them, by my Defence. am,' I will now state. ، Who then, and what I year I was born in London, of a respectable family. My father was a man of approved integrity; and my mother an excellent woman, particularly distinguished in the neighbourhood by her numerous charities. My father destined me," while I was yet a child, to the study of elegant literature; and so eagerly did I seize upon it, that from my twelfth I seldom quitted my studies for my bed till midnight. This proved the first cause of the ruin of my eyes, in addition to the natural weakness of which organs, I was afflicted with frequent pains in my head. When all these maladies were unable to restrain my rage for learning, my for learning, my father provided that I should be daily instructed in some school abroad, and by other tutors at home. Thus initiated in various languages, and with no light relish for the sweets of philosophy,t I * See his Ad Patrem,' vv. 73, &c. + In the same spirit, the Second Brother in Comus (476--480) exclaims, How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh, and crabbed (as dull fools suppose) And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns.' The honour of Milton's early institution belongs to St. Paul's school, at that time under the care of Alexander Gill, author of an ingenious but subtile scheme to reform and fix the English eyes from blindness, and my name from oblivion or calumny, I may at least rescue my moral character from that obscurity which is coupled with ignominy. And this, on more accounts than one. First, to prevent those excellent and learned men upon the neighbouring parts of the Continent, who now read and approve my works, from being affected by this fellow's scurrilities and to convince them that I have never polluted honourable writings by a dishonourable life, the language of a freeman by the conduct of a slave, but have always under God's good guidance kept myself aloof from every thing mean and profligate: next, that the illustrious and praiseworthy objects of my panegyric may be assured, I should think nothing more shame. ful than to utter their praises, if I were conscious of myself deserving censure or reprobation; and, finally, to satisfy the people of England (whom I have been impelled either by my destiny, or my sense of duty, as well as by their virtue, to defend) that having always led a life of purity and honour, if I have not done them credit, I have certainly not disgraced ginning of his 'Pro Se Defensio;' and Bentley will complete his justification: "Mr. Boyle is pleased somewhere to send me to Hermogenes chapter, Περί τε ανεπαχθως ἑαυτον επαινείν, ο How a man may commend himself without envy or fulsomeness: ' and I find there that one may safely do it, when detraction and calumny make it necessary.'" (Pref. to Diss, on Phalaris, Ed. 1777, p. xxv.). them, by my Defence. 'Who then, and what I am,' I will now state. year I was born in London, of a respectable family. My father was a man of approved integrity; and my mother an excellent woman, particularly distinguished in the neighbourhood by her numerous charities. My father destined me,* while I was yet a child, to the study of elegant literature; and so eagerly did I seize upon it, that from my twelfth I seldom quitted my studies for my bed till midnight. This proved the first cause of the ruin of my eyes, in addition to the natural weakness of which organs, I was afflicted with frequent pains in my head. When all these maladies were unable to restrain my rage for learning, my father provided that I should be daily instructed in some school abroad, and by other tutors at home. Thus initiated in various languages, and with no light relish for the sweets of philosophy,† I *See his Ad Patrem, vv. 73, &c. † In the same spirit, the Second Brother in Comus (476--~ 480) exclaims, How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh, and crabbed (as dull fools suppose) And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns.' The honour of Milton's early institution belongs to St. Paul's school, at that time under the care of Alexander Gill, author of an ingenious but subtile scheme to reform and fix the English eyes from blindness, and my name from oblivion or calumny, I may at least rescue my moral character from that obscurity which is coupled with ignominy. And this, on more accounts than one. First, to prevent those excellent and learned men upon the neighbouring parts of the Continent, who now read and approve my works, from being affected by this fellow's scurrilities and to convince them that I have never polluted honourable writings by a dishonourable life, the language of a freeman by the conduct of a slave, but have always under God's good guidance kept myself aloof from every thing mean and profligate: next, that the illustrious and praiseworthy objects of my panegyric may be assured, I should think nothing more shameful than to utter their praises, if I were conscious of myself deserving censure or reprobation; and, finally, to satisfy the people of England (whom I have been impelled either by my destiny, or my sense of duty, as well as by their virtue, to defend) that having always led a life of purity and honour, if I have not done them credit, I have certainly not disgraced ginning of his 'Pro Se Defensio;' and Bentley will complete his justification: "Mr. Boyle is pleased somewhere to send me to Hermogenes' chapter, Пeps To avsTaxJag iαutov STOIVELY, How a man may commend himself without envy or fulsomeness:' and I find there that one may safely do it, when detraction and calumny make it necessary.'" (Pref. to Diss. on Phalaris, Ed. 1777, p. xxv.). them, by my Defence. Who then, and what I am,' I will now state. I was born in London, of a respectable family. My father was a man of approved integrity; and my mother an excellent woman, particularly distinguished in the neighbourhood by her numerous charities. My father destined me,* while I was yet a child, to the study of elegant literature; and so eagerly did I seize upon it, that from my twelfth year I seldom quitted my studies for my bed till midnight. This proved the first cause of the ruin of my eyes, in addition to the natural weakness of which organs, I was afflicted with frequent pains in my head. When all these maladies were unable to restrain my rage for learning, my father provided that I should be daily instructed in some school abroad, and by other tutors at home. Thus initiated in various languages, and with no light relish for the sweets of philosophy,† I *See his Ad Patrem, vv. 73, &c. † In the same spirit, the Second Brother in Comus (476--480) exclaims, How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh, and crabbed (as dull fools suppose) And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns.' The honour of Milton's early institution belongs to St. Paul's school, at that time under the care of Alexander Gill, author of an ingenious but subtile scheme to reform and fix the English |