PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS THE GREEK VERSES. WHEN it is confidered, how frequently the life of MILTON has been written, and how numerous the annotations have been, on different parts of his works, it feems ftrange, that his Greek verfes, which, indeed are but few, fhould have paffed almoft wholly without notice, They have neither been mentioned, as proofs of learning, by his admirers, nor expofed to the ordeal of criticism, by his enemies. Both parties feem to have fhrunk from the fubject, To investigate the motives for this filence is not neceffary, and the fearch might poffibly prove fruitlefs. The prefent obfervations attempt to supply the deficiency of former Commentators, whofe ftores of critical knowledge have been lavished, λw Juaæxı, merely on the English poetry of Milton. It will, perhaps, be afferted, that the following remarks are frequently too minute. Yet it feems the duty of a commentator, on the Greek productions of a modern, to point out, in general, the fources from which each expreffion flowed, and to defend by collected authorities, what to fome readers may appear incontrovertibly right, as well as to animadvert on paffages, of which the errours will be discovered by those only, who have devoted a large portion of their time and attention to the study of the ancients. Critical ftrictures on fuch works fhould be written to direct the judgement of the lefs learned, and not merely to confirm the opinions of profound scholars. In these Remarks, the reader will find fome objections ftarted, which are to be confidered as relating rather to points of taste, than of authority.— In paffages of which the propriety or impropriety could be decided by appeals to the Ancients, reference has generally been made to Euripides, in preference to all other Writers. It is well known, that he was much studied by Milton, and he is properly termed his favourite poet by Mr. Warton, in his Note on Comus, ver. 297. Those, who have long and juftly entertained an high idea of Milton's Greek erudition, on perufing thefe notes, will probably feel disappointed; and may afcribe to spleen and temerity, what, it is hoped, merits at leaft a milder title.-To Milton's claim of extenfive, and, indeed, wonderful learning who shall refuse their fuffrage! It requires not our commendation, and may defy our cenfure.-If Dr. Johnson, however, obferves of fome Latin Verse of Milton, that it is not fecure againft a ftern grammarian, what would he have faid, if he had bestowed his time, in examining part of this Greek a Life of Milton. Works, vol. ii. p. 92. |