JOHN MILTON. 146. Solitary Grandeur.- In the period under consideration, Milton stands out in almost solitary grandeur. Intimately associated with the political and religious movements of his time, and identified in principle and in life with the Puritan party, he still rises grandly above the narrowness of his age. In one work at least he rivals the great achievements of the age of Elizabeth. He deserves to be recognized as the sublimest poet of all times. 147. Early Years.- John Milton was born in London, Dec. 9, 1608. His father, a man of the highest integrity, had been disinherited for espousing the Protestant cause; but, taking up the profession of a scrivener, he acquired the means of giving his son a liberal education. His mother, a woman of most virtuous character, was especially distinguished for her neighborhood charities. The private tutor of Milton was Thomas Young, a Puritan minister, who was afterward forced to leave the kingdom on account of his religious opinions. Milton showed extraordinary aptness in learning; and when in 1624 he was sent to Cambridge, he was master of several languages and had read extensively in philosophy and literature. He remained at the university seven years and took the usual degrees. 148. Five Years of Study. In 1632 he left the university, amidst the regrets of the fellows of his college, and retired to his father's house at Horton in Buckinghamshire. Here he spent five years in laborious study, in the course of which he perused all the Greek and Latin writers of the classic period. He also studied Italian and was accustomed, as he tells us, "to feast with avidity and delight on Dante and Petrarch." To use his own expression, he was letting his wings grow. In a letter to a friend he gives us some interesting particulars in regard to his studies and habits of life. "You well know," 66 he says, that I am naturally slow in writing and averse to write. It is also in my favor that your method of study is such as to admit of frequent interruptions, in which you visit your friends, write letters, or go abroad; but it is my way to suffer no impediment, no love of ease, no avocation whatever, to chill the ardor, to break the continuity, or divert the completion of my literary pursuits." 66 149. Famous Poems. It was during this period of studious retirement that he produced several of his choicest poems, among which are "Comus," "L'Allegro," and "Il Penseroso." Comus is the most perfect mask in any language. But “in none of the works of Milton," says Macaulay, "is his peculiar manner more happily displayed than in ' Allegro' and the Penseroso.' It is impossible to conceive that the mechanism of language can be brought to a more exquisite degree of perfection. Those poems differ from others as attar of roses differs from ordinary rose water, the close-packed essence from the thin diluted mixture. They are indeed not so much poems as collections of hints, from each of which the reader is to make a poem for himself. Every epithet is a text for a stanza." 150. The High-Water Mark. At the time these two poems were written, they stood as the high-water mark of English poetry. In their sphere they have never been excelled. In spite of little inaccuracies of description (for Milton was too much in love with books to be a close observer of nature), we find nowhere else such an exquisite delineation of country life and country scenes. These idyls are the more remarkable because their light, joyous spirit stands in strong contrast with the elevation, dignity, and austerity of his other poems. Take, for example, this picture from a description of morning scenes: "While the cock, with lively din, Scatters the rear of darkness thin; Or this picture from a description of evening: “Oft, on a plat of rising ground, I hear the far-off curfew sound 151. "Lycidas."-"Lycidas," published in 1637, is a pastoral elegy, commemorating the death of Edward King, a young college friend, who was drowned in the Irish Sea. It is one of the noblest elegies in our language, full of subdued, classic beauty. It contains a celebrated passage denouncing the mercenary character of the Anglican prelates. The passing of Lycidas from death to celestial life is likened to the course of the sun: "So sinks the day star in the ocean-bed, And yet anon repairs his drooping head, And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore 152. Tour on the Continent. At length Milton began to tire of his country life and to long for the pleasures and benefits of travel. In 1638 he left England for a tour on the Continent. At Paris he met Grotius, one of the most learned men of his age, who resided at the French capital as ambassador from the Queen of Sweden. After a few days he went to Italy and visited all the principal cities. He was everywhere cordially received by men of learning, who were not slow to recognize his genius. In his travels he preserved an admirable and courageous independence. Even under the shadow of St. Peter's, he made no effort to conceal his religious opinions. "It was a rule," he says, which I laid down to myself in those places, never to be the first to begin any conversation on religion; but if any question were put to me concerning my faith, to declare it without any reserve or fear. For about the space of two months I again openly defended, as I had done before, the reformed religion in the very metropolis of Popery." 66 153. Premonitions of Greatness.- The Italians, who were frugal in their praise of men from beyond the Alps, received some of Milton's productions with marks of high appre ciation. This had the effect to confirm his opinion of his own power and to stimulate his hope of achieving something worthy of remembrance. "I began thus to assent both to them, and divers of my friends at home," he tells us in an interesting passage, "and not less to an inward prompting, which now grew daily upon me, that, by labor and intense study (which I take to be my portion in this life), I might perhaps leave something so written to after-times as they should not willingly let die." He was about to extend his travels into Sicily and Greece when the news of the civil commotions in England caused him to change his purpose; "for I thought it base," he says, "to be travelling for amusement abroad, while my fellow-citizens were fighting for liberty at home." 154. A Private School.- Not being called to serve the state in any official capacity on his arrival in London, he rented a spacious house in which he conducted a private school. He sought to exemplify, in some measure at least, his educational theories. He held that languages should be studied for the sake of the literary treasures they contain. He accordingly laid but little stress on minute verbal drill and sought to acquaint his pupils with what was best in classic literature. A long list of Latin and Greek authors was read. Besides, he attached much importance to religious instruction; and on Sunday he dictated to his pupils an outline of Protestant theol ogy. But this school has called forth some unfavorable criticism upon its founder. Dr. Johnson, who delights in severe reflections, calls attention to the contrast between the lofty sentiment and small performance of the poet, who, "when he reaches the scene of action, vapors away his patriotism in a private boarding-school." The animadversion is unjust. Though modestly laboring as a teacher, Milton's talents and learning were sincerely devoted to the service of his country. He has himself given us what ought to be a satisfactory explanation. "Avoiding the labors of the camp," he says, "in which any robust soldier would have surpassed me, I betook myself to those weapons which I could wield with most effect; and I conceived that I was acting wisely when I thus brought my better and |