...be that Samuel Johnson was right when he declared, with his usual hearty English frankness, that " 'Paradise Lost' is one of the books which the reader...admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. No one ever wished it longer than it is. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure"? It must be...

...birth: and I treat it to-day as it was treated in its own country by its contemporaries.—Voltaire. One of the books which the reader admires and lays...a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation; we desert our master...

...encomiasts, that in reading "Paradise Lost" we read a book of universal knowledge. But original deficiency cannot be supplied. The want of human interest is...a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation; we desert our master,...

...sentence of any weight in the Life that might not be closely paralleled from the published writings. The want of human interest is always felt. Paradise...a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and over-burdened, and look elsewhere for recreation; we desert our master,...

...Milton excelled. Moreover, "the substance of the narrative Is truth." And how does he sum up the result? "Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader...take up again. None ever wished it longer than it le. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure." I believe that this is, „openly- or secretly,...

...cannot be fupplied. The want of human intereft is always felt, itractife Laß is one of .the book» which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. Its perufal is a duty rather than a pleafure. We read Milton for inihuclion, retire barraffed and overburdened,...

...Addison,'Johnson's Works, vol. vii. p. 142. In the'Life of Milton,' •vol. vi. p. 173, he had said: '" Paradise Lost" is one of the books which the reader...it longer than it is. Its perusal is a duty rather thau a pleasure.' second second cantos of ' Childc Harold,' he awoke and found Hlmsel'" famous. These...

...encomiasts, 66 that in readingParadise Lost we read a book of universal knowledge. But original deficience cannot be supplied. The want of human interest is...a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation; we desert our master,...

...conceive, and poetical terrour such as human strength and fortitude may combat. . But original deficience cannot be supplied. The want of human interest is...lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wishes it longer than it is. Its persual is a duty rather than a pleasure. (Lives, 1:181—83) The...

...another for being "tediously instuctive" (Lives, 1:169). Paradise Lost itself is arraigned on this point: "Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction" (Lives, 1:183). The evidence that can be cited seems to me, nevertheless, to be short...