THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

JOHN MILTON.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

CONTAINING

THE FIRST SIX BOOKS OF PARADISE LOST.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Johnson, W. J. and J. Richardfon, R. Baldwin, Otridge and Son,
J. Sewell, J. Nichols, F. and C. Rivington, T. Payne, G. and J. Robinson,
J. Walker, J. Mathews, W. Lowndes, J. Scatcherd, Vernor and Hood, Ogilvy
and Son, J. Nunn, G. Wilkie, Clarke and Son, J. Cuthell, Lackington, Allen
and Co. R. Lea, E. Jefferey, Carpenter and Co. Longman and Rees, Cadell,
Jun. and Davies, and J. Mawman;

By Bye and Law, St. John's-Square, Clerkenwell.

M. DCCC. I.

LOELIQTT AOB22

CONTENTS.

PARADISE LOST,

The first fix Books, with Milton's Apology for the Verse.

THE measure is English heroick verfe without rhyme, as that of Homer in Greek, and of Virgil in Latin: rhyme being no necessary adjunct, or true ornament of poem or good verfe, in longer works especially, but the invention of a barbarous age to fet off wretched matter and lame metre; graced indeed fince by the use of fome famous modern poets, carried away by custom, but much to their own vexation, hindrance, and constraint to exprefs many things otherwife, and for the moft part worse than elfe they would have expreffed them. Not without caufe, therefore, fome both Italian and Spanish poets of prime note have rejected rhyme both

2

The Verfe.] The first edition of Paradife Loft, in 1667, was without this preface, or apology for the verfe. In 1668, when a new title-page was prefixed to the edition, it was added with the following addrefs of the Printer to the reader: "Courteous Reader, there was no Argument at firft intended to the Book; but, for the satisfaction of many that have defired it, I have procured it, and withal a reafon of that which ftumbled many others, why the Poem rimes not.”

both Italian and Spanish poets of prime note] Among the Italians, Triffino and Rucellai have abandoned the use of rhyme. the former, in his Italia Liberata di Goti, an heroick poem; the