"formance of reading, and exactly pronouncing of all "the languages of whatever book he fhould, at one "time or other, think fit to perufe, viz. the Hebrew "(and I think the Syriac), the Greek, the Latin, the "Italian, Spanish, and French. All which forts of "books to be confined to read, without understanding.

one word, must needs be a trial of patience almost "beyond endurance. Yet it was endured by both for "a long time, though the irkfomeness of this em"ployment could not be always concealed, but broke ❝out more and more into expreffions of uneafinefs, ; "fo that at length they were all, even the eldest also, "fent out to learn fome curious and ingenious forts of "manufacture, that are proper for women to learn; particularly embroideries in gold or filver."

In this fcene of mifery which this mode of intellectual labour fets before our eyes, it is hard to determine whether the daughters or the father are most to be lamented. A language not understood can never be fo read as to give pleasure, and very feldom fo as to convey meaning. If few men would have had refolution to write books with fuch embarraffinents, few likewife would have wanted ability to find fome better expedient.

Three years after his Paradife Loft (1667), he publifhed his History of England, comprising the whole fable of Geoffry of Monmouth, and continued to the Norman invafion. Why he should have given the first part, which he feems not to believe, and which is univerfally rejected, it is difficult to conjecture. The ftyle is harth; but it has fomething of rough vigour, which perhaps may often ftrike, though it cannot pleafe.

On this history the licenfer again fixed his claws, and before he could tranfmit it to the prefs tore out feveral parts. Some cenfures of the Saxon monks were taken away, left they fhould be applied to the modern clergy; and a character of the Long Parliament, and Affembly of Divines, was excluded; of which the author gave a copy to the earl of Anglefea, and which, being afterwards published, has been fince inferted in its proper place.

The fame year were printed Paradife Regained, and Sampfon Agonistes, a tragedy written in imitation of the Ancients, and never defigned by the author for the ftage. As thefe poems were published by another bookfeller, it has been asked, whether Simmons was difcouraged from receiving them by the flow fale of the former. Why a writer changed his book feller a hundred years ago, I am far from hoping to discover, Certainly, he who in two years fells thirteen hundred copies of a volume in quarto, bought for two payments of five pounds each, has no reafon to repent his purchase.

When Milton fhewed Paradife Regained to Elwood, "This," faid he, "is owing to you; for you put it " in my head by the question you put to me at Chal"font, which otherwife I had not thought of."

His last poetical offspring was his favourite. He could not, as Elwood relates, endure to hear Paradise Loft preferred to Paradife Regained. Many caufes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has coft him much labour he fets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain; what has been produced without toilfome efforts is confidered with delight, as a proof

of

14

of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the laft work, whatever it be, has neceffarily most of the grace of novelty. Milton, however it happened, had this prejudice, and had it to himself.

To that muliplicity of attainments, and extent of comprehenfion, that entitle this great author to our veneration, may be added a kind of humble dignity, which did not difdain the meaneft fervices to literature. The epic poet, the controvertift, the politician, having already defcended to accommodate children with a book of rudiments, now, in the laft years of his life, compofed a book of Logick, for the initiation of students in philofophy; and published (1672) Artis Logica plenior Inftitutio ad Petri Rami methodum concinnata; that is, "A new Scheme of Logick, according to the "Method of Ramus." I know not whether, even in this book, he did not intend an act of hoftility against the Universities; for Ramus was one of the firft oppugners of the old philofophy, who difturbed with innovations the quiet of the schools.

His polemical difpofition again revived. He had now been safe fo long, that he forgot his fears, and publifhed a Treatife of true Religion, Herefy, Schifm, Toleration, and the beft Means to prevent the Growth of Popery.

But this little tract is modeftly written, with refpectful mention of the Church of England, and an appeal to the thirty-nine articles. His principle of toleration is, agreement in the fufficiency of the Scriptures; and he extends it to all who, whatever their opinions are, profefs to derive them from the facred books. The papifts appeal to other teftimonies, and are therefore in his opinion not to be permitted the liberty of either publick

or private worship; for though they plead confcience, we have no warrant, he says, to regard confcience, which is not grounded in Scripture.

Those who are not convinced by his reafons, may be perhaps delighted with his wit. The term Roman catholick is, he fays, one of the Pope's bulls; it is particular univerfal, or catholick fchifmatick.

He has, however, fomething better. As the best prefervative against Popery, he recommends the diligent perufal of the Scriptures; a duty, from which he warns the bufy part of mankind not to think themfelves excufed.

He now reprinted his juvenile poems, with fome additions.

In the last year of his life he fent to the prefs, feeming to take delight in publication, a collection of Familiar Epiftles in Latin; to which, being too few to make a volume, he added fome academical exercifes, which perhaps he perufed with pleasure, as they recalled to his memory the days of youth; but for which nothing but veneration for his name could now procure a reader.

When he had attained his fixty-fixth year, the gout, with which he had been long tormented, prevailed over the enfeebled powers of nature. He died by a quiet and filent expiration, about the tenth of November 1674, at his houfe in Bunhill-fields; and was buried next his father in the chancel of St. Giles at Cripplegate. His funeral was very fplendidly and numerously attended.

Upon his grave there is fuppofed to have been no memorial; but in our time a monument has been erected in Westminster-Abbey To the Author of Paradife Loft, by Mr.

Mr. Benson, who has in the infcription bestowed more words upon himself than upon Milton.

When the infcription for the monument of Philips, in which he was faid to be foli Miltono fecundus, was exhibited to Dr. Sprat, then dean of Westminster, he refused to admit it; the name of Milton was, in his opinion, too deteftable to be read on the wall of a building dedicated to devotion. Atterbury, who fucceeded him, being author of the infcription, permitted, its reception." And fuch has been the change of pub"lick opinion," faid Dr. Gregory, from whom I heard this account, "that I have feen erected in the church a "ftatue of that man, whofe name I once knew confi-, "dered as a pollution of its walls."

Milton has the reputation of having been in his youth eminently beautiful, fo as to have been called the Lady of his college. His hair, which was of a light brown, parted at the foretop, and hung down upon his fhoulders, according to the picture which he has given of Adam. He was, however, not of the heroick flature, but rather below the middle fize, according to Mr. Richardson, who mentions him as having narrowly escaped from being short and thick *. He was vigorous and active, and delighted in the exercise of the fword, in which he is related to have been eminently fkilful His weapon was, I believe, not the rapier, but the backfword, of which he recommends the ufe in his book on Education,

* Richardson's defcription of Milton's person is here alluded to: He was, no he was not," fays this quaint writer," a short thick but, had he been somewhat shorter and thicker, he had been a fhort thick man." Of Horace it is faid that he was brevis et obefus.

man;