407 
MIL' 
even this frnall confideration for the poem of a man living 
under the heavieft frown of the times, in whom the poet 
had long been forgotten in the polemic, and who now 
tendered an experiment in verfe, of which it was im- 
poflible that the purchafer Ihould be able to appreciate 
the value, or Ihould not be fufpicious of the danger. 
It is certain that the world was, at that period, inca¬ 
pable of doing it juftice; and it was long before it took 
a fecure place among thofe productions which continu¬ 
ally rife in eftimation, and are unlimited by time or place. 
Milton, confcious of its merits, anticipated his final luc- 
cefs, and was, in that expectation, fupported amidfi tem¬ 
porary difcouragements.” “ Fancy can hardly forbear to 
conjecture (fays Dr. Johnfon) with what temper Milton 
furveyed the filent progrefs of his work, and marked his 
reputation healing its way in a kind of fubterraneous cur¬ 
rent, through fear and filence. I cannot but conceive 
him calm and confident, little difappointed, not at all de- 
jeCted, relying on his own merit with heady confcioufnefs, 
and waiting without impatience, the, vicihitudes of opi¬ 
nion, and the impartiality of a future generation.” The 
thirteenth edition was printed, with a life by the author, 
in 1727, by Elillia Fenton, who was a fcholar, a poet, and 
a man of worth. We are not aware how many editions 
had been publifhed previous to the appearance of the 
SpeClator in 1711; but we are fully perfuaded that Mil¬ 
ton’s fame is greatly indebted to the papers written by 
Addifon in commendation of the Paradife Loh in that 
work. People of fafhion, and the public in general, be¬ 
gan to dilcover, that they muh admire the poem, whe¬ 
ther they underhood it or not. 
In 1671, Milton publifhed his “ Paradife Regained,” 
written upon the fuggehion of his friend Elwood, who, 
having read the Paradife Loh in manufcript, and being 
afkedby the author how he liked it, anfwered in his quaint 
way, “ Thou hah faid much here on Paradife Loh ; but 
what hah thou to fay of Paradife Found ?” When the 
latter poem was finifhed, he put it into the hands of El¬ 
wood, faying, in a pleafant tone, “ This is owing to you, 
for you put it into my head by the quehion you put to 
me at Chalfont.” This was probably regarded by the au¬ 
thor as the theological completion of the plan commenced 
in Paradife Loh, and he viewed it with the partial fond- 
nefs of an aged parent for his lateh offspring. But in 
point of grandeur and invention its inferiority is ex¬ 
tremely apparent; yet modern criticifm has pronounced 
it by no means unworthy of the genius of Milton, allow¬ 
ance being made for the narrow compafs of the fubjeCt, 
and his particular purpofe in writing it. About the fame 
time that this was publifhed, appeared his tragedy of 
“ Sampfon Agonihes,” compofed upon the ancient model, 
but not intended for the hage. It cannot be faid to en¬ 
title the, author to a place among thole dramatic writers 
who have dihinguifhed themfelves by the talent of moving 
the pahions, or of delineating the character ; but its mo¬ 
ral and defcriptive beauties are not inconfiderable. 
With the Sampfon Agoniftes Milton’s poetical account 
doles ; but writing was become fo much a habit with 
him, that he was continually making additions to his 
works in profe. In 167a he publifhed “ A Syltem of Logic, 
•after the Manner of Ramus;” and in the following year 
he ventured again in the field of polemics, with “ A Trea- 
tife of true Religion, &c. and the belt Means to prevent 
the Growth of Popery.” The latter was become the 
dread of the nation, and Milton was among the molt zea¬ 
lous of its opponents. The principle of toleration which 
he lays down is, agreement in the l'ufficiency of thefcrip- 
tures ; and he denies it to the papifts, becaufe they ap¬ 
peal to another authority. “ The danger,” lays his bio¬ 
grapher, “ which at this inftant awakened the fears of 
Milton, became not long afterward lo palpable and link¬ 
ing as to excite the nation, united in one great effort for 
its fafety, to depofe the catholic bigot who occupied and 
abuied the throne.” In the lame year Milton publifhed 
a lecond edition of Ids youthful poems, with his Tradiate 
r o n. 
on Education, in one volume, in which he included fome 
pieces not comprehended in the edition of 1645. In 1674 
lie gave the world his familiar letters, and fome college- 
exerciles ; the former with the title of “ Epiltolarum Fa- 
miliarum Liber unus,” and the latter with that of “ Pro- 
lufiones quaedam Oratoriai in Collegio Chrilti habit®.” 
