CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth of Milton-Character of the times-His family-Early

education-Death of King James-Character of his court-

Public characters of Elizabeth's reign-Programme of Milton's

travels-Juvenile poems-'Death of a fair infant'-College

verses-Rustication from college - Retirement at Horton-

Return to college-Epic poem of King Arthur'-Love of the

the Theatre Anticipations of Paradise Lost' Style of

Milton's language
· page 1

·

CHAPTER II.

Critical account of Milton's college poetry-'Hymn to the

Nativity-Its sublimity and originality-Johnson's neglect

of this ode-Milton's lyrical ear-Latin poetry-'In Quintum

Novembris'-'In Obitum Præsulis Eliensis'-' Naturam

non pati senium' - Cowper's translation - Poem to his

-

tutor

14

CHAPTER III.

College poetry continued-' Ad Patrem'-Cowper's transla-
tion-Elegy to Deodate-Deodate family-Latin epistles-

In adventum Veris'- Seasons of composition - Pride of

scholarship-Superiority of his English juvenile verse to his

page

24

Latin

CHAPTER IV.

Departure from College-L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso'-

From whence suggested-Character of these compositions-

Opinions of Warton and Johnson- Comments

CHAPTER V.

'Lycidas,' and 'Epitaphium Damonis'-Death of Edward

King-Dr. Johnson's censure of 'Lycidas'-Analysis of his

critique-Death of Charles Deodate-Elegy--Design of an

epic poem

43

CHAPTER VI.

33

On Comus'. Introduction of Milton to Bridgewater

family-Performance of 'Comus' by the family-The Eger-

tons- Masks in Ben Jonson's time-Outline of Comus'-

Warton's criticism-Criticisms from Toland to Todd-Unfit-

ness of Comus' for stage exhibition

·

CHAPTER VIII.

48

CHAPTER VII.

The Arcades-Countess of Derby - Her family -Hare-

field-Harrington's epigram-Spenser's lines on Lady Derby

-Her peerage-book.

59

Milton's foreign travels-Reception at Florence - Rome

and Naples-Visit to Galileo-Marquis Manso-' Ad Man-

sum'-Cowper's translation-Venice-Geneva-John Deo-

date-Calvinistic prejudices-Traces of Milton's visit to Ge-

page 63

neva

CHAPTER IX.

Milton's return to England-Undertakes the tutorship of

his nephews-Johnson's remarks on this-Defence of Milton's

occupation-Commencement of his prose works-Contro-

versies-Milton's autobiography-Prayer-Preface to second

book of Reason of Church Government'

72

6

CHAPTER X.

Milton's marriage-Separation from his wife-' Doctrine

and Discipline of Divorce '-' Tetrachordon '-'Judgment of

Martin Bucer'-'Colasterion '-Clamour against Milton-Re-

turn of his wife-Her death-Milton's claim on her father's

property

103

CHAPTER XI.

His various literary occupations-Publication of early

poems in 1645- Animadversions upon Remonstrants' De-

fence''Apology for Smectymnuus'-Tractate of Education'

—'Areopagitica'-'Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'—' Ob-

servations,' &c.-Milton's account of his History of England'

--Eikonoclastes'-Preface to Eikonoclastes'-'Defensio pro

Populo'' Defensio secunda '-' Treatise on Civil Power '-

Considerations,' &c.-- Letter to a Friend'-' Ready and

easy Way to establish a free Commonwealth'- Brief Notes

upon a late Sermon' Remarks on Milton's sectarian

writings

107

-

racter

CHAPTER XII.

Milton's state appointment-Second marriage-Loss of sight

-Reduction of salary-Loss of secretaryship- Cabinet coun-

cil of Raleigh'-His own description of his person-Hi

accomplishments - Reply to attack on his private cha-

page 131

CHAPTER XIII.

Milton's character of Oliver Cromwell-Queries to the

people of England'—Biography resumed-Milton's knowledge

of human nature-Facts in Milton's life few and trite-John-

son's attack on the poet

CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XV.

140

Milton's blindness-His enemies charge it as a judgment

upon him-His reply and appeal-Sonnet to Skinner-Re-

commendation of Andrew Marvell as secretary - Milton's

salary-Commencement of the Paradise Lost'-Visited by

foreigners of distinction - Restoration of the Monarchy-

Death. of Vane and other regicides - Clemency shown to

Milton-Cause not recorded-Charles's court-French school

of poetry-Dryden-Milton composing his poem in retire-

ment-Cowley-The poet's hatred of monarchy-Third mar-

riage-Plague in London-Milton retires to Buckinghamshire

-His Latin letter to Heimbach

. 154

Sale of Paradise Lost'-Johnson's remarks-Contempo-
raries of Milton-Dryden's opinion of Paradise Lost'-Folio