The Earliest Life of ^Iilton, 23 



witli him above all Poetry, The Youths that hee instructed 

 from time to time serve! him often as Amanuenses, and some 

 elderly persons were g:lad for the l)enefit of his learned Con- 

 versation, to perform that Office."^ Ilis first Wife dy'd a 

 while after his blindness seizd him, leaving him three Daugh- 

 ters, that liv'd to bee AVomen. Hee marry 'd two more, 

 whereof one surviv'd him. Hee dy'd in a fitt of the Gout, 

 but with so little pain or Emotion, that the time of his ex- 

 piring Avas not perceiv'd by those in the room."* And though 

 hee had bin long troul)rd with that disease, insomuch that 

 his Knuckles were all callous, yet was hee not ever observ'd 

 to be very impatient. Ilee had this Elogy in common with 

 the Patriarchs ^^^ and Kings of Israel that he was gather 'd 

 to his people;"® for hee happen 'd to bee bury'd in Cripple- 

 gate where about thirty yeer before hee had by chance also 

 interrd his Father. 



"' Perhaps the writer was one. 



"* Wood repeats this sentence. The interest of this part of tlie 

 narrative will be greatly enhanced if the suggestion that the writer 

 was the attending physician is found to be correct. 



"" ' that ' crossed out. 



"' ' was gather'd to his people ' substituted for ' slept with his 

 Fathers.' 



