated prius. T^yer. And not as an evening dragon
1 6^2. Jnd tu an tvtning dragon came.
Samfon
320 SAMSON AGONISTES,
AfTailant on the perched roofls.
And nefts in order rang'd
Of tame villatlc fowl; but as an eagle
His cloudlefs thunder bolted on their heads.
So virtue giv'n for loft,
Deprefs'd, and overthrown, as feem'd,
Like that felf-begotten bird
In the Arabian woods imboft.
That no fecond knows nor third.
And lay ere while a holocauft,
1695
1700
From
Samfon did not fet upon them like an evening dragon; hut darted ruin on their heads like the thun- der-beaiing eagle. Mr. Sympfon to the fame purpofe propofes to read
And not as evening dragon came but as an eagle &c.
Mr, Thyer underllands it other- wife, and explains it without any alteration of the text, to which ra- ther I incline. One might pro- duce (fays he) authorities enow from the naturalifts to fhow that lerpents devour fowls. That of Aldrovandus is fufficient, and ferves fully to juftify this fimile. Speak- ing of the food of ferpents he fays, Etenim aves, et potiflimum avium pullos in nidis adhuc de- gentes libenter furantur. Aldrov. deSerp. & Drac. Lib. i, c. 3. It
is common enough among the an- cient poets to meet with feveral fimiles brought in to illuftrate one aftion, when one cannot be found that will hold in »every circum- flance. Milton does the fame here, introducing this of the dragon merely in allufion to the order in which the Philiftians were placed in the amphitheatre, and the fub- fequent one of the eagle to exprefs the rapidity of that vengeance which Samfon took of his ene- mies.
1695. 'villatic /oivl;^ Vil-
laiicas allies, VWn.lAh. 23. Seft. 17. Richard/on.
1695. hut as an eagle &cj
In the Ajax c^ bophocles it is faid thaf his enemies, if they faw him appear, would be terrify'd like birds at the appeavance of the vul- tur or eagle, ver 167.
AM*
SAMSON AGONISTES.
321
From out her afhy womb now teem'd.
Revives, refloridies, then vigorous moft
When mod una6tive deem'd, ^y'^S
And though her body die, her fame furvlves
A fecular bird ages of lives.
Ma NO A H.
Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more caufe -, Samfon hath auit himfelf Like Samfon, and heroically hath finifh'd 17 10 A life heroic, on his enemies
Fully
Aaa' ot£ yct^ ^n &C.
The Greek verfes, I think, are faulty, and as I remember, are correded not amifs by Dawes in his Mifcell. Critic. J or tin,
1700. — — imboji-l Conceal'd, covcr'd. Spenfer Faery Queen. B. I. Cant. 3. St. 24.
A knight her met in mighty arms imboji,
Ricbardfon.
1702. — — a hohcauJf\ An en- tire burnt-ofFering. Elfe generally OnJy part of the beaft was burnt. Richardfon.
1706. -— her fame fuwi'ves
A Jetular bird ages of lives. ^ The conftruftion and meaning of the who'e period I conceive to be this. Virtue giv'n for loft, like the phce- nix confum'd aad now teem'd from
V o L. I.
out her afhy womb, revives, re- florifhes, and though her body die which was the cafe of Samfon, yet her fame furvives a phoenix many ages : for the comma 2Jiitx furuifes in all the editions ihould be omit- ted, as Mr. Calton has obfened as well as myfelf. The phcenix, fays he, liv'd a thoufand years ac- cording to fome [See Bochart's Hierozoicon.Parsfecunda.p. 817.] and hence it is called here a fecu- lar bird. Ergo quoniam fex die^ bus cunfta Dei opera perfedta funt j per fecuiafex, id eft annorumyfx millia, manere hoc ftatu mundum neceffe eft. Ladlantius Div Inft. Lib. 7. c. 14. The fame- of vir- tue (the Semichorus faith) fur- 'vi'ves, outlives this fecular bird many ages. The comma, which is in all the editions ai'ier fwvi'vfs, breaks the conilruftion.
