...knowledge. But original deficience cannot be supplied. The want of human interest is always felt. " Paradise Lost" is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up agnin. None ever wished it longer than it is. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read...

...confesses, in terms frequently animadverted upon, and not calculated to be soon forgotten. " Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburthened,...

...Paradise Lost,' i he truth of Dr. Johnson's observation must be to a considerable extent allowed, that it is ' one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again.' Much of this inattention is no doubt owing to the character of this ago. Learned poetry suits us not....

...Paradise Lost,' the truth of Dr. Johnson's observation must be to a considerable extent allowed, that it is ' one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again.' Much of this inattention is no doubt owing to the character of this age. Learned poetry suits us not....

...excelled. Moreover, "the substance of the narrative Is truth." And how does he sum up the result? "Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires...take up again. None ever wished it longer than it le. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure." I believe that this is, „openly- or secretly,...

...compositions of Prior, Collins, Gray, and Akenside ; because they pronounce the Paradise Lost ' one of those books which the reader admires, and lays down, and forgets to take up again.' See Milton's Life, p. 249. " I am sure I have read, either in Dr. Johnson's works, or in the records...

...to those assigned by Dr. Johnson may be referred the result which he thus describes: — " Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires...pleasure. We. read Milton for instruction, retire harrassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation : we desert our master, and seek for...

...number: what he writes of the Paradise Lost, he would have said of Scripture, if reverence permitted—' Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read...recreation: we desert our master and seek for companions.' But, by those whose faith is strong, whose religious views are bright and cheerful, &c. &c., of such...

...be supplied: the want of human interest is always felt. ' Paradise Lost' is one of the books whieh the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take...a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruetion; retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for reereation; we desert our master,...

...Gray, who believed that poetry cannot be written in blank verse, who thought " Paradise Lost," " a book which the reader admires, and lays down, and forgets to take up again," snd who himself wrote poems which no one W reads, not being thereunto obliged by some literary duty,...