Were in their general sentiments and principles, yet sympathized completely in their zeal for the renown of Milton delight∣ing to dwell on his character with Several of these, indeed, have been fondly assem∣bled by Toland or Richardson men, who, different as they His manners and cast of mind, in various periods of life, may appear in a new and agreeable light, from the following col∣lection and arrangement of the many little sketches, which his own hand has occasionally given us, of his passions and pursuits.
Cibos lancaster full#
The great aim of the subsequent account is to render full and perfect justice to the general character of Milton. By weaving into their narrative selections of verse and prose from the various writings of those they wished to commemorate, each of these affectionate memorialists may be said to have taught the poet he loved "to become his own biographer " an experiment that may, perhaps, be tried on Milton with the happiest effect! as in his works, and particularly in those that are at present the lead known, he has spoken frequently of himself.-Not from vanity, a failing too cold and low for his ardent and elevated mind but, in advanced life, from motives of justice and honour, to defend himself against the poisoned arrows of slander and, in his younger days, from that tenderness and simplicity of heart, which lead a youth∣ful poet to make his own affections and amusements the chief subjects of his song. Mason, have carried to greater perfection in their respective memoirs of Petrarch and of Gray. What new light then can be thrown upon a life, whose incidents have been so eagerly collected, and so frequently retailed? What novelty of remark can be expected in a review of poems, whose beauties and blemishes have been elaborately examined in critical dissertations, that almost rival in excellence the poetry they discuss? Assuredly but little yet there remains, perhaps, one method of giving aĭegree of interest and illustration to the life of Milton, which it has not hitherto received a method which his accomplished friend of Italy, the Marquis of Villa, in some measure adopted in his interesting life of Tasso and which two engaging biographers of later date, the Abbé de Sade and Mr. The virulent antagonist and the enraptured idolater have pursued his steps with equal perti∣nacity: nor have we wanted men of learning and virtue, who, devoid of prejudice and enthusiasm, both in politics and in poetry, have endeavoured to weigh his merits ex∣actly in the balance of truth and reason. THE character of MILTON has been scrutinized with all the minuteness of investigation, which opposite passions could suggest. PAREANO I FIOR, QUANDO N' USCIRO I FRUTTI.
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