in his memoirs of the great poet, has affixed the name of Milton to a portrait and a poem that do not belong to him.

Though my work has been executed in a retired village of England, my enquiries have extended far beyond the limits of our own country, by the aid of fome intelligent and obliging friends, who had the kindness to search for me the great libraries of Paris and Rome, in the hope of discovering fome neglected composition, or latent anecdote, that might be useful to a biographer of Milton. The fuccefs of these researches has not been equal to the kindness and the zeal of the intelligent enquirers; but an unexpected favour from a literary friend, who is known to me only by his writings, has enabled me to throw, perhaps, a new ray of light on that inviting fubject of conjecture, the real origin of Milton's greatest performance.

In the differtation, which I have annexed to this life of the poet, you will find fome account of an Italian drama on the inhabitants of Paradife, which, though it rifes not to the poetical spirit of Andreini, may have had fome influence, I apprehend, on the fancy of Milton. You will alfo find, that I have followed your example, in recommending your old acquaintance Andreini to the notice of the public. He happened to engage my attention, when the health of my revered friend, Mr. Cowper,

allowed

allowed him to be my guest; and, after our more serious morning ftudies, it afforded us a pleasant relaxation and amusement to throw fome parts of the Adamo into English, in a rapid yet metrical translation. In this joint work, or rather pastime, it would be needless, if it were poffible, to diftinguifh the lines of the united tranflators, as the version had no higher aim than to gratify the curiofity of the English reader, without afpiring to praise. A very different character is due to that version of Milton's Latin poetry, which my excellent friend has finished with fuch care and felicity, that even from the separate specimens of it, with which this life is embellished, you, my dear Warton, and every delicate judge of poetry, will, I am confident, efteem it an abfolute model of poetical translation. For the honour of Milton, and for that of his most worthy interpreter, I hope that the whole of this admirable performance may be foon imparted to the public, as I trust that returning health will happily restore its incomparable author to his suspended studies ; an event that may affect the moral intereft and the mental delight of all the world-for rarely, very rarely indeed, has heaven bestowed on any individual fuch an ample, fuch a variegated portion of true poetical genius, and never did it add greater purity of heart to that divine yet perilous talent, to guide and fanctify its exertion. Those who are best acquainted with the writings and the

virtues of my

ineftimabie

ineftimable friend, must be most fervent in their hopes, that in the course and the close of his poetical career he may refemble his great and favourite predeceffors, Homer and Milton; their fpirits were cheered and illuminated in the decline of life by a fresh portion of poetical power; and if in their latter productions they rose not to the full force and fplendor of their meridian glory, they yet enchanted mankind with the sweetness and serenity of their defcending light.

Literature, which Cicero has fo eloquently described as the friend of every period and condition of human exiftence, is peculiarly the friend of age; a truth of which you, my dear Warton, are a very lively illuftration-you, who at a season of life when unlettered mortals generally murmur against the world, are ministering to its instruction and its pleasure by continuing to write with temper, vivacity, and grace.

That you may long retain and display this happy affemblage of endowments, fo rare in a critical veteran, is the cordial wish of many, and particularly the wish of your very sincere and affectionate friend,

W. H.

Eartham, October 29, 1795.

THE

LIFE

O F

MIL LTON.

PART I.

L' ETA PRECORSE, E LA SPERANZA; E PRESTI

PAREANO I FIOR, QUANDO N' USCIRO I FRUTTI.

TH

TASSO.

HE character of MILTON has been fcrutinized with all the minuteness of investigation, which opposite paffions could fuggest. The virulent antagonist and the enraptured idolater have pursued his steps with equal pertinacity: 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 exactly in the balance of truth and reafon.

What new light then can be thrown upon a life, whose incidents have been fo eagerly collected, and fo frequently retailed? What novelty of remark can be expected in a review of poems, whofe beauties and blemishes have been elaborately examined in critical differtations, that almost rival in excellence the poetry they discuss? Affuredly but little; yet there remains, perhaps, one method of giving a