DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 2 THE SHEETS which have f, and 2 g, are to follow that which contains the Commendatory Verfes: and to be followed by that which contains the Reafons for THE VERSE, and the ARGUMENT of the POEM. ERRAT A. P. xxiv. 1. the last, dele "even" before "ambitious." xli. Note, 1. 2, for au read "an." In the Poem. B. I. 1. 313, for their, read "thir." And add, at the bottom of the Page, their, it Edition, in all the three Copies. 1. 506, in fome of the Copies, add "in" before might. 1. 574, for with ease, read "with these: " in fome. Erratum in the First Edition not mentioned in its place. B. X. 1. 398, "Maritine" in all the three Copies of the FIRST Edition with an n. It has been omitted to notice in its place*, an Alteration in the fecond Edition. * P. xxxix. PREFACE. THE Defign of this Edition is to give the PARADISE LOST correctly, and in fuch manner as MILTON intended. For this purpose no Manufcript of authority has been discovered; and therefore it is almoft certain that none exifts and two Poets, unrivalled not in this Nation only, but perhaps in any, are thus far fimilarly circumftanced. The non-existence of a Manuscript has been noticed by BENTLEY, in his beautifully printed Edition of 1732. And fince that time I learn not of any more which the industry of the juftly zealous Admirers of the Poet has enabled them to find, than the MS. of the first Book, copied fair for the prefs, with the imprimatur of the Archbishop's Chaplain *. But where even this is to be feen is not mentioned. We have, however, two authentic Editions, both published in the life time of MILTON and of thefe it is the more effential to give a particular account, as they conftitute the Basis of the prefent Edition. Dr. Newton's Preface, p, liv. Anno 1763. a Of Of thefe Editions both are become mine, from a family, of which I fhall ever think with affectionate esteem, and whom it well became to lay the foundations of the best and only adequate ftructure to the honour of MILTON, by fupplying these materials, indifpenfible to the defign of editing this tranfcendant Poem, with that accuracy which it merits. To the end of Time,-and the thought seems not prefumptuous, to add beyond,-fuch a work as THE PARADISE LOST, must remain a glorious and imperishable Monument of the application of the nobleft powers to the highest and most excellent purpose. And I trust to prove, that by these two Editions, with hardly ever a plaufible excuse for reforting to conjectural Criticism, we may be more certain that we have the very Work of the Author, unchanged and perfect in the minutest particulars, than it is poffible to be in almost any other inftance capitally interefting to Literature. The FIRST EDITION, published in 1667, (the contract with Samuel Simmons, the Printer, bearing Date 27 April, of the fame year), is a small Quarto, as appears by the Printer's fignatures; without which it must be taken for a broad and rather fhort 8vo. It is not paged (which, indeed, seems quite fuperfluous), but the verses are numbered, and tabled, or inclosed; which latter circumftance, if it were not for the additional trouble in the printing, would fcarcely, I fhould fuppofe, after having been once introduced, ever have been laid afide in the printing of Poetry of the higher and more folemn kind; fince it bounds the line in a manner which seems to me very fuitable. I have retained it accordingly, accordingly; as one of the characters of venerable Simplicity, by which the original publication is diftinguished: as also the mode of printing the title of the Poem at the head of each page in small Italics, rather than Roman capitals. In 1668 there was added a new Title Page; a Table of Errata ;-which is very fhort, and yet almoft completely accurate; the Argument of the Poem, and the Reasons why the Poem rimes not. Both these latter were obtained, the Publisher has informed us in a short Advertisement, at the request of Readers. Thefe Reasons for the Kind of Verse (which it is aftonishing should even then have been strange to fuch a man as Burnet) have been, with the Argument of the POEM, generally, and very properly, ever fince continued. In 1668 they were printed, as was then unavoidable, in a continued Series, and prefixed to the Poem; but what then was neceffity merits to be choice: I have therefore printed them in the fame manner; and have found, fince I had thus determined, that the fame method had been obferved by BENTLEY in 1732. The fize of the page of the first Edition is very near equal to the prefent; the type fimilar, though a little fmaller; each page (except the beginning and end of books) contains thirty-two verses. The number of the Books was originally only TEN; and no change, I believe, was made in the printed copies in this particular till the publication of the fecond Edition. Circumftances, on examination, ftrongly prove, that the Edition itself remained the fame in 1668 as in the year preceding." Some of the very few Errata well deferve to be noticed: as they confirm certain niceties in the Orthography, not to have been accidental, but fyftematic and carefully observed. In 1669 the Poem was published * without_the_Address to the Reader from S. Simmons, the Printer. In 1672 the fecond Edition made its appearance in TWELVE BOOKS; what the other alterations were, will be found stated by Mr. FENTON (with fome few which had escaped his observation) in the Poftfcript to his Life of MILTON; which Postscript is annexed to this Preface. I have not been able to obtain, or as yet to fee, the Copy dated 1672; mine has 1674 in the Title Page: and is, probably, the fame with the preceding; except in the circumftances to be now mentioned. It will strike, perhaps, the thought of any attentive Reader, who shall see the first Edition, when he observes, that this Poem went forth into the World" in naked beauty adorn'd;" without Preface, Advertisement, or Commendatory Lines, fo univerfally cuftomary in that age: with a juft, magnanimous, and characteristic confidence: indifferent to the then age; fecure of Pofterity. In 1674, the Lines by the learned physician, Dr. BARRow, appear prefixed; and thofe by ANDREW MARVELL fucceed them; both, however, with the initials only of their Authors; S. B. and A. M. MILTON died in the clofe of that year. His Portrait too appears at the head of this Copy, as engraved by W. DOLLE. The Infcription is, Johannis Miltoni Effigies, MEM. of THOMAS HOLLIS, Lond. 1780, p. *584*. What |