and as Dr. Johnson justly observes, the purpose of the poem was the most useful and arduous that could be chosen; "to vindicate the works of God to mar, His subject is the fate of worlds, the revolution of heaven and earth; rebellion against the supreme King, raised by the highest order of created beings; the overthrow of their host, and the punishment of their enemies, the creation of a new race of reasonable creatures; their original happiness and innocence; their forfeiture of immortality; and their restoration to hope and peace. Here is a full display of the united force of study and genius, of a greater accumulation of materials, with judgment to digest and fancy to combine them. - His large works were performed under discountenance, and in blindness; but difficulties vanish at his touch: he was born for whatever is arduous, and his work is not the greatest of heroic poems only because it is not the first."

Great as is this praise bestowed by the elegant critic above named, it does not go beyond the just bounds of truth and justice. Milton with Sbakspeare will descend to ages yet to come, as stars who bave brightened and adorned the literature of their country,

On Time,

Upon the Circumcision,

At a solemn Music,

Page

430

ib.

431

Song on May Morning,

An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester, 432

An Epitaph on William Shakspeare,

434

ib.

On the university Carrier,

435

Another on the same,

436

Arcades,

437

To the Nightingale,

SONNETS.

4.50

On his being arrived at the age of Twenty-three, ib.