PREFACE. IN arranging the materials of this little volume I have been governed by the purpose of furnishing a commentary which might, keeping step with the progress of the poem, to some extent answer the same end as annotations to special passages; and further by the desire of leading the reader gradually and easily to a comprehension of Milton's theory about supernatural beings and events. The wish to avoid too abrupt a presentation of somewhat novel views has caused me to defer the treatment of allegorical and other difficult features, as a general thing, to the later chapters. The principles of interpretation, however, which have been established, will enable the thoughtful student to gather for himself the hidden meaning of passages not specifically explained. It is hoped that my strictures on the opinions of scholars in such repute as Addison, Johnson, Landor, and Masson may not seem to savor of immodesty. Convinced by frequent experience of the untrustworthy nature of much that has been written about the great epic, I learned freely to question all authorities, and, adhering rigidly to the text, to aim at presenting, for the most part, such facts as may easily be verified by abundant proof. Milton still waits for a critic to do for his works what Gervinus and Hudson It is not claimed that these pages will satisfy all Gettysburg, Pa., April 2, 1878. J. A. H. |