his mind; in politics, it made him times too generously credulous, and times too rigorously decisive; but try it exalted him to such a degree of lence as no man has hitherto surpass is it probable that in this province ever will be excelled; for although i arts there are undoubtedly points of tion much higher than any mortal attained, still it requires such a coin of so many advantages depending on fluence both of nature and of des raise a great artist of any kind, t world has but little reason to expe ductions of poetical genius superior Paradise Lost. There was a bold ye ed originality of conception, which terised the mental powers of Milto give him the highest claim to disti we are not only indebted to him for extended and ennobled the province poetry, but he has another title to gard, as the founder of that recent a chanting English art, which has embe our country, and, to speak the g

language of a bard very eloquent in its

praise,

Made Albion smile,

One ample theatre of sylvan grace.

The elegant historian of modern gardening, Lord Orford, and the two accomplished poets, who have celebrated its charms both in France and England, De Lille and Mason, have, with great justice and felicity of expression, paid their homage to Milton, as the beneficent genius, who bestowed upon the world this youngest and most lovely of the arts. As a contrast to the Miltonic garden, I may point out to the notice of the reader, what has escaped, I think, all the learned writers on this engaging subject, the garden of the imperions Duke of Alva, described in a poem of the celebrated Lope de Vega. The sublime vision of Eden, as Lord Orford truly calls it, proves indeed, as the same writer observes, how little the poet suffered from the loss of sight. The native disposition of Milton, and his personal infirmity, conspired to make contemplation his chief

business and chief enjoyment: few have devoted so large a portion of the to intense and regular study; yet h made a pause of some months in the p of his great work, if we may confide circumstantial narrative of his nephe had the perusal of it from the very ning," says Philips, "for some yea

went from time to time to visit him, cels of ten, twenty, or thirty verses a (which, being written by whateve came next, might possibly want co as to the orthography and pointing). as the summer came on, not been any for a considerable while, and the reason thereof, was answered t vein never happily flowed but from tumnal equinox to the vernal."

Johnson takes occasion, from th dote, to treat the sensations of Milt sarcastic severity, and to deride him mitting to the influence of the seas lavishes ridicule, not less acrimoni the great poet for having yielded t shionable dread of evils still more fa

cay,

"There prevailed in his time (says the critic) an opinion that the world was in its deand that we have had the misfortune to be born in the decrepitude of nature." Johnson exposes, with great felicity of expression this absurd idea, of which his own frame of body and mind was a complete refutation; but instead of deriding the great poet for harbouring so weak a conceit, he might have recollected that Milton himself has spurned this chimera of timid imagination in very spirited Latin verses, written in his twentieth year, and expressly against the folly of supposing nature impaired.

Ergone marcescet, sulcantibus obsita rugis,
Naturæ facies et rerum publica mater,
Omniparum contracta uterum, sterilescet ab ævo
Et se fassa senem male certis passibus ibit,
Sidereum tremebunda caput;

How! shall the face of nature then be plough'd
Into deep wrinkles, and shall years at last
On the great parent fix a sterile curse;
Shall even she confess old age, and halt
And palsy-smitten shake her starry brows!

COWPER.

The spirit of the poet was, i little formed for yielding to any wea of fancy that could impede mental e and we may consider it as one of th ing peculiarities of his character, th an imagination so excursive he pos mind so industrious.

His studious habits are thus d by his acquaintance Aubrey and othe collected their account from his wi he rose at four in the summer, at fiv winter, and regularly began the day ing a chapter in the Hebrew Bible: read to him by a man, who, after th left him to meditation of some hou returning at seven, either read or w him till twelve; he then allowed hi hour for exercise, which was usuall ing, and when he grew blind the oc resource of a swing: after an early a perate dinner he commonly allotte time to music, his favorite amuseme his own musical talents happily fu him with a pleasing relaxation from verer pursuits; he was able to vary