but in what kind of
writing has not Dryden been distinguished? He is in every thing
excellent, says Congreve, and he has attempted nothing in which he has
not so succeeded as to be entitled to the first reputation from it.

It is not to be supposed, that Milton was governed by so mean a
principle as envy, in his thus censuring Dryden. It is more natural to
imagine, that as he was himself no friend to rhime, and finding Dryden
in his early age peculiarly happy in the faculty of rhiming, without
having thrown out any thoughts, which were in themselves
distinguishedly great, Milton might, without the imputation of ill
nature, characterise Dryden, as we have already seen.

These are the most material incidents in the life of this great man,
who if he had less honour during the latter part of his life than he
deserved, it was owing to the unfavourable circumstances under which
he laboured. It is always unpleasing to a good man to find that they
who have been distinguished for their parts, have not been equally so
for their moral qualities; and in this case we may venture to assert,
that Milton was good as well as great; and that if he was mistaken in
his political principles, he was honestly mistaken, for he never
deviated from his first resolution; no temptations could excite him to
temporise, or to barter his honour for advantage; nor did he ever once
presume to partake of the spoils of his ruined country. Such qualities
as these are great in themselves, and whoever possesses them, has an
unexceptionable claim to rank with the good.

We might have entered more minutely into the merit of Milton's poems,
particularly the great work of Paradise Lost; but we should reckon it
arrogant as well as superfluous in us, to criticise on a work whose
beauties have been displayed by the hand of Mr. Addison. That critic
has illustrated the most remarkable passages in Paradise Lost; such as
are distinguished by their sublimity; and elevation; such whose
excellence is propriety; others raised by the nobleness of the
language; and those that are remarkable for energy and strong
reasoning.

A later critic, the ingenious author of the Rambler, has animadverted
upon Milton's versification with great judgment; and has discovered in
some measure that happy art, by which Milton has conducted so great a
design, with such astonishing success.

From these two writers may be drawn all the necessary assistances for
reading the Paradise Lost with