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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  ■ 

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       ■  ■    rv        .  .  n 

.    ^  ,   -^^       ^  ',    ,._     .  and  krpents:  a  cindture  totally  op- 
was  not  that  danker  and  difncuJty         r.  .  \\,  ^  j  j  u     .u 

■,■     r  n  T  ■  ■  poht  to  that  recommended  by  the 

as  in    his  hrlt  expedition  to  rum  \- ^^:-^y^-c^\^    \t\    ,       l      ■ 

■  .    J        ,    .     f.j    .  r-  A  pole!  e  h  ph.   VI.  14.   having  your 

mankind,     it  is  laid  in  reference  ,:        ■  /  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 ; ■ 

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, 

■ 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 

■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.       "■■    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  ■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 


■  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.  ■  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  ■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. 

■■        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/  ■      r?  .  printed 

27.    rlasn  pjhnnien,   no    greater  *■ 

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  ■' 

(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  ■  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- 

^■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.  ■ " 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.  ■  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. 


■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''!  '■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  ■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  ■    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-     ,  ■    ^  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\          ■ 

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 

■  ,    f,  ■    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.     ?■.. 

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      ►oM.y;      ivayQtci; 

K.    T.   X. 


►o/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 
■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  -  ■  ■   "■ 

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  ■■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 


■  '        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  ^  ^''■^^'■' ,  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  ■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. 

"■  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     ■/)    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         /■            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 

■>  -'  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.  ■  ■  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  ■ 

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 

■  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  ■^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"^^    '''""'^''"  ''■''^^'^- 

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  : 

^'^'■-  ^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.  ■'. 

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, 

■  ^     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. 

■  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  ■ 

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 

■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.  ■,  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:  -■:'.: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 

-■"  ■  ■'         '                   '  ■    ■     ■                                   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     ■  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  - .     ■  '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  )    ■      ,  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 *■ 

to  ver.  704.  ■ 

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  ■  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. 
■         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 _/?>£■ 

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  ,-   ,              ,,         ,•'->,,■ 

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 

■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, 


[  334  ] 


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 


[  335  ] 


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.