The Complete Poetry of John Milton
Read The Complete Poetry of John Milton Online
Authors: John Milton
Tags: #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #Poetry, #European
John T. Shawcross received a Ph.D. from New York University and is now professor of English at the University of Kentucky. He is also the author of
With Mortal Voice: The Creation of Paradise Lost, John Milton: A Bibliography for the Years 1624-1700
, and
Paradise Regain’d: “Worthy T’Have Not Remain’d So Long Unsung”.
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eBook ISBN: 978-0-307-82376-2
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-0-385-02351-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Milton, John, 1608-1674.
[Poems]
The complete poetry of John Milton: arranged in chronological order with an introduction, notes, variants, and literal translations of the foreign language forms by John T. Shawcross.—Rev. ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
I. Shawcross, John T. II. Title.
PR3551.S4 1990 89-77299
821′. 4—dc20 CIP
ISBN 0-385-02351-0
Copyright
©
1963, 1971 by Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
v3.1
Arranged according to probable date of composition of the verse, this revised edition brings together all original poems and poetic paraphrases written by John Milton. Included therefore are nine poems not published in either of the two collected editions of the minor poems appearing in Milton’s lifetime: two verses found with his Commonplace Book, a third poem on Hobson the university carrier possibly by Milton, four sonnets, and two Latin epigrams from two prose works. Poems written in Latin, Greek, and Italian are given in original versions and in new prose translations, which attempt insofar as possible to follow the original lines. Differences from the first edition of this collection include the addition of the foreign language texts and the texts of
Psalms 80–88
, additional notes, a general updating of materials, and some rearrangement of the poems.
I have attempted to narrow the dates of composition as much as is presently possible; when apparent proof of date is missing a question mark is added. But the reader should bear in mind that such dating is open to question and it may be in dispute by scholars. Full discussion of dating will be found in the textual notes. Milton frequently altered poems after he had recorded them in the earliest versions which have survived, but perhaps only
Arcades, A Mask, Samson Agonistes, Paradise Regain’d
, and
Paradise Lost
underwent extensive revisions. Dates for such development are indicated and the poems placed in this arrangement accordingly.
Paradise Regain’d
has been positioned after
Paradise Lost
because the received text is apparently an extensive transformation into epic form of whatever was its early version.
Samson Agonistes
has been rearranged in this revised edition, not because I have altered my belief concerning its date of composition, but because its former position isolated some of the minor poems from others, creating a frankly odd arrangement. It is perhaps best to place the three major poems together, and the standard placement of
Samson Agonistes
last allows one to contrast it effectively with
Paradise Regain’d
in interpretation and form. The dating of the three major poems is, in any case, particularly uncertain and has been frequently challenged.
Explanatory notes present information necessary to an understanding of the poetry for the student and general reader and, hopefully, readings suggestive of structure, biographical contexts, sources of importance, and import for Milton. No attempt has been made to present a history of ideas, a frequent approach to a study of Milton. Textual principles are explained in the introduction to the textual notes. Generally, the basic text is that which seems to be closest to Milton—holograph, then scribal copy, and so forth. Alterations from the basic text are few; and all verbal variants in known significant texts are recorded in the textual notes. All dates for years are given in new style. Milton’s prose works are cited from first editions.
The advice and knowledge of Professors J. Max Patrick and William B. Hunter, Jr., have been pervasively instructive in both large matters and small. But the decisions underlying the texts and commentary—and thus the faults—are my own. I am indebted also to William R. Parker for a number of suggestions.
1608
Born (Dec. 9), Bread St., Cheapside, London.
1618 ?–1620 ?
Tutored by Thomas Young.
1620 ?–1624
At St. Paul’s School, London, under Alexander Gill. C. 1623 or 1624 family moved to home in St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Westminster (?).
1625–1632 July
At Christ’s College, Cambridge, ostensibly to enter clerical life. Plague closed Cambridge from Apr. 17, 1630, to c. Jan. 1631. C. 1631 family moved to home in Hammersmith.
1625
Admitted to Christ’s College (Feb. 12), from which he matriculated on Apr. 9.
1626
Period of rustication (Lent term through spring vacation).
1629
Bachelor’s degree conferred (Mar. 26).
1632
Master’s degree conferred (July 3).
1632 July–1635 ?
At Hammersmith with parents. “A Mask” (“Comus”) performed, Sept. 29, 1634.
1635 ?–1638
At Horton, Bucks, with family. Frequently in London after death of mother, Apr. 3, 1637. Publications:
A Mask
(1637/8 ?); “Lycidas” in
Justa Edovardo King naufrago
(1638).
1638 Apr. ?–1639 Aug. ?
Continental tour to France and Italy.
1639 autumn–1648
Tutoring until c. 1647. Studies continued; prose and poetic writings, some published and others begun. Residence: St. Bride’s Churchyard (a few months) and Aldersgate St., London (1640–Sept. ? 1645).
