Page images
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE

IN this edition of the first two books of "Paradise Lost," I have tried to mark the literary aspects of the poem. Everything else has been of minor consideration. I have neglected a number of interesting things about Milton's life, because I believe that too much biography detracts from interest in the poem; I have neglected many interesting questions concerning Milton's language, because these seem often, not only to detract from interest in the poem, but almost to destroy it. I have tried to explain what was necessary, and no more, and to call attention to what might pass unnoticed, so that a student could read the poem with understanding and with appreciation of its special characteristics.

The poem is edited not only for cursory reading, but for special study. The notes at the bottom of the page are intended for use when the book is prescribed for reading. Where the book is prescribed for study, the student will find some additional notes on pp. 78-102. Even these additional notes, however, do not deal largely with explanation of allusion or linguistic comment: their purpose is to make the student more intimately familiar with the poem, and so more appreciative of its character.

There is so much information on "Paradise Lost" that is almost public property, that one cannot pretend to great originality in one's notes. I must particularly acknowledge, however, the value of Verity's edition, from which I have made a number of borrowings, always, I believe, with mention of the fact. The purpose of that edition differs somewhat from that of the present, but in its own direction it is unexcelled.

I have sought to give a good, modern, readable text, disregarding the peculiarities of the original spelling and punctuation, except in rare cases where they seemed to indicate something of importance. Not having access to the second edition (1674), the last revised by Milton, I have usually consulted the third edition (1678), which has the same text, except for slight inaccuracies; and also the modern texts of Masson and Verity.

UNION COLLEGE, June 11, 1896.

EDWARD E. HALE, JR.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

INTRODUCTION

I. ON THE LIFE OF MILTON.

THE life of a poet has too often an attraction which draws one insensibly away from the enjoyment of his poetry to a study of biography. Perhaps the temptation is robbed of its enchantment, and again, perhaps it is furnished with charms more deceitfully attractive, when we read a man's life in his own words. However this may be, there is a certain pleasure, if one must read something about a poet, in reading what he said about himself. Milton never wrote a formal autobiography, and yet from one or another of his writings we can put together enough to give us a good idea of the circumstances of his life, and at the same time some little idea of what sort of man was the writer.

In the active period of his life, shortly after the execution of Charles I., Milton wrote and published at the request of Parliament a " Defence of the People of England." The pamphlet was violently attacked by the adherents of the King, and, according to a habit now almost entirely passed away, in the answer to Milton's "Defence " was mingled much aspersion of a very personal nature. To this answer Milton replied, in a "Second Defence," not only with some unfortunate slanders of his own, but with a dignified, temperate statement of his life and work.

"I will now mention who and whence I am. I was born at London,1 of an honest family; my father was distinguished by the undeviating integrity of his life; my mother by the esteem in which she was held, and the alms which she bestowed. My father destined me from a child to the

1 Dec. 9, 1608.

« PreviousContinue »