Hermione and Cadmus, or the God

In Epidaurus, nor to which transform'd.
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen,
He with Olympias, this with her who bore
Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique 510
At first, as one who fought access, but fear'd
To interrupt, fide-long he works his way.
As when a fhip by skilful steersman wrought

continued to be worshipped at Rome. Nor were thofe ferpents lovelier, to which transform'd Ammonian Jove or Capitoline was féen, Jupiter Ammon and Jupiter Capitolinus, the one the Lybian Jupiter, the other the Roman, called Capitoline from the Capitol his temple at Rome He with Olympias, the firft the pres tended father of Alexander the great, converfing with his mother Olym pias in the form of a ferpent; this with her who bore Scipio the highth of Rome, the latter fabled in like manner to have been the father of Scipio Africanus, who raised his country and himself to the higheft pitch of glory. Dr Bentley objects to this exprellion the highth of Rome. But as Dr. Pearce obferves in anfwer, this expreffion is much of the fame nature with Ovid's Summa dus cum Atrides, Amor. l. 1. el. 9. v. 37. and with Cicero's expreffion Apex fenectutis eft auctoritas. de Senect The Italians, whofe expreffions Milton often imitates, ufe altezza in the fame sense, if I remember aright

Nigh

513. At when a pip &c.] There" are fome Latin poems of Andrew Ramfay, a Scotchman' in the time of Charles the firft, under this title Poemata facra Andrea Ramfai Paf toris Edinburgeni. Edinburg 1633: The book is now grown very scarce, but there are few poems in it. The principal is one in four books, the firit of the creation, the fecond of the happy ftate of man, the third of the fall of man, the fourth of the redemption of man by Jefus Chrift: and this poem was recom mended to me as a performance to which Milton had been much oblig'd and indebted: but upon perusing it I do not well fee how two authors could write fo much upon the fame fubjects, and write more differently. There are few or no traces to be difcover'd of any fimilitude or refemblance between them, but in the fimile before us, and the following one of the Scotch poet, and thefe are fo different, and applied fo differently, that they may both be originals, or at least not the copy the

опе

Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind
Veers oft, as oft fo fteers, and fhifts, her fail:
So varied he, and of his tortuous train
Curl'd many a wanton wreath, in fight of Eve,
To lure her eye; the bufied heard, the found-
Of rufling leaves, but minded not, as us'd
To fuch difport before her through the field,
From every beaft, more duteous, at her call,

520.

Than

might ftill fay with truth that he pursued,

Things, unattempted yet in, profe or rhime.

1

And in the general it may be faid, that refemblance- is not plagiarism. Different authors may poffibly hit upon the fame thought without bor rowing from one another. An author, of great reading especially, may be ting'd and color'd as it were by his reading; his writings may have fomething of the tafte of the books which he has read without his knowing it, as the ftream partakes of the qualities of the earth thro which it paffes; and he may fometimes make ufe of the thoughts of others, and still believe them his ◄ own. This may be the cafe with re gard to thofe authors, whom he is known to have read; and much lefs can he be certainly charg'd with ftealing from authors, when it is very uncertain whether he has read thein or not,

522.

Than

525

Than at Circean call the herd difguis'd.'
He bolder now, uncall'd before her stood,
But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd
His turret creft, and fleek enamel'd neck,
Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expreffion turn'd at length
The eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad
Of her attention gain'd, with ferpent tongue
Organic, or impulse of vocal air,

His fradulent temptation thus began,

Wonder not, fovran Mistress, if perhaps

530

Thou canft, who art fole wonder; much less arm
Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain,
Difpleas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze 535
Infatiate, I thus fingle, nor have fear'd

Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd,
Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair,

Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
By gift, and thy celestial beauty' adore

540

With ravishment beheld, there best beheld

Where univerfally admir'd; but here

In this inclosure wild, these beafts among,
Beholders rude, and fhallow to discern

Half what in thee is fair, one man except,

545

Who sees thee'? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen

A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and ferv'd

By Angels numberlefs, thy daily train.

proem tun'd;

So gloz'd the Tempter, and his
Into the heart of Eve his words made way,

55°

Though at the voice much marveling; at length
Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake.
What may this mean? language of man pronounc'd
By tongue of brute, and human sense express'd?
The first at least of these I thought deny'd

531. His fraudulent temptation thus began] We fee by this firft fpeech of Satan what our author thought the most probable, the moft natural, and the moft fuccessful way of beginning a temptation upon a woman, namely flattery, extravagant admiration of her perfon, and fulfome commendations of her merit and beauty, and by these means engaging her attention, and fo deluding

555

To

her to her ruin. This fpeech is much of the fame ftrain and fpirit with that which Satan had made to her before in her dream, V. 37, &c: and it had a fatal effect, for

Into the heart of Eve his words

made way.

To cry her up as a Goddess was the
readieft way to make her a mere
mortal.
556.-abom

Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me fo keen.

About the moffy trunk I wound me soon,

For high from ground the branches would require 590
Thy utmost reach or Adam's: Round the tree
All other beafts that faw, with like defire
Longing and envying ftood, but could not reach.
Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung
Tempting fo nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
I spar'd not, for fuch pleasure till that hour
At feed or fountain never had I found.
Sated at length, ere long I might perceive
Strange alteration in me, to degree

595

Of reafon in my inward pow'rs, and speech

600

Wanted not long, though to this shape retain❜d.
Thenceforth to fpeculations high or deep