A POEM, IN TWELVE BOOKS: JOHN MILTON. Τὸν πέρι Μᾶσ ̓ ἐφίλησε, δίδε δ ̓ ἀγαθόν τε, κακόν τε, Ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδε δ ̓ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν. HOMER Odyff. . LONDON PRINTED FOR THE COMPANY, THE LIFE OF MR. JOHN MILTON. ROMa Family, & Town of his name in Oxfordshire, our Author deriv'd his defcent; but he was born at London in the year 1608. The Publisher of his Works in profe (on whose veracity fome 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 Monfieur Bayle hath affign'd; and for the fame 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 estate, entirely his own acquifition; having been early dis-inherited by his Parents for renouncing the communion of the Church of Rome, to which they were zealoufly devoted, By his wife Sarah Caston he had likewife one Daughter nam'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 easy 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 CommonPleas; * 2 Pleas; of which he dy'd devested not long after the Revolution. But JOHN the fubject of the present essay, was the favorite of his Father's hopes; who to cultivate the great genius which early 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 collection. At his initiation he is said to An. Ætat. 12. have apply'd himself to letters with fuch indefatigable industry, that he rarely was prevail'd with to quit his studies before midnight: which not only made him frequently subject to fevere pains in his head; but likewife occafion'd that weakness in his eyes, which terminated in a total privation of fight. From a domestic education he was remov'd to St. Paul's School, to complete his acquaintance with the Claffics under the care of Dr. Gill: and after a short stay there, was transplanted to Chrift's College in Cambridge, where he diftinAn. Ætat. 15. guishd himself in all kinds of Academical 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 his studies with unparallel'd affiduity, An. Etat. 23. and fuccefs. 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 feeing foreign countries. Sir Henry Wotton, at that time Provost of Eaton ColAn. Etat. 30. lege, gave him a letter of advice for the direction of his travels: but by not obferving * an excellent maxim in it, he incur'd great danger by difputing against the fuperftition of the * 1 pensieri stretti, ed il viso sciolto. 11 |