322 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning, And lamentation to the fons of Caphtor Through all Philiilian bounds ; to Ifrael Honor hath left, and freedom, but let them 171 5 Find courage to lay hold on this occalion ; To' himfelf and father's houfe eternal fame ; And which is bsft and happieft yet, all this With God not parted from him, as was fear'd. But favoring and affifling to the end. 1720
Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the bread, no weaknefs, no contempt, Difpraife, or blame, nothing but well and fair. And what may quiet us in a death fo noble. Let us go find the body where it lies ^7^5
Sok'd in his enemies blood, and from the ftream With lavers pure and cleaniing herbs wafh off The clotted gore. I with what fpeed the while (Gaza is not in plight to fay us nay)
Will
1713. to the fon5ofCaphtor\ of them fettled in Paleftine, and
Caphtor \t (hould be, and not Chap- there went by the name of Philif-
/cr as in feveral editions : and the tim. Meado^wcourt.
fons of Caphtor ZXQ Philillines, ori- I730- Will fend for all my kin-
ginally of the Hand Caphtor or dred, all my friends, &c] This
Crete. The people were called is founded upon what the Scrip-
Caphtorim, Cherethim, Ceretim, ture faith, Judg. XVI. 31 . which
and afterwards Cretians. A colony the poet has finely improv'd. Then
his
SAMSON AGONISTES. 323
Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends, 1730
To fetch him hence, and folemnly attend
With filent obfequy and funeral train
Home to his father's houfe : there will I build him
A monument, and plant it round with (hade
Of laurel ever green, and branching palm, 1735
With all his trophies hung, and ad:s inroU'd
In copious legend, or fweet lyric fong.
Thither fliall all the valiant youth refort.
And from his memory inflame their breafls
To matchlefs valor, and adventures high : ^740
The virgins alio Ihall on feaflful days
Vifit his tomb v^ith flow'rs, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice.
From whence captivity and lofs of eyes.
Chorus.
All is heft, though we oft doubt, 1745
What th' unfearchable difpofe
Of
his brethren, and all the houfe of refemblance betwixt this fpeech of his father, came down and took him, Milton's Chorus, and that of the and brought him up, and buried Chorus in ^fchylus's Supplices, him befween Zorah and EJhiaol in beginning at ver. 90. the burying-place of Manoah his fa- ther. Ai®' Ifji.if'^ ay. «t;9*)f«T©' 8- 1745. All is hejl, though ice oft Tvx^n doubt, &c] There is a great &c to ver. 109, Thyer.
y 2 1755. Hii
324 SAMSON AGONISTES.
Of higheft wifdom brings about. And ever bed found in the clofe. Oft he feems to hide his face. But unexpededly returns, ^7 50
And to his faithful champion hath in place Bore witnefs glorioufly; whence Gaza mourns And all that band them to refifl His uncontrollable intent j
His fervants he with new acquift ^7S5
Of true experience from this great event ' With peace and confolation hath difmill. And calm of mind all paffion fpent.
1 755. His /er'vanff he iviih nenv acqufji] It is his fer-cant in moll of the editions, but the firll edition has it rightly his fcr^vants, meaning the Chorus and other perfons prefent. Acquijl, the fame as acqaifition, a word that may be found in Skinner, but I do not remember to have met with it elfe- where.
1757. With peace and confolation hath difmijl. And calm of mind all pajjton fpent . ] This moral leffon in the conclufion is very fine, and excellently fuited to the beginning. For Milton had chofen for the motto to this piece a paiiage out of Ariftotle, which may fliow what was his defign in writing this tragedy, and the fcnfe
of which he hath exprefled in the preface, that " tragedy is of power " by raifing pity and fear, or ter- " ror, to purge the mind of thole " and fuch like pafTions, &c." and he exemplifies it here in Manoah and the Chorus, after their va- rious agitations of paflion, acqui- efcing in the divine difpenfations, and thereby inculcating a moft in- Uruftive leiTon to the reader. As this work was not intended for the ftage, it is not divided into afts, but if any critic (hould be difpofed fo to divide it, he may eafily do it by beginning the fecond aft at the entrance of Manoah, the third at the entrance of Dalila, the fourth at the entrance of Hara- pha, and the fifth at the entrance of the public Officer : but the flage
SAMSON AGONISTES.
