Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1799 Excerpt: ...of Justice, anno "i65i; but upon the mediation of John Mil"ton, and others, especially two godly alder"men of York (to whom he had shown great "civility when they had been taken prisoners in "the north by some of the forces under Wil-' "liarri Marquis of Newcastle) he was saved, and "had liberty allowed him as a prisoner at large." Thus far the pleasing story is sufficiently proved to the honor of Milton. That Davenant endeavoured to return the favor is highly probable, from the amiable tenderness and benevolent activity of his character. Perhaps this probability may seem a little strengthened by the following verses of Davenant, in a poem addressed to the king on his happy return: Your clemency has taught us to believe It wife as well as virtuous to forgive; And now the most offended shall proceed In great forgiving, till no laws we need; For laws flow progresses would quickly end Could we forgive as fast as men offend. If Davenant was in any degree instrumental to the security of Mikon, it is probable that he served him rather from gratitude than affection, as no two writers of the time were more different m from each other in their religious and political opinions. That the poer-laureat of Charles was utterly unconscious of those inestimable poetic powers, which the blind secretary of the republic was providentially reserved to display, we may infer from a very remarkable couplet, towards the close of a second poem, addressed by Davenant to the King, where, speaking of Homer, he ventures to assert that Heav'n ne'er made but one, who, being blind Was fit to be a painter of the mind. It is however very possible that Davenant might doubly conduce to the production of Paradise Lost; first, as. one of those who exerted ...