The next exercife of his pen, was, it is faid, to trail Hate 
into Englifh the Declaration of the Poles, on their elevat¬ 
ing John Sobietki to their elective throne ; but Dr. Sym- 
mons is doubtful of the faCl; thinking it much more cer¬ 
tain that in fome part of the fame year he wrote “ A brief 
Hiltory of Mulcovy,” which was publifhed about eight 
years after his death. With this work terminated his 
literary labours j for the gout, which had for many years 
afflidted him, was now appointed to terminate his valuable 
life. He funk tranquilly under an exhauftion of the vital 
powers on the 8th of November, 1674, when he had nearly 
completed his fixty-lixth year. His remains were carried 
from his houfe in Bunhill Fields to the church of St. Giles, 
Cripplegate, with a numerous and fplendid attendance, 
and depofited in the chancel near thofe of his father. No 
monument marked the tomb of this great man; but in 
1737, a cenotaph, with his buft, was eredted to his me¬ 
mory in Poet’s Corner, Weftminlter-abbey, though in a 
tafte which cannot be defended. It is inferibed, as Dr. 
Johnfon remarks, “ To the author of Paradife Lojl, by 
Mr. Benfon, an auditor of imprell, under Geo. I. and II.” 
who, according to the biographer and to truth, beltows 
more words upon hinrfelf than upon Milton, the greater 
part of the infeription informing us who he was. Not- 
withflanding this little piece of engraven vanity, the de¬ 
dication of a memorial in the Abbey to Milton was ho¬ 
nourable in a placeman, and a happy proof of the free- 
current of opinion which marked the reigns of the two 
firlt fovbreigns of the houfe of Hanover ; for we fuppofe 
a monument to him was impoffible under the reign of 
Charles II. His buft has fince been placed in the church 
where he was interred, by the late lamented Samuel Whit¬ 
bread. 
Milton was diftinguifiied in his youth for perfonal 
beauty, and he continued to be a comely well-looking 
man to the laft. He was vigorous and adtive in his exer- 
cifes, manly and eredt in his deportment. His voice was 
agreeable and mufical, his drefs neat, and he had nothing 
of the difgufting exterior which too often accompanies 
deep ftudy and retirement. His habits of life were thofe 
of a ftudent and a philolbpher : he was ftridtly fober and 
temperate, regular in his hours, except when tempted to 
excels of nocturnal ftudy, and l'paring in amufements. 
His principal relaxations were mufic and converl'ation. His 
circumltances were never opulent, and he met with feve- 
ral Ioffes ; yet he preferved what fufficed for his moderate 
wants. His temper was ferene and cheerful, and his man¬ 
ners appear to have been civil and urbane in the ordinary 
intercourle of lociety. His rudenefs and acrimony in 
controverly have given an unfavourable impreftion of the 
qualities of his heart; and it rauft be admitted that be was 
capable of party-rancour, and of learned pride. Yet he 
leems to have been void of that petty irritability and jea- 
louly which has produced lo many difgraceful quarrels 
among men of letters. He indulged no enmities except 
upon a public ground. It has been laid that he was a 
lordly hulband and an unkind father. In fait, he appears 
to have had exalted notions of the prerogatives of a huf 
band and a father, and of the fupremacy of the male lex 
over the female. The morals of Milton were pure, and 
his religion was fervent, though he complied with no 
form of public worlhip. In depth and variety of learning 
he was lurpalfed- by lcarcely any fcholar of the age. In 
lublimity of genius his countrymen will fcarcely admit 
that he had ever a fuperior. Alter all dedudtions that 
even political animofity can make, he mult always rank 
among the glories of the Englilh nation. 
In the July preceding his death, Milton had requefted 
the attendance of his brother Chriltopher; and in his pre- 
3 fence 
