'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 Manso- Ad Man-

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

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

neva

page 63

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

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-

page 131

racter

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

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 Buckinghamshire

--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 his

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-Spenser-Dante-

Idealism of 'Comus' - Grandeur of Paradise Lost' - The

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

CHAPTER XX.

'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 XX1.

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

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