1641
Publications: “Postscript” (?) in Smectymnuus,
An Answer to a Booke entituled, An Humble Remonstrance
(Mar.);
Of Reformation
(May ?);
Of Prelatical Episcopacy
(July ?);
Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defence, against Smectymnuus
(July).
1642
Publications:
The Reason of Church Government
(Feb. ?);
An Apology against a Pamphlet call’d A Modest Confutation
(Apr.). Married to Mary Powell (May ?), who soon returned to her family’s home in Forest Hill (July ?).
1643
Father came to live with Milton (Apr.). Publication:
The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce
(Ed. 1, c. Aug.).
1644
Publications:
Doctrine and Discipline
(Ed. 2, enlarged, Feb.);
Of Education
(June);
The Judgement of Martin Bucer
(Aug.);
Areopagitica
(Nov.). Sight began noticeably to fail (autumn ?).
1645
Publications:
Tetrachordon
and
Colasterion
(Mar.);
Poems
(Ed. 1, autumn ?). Wife Mary returned home (summer ?). Residence: Barbican (Sept. ?–autumn 1647).
1646
Daughter Anne born (July 29).
1647
Father died (Mar. 13 ?). Residence: High Holborn (autumn–c. Mar. 1649).
1648
Daughter Mary born (Oct. 25).
1649–1660 ?
Period of public service as Secretary for Foreign Tongues to Council of State: appointed Mar. 15, 1649; continued in position until at least Oct. 22, 1659.
1649
Publications:
The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates
(Ed. 1, Feb.);
Observations upon the Articles of Peace
(May);
Eikonoklastes
(Ed. 1, Oct., in answer to
Eikon Basilike
, c. Feb.). Residence: Charing Cross (c. Mar.–Nov.) and Scotland Yard, Whitehall (Nov.–Dec. 1651).
1650
Publications:
Tenure
(Ed. 2, enlarged, Feb.);
Eikonoklastes
(Ed. 2, enlarged). Probably lost sight of left eye.
1651
Publication:
Joannis MiltonI Angli Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio
(Feb., in answer to Salmasius’
Defensio regia pro Carolo I
, which appeared in England by Nov. ? 1649; revision of so-called “Defensio prima” was published in Oct. 1658. Also
Joannis Philippi
Angli Responsio Ad Apologiam Anonymi
, by the younger surviving son of Milton’s sister Anne, published toward end of year in answer to John Rowland’s
Pro Rege et Populo Anglicano Apologia
written against “Defensio prima.”) Son John born (Mar. 16). Became totally blind before Feb. 1652, and granted assistance in secretaryship. Residence: Petty France, Westminster (Dec.–Sept. ? 1660).
1652
Daughter Deborah born (May 2); wife Mary died (May 5 ?); and son John died (June 16 ?). Work on poetry and prose (?) through 1658.
1654
Publication:
Joannis MiltonI Angli Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio Secunda
(May, in answer to Pierre du Moulin’s
Regii Sanguinis Clamor
, Aug. ? 1652, which attacked the Commonwealth).
1655
Publication:
Joannis MiltonI Angli pro se Defensio
(Aug., in answer to Alexander More’s
Fides Publica
, Oct. ? 1654).
1656
Married to Katherine Woodcock (Nov. 12).
1657
Daughter Katherine born (Oct. 19).
1658
Second wife, Katherine, died (Feb. 3); daughter Katherine died (Mar. 17). Publication: edited “Sir Walter Ralegh’s”
The Cabinet-Council
(May ?).
1659
Publications and other writings:
A Treatise of Civil Power
(Feb.);
Considerations Touching the likeliest means to remove Hirelings
(Aug.);
A Letter to a Friend, Concerning the Ruptures of the Commonwealth
(written Oct. 20, first published by John Toland in 1698); possible work, “Proposalls of certaine expedients for the preventing
of a civill war now feard, & the settling of a firme government” (autumn ?, first published in Columbia Milton).
1660
Period of transition between governments, loss of office, and governmental harassment and imprisonment. Publications and other writings:
The Readie & Easie Way to Establish A Free Commonwealth
(Mar.; Ed. 2, revised, c. Apr.);
The Present Means, and brief Delineation of a Free Commonwealth
(“Letter to General Monk,” written after Mar. 3, first published by John Toland in 1698);
Brief Notes Upon a Late Sermon
(Apr.). Residence: Holborn near Red Lyon Fields (Sept. ?–early 1661). Escaped death penalty under Act of Oblivion of Aug. 29; in prison, after burning of books written by him (Oct. ?–Dec. 15).
1661-1674
Period of general retirement; work on poetry and prose.
1661
Residence: Jewin St. (early 1661–1669 ?).
1663
Married to third wife, Elizabeth Minshull (Feb. 24).