awed xa To council in the city gates : anon Of The vision of marriages, “Οι μεν τα σesϊδονες επεδεσμος, They light the nuptial torch, and wre deteta bid invoke Ταμνο:' αμφι βοων αγελας και Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok'd: Αργεννων οιων κλεινον δ' επι μεWith feast and music all the tents 20607neas. resound. “Οι ' ως εν επυθονο πολυν κελαIs it not a most beautiful and exact δον παρα βεσιν, copy of Homer? ver. : 491, “Ιερων προπαειθε καθημενο!, τικ' εφ' ίππων Βανες αερσιποδων μετεκιαθου: Ελαπιναιτε" arta do inolo. Νυμφας εκ θαλαμων, δαίων Στησαμενοι δ' εμαχουλο μαχην υπολαμπομεναών, Ηγινεον ανα ασυ σολυς δ' υμε- ποταμοιο παρ' οχθας. var opwger' In arms the glitt'ring squadron rising Kre96 dp opxenis upes ed uveov, er de round, des TOLOLY Rush sudden ; hills of slaughter heap Αυλοι, φορμιγγεςτε βοην εχον the ground, Here sacred pomp, and genial feast Whole flocks and herds lie bleeding delight, on the plains, And solemn dance, and hymenäal And, all amidst them, dead, the , shepherd swains. Along the street the new-made brides The bellowing oxen the besiegers are led, hear, With torches flaming, to the nup. They rise, take horse, approach, and tial bed : meet the war; The youthful dancers in a circle They fight, they fall, beside the bound filver flood, To the soft Aute, and cittern's fil- The waving filver seemd to bluh ver sound. with blood. And in like manner the driving away The representation of the city beof the sheep and oxen from forage, fieg'd here in Milton, and the battel which thereupon ensues may be compared with the fol Others to a city strong lowing pallage in Homer : ver. 527 Lay fiege, incamp d ; &c. ' &c. the rite ; Of middle age one rising, eminent 665 In wise deport; spake much of right and wrong, Of justice, of religion, truth and peace, And judgment from above: him old and young Exa the reader will find to be a very great On seats of stone, within the sacred improvement upon that in Homer, place, ver. 509 &c. The rev'rend elders nodded o'er Tuv 8°&Tezau sodir dupe duo Alternate, each th' attesting scepter Την δ' ετέρην πόλιν αμφι the case ; segτου Βατο λαων took, Τευχεσι λαμπoμένοι And rising solemn, each his sentence Another part (a prospect differing spoke. far) Glow'd with refulgent arms, and The description of the shield of horrid war. Achilles is certainly one of the finest Two mighty hosts a leaguer'd town. pieces of poetry in the whole Iliad, embrace, &c. and our author has plainly shown his admiration and affection for it As the council in the one by borrowing so many scenes and In other part the scepter'd heralds images from it: but I think we may call say that they do not like other coTo council in the city gates: anon pies fall short of the originals, but Gray-headed men and grave, with generally exceed them, and rewarriors mix'd, ceive this additional beauty, that Afsemble, and harangues are heard, they are most of them made repre. &c. sentations of real histories and mat ters of fact. feems to be of much more importance 661. To council in the city gates : than that in the other, ver. 503&c. For there assemblies were anciently Knpures on aeg accov sputuov, ós held, and the judges used to fit, δε γερονες Gen. XXXIV. 20. Deut. XVÍ, 18. 'Elat' éri fes 0161 nebors, iepa ev XXI. 19. Zech. VIII. 16. κυκλω 665. Of middle age one rifing,] Ennilega de xmpurwy grzopo? Enoch said to be of middle age, beex.ov MECIOWYWvo cause he was translated when he was TOLON &TRT nümov, apoienfis but 365 years old; a middle age δεδικαζον then. Gen. V. 23. Richardson. Th' appointed herálds fill the noisy 668. And judgment from above:] bands, It appears from holy Writ, that he And form a ring, with scepters in was not only a good man, and walked their hands; with God, Gen. V. 24. but that he VOL. II. AA ز Exploded and had seis'd with violent hands, Had not a cloud descending fnatch'd him thence 670 Unseen amid the throng: fo violence Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. Adam was all in tears, and to his guide Lamenting turn’d full fad; O what are these, 673 Death's ministers, not men, who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply Ten thousandfold the fin of him who flew His brother : for of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? 