325
is never empty or without perfon?, according to the model of the belt written tragedies among the An- cients. I have faid in the life of Milton, that " Bifhop Atterbury ♦' had an intention of getting " Mr. Pope to divide the Samfon *' Agonilles into adts and fcene.s *' and of having it acted by the *' King's Scholar at Weftminfter." And fee what he i'ays to that pur- pofeinoneof his letters to Mr. Pope. *' I hope you won't utterly forget " what pafs'd in the coach about " Samfon Agoniftes. I ihan't prefs ** you as to time, but feme time
" or other, I wifh you would re- " view, and polifh that piece. If " upon a new perufal of it (which '• I defire you to make) you think " as 1 do, that it is written in the " very fpirit of the Ancients ; it " deferves your care, and is capa- " ble of being imrroved, with " little trouble, into a perfedl mo- " del and llandard of tragic poetry
" always allowing for its be-
" ing a itory taken out of the " Bible, v.-hich is an objcdion that " at this time of day, I know is " not to be £rot over."
THE END,
From
[ 327 ] From M I L T o n's Manufcript.
The Perfons.
Michael
Heavenly Love
Chorus of Angels
Lucifer
Adam 7 • i »l c
P > w)ih the Serpent
Confcience
Death
Labor
Sicknefs
Difcontent ^Mutes
Ignorance
with others.
Faith
Hope
Charity
The Perfons. Mofes Divine JuHice, Mercy, Wifdem,
Heavenly Love Hefperus the Evening Star Cliorus of Angek Lucifer Adam Eve
Confcience Labor Sicknefs Difcontent Ignorance Fear Death Faith Hope Charity
Mutci
Other Tragedies,
Adam in banish m e n t.
The Flood.
A B R a M in E G Y P T.
Paradise Lost.
The Perfon'^.
Mofes T-eo>.c7;^£i, recounting howheaffum'd his true body ; that it corrupts not, becaufe of his [abode] with God in the mount; declares the like of Enoch and Eliah ; befides the parity of the place, that certain pure winds, dews, and clouds preferve it from corruption ; whence exhorts to the fight of God ; tells they cannot fee Adam in the ftate of innocence by jeafon of their iin.
Juflice 1 debating u hat {houM Mercy > becon;e of Man, if Wifdom J he fall. Chorus of Angels fing a hymn of the creation.
Aa II, Heavenly Love. Evening Star.
Ch9rus ling the marriage fong, and defcribe Paradife.
Y 4
Aa
[ 328 ]
A£l III. Lucifer contriving Adam's ruin. Chorus tears for Adam, and re- lates Lucifer's rebellion and fail.
A a IV. > fallen.
Mutes,
Adam
Eve
Confcicnce cites them to God's examination.
Chorus bevvails, and tells the good Adarn hath loll,
Ac^. V.
Adam and Eve driven out of Paradife :
Prefented by an Angel with
Labor, Grief, Hatred Envy, War, Famin, Pe flilence, Sicknef?, Dii content, Ignorance, Fear, Death encer'd into the world,
to whom he gives their names-: likewife Winter, Heat, Tempeft,
;5" / comfort him and in-
J^°P^ f ftrufthim.
Charity J
Chorus briefly concludes.
The Deluge. Sodom.
Dmah. Vide Eufeb. Pr^parat.
Evang. L. 9. L. 22.
The Perfons.
Dinah. Hamor.
_- , 7 Rebecca's Sichem. Debora *
i
nurie
Counfelorsz.
Nuncius.
