pleasure, that, like other lovers, we find grace in its deformity *."

After reading the extracts that have been given from writers under queen Elizabeth, it will be fufpected that this cenfure of Milton's ftyle is too ftrong and difproportionate. If Addifon were fomewhat misled by his veneration for Milton, Johnson has erred in the other extreme. The former will probably be found at leaft as near to the truth as the latter.

The fact feems to be, that Milton was diffatisfied with the shapeless chaos in which our language appeared in former writers, and fet himfelf, with that ardour which always diftinguished him, to reform it. His fuccefs indeed is not entitled to unlimited encomium. The gigantic ftructure of his genius perhaps fomewhat misled him. He endeavoured to form a language of too lofty and uniform a port. The exuberance of his mind led him to pour out his thoughts with an impetuofity, that often swept away with it the laws of fimplicity and even the rules of grammatical propriety. His attempt however to give fyftem to the lawless dialect of our anceftors, was the mark of a generous fpirit, and entitles him to our applause.

If we compare the ftyle of Milton to that of

later writers, and particularly to that of our own days, undoubtedly nothing but a very corrupt tafte can commend it. But the cafe is altered, if we compare it with the writings of his prede ceffors. An impartial critic would perhaps find no language in any writer that went before Milton, of fo much merit as that of Milton himself.

As a fpecimen of Milton's ftyle, it may be worth while to felect that paffage from his Reafon of Church-Government urged against Prelaty, published more than twenty years before the Paradife Loft, in which he speaks, in little less than a prophetic fpirit, of what he purpofed to execute, to give fubftance to his own talent, and for the ornament of his country.

"Although a Poet," fays he, "foaring in the high Region of his Fancies, with his Garland and finging Robes about him, might, without Apology, fpeak more of himself then I mean to do; yet for me fitting here below in the cool Element of Profe, a mortal thing among many Readers of no Empyreal Conceit, to venture and divulge unusual things of my felf, I fhall petition to the gentler fort, it may not be envy to me. I muft fay therefore, that after I had from my firft years, by the ceafelefs diligence and care of my Father, whom God recompence, been exercis'd to the Tongues, and fome Sciences, as my Age would

would fuffer, by fundry Mafters and Teachers both at home and at the Schools, it was found, that whether ought was impos'd me by them that had the overlooking, or betak'n to of my own choife in English, or other Tongue, profing or verfing, but chiefly this latter, the stile by certain vital Signs it had, was likely to live. But much latelier in the privat Academies of Italy, whither I was favour'd to refort, perceiving that fome Trifles which I had in memory, compos'd at under twenty or thereabout (for the manner is, that every one muft give fome proof of his wit and reading there) met with acceptance above what was lookt for, and other things which I had fhifted in scarfity of Books and other Conveniences to patch up amongst them, were receiv'd with written Encomiums, which the Italian is not forward to bestow on men of this fide the Alps, I began thus far to affent both to them and divers of my friends here at home; and not lefs to an inward prompting which now grew daily upon me, that by labour and intent study, (which I take to be my portion in this Life) joyn'd with the strong propensity of Nature, I might perhaps leave fomething so written to after-times, as they should not willingly let it die.

"The thing which I had to fay, and those Intentions which have liv'd within me ever fince I

could conceive my felf any thing worth to my Country, I return to crave excufe that urgent Reason hath pluckt from me, by an abortive and foredated difcovery. And the accomplishment of them lies not but in a power above mans to promife; but that none hath by more ftudious ways endeavour'd, and with more unwcaried Spirit that none fhall, that I dare almost aver of my felf, as far as life and free leafure will extend; and that the Land had once infranchis'd her felf from this impertinent yoke of Prelaty, under whofe inquifitorius and tyrannical duncery, no free and fplendid Wit can flourish. Neither do I think it fhame to covenant with any knowing Reader, that for fome few years yet I may go on truft with him toward the payment of what I am now indebted, as being a work not to be rais'd from the heat of Youth, or the vapours of Wine; like that which flows at waft from the Pen of fome vulgar Amorift, or the trencher fury of a riming Parafite; nor to be obtain'd by the invocation of Dame Memory and her Siren Daughters, but by devout Prayer to that eternal Spirit, who can enrich with all utterance and knowledg, and fends out his Seraphim, with the hallow'd Fire of his Altar, to touch and purify the Lips of whom he plcafes: to this must be added induftrious and select Reading, fteddy Obferva

tion, infight into all feemly and generous Arts and Affairs; till which in fome measure be compaft, at mine one peril and coft, I refuse not to fuftain this expectation from as many as are not loth to hazard fo much credulity upon the best Pledges that I can give them. Although it nothing content me to have difclos'd thus much before hand, but that I trust hereby to make it manifeft with what fmall willingness I endure to interrupt the pursuit of no less hopes then these, and leave a calm and pleafing Solitarines, fed with cherful and confident thoughts, to imbark in a troubl'd Sea of noifes and hoars Difputes."

The Areopagitica of Milton, or a Speech for the Liberty of Unlicenced Printing, notwithstanding the occafional stiffness and perplexity of its ftyle, is one of the moft eloquent profe compofitions in this or any other language. To give the reader an adequate idea of its beauties, it would be neceffary to infert one third of the performance. Let us content ourselves with the following admirable defcription of the perfon over whom the licenfer will occafionally be called to exercise his jurifdiction.

"If therfore ye be loth to difhearten utterly and difcontent, not the mercenary crew of falfe pretenders to learning, but the free and ingepious fort of fuch as evidently were born to study

and