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forafmuch as plays were acted in the univerfities, with the approbation of bishops, where these characteristical properties were to be seen as well as at the public. theatres. "And," he concludes, "if it "be unlawful to fit and behold a merce

nary comedian perfonating that which "is leaft unfeemly for an hireling to do, how "much more blameful is it to endure "the fight of as vile things acted by per"fons, either entered, or prefently to

66

enter, into the miniftry and how

“much more foul and ignominious for "them to be the actors!"

Is then Dr. Johnfon's THEREFORE the introduction of a fair inference? or do flander and mifreprefentation then only

* Apology, p. 213.

lofe

lofe their malignity when delivered by the pen of Dr. Johnson ?

Every page of the new narrative is full of mean flings and malevolent furmifes on Milton's most indifferent actions, which it would be endless to remark with a proper reproof of each. We shall therefore only felect a few of the most reprehenfible, either on account of their want of candour, or want of veracity.

Page 24. It is thus written: "Let not ❝our veneration for Milton forbid us to "look with fome degree of merriment

66

on great promifes and fmall perfor

66 mances, on the man who hastens home "because his countrymen are contend"ing for their liberty, and when he "reaches the feene of action vapours 66 away

66

away

his patriotism in a private board

ing school."

This fneer is derived from a reflection of Mr. Fenton, "to whom it seemed "wonderful that one, of fo warm and "daring a spirit as Milton's certainly fhould be reftrained from the

66 was,

66 camp

in those unnatural commotions* ; "and whence Dr. Johnfon takes the li"berty to fubfume: But Milton was re"strained from the camp, therefore his patriotifm was vapoured away."

But was there no fcene of patriotic

I

action but in the camp? or will Dr. Johnfon allow that Milton could have done more for the liberty of his coun

*Fenton's Life of Milton, p x.

trymen

trymen with his fword than he did with

his

pen * ?

Philips informs us, that Milton arrived in England from his travels "about "the time of the King's making his fe "cond expedition against the Scots +;"

,

Neque enim militiæ labores et pericula fic defugi, ut non alia ratione, et operam multo utiliorem, nec minore cum periculo, meis civibus navârim, et animum dubiis in rebus neque demiffum unquam, neque ullius invidiæ, vel etiam mortis plus æquo metuentem præftiterim. Nam cum ab adolefcentulo humanioribus effem ftudiis, ut qui maxime deditus, et ingenio femper quam corpore validior, pofthabita caftrenfi opera, qua me gregarius quilibet robuftior facile fuperâffet, ad ea me contuli quibus plus potui, ut parte mei meliore ac potiore, fi faperem, non deteriore, ad rationes patriæ, caufamque hanc præftantiffimam, quantum maxime poffem momentum accederem.

Miltoni Defenfio fecunda pro Populo Angli

cano, p. 366. vol. II. of Baron's edition of his profe-works.

Philips, p. xvi.

and

camp.

and fo fay Toland, Newton, &c; and it was in the very fame year that Milton publifhed his Difcourfes of Reformation in two books, founded on the fame principles of liberty for which his countrymen were contending in the The fame Mr. Philips fays, that within the first two years that Milton inhabited the houfe which the new narrative dignifies with the name of boardingSchool*, he fet out not only the tract above-mentioned, but likewife the feveral treatifes against Prelatical Epifcopacy, on the Reafon of Church-Govern

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*The expreffion was familiar to this writer: "At Edial, near Litchfield, in Staffordshire, young gentlemen are boarded, and taught the "Latin and Greek Languages, by SAMUEL -46 JOHNSON."

Advertisement in Gent, Mag, 1736, p. 428.

ment,

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