vii In Paradifum amiffam* fummi poeta Johannis Miltoni. Ο UI legis Amiffam Paradifum, grandia magni Intima panduntur magni penetralia mundi; Terræque, tractufque maris, cœlumque profundum Et fine fine magis, fi quid magis eft fine fine, Excidit attonitis mens omnis, et impetus omnis • Published with the fecond edition of Paradife Loft, in 1674. Ad pœnas fugiunt, et ceu foret Orcus afylum Et quos fama recens vel celebravit anus. SAMUEL BARROW, M. D. WE ON PARADISE LOST. WHEN I beheld the poet blind, yet bold, Heav'n, hell, earth, chaos, all; the argument I lik'd his project, the fuccefs did fear; Through that wide field how he his way fhould find Or if a work fo infinite he spann'd, Jealous I was that fome lefs fkilful hand Might hence prefume the whole creation's day Thou haft not mifs'd one thought that could be fit, So that no room is here for writers left, That majefty which through thy work doth reign Draws the devout, deterring the profane. And things divine thou treat'ft of in such state Where could'ft thou words of fuch a compass find? Well mighteft thou fcorn thy readers to allure And while I meant to praise thee must commend.* In number, weight, and measure, needs not rhyme. ANDREW MARVEL. See note in Life, p. cvii. |