Α Ρ Ο Ε Μ, WRITTEN BY Τον πέρι Μεσ' έφίλησε, δίδε δ' αγαθόν τε, κακόν τι, οφθαλμών μεν άμερσε, δίδε η ηδείαν αοιδών. HOMER Odyff .. L ON DON M DCCXXX ROM a Family, & Town of his name in Oxfordshire , our Author deriv'd his descent; but he was born at London in the year icos. The Publisher of his Works in prole (on whose veracity rome part of this narrative must entirely depend) dates his birth two years earlier than this: but contradicting himself afterwards in his own computation , I reduce it to the time that Monsieur Bayle hath assign'd; and for the same reason which prevail'd with him to assign it. His Father, John Milton, by profession a Scrivener, liv'd in a reputable manner on a competent eftate, entirely his own acquisition; having been early dis-inherited by his parents for renouncing the communion of the Church of Rome, to which they were zealously devoted By his wife Sarah Cafton he had likewise one Daughter vam'd Anna; & another Son, Christopher, whom he train'd to the practice of the Common-Law; who in the great Rebellion adher'd to the Royal cause: and in the Reign of King James II. by too caly a compliance with the doctrines of the Court, both religious and civil, he attain'd to the dignity of being made a Judge of the Common81 w siejed op '41011914 NOXT ITTIA Pleas; Pleas; of which he dy'd develted not long after the Revolution. But JOHN the subject of the present essay, was the favorite of his Father's hopes; who to cultivate the great genius which carly display'd itself, was at the expense of a domestic Tutor : whose care and capacity his Pupil hath gratefully celebrated in an excellent Latin Elegy; the fourth in the present col lection. At his initiation he is said to An. Ætat. 12. have apply'd himself to letters with such indefatigable industry, that he rarely was prevail'd with to quit his studies before midnight : which not only made him frequently subject to severe pains in his head; but likewise occasion'd that weakness in his eyes, which terminated in a total privation of sight. From a domestic education he was remov'd to St. Paul's School, to complete his acquaintance with the Classics under the care of Dr. Gill: and after a short stay there, was transplanted to Christ's College in Cambridge, where he diftinAn. Ætat. 15. guishd himself in all kinds of Acade mical exercises. Of this fociety he continued a Member 'till he commenc'd Master of Arts: and then leaving the University, he return'd to his Father; who had quitted the Town, and liv'd at Horton near Colebrooke in Barkshire; where he persu'd An. Ætat. 23. his studies with unparallel'd assiduity , and success. After some years spent in this studious retirement, his Mother dy'd : and then he prevail'd with his Father to gratify an inclination he had long entertain'd of seeing foreign countries. Sir Henry Wotton, at that time Provost of Eaton ColAn. Ætat. 30. lege, gave him a letter of advice for the direction of his travels : but by not observing * an excellent maxim in it, he incur'd great danger by disputing against the superstition of the * i pensieri Pretti, ed il viso sciolto |