were his averfion. Being too fadly convinc'd how much his health had fuffer'd by nightftudies in his younger years, He used to go early (feldom later than Nine) to reft; and rofe commonly before Five in the morning. It is reported, (and there is a paffage in one of his Latin Elegies to countenance the tradition) that his fancy made the happiest Alights in the Spring: but one of his Nephews used to deliver it as MILTON'S OWN obfervation, that his Invention was in its highest perfection from September to the Vernal Equinox: however it was, the great inequalities to be found in his composures are inconteftable proofs, that in fome seasons He was but one of the people. When blindness restrain'd him from other exercises, He had a machine to swing in, for the preservation of his health; and diverted himself in his chamber with playing on an Organ. His Deportment was erect, open, affable; his Converfation eafy, chearful, inftructive; his Wit on all occafions at command, facetious, grave, or fatirical, as the fubject requir'd. His Judgment, when dif-engag'd from religious and political fpeculations, was just and penetrating; his Apprehenfion, quick; his Memory, tenacious of what He read; his Reading, only not fo extenfive as his Genius, for That That was univerfal. And having treafur'd up fuch immenfe ftores of science, perhaps the faculties of his foul grew more vigorous after He was depriv'd of his fight: and his Imagination (naturally fublime, and inlarg'd by reading Romances, * of which He was much inamor'd in his youth,) when it was wholly abstracted from material objects, was more at liberty to make fuch amazing excurfions into the Ideal world, when in compofing his Divine Work He was tempted to range Beyond the vifible diurnal sphere. With fo many accomplishments, not to have had some faults, and misfortunes, to be laid in the balance with the fame, and felicity, of writing PARADISE LOST, wou'd have been too great a portion for humanity. *His Apology for Smectymnus, p. 177. Fol. ELIJAH FENTON. POSTSCRIPT. THE works of inferior Geniuses have their infancy, and often receive additions of ftrength and beauty, in the feveral Impreffions they undergo whilst their authors live: but the following Poem came into the world, like the Persons whom it celebrates, in a state of maturity. However, though in the first Edition it was difpos'd into Ten Books only, MILTON thought proper in the Second to make a new divifion of it into Twelve: not, I fuppofe, with respect to the Aneis (for He was, in both fenfes of the phrafe, above Imitation) but more probably, because the length of the Seventh and Tenth requir'd a Pause in the Narration, He divided them, each into Two: on which distribution, to the beginning of thofe Books which are now the Eighth and Twelfth, He added the following Verses, which were neceffary to make a connection. Book VIII. ver. 1. The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear Thought him ftill speaking; fill flood fix'd to bear: Then, as new wak'd, thus gratefully reply'd. The latter half of the verfe was taken from this in the first Edition. To whom thus Adam gratefully reply'd. Book XII. ver. 1. As one who in his journey bates at noon, Betwixt the world deftroy'd, and world reftor'd; At the fame time the Author made fome few additions in other places of the Poem, which are here inferted for the fatisfaction of the curious.. Book V. ver. 637. "They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet "Are fill'd, before th'all-bounteous King, &c. were thus enlarg'd in the Second Edition. They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Book XI. ver. 484. after, "Inteftine ftone, and ulcer, cholic-pangs, these three verfes were added. Damoniac phrenzy, moaping melancholy, And ver. 551. of the fame Book (which was originally thus, "Of rend'ring up. Michael to him reply'd) receiv'd this addition, Of rend'ring up, and patiently attend To what I have faid in the Life, of our Author's having no Monument, it may not be improper to add; that I defir'd a Friend |