In editing Comus and Arcades I have tried to illustrate Mr Leonard Whibley, of Pembroke College, kindly read A. W. VERITY. INTRODUCTION. LIFE OF MILTON. The three periods in Milton's life. MILTON'S life falls into three clearly defined divisions. The first period ends with the poet's return from Italy in 1639; the second at the Restoration in 1660, when release from the fetters of politics enabled him to remind the world that he was a great poet, if not a great controversialist; the third is brought to a close with his death in 1674. The poems given in the present volume date from the first of these periods; but it has been judged convenient that we should summarise briefly the main events of all three. John Milton was born on December 9, 1608, in London. He came, in his own words, ex genere honesto. A Born 1608; the family of Miltons had been settled in Oxfordshire poet's father. since the reign of Elizabeth. The poet's father had been educated at an Oxford school, possibly as a chorister in one of the College choir-schools, and imbibing Anglican sympathies had conformed to the Established Church. For this he was disinherited by his father. He settled in London, following the profession of scrivener. A scrivener combined the occupations of lawyer and law-stationer. It appears to have been a lucrative calling; certainly John Milton (the poet was named after the father) attained to easy circumstances. He married about 1600, and had six children, of whom several died young. The third child was the poet. The elder Milton was evidently a man of considerable culture, in particular an accomplished musician, and a com |