with more skilful and attentive help than can be commonly obtained; and it was probably the difficulty of confulting and comparing that stopped Milton's narrative at the Conqueft; a period at which affairs were not yet very intricate, nor author's very numerous.

For the fubject of his epick poem, after much deliberation, long chufing, and beginning late, he fixed upon Paradife Loft; a defign fo comprehenfive, that it could be juftified only by fuccefs. He had once defigned to celebrate king Arthur, as appears from his verfes to Manfus; but Arthur was referved, fays Fenton, to another destiny..

It appears, by fome sketches of poetical projects left in manufcript, and to

be

be seen in a library at Cambridge, that he had digefted his thoughts on this fubject into one of thofe wild dramas which were anciently called Mysteries; and Philips had seen what he terms part of a tragedy, beginning with the first ten lines of Satan's addrefs to the Sun. These myfteries confift of allegorical perfons; fuch as Juftice, Mercy, Faith.. Of the tragedy or mystery of Paradife Loft there are two plans :

Mofes, weshoy, recounting how he affumed his true body; that it corrupts not, because it is with God in the mount; declares the like of Enoch and

Eliah; befides the purity of the place, that certain pure winds, dews and clouds, preserve it from corruption; whence exhorts to the fight of God; tells, they cannot fee Adam in the state of innocence, by reason of their fin.

A CT III.

Lucifer, contriving Adam's ruin.

Chorus fears for Adam, and relates Luci

fer's rebellion and fall.

Adam and Eve driven out of Paradife..

prefented by an angel with

Labour, Grief, Hatred, En

vy, War, Fainine, Pesti

lence, Sicknefs, Difcon- Mutes.

tent, Ignorance, Fear

Death,

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