Chorus,
Jacob.
Simeon.
Levi.
Thamar Cuophorufa , where Ju- d^h is found to have been the au- r or of that crime, which he con- :ier r.'d in Thamar. Thamar ex- caiea in what ihe aitempted.
The Golden Calf, or the Maf- facre in Horeb.
The Quails, Num. 1 1. The Murmurers, Num. 14. Corah, Dathan, &c. Num. 16,
Moabitides, Num. 25.
Achan, Jofue 7 and 8.
Jofuah in Gibeon, Jof, 10.
Gideon Idoloclaftes, Jud. 6, 7.
Gideon purfuing, Jud. 8.
Abimelech the Ufurper, Jud. 9,
Samfon purfophorus, or H) bri- bes, or Samfon marrying or in Ra.» math Lechi, Jud. 15.
Dagonalia Jud. 16.
Comazontes, or the Benjami- nites, or the Rioters, Jud. 19,20, 21.
Theriilria, a pafloral out of Ruth.
Eliadae, Hophni and Phinehas, Sam. I, 2, 3, 4, beginning with the firft overthrow of Ifrael by the Philillins, interlac'd with Samuel's vifion concerning Eli's family.
Jonathan reicued, Sam, i, 14.
Doeg flandering, Sam. i. 22.
The Sheepihearers in Carmel, a pailoral, i Sam 25.
Saul in Gilboa, i Sam. 28. 31.
David revolted, i Sam. from the 27 c. to the 31.
David adulter JUS, 2 Sam. c. 11, 12.
Tamar, 2 Sam. i 3.
Achitophel, 2 Sam. 15, 16, 17, 18.
Adoniah, 1 Reg. 2.
Solomon Gynaecocratumenus, or Idolomargus, aut Thyfiazufs. Reg,
!. I I .
Rehoboam, i Reg. 12. where is
difpiited of a politic religion.
Abias Therfasus. 1 Reg. 14. The queen after much difpute, as the
laa
[ 329 1
Jaft refuge fent to the prophet Ahias of Shilo ; receives the mef- fage. The Epitafis in that fhe hearing the child (hall die as {he comes home, refufes to return, th inking thereby to elude the oracle. The former part is fpent in bring- ing the fick prince forth as it were defirous to fhift his chamber and couch as dying men ufe, his father telling him what facrifice he had fent for his health to Bethel and Dan ; his fearleffnefs of death, and putting his father in mind to fet [fend] to Ahiah. The Chorus of the elders of Ifrael, bemoaning his virtues bereft them, and at ano- ther time wondring why Jeroboam being bad himfelf fhould fo grieve for his fon that waa good, isfc.
Imbres, or the Showers, i Reg. i8, ig.
Naboth ffv%o(puiibiJi.tt<^, 1 Reg.
21.
Ahab, I Reg. 22. beginning at the fynod of falfe prophets; end- ing with relation of Ahab's death ; his body brought; Zedechiah flain by Ahab's friends for his feducing. (See Lavater, 2 Chron. 18.)
Elias in the mount, 2 Reg. i. '0;£i€aTr)c, or better, Elias Po- lemiftes.
Elifaeus Hudrochoos, 2 Reg. 3. Hudrophantes, Aquator.
Elifaus Adorodocetas.
Elifaeus Menutes, five in Dothai- mif, 2 Reg. 6.
Samaria Liberata, 2 Reg. 7.
Achabasi Cunoboro^meni, 2 Reg. 9. The fcene Jefrael : beginning from the watchman's difcovery of Jehu till he go out : in the mean while, meffage of things pafling brought to Jefebel, &c. Laftly the 70 heads of Ahab's fons brought
in, and melTage brought of Aha- ziah's brethren flain on the way, c. 10.
Jehu Belicola, 2 Reg. 10.
Athaliah, 2 Reg. 1 1.
AmaziahDoryalotus,2Reg. 14. 2 Chron. 25.
