922.
[From History of Britain, 1670.] Brutus thus addresses Diana in the country of Leogecia.
Goddess of Shades, and Huntress, who at will Walk'st on the rowling Sphear, and through the deep, On thy third Reign the Earth look now, and tell What Land, what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek, What certain Seat, where I may worship thee For aye, with Temples vow'd, and Virgin quires.
To whom sleeping before the altar, Diana in a Vision that night thus answer'd.
Brutus far to the West, in th' Ocean wide Beyond the Realm of Gaul, a Land there lies, Sea-girt it lies, where Giants dwelt of old, Now void, it fits thy People; thether bend Thy course, there shalt thou find a lasting seat, There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise, And Kings be born of thee, whose dredded might Shall aw the World, and conquer Nations bold.
Transcriber's Note: Title page of first (1667) edition of Paradise Lost follows: Paradise lost.
A POEM Written in TEN BOOKS By John Milton -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Licensed and Entred according to Order -- ---------------------------------------------------------- LONDON.
Printed, and are to be sold by Peter Parker under Creed Church neer Aldgate; And by Robert Boulter at the Turk's head in Bishopsgate-street And Matthias Walker, under St.Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street, 1667.
Transcriber's Note: Title page of second (1674) edition of Paradise Lost follows: Paradise Lost.
A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS.
-- ---------------------------------------------------------- The Author JOHN MILTON.
-- ---------------------------------------------------------- The Second Edition Revised and Augmented by the Same Author.
-- ---------------------------------------------------------- LONDON.
Printed by S.Simmons next door to the Golden Lion in Aldergate-street, 1674.
PARADISE LOST.
ON Paradise Lost.
WHEN I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, In slender Book his vast Design unfold, Messiah Crown'd, Gods Reconcil'd Decree, Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument Held me a while misdoubting his Intent, That he would ruine (for I saw him strong) The sacred Truths to Fable and old Song (So Sampson groap'd the Temples Posts in spight) The World o'rewhelming to revenge his sight.
Yet as I read soon growing less severe, I lik'd his Project, the success did fear; Through that wide Field how he his way should find O're which lame Faith leads Understanding blind; Lest he perplex'd the things he would explain, And what was easie he should render vain.
Or if a Work so infinite he spann'd, Jealous I was that some less skilful hand (Such as disquiet always what is well, And by ill imitating would excell) Might hence presume the whole Creations day To change in Scenes, and show it in a Play.
Pardon me, Mighty Poet, nor despise My causeless, yet not impious, surmise.
But I am now convinc'd, and none will dare Within thy Labours to pretend a share, Thou hast not miss'd one thought that could be fit, And all that was improper dost omit: So that no room is here for Writers left, But to detect their Ignorance or Theft.
That Majesty which through thy Work doth Reign Draws the Devout, deterring the Profane, And things divine thou treatst of in such state As them preserves, and thee, inviolate.
At once delight and horrour on us seise, Thou singst with so much gravity and ease; And above humane flight dost soar aloft With Plume so strong, so equal, and so soft.
The Bird nam'd from that Paradise you sing So never flaggs, but always keeps on Wing.
Where couldst thou words of such a compass find?
Whence furnish such a vast expence of mind?
Just Heav'n thee like Tiresias to requite Rewards with Prophesie thy loss of sight.
Well mightst thou scorn thy Readers to allure With tinkling Rhime, of thy own sense secure; While the Town-Bayes writes all the while and spells, And like a Pack-horse tires without his Bells: Their Fancies like our Bushy-points appear, The Poets tag them, we for fashion wear.
I too transported by the Mode offend, And while I meant to Praise thee must Commend.
Thy Verse created like thy Theme sublime, In Number, Weight, and Measure, needs not Rhime.
A.M.
Note: On Paradise Lost] Added in the second edition 1674.
The Printer to the Reader.
Courteous Reader, there was no Argument at first intended to the Book, but for the satisfaction of many that have desired it, I have procur'd it, and withall a reason of that which stumbled many others, why the Poem Rimes not.

S.Simmons.
Notes: The Printer to the Reader] Added in 1668 to the copies then remaining of the first edition, amended in 1669, and omitted in 1670.

I have procur'd it, and....

not.

1669] is procured.