THE PROSE WRITINGS OF JOHN MILTON. 
449 
Horror of the new doctrines led many of the clergy to attack 
Milton ; and being in danger of impeachment, he published one 
of the greatest and most eloquent treatises on the freedom of the 
press. It is scarcely too much to say that the " Areopagitica" 
is the most eloquent book in our language. Milton now became 
the acknowledged champion of the Commonwealth. The " Tenure 
of Kings and Magistrates " and the " Eikonoclastes " were powerful 
influences in these distracted times, and the defence of the Common- 
wealth had no mean influence in settling the power of the Pro- 
tector, and gaining the acknowledgment of foreign powers. On 
every subject on which Milton wrote we notice the same tren- 
chant logic, the same obstinate reference to first principles, the 
deepest learning, a perfect mastery of language, and frequently a 
grand and lofty eloquence which is almost unsurpassed. 
The temper and habits of controversialists of the day certainly 
led him at times beyond what we should now consider the bounds 
of decency, but this was common to both sides of the question. 
Whatever opinion there may be as to the sincerity of other 
politicians of the time, of Milton's there can be none. He em- 
ployed no arts to raise himself while in power, and when adversity 
came he suffered poverty and humiliation at the hands of his 
enemies. We have reason indeed to be thankful that in this adver- 
sity he turned once more to those consolations of heroic verse from 
which all future generations have derived more than words have 
power to express. 