Hezechias croXiofuB^Eco;, 2 Reg, 18, 19. Hefechia befieg'd. The wicked hypocrify of Shebna, fpo* ken of in the 11, or thereabout or Ifaiah, and the commendation of Eliakim will afford a(pop/xa; Xo- yov, together with a fadion, that fought help from Egypt.
Joiiah Aia^omenos, 2 Reg. 23.
Zedechiah norifl^uv, 2 Reg. but the ftory is larger in Jeremiah.
Solymwy Halofis ; which may begin from a raeflage brought to the city, of the judgment upon Zedechiah and his children in Rib- la, and fo feconded with the burn- ing and deftruftion of city and temple by Nebuzaradan j lamented by Jeremiah.
Afa or .^thiopes, 2 Chron. 14. with the depofing his Mother, and burning her idol.
The three Children, Dan. 3.
Britifh. Trag.
1. The cloifler king Conftans fet up by Vortiger.
2. Vortiger poifon'd by Roena.
3. Vortiger immur'd.
The three following were added afterwards in the margin.
Venutius hufband to Cartifman- dua.
Vortiger marrying Roena. See Speed, reprov'd by Vordin arch- bilhop of London, Speed.
The
[ 330 ]
The mafTcre of tlie Briton^ by Hengift in their cups at Salibury plain. Malmfbury.
4. Sigher of the Eaft-Saxons re- voked from the faith, and reclaim'd by Jarumang.
5. Ethelbert of the Eaift- Angles Hain by OfFa the Mercian. See Holinfh. L. 6. c. 5. Speed in the Life of Offa and Ethelbert.
6. Sebert flain by Penda after he had left his kingdom. See Ho- linfhed, 1 16. p.
7. Wulfer flaying his two fons, for being Chriflians.
8. Olbert of Northumberland flain for ravifhing the wife of Bern- bocard, and the Danes brought in. See Stow. Holinfh. L. 6. c. i 2. and Ci'pecially Speed, L. 8. c. 2.
9. Edmund hil king of the Eafl- Angles martyr'd by Hinguar the Dane. See Speed, L. 8. c. z.
10. Sigebert, tyrantof theWefl- Saxons flain by a Swineherd.
1 1 . Edmund brother of Aihel- ftan flain by a thief at his ov\ n table. Malmeflj.
12. Edwin, fon to Edward the younger, for luft depriv'd of his kingdom, or rather by faftion of Monks, whom he hated; together with the impoftor Dunfian.
13. Edward fon of Edgar mur- der'd by his flep- mother. To which may be inferred the tragedy flirr'd up betwixt the Monks and Priefls about marriage.
14. Etheldred, fon of Edgar, a flothful king, the ruin of his land by the Danes.
15. Ceaulin, king of Weft-Sax- ons, for tyranny depos'd, and ba- nifti'd, and dying.
16. The flaughter of the Monks ©f Bangor by Edelfride ftirr'd up,
as is faid, by Ethelbert, and he by Auftin the Monk, becaufe the Bri- tons would not receive the rites of the Roman Church. See Bede, Geffrey Monmouth, and Holinflied, p. 104. which muft begin with the Convocation of Britifli Clergy by Auilin to determin fuperfluous points, which by them was re- fufed.
17. Edwin by vifion promis'd the kingdom of Northumberland on promife of his converfion, and therein eftablifli'd by Rodoald king of Eail- Angles.
18. Ofwin king of Deira flain by Ofwie his friend king of Ber- nitia, through inftigation of flat- terers. See Holinflied, p. 115.
ig. Sigibert of the Eaft- Angles keeping company with a perfon ex- communicated, flain by the fame man in his houfe, according as the bifliop Cedda had foretold.
20. Egfride king of the Nor- thumbers flain in battle againft the Pi(fts, having before wafted Ireland, and made war for no reafon on men that ever lov'd the Englifli ; forewarn'd alfo by Cuthbert not to fight with the Pidls.
