and, in his LITTLE DU BARTAS, fpeaking of man as the lord of the creation; For him the rocks a thousand rivers GUSH; In this pfalm, Milton's firft-avowed poetical attempt, the ftyle of verfification, (being heroic rhime, which he has not often attempted,) feems to have been adopted from Sylvefter. Two years after, when he wrote his VERSES ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, he was palpably become acquainted with Spenfer; who is there his model. Hence I fuppofe the priority of his acquaintance with Sylvefter's Du Bartas; which I would confider as his primary attachment *. * I might carry my hypothefis, of Milton's primary acquaintance with Sylvefter's Du Bartas, to an earlier date, than I have yet fuppofed; as, fince the above was written and fent to the press, I find that the 4to edition, in 1613, was alfo printed by Humfrey Lownes. Milton was then only five years old, at the most. PSALM 29. PSALM CXXXVI. the golden-treffed fun.] Mr. Warton particularly notices this expreffion as highly poetical. I cannot avoid referring it to Sylvefter's Du Bartas; where the fun is not only described WITH GOLDEN TRESSES and attractive grace, but it is alfo faid; p. 85, Scarce did the glorious Governor of Day 33. The horned moon to shine by night.] p. 360. The moon is feveral times termed by Sylvefter, "Night's borned queen;" -under night's HORNED QUEEN. -how fea doth ebb and flow, P. 40. 34. her Spangled fifters bright.] This expreffion is alfo admired by Mr. Warton as very poetical. But Sylvefter had before termed the ftars the BRIGHT STAR-SPANGLED regions. p. 143. He befpangles, indeed, the ftars upon various other occafions. 37. -his thunder-clafping hand.] This fine epithet is juftly admired by Mr. Warton. It is much fuperior to any attempts, in Sylvefter's Du Bartas, fimilarly to characterife "the glorious God, that "maketh -the only-THUNDERING HAND of God. p. 46. 38. Smote the firfl-born of Egypt land.] -flain by the angel's hand Among the elder heirs of EGYPT LAND. P. 793. 41. And in defpight of Pharaoh fell, He brought from thence his Ifrael.] In Sylvefter's Du Bartas, Pharaoh is fimilarly defcribed as fell, or cruel ; So Ifrael, fearing again to feel Pharaoh's FELL hands, who hunts him at the heel. p. 361. Where Where alfo the Miltonic rhyme ftequently occurs; -those proud TYRANTS FELL, Those bloody foes of mourning ISRAEL. P. 357 through the fandy horror Of a vaft defart, * * * ** Of thirst and hunger, and of serpents FELL, He by the hand conducted ISRAEL. what tempeft FELL P-377 Beats on the head of harmless ISRAEL! P. 438. And finally doth punish TYRANTS FELL, P. 478. I could refer you to various other inftances.- -Thefe, indeed, are mere minutie, hardly worth our notice; but a number of fuch, in addition to more palpable obligations, may contribute to prove my point. 45. The |