PREFACE. THE TEXT of the Poems in this edition will, it is hoped, be found very accurate, having been carefully prepared by the Editor for the larger Library Edition, called "The Cambridge Edition," in three volumes 8vo. The INTRODUCTIONS are, with some revision, the same as those given in "The Golden Treasury Edition" in two volumes 18mo., and are an adaptation of the more extensive editorial matter of "The Cambridge Edition." Their purpose is to elucidate the circumstances, motives, and intention, of each of the Poems individually; they contain, therefore, a great deal of such information as is usually referred to Notes; and, if read in their chronological order, they will be found to supply also, after their fashion, a continuous and rather minute Literary Biography of the Poet. I regret that the wording of the Introduction to Sonnet XXIII. no longer corresponds with fact. When that paragraph was written, the house No. 19 York Street, Westminster, so interesting as having been Milton's residence from 1652 to 1660, was still in existence, as there described; but, when I was last on the spot, only the ruined shell was left, and that too, I hear, is now demolished. EDINBURGH: March 1877 PARADISE LOST : INTRODUCTION: 1. Earliest Editions of the Poem. II. Origin of the Poem and History of its Composition III. Scheme and Meaning of the Poem. Commendatory Verses, prefixed to the Second Edition Author's Preface on CONTENTS. TEXT OF THE POEM: Book II. Book III. Book IV. Book V. Book VI. Book VII. Book VIII Book IX. Book X. Book XI. Book XII. PARADISE REGAINED: INTRODUCTION TEXT OF THE POEM. PAGE I 9 18 37 41 43 61 84 IOI 124 144 164 179 194 220 245 265 283 293 305 Book III. Book IV. SAMSON AGONISTES. INTRODUCTION The Author's Preface: "Of that sort of Dramatic Poem called Tragedy" The Argument, and the Persons TEXT OF THE POEM L'Allegro l Penseroso MINOR POEMS :- GENERAL INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTIONS TO THE POEMS SEVERALLY :— Part I.—Introductions to the English Poems TEXT OF THE POEMS. Part I.-The English Poems : Paraphrases on Psalms CXIV and CXXXVI On the Death of a Fair Infant dying of a Cough On the Morning of Christ's Nativity Upon the Circumcision. The Passion On Time At a Solemn Music Song on May Morning. On Shakespeare On the University Carrier . Another on the Same An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester Ellery! Arcades Comus; a Masque presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634:. VI 497 497 498 498 500 503 508 511 511 511 SAMSON AGONISTES INTRODUCTION The Author's Preface: "Of that sort of Dramatic Poem called Tragedy" The Argument, and the Persons TEXT OF THE POEM MINOR POEMS: GENERAL INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTIONS TO THE POEMS SEVERALLY: Part I.-Introductions to the English Poems . Part II.-Introductions to the Latin Poems Moseley's Preface to the Edition of 1645 TEXT OF THE POEMS. Part I.-The English Poems : Paraphrases on Psalms CXIV and CXXXVI On the Death of a Fair Infant dying of a Cough Legy t At a Vacation Exercise in the College On the Morning of Christ's Nativity The Passion On Time At a Solemn Music . Song on May Morning On Shakespeare On the University Carrier. Another on the Same An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester L'Allegro Al Penseroso Comus; a Masque presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634:. Sir Henry Wotton's Commendatory Letter of 1638. 51 54 Thomson Sonnet XVII. To Sir Henry Vane the Younger Sonnet XX. To Mr. Lawrence Sonnet XXI. To Cyriack Skinner . Sonnet XXII. To the Same . Sonnet XXIII. To the Memory of his Second Wife Translations. Sonnet IX. To a Lady. Sonnet X. To the Lady Margaret Ley Sonnet XI. On the Detraction which followed upon my writing certain Treatises Sonnet XII. On the Same. On the New Forcers of Conscience Sonnet XIII. To Mr. H. Lawes on His Airs Sonnet XIV. The Fifth Ode of Horace, Lib. I. Nine of the Psalms done into Metre, 1648 Psalm LXXX. . . On the Religious Memory of Mrs. Catherine PAGE 513 514 538 |