theology. He used that language as no other user of English speech has so grandly done for the liberation of the human spirit. In any generation when ignorance lays hold on Christian thought and the Christian epic for purposes of tyranny and intolerance, it is fitting to print again the works included in this volume.

WILLIAM HAller.

AREOPAGITICA

AREOPAGITICA

A SPEECH FOR

THE LIBERTY OF UNLICENSED PRINTING

TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND

"This is true liberty, when free-born men,

Having to advise the public, may speak free,
Which he who can, and will, deserves high praise;
Who neither can, nor will, may hold his peace:

What can be juster in a state than this?"—Euripid. Hicetid.

THEY, who to states and governors of the commonwealth direct their speech, high court of parliament! or wanting such access in a private condition, write that which they foresee may advance the public good; I suppose them, as at the beginning of no mean endeavour, not a little altered and moved inwardly in their minds; some with doubt of what will be the success, others with fear of what will be the censure; some with hope, others with confidence of what they have to speak. And me perhaps each of these dispositions, as the subject was whereon I entered, may have at other times variously affected; and likely might in these foremost expressions now also disclose which of them swayed most, but that the very attempt of this address thus made, and the thought of whom it hath recourse to, hath got the power within me to a passion, far more welcome than incidental to a preface.

Which though I stay not to confess ere any ask, I shall be blameless, if it be no other than the joy and