EDITION S.

"POEMS

I. " OEMS of Mr. John Milton, Both ENGLISH and LaTIN, compofed at feveral times. Printed by his true copies. The SONGS were fet in mufick by Mr. HENRY LAWES, gentleman of the KING'S Chappel, and one of his MAIESTIES " private mufick.

66

Baccare frontem

Cingite ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro.
Virgil, Eclog. 7.

"Printed and published according to order. London, Printed by Ruth "Raworth for Humphrey Mofeley, and are to be fold at the figne "of the Princes Arms in Paul's Church yard. 1645." [N. B. CoMus had been before feperately printed in 1637. And LYCIDAS, in 1638. See above, p. 1. 120.] Then follows this address from the Stationer to the Reader. "It is not any private refpect of gain, "gentle reader, for the flightest pamphlet is now adayes more ven"dible then the works of learnedest men; but it is the love I have "to our language that hath made me diligent to collect, and set "forth fuch peeces both in profe and vers, as may renew the won"ted honour and efteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth "of these both English and Latin Poems, not the flourish of any "prefixed encomions that can invite thee to buy them, though "these are not without the highest commendations and applause of "the learnedft Academicks, both domestick and forrein: And

ter.

amongst those of our own countrey, the unparalleled attestation "of that renowned provost of Eaton, Sir HENRY WOOTTON. I "know not thy palat how it relishes fuch dainties, nor how harmo"nious thy foul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee betBut howfoever thy opinion is spent upon these, that encouragement I have already received from the most ingenious men "in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late "choice peeces, hath once more made me adventure into the world, prefenting it with these ever-green, and not to be blasted Lau"rels. The Authors more peculiar excellency in these studies, was too well known to conceal his papers, or to keep me from attempting to follicit them from him. Let the event guide it felf "which way it will, I fhall deserve of the age, by bringing into "the light as true a birth, as the Mufes have brought forth fince "our famous SPENCER wrote; whofe poems in these English

2

a Mofeley was the general publisher of the poets of his day. Sir A. Cokaine has an Epigram to Mofeley, on his edition of B. and Fletcher, B. ii. 35.

"ones

ones are as rarely imitated, as fweetly excelled. Reader, if "thou art eagle-eied to cenfure their worth, I am not fearful to expose them to thy exacteft perufal. Thine to command "HUMP. MOSELEY." After the ENGLISH POEMS there is a new title-page, Joannis Miltoni Londinenfis POEMATA. Quorum pleraque intra annum ætatis vigefimum confcripfit. "Nunc primum edita. Londini, Typis R. R. [Ruth Raworth] Prof"tant ad Infignia Principis in Cemeterio D. Pauli, apud Hum"phredum Mofeley. 1645." In duodecimo. The author's Effigies, with a Greek infcription, is prefixed, and the title In Effigiei Sculp

torem.

II. " POEMS, &c. Upon feveral occafions. By JOHN MILTON. Both ENGLISH and LATIN, &c. Composed at several "times. With a small Tractate of EDUCATION TO Mr. Hart"lib. London, Printed for Tho. Dring at the White Lion next Chancery Lane end, in Fleet-street. 1673." After the ENGLISH POEMS there is a fecond title-page, "Joannis Miltoni Londi "nenfis POEMATA. Quorum pleraque intra annum ætatis vige"fimum confcripfit. Nunc primum edita. Londini. Excudebat "W. R. Anno 1672." To the ENGLISH POEMS in this edition were first added, 1. Ode on the death of a fair infant. 2. At a Vacation excercife in the college. 3. On the new forcers of conscience under the long Parliament. 4. Horace to Pyrrha. 5. Nine SONNETS. 6. All the English Pfalms. To the LATIN POEMS, 1. Apologus de Ruftico et Hero. 2. Ad Joannem Roufium, &c. In this edition, the Epistle from fir H. Wootton, which stands before Comus in the laft, is omitted. In duodecimo. Milton was now living. This, and the laft, are the only authentic editions.

tle,

III. For Tonfon, 1695. In folio. After PARADISE LOST, PARADISE REGAINED, and SAMSON AGONISTES, with the ti"POEMS upon feveral occafions. Composed at several times. By Mr. JOHN MILTON. The third edition. London, Printed "for Jacob Tonfon, at the Judge's Head near the Inner Temple gate, in Fleetftreet, 1655." An exact repetition of the laft. This is the first time that the greater and fmaller poems were printed together. The whole is in one volume. With Hume's notes on PARADISE LOST. The smaller Poems, those, I mean, which compofe this volume, make fixty pages. The Tractate to Hartlib is omitted. This is the only edition in folio that ever appeared. Tonfon here retains the obfolete fpelling of the preceding editions: which afterwards, in a fucceffion of editions, was filently and gradually refined: I know not if always properly.

IV. For Tonfon, 1705. In octavo. With cuts. After the greater Poems.

V. For Tonfon, 1713. In octavo. Here are first added, from Philips and Toland, SONNETS, XV. xvi. xvii. xxii. and xxiii. With cuts, 1. Joannis Miltoni effigies, by Vandergucht, copied from edition 1645. [See above, p. 546.] 2. L'Allegro, or Mirth. 3. Il

Penferofo,

Penferofo, or Melancholy. 4. Shakespeare. 5. Hobfon the carrier. After the greater Poems, which have also cuts.

VI. For Tonfon, 1720. In quarto. A Part of all Milton's poetical works, in two volumes. This publication was conducted by Tickell, who is faid to have compiled the Index to PARADISE LOST, of principal matters. With Cuts, both to the greater and fmaller Poems. At the end is the Letter to Hartlib.

VII. For Tonfon, 1725. In duodecimo. After the greater Poems. Under the care of Fenton; who prefixed to the PARADISE LOST, a new Life of Milton. He endeavoured to correct the punctuation. This edition was reprinted in 1730, if not before. It retains the Letter to Hartlib. Fenton's MILTON is mentioned in Richardfon's EXPLAN. N. published 1734, p. cxvi.

VIII. For Tonfon and Draper, 1752. In one quarto volume, together with PARADISE REGAINED, and SAMSON AGONISTES. Under the care of Dr. Newton, with Notes. This volume is a fequel to the PARADISE LOST, with Notes, in two quarto volumes, published by the fame, in 1749. It was reprinted in two octavo volumes, 1753. Again, 1763. And afterwards. Here for the first time, not only the PARADISE REGAINED, and SAMSON AGONISTES, but our Smaller Poems appear with Notes. The editor added the Latin epigram to Chriftina. But he omits the Translated Fragments, and three Latin epigrams on More and Salmafius, all which were first collected in Tickell's edition.

IX. At Edinburgh, 1752. In octavo, with a Gloffary. A Part of all Milton's Poetical works, in two volumes.

X. At Birmingham, by Baskerville, 1758. In large octavo. With the greater Poems. The whole is in two volumes, and profeffedly a copy of Newton's edition of all Milton's poetical works, without the Notes.

Perhaps I have overlooked one or two reimpreffions of very little confequence or authority.

a A head is prefixed from Richardfon's collection, engraved by Vertue, unlike every other head of Milton. Aged 42. This is not repeated in the fubfequent editons. See above, p. 546.

b_The plates, defigned by Hayman, and engraved by Grignion, were given to the Editor by lord Bath.

THE END.