Shakspeare, which probably did not together make one thousand copies.

The fale of thirteen hundred copies in two years, in oppofition to fo much recent enmity, and to a style of verfification new to all and disgusting to many, was an uncommon example of the prevalence of genius. The demand did not immediately increase; for many more readers than were supplied at first the nation did not afford. Only three thousand were fold in eleven years; for it forced its way without assistance: its admirers did not dare to publifh their opinion; and the opportunities now given of attracting notice by advertisements were then very few; for the means of proclaiming the publication of new books have been produced by that general literature which now pervades the nation through all its ranks.

But the reputation and price of the copy ftill advanced, till the Revolution put an end to the fecrecy of love, and Paradife Loft broke into open view with fufficient fecurity of kind reception.

Fancy

Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture with what temper Milton furveyed the filent progrefs of his work, and marked his reputation ftealing its way in a kind of fubterraneous current through fear and filence. I cannot but conceive him calm and confident, little disappointed, not at all dejected, relying on his own merit with steady consciousness, and waiting, without impatience, the viciffitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of a future generation.

In the mean time he continued his ftudies, and fupplied the want of fight by a very odd expedient, of which Philips gives the following account:

Mr. Philips tells us," that though our "author had daily about him one or other "to read, fomne perfons of man's estate, "who, of their own accord, greedily catched "at the opportunity of being his readers, "that they might as well reap the benefit of "what they read to him, as oblige him by "the benefit of their reading; and others of

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younger years were fent by their parents to

"the

"the fame end: yet excufing only the "eldeft daughter, by reafon of her bodily "infirmity, and difficult utterance of speech, (which, to fay truth, I doubt was the

principal cause of excufing her), the other "two were condemned to the performance "of reading, and exactly pronouncing of "all the languages of whatever book he "fhould, at one time or other, think fit to "peruse, viz. the Hebrew (and I think the Syriac), the Greek, the Latin, the Italian, Spanish, and French. All which forts of "books to be confined to read, without understanding one word, muft needs be a trial "of patience almoft beyond endurance. Yet " ́it was endured by both for a long time,

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though the irksomeness of this employ"ment could not be always concealed, but "broke out more and more into expreffions "of uneafinefs; fo that at length they were

all, even the eldeft alfo, fent out to learn "fome curious and ingenious forts of manu"facture, that are proper for women to "learn; particularly embroideries in gold or "filver."

In the scene of mifery which this mode of intellectual labour fets before our eyes, it is hard to determine whether the daughters or the father are moft to be lamented. A language not understood can never be fo read as to give pleasure, and very feldom fo as to convey meaning. If few men would have had refolution to write books with fuch embarraffments, few likewife would have wanted ability to find some better expedient.

Three years after his Paradife Loft (1667), he published his Hiftory of England, comprifing the whole fable of Geoffry of Monmouth, and continued to the Norman invafion. Why he should have given the first part, which he feems not to believe, and which is univerfally rejected, it is difficult to conjecture. The ftyle is harsh; but it has fomething of rough vigour, which perhaps may often ftrike, though it cannot please.

On this history the licenfer again fixed his claws, and before he would tranfmit it to the prefs tore out feveral parts. Some cenfures of the Saxon monks were taken away,

left they should be applied to the modern clergy; and a character of the Long Par ́liament, and Affembly of Divines, was excluded; of which the author gave a copy to the earl of Anglefea, and which, being afterwards published, has been fince inserted in its proper place.

The fame year were printed Paradife Regained, and Sampson Agonistes, a tragedy written in imitation of the ancients, and never defigned by the author for the stage. These poems poems were published by another bookfeller. It has been afked, whether Simmons was difcouraged from receiving them by the flow fale of the former? Why a writer changed his bookseller a hundred years ago, I am far from hoping to discover. It is certain, that he who in two years fells thirteen hundred copies of a volume in quarto, bought for two payments of five pounds each, has no reason to repent his purchase.

When Milton fhewed Paradife Regained to Elwood, This," faid he, "is owing to

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you; for you put it in my head by the

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