the notions now prevalent of elegance and refinement; a body of men to whom we are not only indebted for the liberty we enjoy, but without whose noble behaviour we might still at this time be involved in those impenetrable mazes of obscurity, ignorance, and slavery, from which many of the kingdoms of the European continents have as yet vainly attempted to emancipate themselves. The progress of literature was, indeed, for a time arrested the fine arts were abandoned-every accomplishment was sacrificed to the tyranny of an engrossing and fanatical enthusiasm, which though sincerely practised by a very small body of men, was externally professed by a large majority of those upon whom the conduct of affairs then depended. Yet, notwithstanding the circumstances which during the course of these most eventful times appeared to oppose insurmountable obstacles to the development of genius, particularly in a poetical shape, there appeared two men, bursting as it were from out of the clouds by which they were surrounded; both equally

distinguished as writers of poetry and of prose, and both entitled to our notice here as authors of the first rank in our language, and as writers upon whom we think that we can prove the vulgar translation to have exercised a considerable influence; we allude to Milton and Cowley.

No person can attentively have perused any considerable part of Johnson's Dictionary, without being struck with the incomparable superiority of the quotations and illustrations introduced from Milton over those from any other writer, particularly when they are brought forward to mark the peculiar force or meaning of any word. On this account, therefore, it will be incumbent upon us to examine the writings of this author with even a greater degree of attention than we should allot to them from the consideration that his great work was founded so entirely upon a scriptural subject. We are aware that it may be objected, after the perusal of the passages which we are about to cite from Milton, as having been suggested, modified, or improved

by the influence of the Bible, that the poet was acquainted with the originals, and therefore most probably drew his copious draughts from the fountain-head itself. We grant that in many cases he may have done so, but when it is once allowed that Milton is greatly indebted to the poetry of the Bible, it matters very little to our argument, whether he made use of the original or of a version; for it will be universally acknowledged that the study of the Hebrew and Eastern languages occupies a far greater time than can be conveniently allotted to it by many persons inclined to poetical pursuits. Of how great importance, therefore, must it not be to our literature in general, and to those persons in particular, to possess, in the English language, a version of the Bible, generally considered to be the best in existence, and acknowledged almost unanimously to render the spirit of the original with more accuracy than any other.

We shall now lay before the reader a selection from the principal passages of Milton,

in which he appears to have been indebted to the Sacred Writings, either for the idea itself, or for the manner of its expression. In book i. of the "Paradise Lost," there occurs

[1.380.] The chief were those who from the pit of hell Roaming to seek their prey, on earth durs't fix

Their seats, long after, next the seat of God.

Which probably alludes to the passage in the Bible, "The Devil goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

[l. 455.] Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, His eye survey'd the dark idolatries

Of alienated Judah.

For the original of which, see Ezek. viii. 12. -"Hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery."

In book ii. l. 263.

How oft amidst

Thick clouds and dark, doth Heav'n's all ruling sire

Choose to reside, his glory unobscur'd,

And with the majesty of darkness round

Covers his throne, from whence dread thunders roar,

&c. &c.

D

(See Psalm xviii. 9.)-" And darkness was under his feet."

(Ibid. verse 11.)-"He made darkness his secret place; his pavilions round about him were dark, waters and clouds of the skies."

(Psalm xcvii. 2.)" Clouds and darkness were round about him :" and many other passages in the Psalms.

[7. 594.]

The parching air

Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire.

"When the cold north wind bloweth it devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass like fire.”— Eccl.

[l. 891.] Before their eyes in sudden view appear The secrets of the hoary deep..

"One would think the deep to be hoary."Job xli. 32.

"And there were slain names of men seven

thousand."-Rev. xi. 13.