its full luftre in an epic poem. And together with the plans of Paradife Loft there are the plans or fubjects of feveral other intended tragedies, fome taken from the Scripture, others from the British or Scotish hiftories: and of the latter the last mentioned is Macbeth, as if he had an inclination to try his ftrength with Shakespear; and to reduce the play more to the unities, he propofes "beginning at the arrival of "Malcolm at Macduff; the matter of Duncan may "be expreffed by the appearing of his ghoft." Thefe manufcripts of Milton were found by the learned Mr. Profeffor Mason among fome other old papers, which, he fays, belonged to Sir Henry Newton Puckering, who was a confiderable benefactor to the library: and for the better preservation of fuch truly valuable reliques, they were collected together, and handsomely bound in a thin folio by the care and at the charge of a person, who is now very eminent in his profeffion, and was always a lover of the Mufes, and at that time a fellow of Trinity College, Mr. Clarke, one of his Majefty's counsel. IN IN PARADISUM AMISSAM SUMMI POETE JOHANNIS MILTONI. UI legis Amiffam Paradifum, grandia magni Q Carmina Miltoni, quid nifi cuncta legis? Res cunctas, & cunctarum primordia rerum, Et quodcunque ullis conclufum eft finibus ufquam, Et tamen hæc hodie terra Britanna legit. Et Quantus Quantus in æthereis tollit fe Lucifer armis ! Quantis, & quam funeftis concurritur iris, Dum ferus hic ftellas protegit, ille rapit! Dum vulfos montes ceu tela reciproca torquent, Et non mortali defuper igne pluunt: Et flammæ vibrant, & vera tonitrua rauco Excidit attonitis mens omnis, & impetus omnis, Cedite Romani Scriptores, cedite Graii, SAMUEL BARROW, M. D. ON HEN I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, In flender book his vast design unfold, Meffiah crown'd, God's reconcil'd decree, Rebelling Angels, the forbidden tree, argument Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, all; the I lik'd his project, the success did fear; Might hence presume the whole creation's day Pardon Pardon me, mighty Poet, nor defpife Thou haft not mifs'd one thought that could be fit, So that no room is here for writers left, But to detect their ignorance or theft. That majefty which through thy work doth reign, Draws the devout, deterring the profane. And things divine thou treat'ft of in such state As them preferves, and thee, inviolate. At once delight and horror on us feise, Thou fing'ft with fo much gravity and ease; And above human flight dost foar aloft With plume so strong, fo equal, and so soft. The bird nam'd from that Paradise you fing So never flags, but always keeps on wing. Where couldst thou words of fuch a compass find? Whence furnish fuch a vast expense of mind? Just Heav'n thee like Tirefias to requite Rewards with prophecy thy lofs of fight. Well might'st thou scorn thy readers to allure With tinkling rime, of thy own sense secure; VOL. I. H While |