680 But who was that juft man, whom had not Heaven D Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost? To whom thus Michael. Thefe are the produk Ö remonftrated likewise against the pronounce the word Michael vil wickedness of mankind, and de- two or three syllables. nounc'd the heavy judgment of God 688. Such were these giants, upon them, Jude 14. Bebold the Lord of high renown;] Gen.VI.4 cometh with ten thousands of his Saints, There were giants in the carb in the to execute judgment upon all &c: which days; and also after that, auber die the poet alludes to more plainly fons of God came in unto the daughters afterwards, ver. 704. of men, and they bare children to thes : that God would come ébe fame became migbro men, sabia To judge them with his Saints. were of old, men of renown. Same 683. To wbom thus Michael. These word which we translate giants , men commentators understand by tebe are the product] The accent of large bulk and stature; others upon the word produ& is to be varied conceive them to be no more than product or produd, according as you robbers and tyrants: Our author includes Of those ill mated marriages thou saw'st ; 690 And 695 includes both interpretations, and adds (for this I take to be his sense) leaves the choice to the reader, pro that it shall be held the bigbest pitch digious births of body or mind. of triumph for that glory obtain'd, 691. To overcome in battel, &c.] to be fil'd great conquerors. So chac This character drawn more mafterly though I approve of Dr. Bentley's in Parad. Reg. III. 71. changing done into won, I cannot They err who count it glorious &c. agree to his altering of triumph to Warburton. Or triumph. Pearce. This is one of the most difficult pas. 694. and for glory done sages. I am not satisfied with the Of triumph, to be fiil'd great con- conjectures of either of these learned querors,] Milion had said be. men, and see no other way of unfore that it frall be held the highest derfanding it but this . To overcome, pitch of glory, to subdue nations and to subdue, to spoil, shall be held the Irizg bome ibeir spoils: and here he highest pitch of glory, and shall be song A a 2 And what most merits fame in silence hid. 701 To judge them with his Saints:-him the most High Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds 706 Did, done for glory of triumph, shall be auxiliary verb is brought close to its achiev'd for that end and purpose, principal, and that a chin monofylto be fil'd great conquerors &c. iable, as in the line juft now referred 700. But be the fey’nth from thee,] greeable. But to prove that the to, the verse is very rude and difaJude 14. And Enoch also the seventh auxiliary verb may be employ'd profrom Adam &c. perly, I will produce an instance in 707. Did, as thou faw's, receive,] rim'd verse, as Atrong as that of It is commonly apprehended from a Milton just mention'd, paslage in Mr. Pope's Eflay on Cri Then did the roaring waves their ticism, that all auxiliary verbs are rage compose, mere expletives, When the great father of the flood While expletives their feeble aid arose. Pite's first Æneid. do join. I believe it will not be disputed, but But this I believe Mr. Pope never that this line is as full, as fonorous, intended to advance. Milton has and majestic as if the auxiliary verb used them in many places, where he had been left out, and the author could have avoided it if he had had used compos'd instead of did cos pleased. I will produce one, pose. The expression is certainly more beautiful and more poetical; Did, as thou saw'st, receive and the reason of it is, that it occaMilton might have said fions suspense, which raises the at tention; or in other words, the Receiv'd, as thou hast seen, auxiliary verb gives notice of some thing coming, before the principal But he thought the auxiliary verb thing itself appears, which is anoadded Rrength to the expression, as ther property of majesty Mr. Dry. indeed it does. I own where the den's authority - might likewise be added |