VOL. IL

PROLEGOMENA, &c.

ON

MILTON.

In Paradifum Amiffam fummi Poeta, Johannis

QUI

Miltoni*.

5

UI legis Amiffam Paradifum, grandia magni Carmina MILTONI, quid nifi cuncta legis? Res cunctas, et cunctarum primordia rerum, Et fata, et fines, continet ifte liber. Intima panduntur magni penetralia mundi, Scribitur et toto quicquid in orbe latet: Terraéque, tractúfque maris, cœlúmque profundum, Sulphureúmque Erebi, flammivomúmque fpecus: Quaéque colunt terras, pontúmque, et Tartara cæca, Quaéque colunt fummi lucida regna poli: Et quodcunque ullis conclufum eft finibus ufquam, Et fine fine Chaos, et fine fine Deus;

Et fine fine magis, fi quid magis eft fine fine,

10

This poem by Dr. Barrow, and the next by Milton's friend Andrew Marvell, have been ufually published in the editions of Paradife Loft, fince the edition of 1674, to which they are both prefixed. TODD.

. Ver. 1. Amiffam Paradifum,] Dr. Barrow has here rendered Paradifum feminine. The tranflators of the first book of Paradife Loft, both in 1685 and 1702, thus alfo entitle the poem "Paradifus Amija." See alfo the fame title to other Latin translations in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xvi. pp. 549, 661. The Greek and Latin writers, however, make Paradise masculine. TODD.

In Chrifto erga homines conciliatus amor.
Hæc qui fperaret quis crederet effe futurum?

Et tamen hæc hodiè terra Britanna legit.
O quantos in bella duces! quæ protulit arma!
Quæ canit, et quantâ prælia dira tubâ!
Coeleftes acies! atque in certamine cœlum!
deceret agros!

Et

quæ

cœleftes

pugna

Quantus in æthereis tollit fe Lucifer armis!

15

20

Atque ipfo graditur vix Michaële minor!

Quantis, et quàm funeftis concurritur iris,

Dum ferus hic ftellas protegit, ille rapit!

Dum vulfos montes ceu tela reciproca torquent,
Et non mortali defuper igne pluunt:

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Stat dubius cui fe parti concedat Olympus,

Et metuit pugnæ non fupereffe fuæ.

At fimul in cœlis Meffiæ infignia fulgent,
Et currus animes, armáque digna Deo,
Horrendúmque rotæ ftrident, et fæva rotarum
Erumpunt torvis fulgura luminibus,

Et flammæ vibrant, et vera tonitrua rauco
Admiftis flammis infonuere polo:

Excidit attonitis mens omnis, et impetus omnis,
Et caffis dextris irrita tela cadunt;

Ad pœnas fugiunt; et, ceu foret Orcus afylum,

80

36

Ver. 15. quis crederet effe futurum?] So I print it from the edition of 1674. Dr. Newton reads futura. Toland, who has printed this excellent copy of verfes in his Life of Mi ton, reads futurum. Tonfon's editions of 1705, and 1711, and Tickell's in 1720, read the fame: But Fenton's in 1725, and Tonfon's of 1727 and 1746, read futura; as many other editions alfo read. Mr. Capel Lofft, in his edition of the First Book of Paradife Loft, 1792, has restored futurum; and ingeniously explains it: "Quis crederet (nempe) aliquem futurum qui hæc fe fando affequi poffe fperaret?" TODD.

Infernis certant condere fe tenebris.
Cedite, Romani Scriptores; cedite, Graii;
Et quos fama recens vel celebravit anus.
Hæc quicunque leget tantùm ceciniffe putabit
Mæonidem ramas, Virgilium culices.

SAMUEL BARROW, M. Dt.

40

On Paradife Loft.

WHEN I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold,
In flender book his vaft defign unfold,
Meffiah crown'd, God's reconcil'd decree,
Rebelling Angels, the forbidden trec,
Heaven, Hell, Earth, Chaos, all; the
Held me a while mifdoubting his intent,
That he would ruin (for I saw him strong)
The facred truths to fable and old fong;

the argument

6

+ Of Dr. Samuel Barrow, the author of these verses, no account has been given by the editors of Milton. Toland only calls him a doctor of phyfick. Perhaps he was the physician to the army of General Monk. See Skinner's Life of General Monk, 1724, p. 166. "General Monk haftened to Berwick from Coldftream, Dec. 13. 1659, being attended with fome of his best Colonels, and Dr. Barrow the principal Phyfician, who about this time was made Judge Advocate of the army." See alfo Kennet's Register and Chronicle, 1728, pp. 34, 35, 133.

Of the poem I have seen two printed translations in English verfe; one, inferted in Mr. Bowle's interleaved Copy of Paradife Loft, apparently taken out of fome magazine or periodical publication; the other, much more diftinguishable for fpirit and fidelity, in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1760, p. 291, to which no fignature is affixed. TODD.