21. Kinewulf, king of Weft' faxons, flain by Kineard in the houfe of one of his concubines.
22. Gunthildis, the Danifli lady, with her hufband Palingus, and her fon, flain by appointment of the traitor Edrick in king Ethelred's days. Holinflied, 7. L, c. 5. toge- ther with the maflkcre of the Danes at Oxford. Speed.
23. Brightrick of Weft-faxons poifon'd by his wife Ethelburge Ofta's daughter,who dies miferably alfo in beggery after adultery in a nunnery. Speed in Bithrick.
24. Alfred
[ 33' ]
24. Alfred in difgulfe of a mi- niniel difcovers the Danes negli- gence, fees on with a mighty flaughter ; about the fame time the Devonlhire men ;out Hubba and flay him.
A Heroical poem may be found- ed fomewhere in Alfred's reign, efpecially at his iffuing out of Ede- lingfey on the Danes, whofe ac- tions are well like thofe of Ulyf- fes.
25. Altheftan expofing his bro- ther Edwin to the fea, and repent- ing.
26. Edgar flaying Ethelwold for falfe play in wooing, wherein may be fet out his pride, luil:, which he thought to clofe by favoring Monks and building Monaiteries : alfo the difpofition of woman in Elfrida to- ward her hufljand.
27. Swane befieging London, and Ethelred repuls'd by the Lon- doners.
28 Harold flain in battel by William the Norman. The firil fcene may begin with the ghoft of Alfred, thefecond fon of Ethelred, flain in cruel manner by Godwin Harold's father, his mother and brother difluading him.
29. Edmond Ironfide defeating the Danes at Brentford, with his combat with Canute.
30. Edmund Ironfide murder'd by Edrick the traitor, and reveng'd by Canute.
31. Gunilda, daughter to king Canute and Emma. Wife to Henry the third Emperor, accus'dofin- chaltity, is defended by her Englifh page in combat againft a giant-like adverfary ; who by him at two blows is flain, i^c. Speed in the Life of Canute.
32. Hardiknute dying in his cups, an example to riot.
33.EdwardContenbr'!) divorcing and imprifoning his noble wife E- ditha, Godwin's daughter; where- in is fhowed his over affection to ftrangers the caufe of Godwin's in- furreftion, wherein Godwin's for- bearance of battel prais'd, and the Englifh moderation on both fides magnified. His flacknefs to redrefs the corrupt clergy, and fuperfti- tious pretence of cliaftity.
A B R A M from Morea, or Isaac redeem'd.
The Occonomy may be thus. The fifth or fixth day after Abra- ham's departure, Eleazer Abrani's fteward, firft alone, and then with the Chorus, difcourfe of Abra- ham's ftrange voyage, their miflrefs forrow and perplexity accompanied with frightful dreams ; and tell the manner of his rifing by night, tak- ing his fervants and his fon with him. Next may come forth Sarah herfelf ; after the Chorus, or If- mael, or Agar ; next feme fhep- herd or company of merchants pafling through the mount in the time that Abram was in the mid- work, relate to Saraii what they faw. Hence lamentation, fears, wonders : the matter in the mean while divulg'd. Aner or Efchcol, or Mamre Abram's confederates come to the houfe of Abram to be more certain, or to bring news; in the mean while difcourfing as the world would of fuch an ac- tion divers ways, bewailing the fate of fo noble a man fain from his re- putation, either through divine ju- Ilice, or fuperliition, or coveting
to
[ 332 ]
to c'o fome notable a£l through zeaU At length a fervant fcnt from Abram relates the truth ; and laft he himfelf comes with a ai eat train of Melchizedeck, whofe fliep- herds being fecret eve-witnefies of all palTages had related to their mafter, and he conduced his friend Abraham home with joy.
Ba
E S.
The Scene, the Court.
Beginning from the morning of Herod's birth-day.
