• In adventum Veris' - Seasons of composition - Pride of
scholarship-Superiority of his English juvenile verse to his
Latin

page 24

CHAPTER IV.

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

From whence suggested— Character of these compositions-

Opinions of Warton and Johnson-Comments

33

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.

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

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

CHAPTER VIII.

Milton's foreign travels - Reception at Florence - Rome

and Naples-Visit to Galileo-Marquis Mansom Ad Man-

m'-Cowper's translation—Venice - Geneva-John Deo-
date-Calvinistic prejudices—Traces of Milton's visit to Ge-

sum

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'

73

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

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-His

accomplishments — Reply to attack on his private cha-

racter

page 131

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

140

CHAPTER XIV.

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 Buckinghamsbire

-His Latin letter to Heimbach

154

CHAPTER XV.

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

editions in 1688 and 1695-Milton's - History of England'-

• Paradise Regained ' _ Samson Agonistes' – Milton unfor-

tunate in his family–His studies and privations---Analysis of

his character, &c.

page 168

CHAPTER XVI.

* Artis Logicæ Plenior Institutio'— Treatise of True

Religion' _ 'Familiar Letters' - Academical Exercises' –

Decline of health-Illness-Death--Burial.- Personal appear-

ance - Temper-Religious tenets --Family-Sir Christopher

Milton- The poet's nephews

179

.

CHAPTER XVII.

General and miscellaneous observations-Milton's imagi-

nation- His great poems-Studies in Holy Scriptures

Comparison with Spenser and Shakspeare – Lesson of bis

life-Intellect-- Language--Mental and moral character-

Comparison with Gray - Early Latin poems - College ex-

ercises, &c.

183

CHAPTER XVIII.

Observations on Milton's poetry continued Era of his
writings State of literature in Elizabeth's reign-Milton's
inventiveness--His devotion to the Muse-SpenserDantem

Idealism of · Comuş'-Grandeur of · Paradise Lost'-The
s study of Milton's poetry a duty--Milton's precocious talents,
&c.

195

CHAPTER XIX.

Recapitulation of Milton's personal character-Non-com-

pliance with the ways of the world-Purity and sanctity of soul

--Address to Urania-Origin of · Paradise Lost'-The poet's

own account of the origin-Difficulty of giving novelty to any

new biography of Milton-Johnson's Life-Warton-Hayley

--Newton-Bentley and Warburton

page 206

• Paradise Lost'-The two grand criticisms on this poem

by Addison and Johnson--Observations on these criticisms

Johnson's copied from Addison-Superiority of Addison's cri.

tique-Johnson's wilful detraction-Extracts from Addison's

• Essay on Paradise Lost'

215

CHAPTER XXI.

Addison's Essay continued-Battle of the angels-Addi.

son's sublimity-Conclusion of Addison's Essay-Remarks

Johnson's partiality for Dryden and Pope--Unfairness to Mil-

ton--Appearance of his · Life'-Injury to the national taste-

Johnson's want of imagination

226

1

CHAPTER XXII.

Merits of Milton compared with those of other poets Supe-

riority of Milton-Character and invention-Remarks on the

quality of Milton's genius-Technical critics require technical

excellences-Addison's rules of criticism

238

CHAPTER XXIII.

On Paradise Regained'-Critical analysis, with an inten-
tion to prove that it is not inferior in genius and excellence
to' Paradise Lost,' but in fable-Want of fable in · Cowper's