POSTSCRIPT. THE works of inferior Geniuses have their infancy, and often receive addditions of ftrength and beauty, in the feveral Impreffions they undergo whilst their authors live: but the following Poem came into the world, like the Persons whom it celebrates, in a state of maturity. However, though in the first Edition it was difpos'd into Ten Books only, MILTON thought proper in the Second to make a new divifion of it into Twelve: not, I suppose, with refpect to the Æneis (for He was, in both fenses of the phrase, above Imitation) but more probably, because the length of the Seventh and Tenth requir'd a Paufe in the Narration, He divided them, each into Two: on which diftribution, to the beginning of those Books which are now the Eighth and Twelfth, He added the following Verses, which were necessary to make a connection. Book VIII. ver. 1. The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear Thought him ftill speaking; ftill stood fix'd to hear: Then, as now wak'd, thus gratefully reply'd. The latter half of the verfe was taken from this in the firft Edition. To whom thus Adam gratefully reply'd. As Book XII. ver. 1. one who in his journey hates at noon, Though bent on Speed: So here th' Arch-Angel paus'd, Betwixt the world deftroy'd, and world reftor'd; If Adam ought perhaps might interpose : Then, with tranfition fweet, new Speech refu mes. 'At the fame time the Author made fome few additions in other places of the Poem, which are here inferted for the fatisfaction of the curious. Book V. p. 155. 1. 14. «They eat, they drink, and with refection fweet « Are fill'd,before th'all-bounteous King,&c. were thus enlarg'd in the Second Edition. They eat, they drink, and in communion fweet Book XI. p. 58. 1. 8. after, « Intestine stone, and ulcer, cholic-pangs, these three verfes were added. Dæmoniac phrenzy, moaping melancholy And p. 60. 1. 14. of the fame Book (which was originally thus, Of rend'ring up. Michael to him reply'd) receiv'd this addition Of rend'ring up, and patiently attend To what I have faid in the Life, of our Author's having no Monument, it may not be improper to add; that I defir'd a Friend to inquire at St. Giles's Church; where the Sexton shew'd him a fmall Monument, which he faid was fuppos'd to be MILTON's; but the inscription had never been legible fince he was employ'd in that office, which he has poffefs'd about Forty Years. This, fure, cou'd never have happen'd in fo short a space of time, unless the Epitaph had been induftriously eras'd: and that fuppofition carries with it so much inhumanity, that I think. we ought to believe it was not erected to his Memory. IN Paradifum Amiffam Summi Poetæ JOANNIS MILTONI. QUI UI legis Amifam Paradiffum, grandia Magni Res cunetas, & cunctarum primordia rerum, Et tamen hæc hodiè terra Britanna legit. |