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THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

JOHN MILTON.

IN SIX VOLUMES.

WITH THE

PRINCIPAL NOTES

OF

VARIOUS COMMENTATORS.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

ILLUSTRATIONS,

WITH

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF MILTON.

BY THE REV. HENRY JOHN TODD, M. A.

"Si quid meremur fana pofteritas fciet."

Od. Ad J. Rous. v. 86.

"While I fit with thee, I feem in Heaven;

"And sweeter thy difcourfe is to my ear

"Than fruits of palm-tree, pleasantest to thirst

"And hunger both, from labour, at the hour

"Of fweet repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill,

"Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine
"Imbued, bring to their sweetness no fatiety."

Par. Loft, B. viii. 210.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Johnson, W. J. and J. Richardson, R. Baldwin, Otridge and Son,
J. Sewell, J. Nichols, F. and C. Rivington, T. Payne, G. and J. Robinson,
J. Walker, J. Mathews, W. Lowndes, J. Scatcherd, Vernor and Hood, Ogilvy
and Son, J. Nunn, G. Wilkie, Clarke and Son, J. Cuthell, Lackington, Allen
and Co. R. Lea, E. Jefferey, Carpenter and Co. Longman and Rees, Cadell,
Jun. and Davies, and J. Mawman;

By Bye and Law, St. John's-Square, Clerkenwell.

M. DCCC. I.

TO HIS GRACE,

FRANCIS, DUKE OF BRIDGEWATER,

MARQUIS OF BRACKLEY, &c. &c.

THIS EDITION OF

MILTON'S POETICAL WORKS

1S, WITH THE SINCEREST RESPECT, INSCRIBED;

IN HUMBLE BUT GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

OF THE ASSISTANCE AFFORDED HIM

BY HIS GRACE'S LIBRARY,

AND OF OTHER FAVOURS CONFERRED,

WITH EQUAL KINDNESS AND CONDESCENSION,

ON HIS GRACE'S TRULY OBLIGED

AND MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,

HENRY JOHN TODD.

PREFACE.

THE Publick is here prefented with a complete edition of the Poetical Works of Milton, accompanied with notes of various authors. To this undertaking the editor was invited, and encouraged, at the close of the year 1798. Without this previous declaration, he might be accused of intrufion into his prefent office. Senfible that the task would have been better executed by many recent annotators on Milton, he would not indeed have liftened to the unexpected application of engaging in fo important an employment, if fome literary friends had not promised their affiftance. He therefore undertook to arrange his materials; and continued his inquiries till the close of the year 1799, when the edition began to be printed. From that time, his attention to the progrefs and completion of the work has been conftant and unwearied.

Since the first publication of the Poetical Works entire, with illuftrations, nearly half a century has elapfed. Of thofe criticks and annotators, whose obfervations were then felected by Dr. Newton; as well as of those, with whose subsequent remarks the following pages are enriched; fome account may be thought neceffary. The first annotator on the poet was Patrick Hume, a Scotchman. He published, in 1695, a copious commentary on the Paradife Loft; " to which fome of his fucceffours in

a Preface to his edition of the Smaller Poems.

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