Criticism on Milton's Paradise lost From 'The Spectator' 31 December, 1711- 3 May, 1712 .. . t with any knowing reader, that for some fewyeers yet I may go on trust with him toward the payment of what I amnow indebted, as being a work not to be raysd from the heat of youth, orthe vapours of wine, like that which flows at wast from the pen of somevulgar Amorist, or the trencher fury of a riming parasite, not to be obtaindby the invocation of Dame Memory and her Siren daughters, but by de-vout prayer to that eternall Spirit who can enrich with all utterance andknowledge, and sends out his Seraph
Criticism on Milton's Paradise lost From 'The Spectator' 31 December, 1711- 3 May, 1712 .. . t with any knowing reader, that for some fewyeers yet I may go on trust with him toward the payment of what I amnow indebted, as being a work not to be raysd from the heat of youth, orthe vapours of wine, like that which flows at wast from the pen of somevulgar Amorist, or the trencher fury of a riming parasite, not to be obtaindby the invocation of Dame Memory and her Siren daughters, but by de-vout prayer to that eternall Spirit who can enrich with all utterance andknowledge, and sends out his Seraphim with the hallowd fire of his Altarto touch and purify the lips of whom he pleases : to this must be added in-dustrious and select reading, steddy observation, insight into all seemly andgenerous arts and affaires, till which in some measure be compast, at mineown peril and cost I refuse not to sustain this expectation from as many asare not loath to hazard so much credulity upon the best pledges that I cangive them.—-//. 37—41. Ed. 1641. Criticism on Paradise Lost/ INTR OD j|N the ordinary courfe of writing for TheSpectator\ Addifon determined upon a fum-mary expofition otParadife Loft; intendingin fome four or half a dozen papers, togive a general Idea of its Graces and Im-perfection s. Though his fubjec~l was a recent mafter-work, it was then comparatively unknown and certainlyinadequately appreciated. Addifons purpofe was tomake Miltons great Epic popular. His fenfe of theindifference and prejudices to be overcome, may begathered, not only from his, at firft, guarded and arguedpraife of Milton; his large comparative criticifm ofHomer and Virgil, as if to make Milton the moreacceptable; but alfo from his announcement, fee page25 : where, under the cover of a Commentary on thegreat and acceptedly-great name of Ariftotle, he en-deavours to get a hearing for the unknown Milton. In accordance with this intention, at the clofe of hisfixth paper,f Addifon announces
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