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PREFACE.
The firft volume contained the jewels of Milton's
tranfeendant genius, regularly fet and wrought into
one grand complete work, forming a fuperb diadem
or brilliant necklace of exquifite workmanfhip in
the compofition, as well as of immenfe value in the
materials.
The prefent volume is enriched with diamonds
and pearls of equal beauty, though fcattered and de-
tached; and may be compared to thofe fmaller pieces
which the Daedalean hand of the fame artift con-
defcends to execute in miniature.
To praife the well known and univerfally admired
poems which fill this volume would be pointing out
the luftre of the fun, or the beautiful colours of
the rainbow. Defcription
indeed muft ever fail in
attempting to give adequate ideas of thofe delicate
and refined excellences which are perceived by the
^ fenfibility of tafte. Who can communicate by words
^t the fragrance of the hyacinth or honeyfuckle?
Milton's Latin poems have never been fufEciently
commended. They are beautiful beyond mofl of the
poetical productions in modern Latin. They are
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