Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-02-20
MISCELL A N Y .
MILTON AND PARADISE LOST.

Whitier's Book Of Old Portraits and Noderr
Sketches furnishes some interesting memoranda o
many noteworthy men and places. Among others
he introduces Thomas Ellwood, young Quake
who was in the habit ofreading TO John Milton dur
ing his blindness. In 1866, when the plague was
in London, Milton desired to escape to the country
and consults his friend Ellwood, who writes
"Wherefore, some little time before went t.
Ayesbury Jail, was desired by my quondam Mas
ter Milton TO take an house for him in the neghbor
hood where dwet, that he might go out of The
city in safety Of himself and his family, the pesti
lence then growing hot in London. l took pretty
box for him in Giles Chalfont, mile from me, O
which gave him notice land intended 10 have wait
ed on him and seen him well settled, but was pre-
vented by that imprisonment. But now being re-
leased and returned home, soon made visit tt
him, to welcome him into the country. After some
common discourse had passed between us, he called
for manuscript Of his, which having been brought
he delivered 10 me, bidding me take it home with
me and read it at my leisure, and when had SC
done, return 1t to him with my judgment thereup-
on"
Now, what does the reader think young Ellwood
carried in his grey coat pocket across the dkes and
hedges and through The green lanes OF Giles Cbal-
font that autumn day? Let us look further -
"When came home, and had set myself to read it,
found it was that excellent poem which he enti-
tied Paradise Lost. After had, with the best at
tention read it through, made him another visit
and, returning his book with due acknowledgment
of the favor he had done me in communicating il
to me, he asked me how liked it, and what
thought Of it, which modes,ly but freely told him
and, after some further discourse about it, pleas
anlly said TO him, Thou hast said much here Of
n hast ,c D. l.co
F0,nds He made me no answer, but sat some
time in muse, then brake oil that discourse, and
fell upon another subject" -at
81 modeslly but freely told him what thought
of Paradise Lost!n What he told him remains a
mystery. One would like to know more pre-
cisey what the first critical reader of that song 'of
Mans e. i:-,.Iedienre' thought of it. Fancy the
young Quaker and blind Milton sitting some pleas
ant afternoon of the autumn or That old year. the
pretty box at Challoni, the soft wind through the
open window lifting the thin hair of the glorious old
poet Backslidden England, pague.smilten, and
accursed with the faiihess Church and bertne king
knows little of poor Master Milton, and takes small
note of his puritanic verse making. Alone, with
his humble friend, he sits there, coming over that
poem which he f1ndly hoped The world which had
grown all dark and strange to the author, would
not willingly let die The suggestion in respect
to Paradise Found, to which, as we have seen, 'he
made no answer, but sat some time in muse,
seems not 10 have been lost for, after the sickness
was oyer,' continues Elwood, 'and the city well
cleansed, and become safely habaole again, he re-
turned thither and when afterwards waited on
him there, which seldom failed Of doing whenev-
er nv occasions drew me TO London, he showed me
his second poem, called Paradise Gained ;aDd in a
pleasant tone said to me, This is owing toyou, for
YOU put it into my head by the question You put 10
me at Chalfont, which before l had not thought
Of