FOURTH PERIOD. AFTER THE RESTORATION. A.D. 1660-1674. A. ET. 52-66. PARADISE LOST. PARADISE REGAINED. SAMSON AGONISTES. 201 COMMENDATORY VERSES. IN PARADISUM AMISSAM SUMMI POETÆ JOHANNIS MILTONI. Qui legis Amissam Paradisum, grandia magni Et sine fine magis, si quid magis est sine fine, Dum ferus hic stellas protegit, ille rapit! Et metuit pugnæ non superesse suæ. Horrendumque rotæ strident, et sæva rotarum Et flammæ vibrant, et vera tonitrua rauco Excidit attonitis mens omnis, et impetus omnis Ad pœnas fugiunt, et, ceu foret Orcus asylum, Cedite Romani scriptores, cedite Graii Et quos fama recens vel celebravit anus. Hæc quicunque leget tantum cecinisse putabit Mæonidem ranas, Virgilium culices. S[AMUEL] B[ARROW], M.D. ON PARADISE LOST. WHEN I beheld the poet blind, yet bold, Heaven, Hell, Earth, Chaos, all; the argument -So Samson groped the temple's posts in spite- I liked his project, the success did fear; Or, if a work so infinite he spanned, My causeless, yet not impious, surmise. But I am now convinced, and none will dare Thou hast not missed one thought that could be fit, So that no room is here for writers left, But to detect their ignorance or theft. The majesty which through thy work doth reign And things divine thou treatest of in such state At once delight and horror on us seize, Where couldst thou words of such a compass find? Well mightest thou scorn thy readers to allure The poets tag them, we for fashion wear. I too transported by the mode offend, And while I meant to praise thee must commend. A[NDREW] MARVEL]. |