Herod by forae Counfellor per- fuaded * on his birth-day to re- leafe John Baptift, purpofes it, caufes him to be fent for to the court from prifon. The Queen hears of it, takes occafion to pafs where he is, on purpofe, that under pretence of reconciling to him, or feeking to draw a kind retrac- tion from him of his cenfure on the marriage ; to which end fiie fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his fentence, which not finding, (he herfelf craftily afTays, and on his conftancy founds an accufation to Herod of a contu- jnacious afFio it on fuch a day be- fore many peers, prepares the king to fome paffion, and at laft by her daup^hter'sdancinofefFefts it. There may prologize the Spirit of Philip, Herod's brother. It may alfo be thought, that Herod had well be- dew'd himieif with wine, which snade him grant the eafier to his
wives daughter. Some of his dif- ciples alfo, as to congratulate his liberty, may be brought in, with whom after certain command of his death many companioning words of his difciples, bewailing his youth cut off in his glorious courfe, he telling them his work is done, and wifhing them to follow Chrift his mafter.
S O D O M.
The title, Cupid's funeral pile. Sodom burning.
The Scene before Lot's gate.
The Chorus confifts of Lot's fliepherds coron to the city about fome affairs await in the evening their matter's return from his evening walk toward the city- gates. He brings with him two young men or youths of noble form. After likely difcourfes pre- pares for their entertainment. By then fupper is ended, the gallantry of the town pafs by in proceffion with mufic and fong to the temple of Venus Urania or Peor, and un- derftanding of two noble ftrang- ers arriv'd, they fend two of their choiceft youth with the prieft to invite them to their city folemni- ties, it being an honor that their city had decreed to all fair per- fonages, as being facred to their Goddefs. The Angels being a&t by the prieft whence they are, iay they are of Salem ; the prieft in- veighs againft the ftrift reign of Melchizedec. Lot, that knows their
* Or e]/e the Queen may plot under pretence of begging for his liberty, to ieek to draw him iato & inare by his freedom of fpeech.
drift.
[ 333 ]
drift, anfwers tliwartly at laft, of which notice given to the whole aflembly, they haften thither, tax him of prefumption, Angularity, breach of city- cuftoms ; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of fhep- herds prepare refiftance in their mafter's defenfe, calling the reft of the ferviture ; but being forc'd to give back, the Angels open the door, refcue Lot, difcover them- felves, w/arn him to gather his friends and fons in law out of the city. He goes and returns, as having met with fome incredulous. Some other friend or fon in law out of the way, when Lot came to his houfe, overtakes him to know his bufmefs. Here is dif- puted of incredulity of divine judg- ments, and fuch like matter: at laft is defcribed the parting from the city; the Chorus depart with their mafter ; the Angels do the deed with all dreadful execution ; the King and Nobles of the city may come forth, and ferve to fet out the terror; a Chorus of Angels concluding, and the Angels relat- ing the event of Lot's journey and of his wife. The firft Chorus be- ginning, may relate the courfe of the city each evening every one with miftrefs or Ganymed, gitterning along the ftreets, or fo- Jacing on the banks of Jordan, or down the ftream. At the prieft's inviting the Angels to the folemni- ty, the Angels pitying their beauty may difpute of love, and how it differs from luft, feeking to win them. In the laft fcenc, to the King and Nobles, when the fierce thunders begin aloft, the Angel appears all girt with flames, which
he faith are the flames of true love, and tells the King, who falls down with terror, his juft fuffer- ing, as alfo Athane's, i. e. Gencr, Lot's fon in law, for defpifing the continual admonitions of Lot: then calling to the thunders, lightnings, and fires, he bids them hear the call and command of God to come and deftroy a godlefs na- tion: he brings them down with fome Ihort warning to other na- tions to take heed.
Chrift born.
Herod malTacring, or Riche! weeping, Matt. II. Chrirt bound. Chrift crucifi'd. Chrift rifen. Lazarus. Joan. XL
Adam u n p a r a d i s'd .
