PAGE 2
A Letter To The Reverend Mr. Douglas,occasioned By His Vindication Of Milton
by
On the sincerity and punctuality of this confession, I am willing to depend for all the future regard of mankind, and cannot but indulge some hopes, that they, whom my offence has alienated from me, may, by this instance of ingenuity and repentance, be propitiated and reconciled. Whatever be the event, I shall, at least, have done all that can be done in reparation of my former injuries to Milton, to truth, and to mankind; and entreat that those who shall continue implacable, will examine their own hearts, whether they have not committed equal crimes, without equal proofs of sorrow, or equal acts of atonement[1].
[1] The interpolations are distinguished by inverted commas.
PASSAGES INTERPOLATED IN MASENIUS.
The word “pandemonium,” in the marginal notes of
Book i. Essay, page 10.
Citation 6. Essay, page 38.
Annuit ipsa Dolo, malumque (heu! longa dolendi
Materies! et triste nefas!) vesana momordit,
Tanti ignara mali. Mora nulla: solutus avernus
Exspuit infandas acies; fractumque remugit,
Divulsa compage, solum: Nabathaea receptum
Regna dedere sonum, Pharioque in littore Nercus
Territus erubuit: simul aggemuere dolentes
Hesperiae valles, Libyaeque calentis arenae
Exarsere procul. Stupefacta Lycaonis ursa
Constitit, et pavido riguit glacialis in axe:
Omnis cardinibus submotus inhorruit orbis;
“Angeli hoc efficiunt, coelestia jussa secuti.”
Citation 7. Essay, page 41.
Ilia quidem fugiens, sparsis per terga capillis,
Ora rigat lacrimis, et coelum questibus implet:
Talia voce rogans. Magni Deus arbiter orbis!
Qui rerum momenta tenes, solusque futuri
Praescius, elapsique memor: quem terra potentem
Imperio, coelique tremunt; quem dite superbus
Horrescit Phlegethon, pavidoque furore veretur:
En! Styge crudeli premimur. Laxantur hiatus
Tartarei, dirusque solo dominatur Avernus,
“Infernique canes populantur cuncta creata,”
Et manes violant superos: discrimina rerum
Sustulit Antitheus, divumque oppressit honorem.
Respice Sarcotheam: nimis, heu! decepta momordit
Infaustas epulas, nosque omnes prodidit hosti.
Citation 8. Essay, page 42; the whole passage.
“Quadrupedi pugnat quadrupes, volucrique volucris;
Et piscis cum pisce ferox hostilibus armis
Praelia saeva gerit: jam pristina pabula spernunt,
Jam tondere piget viridantes gramine campos:
Alterum et alterius vivunt animalia letho:
Prisca nec in gentem humanam reverentia durat;
Sed fugiunt, vel, si steterant, fera bella minantur
Fronte truci, torvosque oculos jaculantur in illam.”
Citation 9. Essay, page 43.
“Vatibus antiquis numerantur lumine cassis,”
Tiresias, “Phineus,” Thamyrisque, et magnus Homerus.
The above passage stands thus in Masenius, in one line:
Tiresias caecus, Thamyrisque, et Daphnis, Homerus.
N.B. The verse now cited is in Masenius’s poems, but not in the Sarcotis.
Citation 10. Essay, page 46.
In medio, turmas inter provectus ovantes
Cernitur Antitheus; reliquis hic altior unus
Eminet, et circum vulgus despectat inane:
Frons nebulis obscura latet, torvumque furorem
Dissimulat, fidae tectus velamine noctis:
“Persimilis turri praecelsae, aut montibus altis
Antique cedro, nudatae frondis honore.”
PASSAGES INTERPOLATED IN GROTIUS.
Citation 1. Essay, page 55.
Sacri tonantis hostis, exsul patriae
Coelestis adsum; Tartari tristem specum
Fugiens, et atram noctis aeternae plagam.
Hac spe, quod unum maximum fugio malum,
Superos videbo. Fallor? an certe meo
Concussa tellus tota trepidat pondere?
“Quid dico? Tellus? Orcus et pedibus tremit.”
Citation 2. Essay, page 58; the whole passage.
–“Nam, me judice,
Regnare dignum est ambitu, etsi in Tartaro:
Alto praecesse Tartaro siquidem juvat,
Coelis quam in ipsis servi obire munera.”
Citation 4. Essay, page 61; the whole passage.
“Innominata quaeque nominibus suis,
Libet vocare propriis vocabulis.”
Citation 5. Essay, page 63.
Terrestris orbis rector! et princeps freti!
“Coeli solique soboles; aetherium genus!”
Adame! dextram liceat amplecti tuam!
Citation 6. Essay, ibid.
Quod illud animal, tramite obliquo means,
Ad me volutum flexili serpit via?
Sibila retorquet ora setosum caput
Trifidamque linguam vibrat: oculi ardent duo,
“Carbunculorum luce certantes rubra.”
Citation 7. Essay, page 65; the whole passage.
–“Nata deo! atque homine sata!
Regina mundi! eademque interitus inscia!
Cunctis colenda!”–
Citation 8. Essay, page 66; the whole passage.