MY EMENDATIONS. I Do not presume to think that I can, simply by any arguments that I might advance, demolish or weaken the confiding trust in the purity and even sacredness of the "originals " (one or two are called by some editors "Milton's copies") of the "Paradise Lost," which is so generally entertained; and in the presence of so many eminent scholars, whose services cannot be too highly praised, but who have somehow persuaded themselves into embracing that faith undoubtingly, it might prove futile and useless to advance any considerations outside the inherent force and evidence which, I trust, my restorations themselves possess. make bold, however, to say that I think the belief has no better foundation than a mere tradition, and that it carries with it all the mischief of a superstition--both as it affects those who entertain it and the poet whose transcendant legacy to the intellect of the world is thereby sullied and disparaged. But I am content to adopt modestly the attitude of Leontes "Though I am satisfied, and need no more I If I think my Emendations not unworthy of being examined by others, I at the same time seek no indulgence for them-on the contrary, I welcome all the criticism that may be devoted to them, only trusting that it may be deliberate and well considered in every instance. My Emendations are all embodied in the text, but I collect and present them here as more convenient for easy survey and criticism-classifying them into verbal, and those that relate to the punctuation. THE VERBAL EMENDATIONS.1 BOOK I. and her priests, to DECK (seek) Their wandering gods, disguised in brutish forms [Line 480] The priests imposed upon ("abused ") the ignorant fancies of the people by "decking" metaphorically their gods in brutish forms—a human figure amalgamated with the heads of animals. The Ionian gods, of Javan's issue (held [to be] [Line 509] This is my reading, with vital changes in the punc tuation. The accepted text is this The Ionian gods, of Javan's issue held Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, 1 My alterations are printed in small capitals; the bracketed italic words are those of the received text, as also the italic words in BOOK I.] MY EMENDATIONS-VERBAL. xxix 6 Javan was the fourth son of Japhet and grandson of Noah, and is supposed to have settled in Asia Minor, about Ionia; the Ionians are, therefore, said to be his descendants. This tradition adequately sustains the first clause; the rest, as I have treated it, seems obvious: they are believed in as gods, yet acknowledged later [as] from Heaven and Earth, their parents.' Dr. Bradshaw says, that " some modern editions get over the difficulty, or rather leave it as it stands, by placing a comma after both gods and issue;" but he rejects this treatment and gives his adhesion to one of several others "as preferable" (turning upon the placing of a comma), though with no satisfaction, and no attempt to solve the great difficulty it is acknowledged by all editors to present. My belief is that some ignorant printer of the early period, being familiar of course with the common phrase "later than," thought it preferable, or more likely made the change from sheer thoughtlessness. The VASTY (hasty) multitude [Line 730] for he with HIS (this) rebellious rout Fell long before; [Line 747] See line 751, "his industrious crew were sent to Hell." BOOK II. Moloch pleads for open war, and deals with the fears of those who dread the consequences of another defeat. The whole passage I must give, as there are some blighting blunders also in the punctuation which deface it. This is as it is emended 'should we again provoke 'Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 'To our destruction!' If there be in Hell Fear to be worse destroyed, what can be worse Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned Where pain of unextinguishable fire Must exercise us, without hope of end, The vassals of his anger-WHERE the scourge GALLS us to DEFIANCE? [Lines 82-92]. ‘should we again provoke The received text is this: 'Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 'To our destruction, if there be in Hell 'Fear to be destroyed.' What can be worse Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorrèd deep to utter woe; Where pain of unextinguishable fire Must exercise us, without hope of end, I would ask that a close comparison be made also with the punctuation. All I think it needful to say on these changes will be found in my "Preface," p. vii., and to quote line 48, Book I., "there to dwell in penal fire"-also lines 67, 68: 666-669, Book I., highly they raged Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms These are my alterations of the text, "To less than gods." It need hardly be said that this has been an insoluble puzzle to every editor. See my "Preface," p. vi., and the quotation in the emendation preceding this (666-669, Book I.). Each on his ROD (rock) transfixed. [Line 181] Rod, undoubtedly-meaning his spear or weapon. Under yon boiling ocean wrapped in FLAMES (chains). [Line 183] See lines 61, 62, 151, Book I., and lines 434-436, Book II. "All the chains heaped on him" (line 82, Book III.) is some approach to a parallel, but is far from sufficient to remove the assumption that "chains" has not superseded a fit and most appropriate word. The spirits are, I know, described as "chained on the burning lake" (line 169), and as suffering "chains and torments" (line 196): this is one form of punishment by chains, wrapped in flames is another form. to suffer as we (to) do [Line 199] I have not adopted this change, but I suggest it as deserving of consideration. See my remarks upon this passage, p. lxxv. |