The Angel Gabriel either de- fcending or entring, fhowing lince this globe was created, his fre- quency as much on Earth, as in Heaven : defcribes Paradife. Nex^ the Chorus ftiewing the reafbn of his coming to keep his watch in Paradife after Lucifer's rebellion, by command from God, and witha! expreffing his defire to fee and know more concerning this excel- lent new creature, Man. The Angel Gabriel, as by his name fig- nifying a prince of power, tracing Paradife with a more free office, pafles by the ftation of the Cho- rus, and defired by them relates what he knew of Man, as the cre- ation of Eve, with their love and marriage. After this Lucifer ap- pears after his overthrow, bemoans himfelf,
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himfelf, feeks revenge on Man. The Chorus prepare refiftance at his firft approach. At Jail, after difcourfe of enmity on either fide, he departs ; whereat the Chorus lings of the battel, and vidlory in Heaven againll him and his ac- complices; as before, after the firll Adl, was fung a hjinn of the creation. Here again may appear Lucifer relating and infuiting in what he had done to the deftruc- tion of Man. Man next, and Eve having by this time been feduc'd by the ferpent appears confufedly cover'd with leaves. Confcience in a fhape accufes him, Jullice cites him to the place, whither Jehovah call'd for him. In the mean while the Chorus entertains the ftage, and is informed by fome Angel the manner of his fall. Here the Chorus bewails Adam's fall. Adam then and Eve return, accufe one another, but efpecially Adam lays the blame to his wife, is ftubborn in his ofFenle. Juftice appears; reafons with him, con- vinces him. The Chorus admo- nilheth Adam, and bids him be- ware Lucifer's example of impe- nitence. The Angel is fent to ba- rilli them out of Paradife ; but be- fore cauics to pafs before his eyes in ihapes a Malic of all the evils of this life and world. He is humbled, relents, defpairs ; at lall appears Mercy, comforts him, promifes the Mefliah ; then calls in Faith, Hope, and Charity ; in- itruds him ; he repents, gives God the glory, fubmits to bis pe- nalty. The Chorus briefly con- cludes. Compare this with the iormer draught.
Scotch Stories, or rather Briiiili of the North parts.
A T H I R c 0 flain by Natholo- chus, whofe daughter he had ra- vifht, and this Natholochus ulurp- ing tnereon the kingdom, feeks to flay the kindred of Athirco, who fcape him and confpire againft him. He fends to a v. itch to know the event. The witch tells the meffenger, that he is the man fhall flay Natholochus : he detefts it, but in his journey home changes his mind, and performs it Scotch Chron. Englifli, p. 68, 69.
D u F F E and D o n w a l d, a ftrange ftory of witchcraft, and mur- der diicov^er'd and reven^d. Scotch Story, I 49, i^c.
Ha IE, the Plowman, who with his two fons that were at plough running to the battel that was be- tween the Scots and Danes in the next field, itaid the flight of his countrymen, renew'd the battel, and caus'd the victory, is'c. Scotch Story, p. 155.
K E X N E T H, who having pri- vily poifon'd Malcolm Dufie, that his own fon might fucceed, is flain by Fenella. Scotch Hill. p. 157, 158, ijc.
Macbeth, beginning at the arrival of Malcolm at MackdufFe. The matter of Duncan may be exprefs'd by the appearing of his gholL
MOABITIDES OrPHINEAS.
The Epitafis whereof may lie in the contention, firft between the father of Zimri and Eleazer, whe- ther he [ought] to have flain his
foii
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fon without law: Next, the em- bafTadors of the Moabites expoftu- lating about Cofbi a llranger and a noble woman flain by Phineas. It may be argued about reformation and punifliment illegal, and, as it were by tumult: after all arguments driv'n home, then the word of the Lord may be brought acquitting and approving Phineas.
Christus Patiens.
The fcene in the garden be- ginning from the coming thi- ther till Judas betrays, and the officers lead him away. The rell by melTage and Chorus. His agony may receive noble expref- fions.
The end of the Firfl Volume.