COMMENDATORY VERSES, PREFIXED TO THE SECOND EDITION. IN PARADISUM AMISSAM SUMMI POETÆ JOHANNIS MILTONI. Qui legis Amissam Paradisum, grandia magni Et sine fine magis, si quid magis est sine fine, Dum ferus hic stellas protegit, ille rapit! Excidit attonitis mens omnis, et impetus omnis, Ad poenas fugiunt, et, ceu foret Orcus asylum, Et quos fama recens vel celebravit anus: WHEN I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, Heaven, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All-the argument (So Samson groped the temple's posts in spite), I liked his project, the success did fear Through that wide field how he his way should find Jealous I was that some less skilful hand Might hence presume the whole Creation's day Thou hast not missed one thought that could be fit, So that no room is here for writers left, But to detect their ignorance or theft. The majesty which through thy work doth reign Draws the devout, deterring the profane. And things divine thou treat'st of in such state At once delight and horror on us seize; Thou sing'st with so much gravity and ease, Well might'st thou scorn thy readers to allure While the Town-Bayes writes all the while and spells, I too, transported by the mode, offend, And, while I meant to praise thee, must commend. In number, weight, and measure, needs not rime. A. M. |