POEMS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, Compos'd at several times, BY Mr. JOHN MILTON, Baccare frontem Cingite, ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro. Virgil, Eclog. 7. To the first edition of the author's poems printed in 1645 was prefixed the following advertisement of The STATIONER to the READER. IT is not any private refpect of gain, gentle Reader, for the flighteft pamphlet is now adays more vendible than the works of learnedeft men; but it is the love I have to our own language, that hath made me diligent to collect and fet forth fuch pieces both in profe and verfe, as may renew the wonted honor and efteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin poems, not the florifh of any prefixed encomiums that can invite thee to buy them, though thefe are not without the highest commendations and applause of the learnedeft Academics, both domeftic and foreign; and amongst thofe of our own country, the unparallel'd atteftation of that renowned Provost of Eton, Sir Henry Wotton. I know not thy palate how it relishes such dainties, nor how harmonious thy foul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee better. But how foever thy opinion is fpent upon thefe, that encouragement I have already received from the moft ingenious men in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late choice pieces, hath once more made me adventure into the world, prefenting it with thefe ever-green, and not to be blafted laurels. The Author's more peculiar excellency in these studies was too well known to conceal his papers, or to keep me from attempting to VOL. II. B folicit by folicit them from him. Let the event guide itself which way it will, I fhall deferve of the of the age, fes bringing into bringing into the light as true a birth, as the Mufes have brought forth fince our famous Spenfer wrote; whofe poems in thefe English ones are as rarely imitated, as fweetly excell'd. Reader, if thou art eagle-ey'd to cenfure their worth, I am not fearful to expofe them to thy exacteft perufal. |