English Reprints. JOHN MILTON. AREOPAGITICA. [24 November] 1644. PRECEDED BY ILLUSTRATIVE DOCUMENTS. CAREFULLY EDITED BY EDWARD ARBER, Affociate, King's College, London, F.R.G.S., &c. LARGE PAPER EDITION. LONDON: ALEX. MURRAY & SON, 30, QUEEN SQUARE, W.C. Ent. Stat. Hall.] I March, 1869. [All Rights referved. INTRODUCTION. HAT half-living thing-a book: may be regarded in many ways. It may be confidered in connection with the circumftances which led to its conception and creation; and in the midst of which it appeared. It may be ftudied, as exhibiting the moral intent, the mental power of its author. Its contents may be analysed as to their intrinfic truthfulness or falfity. We may trace and identify its influence upon its own age and on fucceeding generations. This is an apprehenfion of the mind of a book. More than this. We may examine its ftyle, its power and manner of expreffing that mind. The ringing collocation of its words, the harmonious cadence of its fentences, the flashing gem-like beauty of isolated paffages, the juft mapping out of the general argument, the due fubordination of its several parts, their final inweaving into one overpowering conclufion these are the features, difcovering, illuminating, enforcing the mind of a book. Much of what is in books is falfe, much only half true, much true. It is impoffible to feparate the tares from the wheat. Every one, therefore-of neceffity-muft read difcriminatively; often fifting and fearching for first principles, often tefting the catenation of an argument, often treasuring up incidental truths for future ufe; enjoying-as delights by the way-whatever felicity of expreffion, gorgeousness of imagination, vividnefs of defcription, or aptnefs of illuftration may glance, like funshine, athwart the path: the journey's end being Truth. The purpose through thefe English Reprints is to bring this modern age face to face with the works of our forefathers. The Editor and his clumsy framework |