89 PARADISE LOST. HIG воок II. IGH on a throne of royal state, which far Outfhone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous eaft with richest hand 1. High on a throne &c.] I have before obferved in general, that the perfons, whom Milton introduces into his poem, always difcover fuch fentiments and behaviour, as are in a peculiar manner conformable to their refpective characters. Every circumftance in their fpeeches and actions is with great juftnefs and delicacy adapted to the perfons who speak and act. As the poet very much excels in this confiftency of his characters, I fhall beg leave to confider feveral paffages of the fecond book in this light. That fuperior greatnefs and mock-majefty, which is afcribed to the prince of the fallen Angels, is admirably preserved in the beginning of this book. His opening and clofing the debate; his taking on himself that great enterprife at the thought of which the whole infernal affembly trembled; his encountering the hideous phantom, who guarded the gates of Hell and appeared to him in all his terrors, are inftances of that proud and daring mind, which could not brook VOL. I. Show'rs fubmiffion even to omnipotence. The fame boldnefs and intrepedity of behaviour discovers itself in the feveral adventures which he meets with during his paffage through the regions of unformed matter, and particularly in his addrefs to those tremendous Powers who are defcribed as prefiding over it. Addifon. 2.- the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,] That is diamonds, a principal part of the wealth of India where they are found, and of the iland Ormus (in the Perfian gulf) which is the mart for them. Pearce. 3. Or where the gorgeous caft &c.] Not that Ormus and I were in the weft. but the fent is that the throne of Satan outfhone diamonds, or pearl and gold, the choiceft whereof are produced in the eaft. Spenfer exprefies the fame thought thus, Fairy Queen, B. 3. C. 4. St. 23. that it did pafs The wealth of th east, and pomp of Perfian kings. P And Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, To that bad eminence; and from despair Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven, For fince no deep within her gulf can hold From this descent Celestial virtues rifing, will appear More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 5 10 15 Mc And this pearl and gold is called barbaric pearl and gold, after the manner of the Greeks and Romans, who accounted all other nations barbarous; as Virgil faid, Æn. II. And the eaft is faid to how'r them Rich pearls upon thee. I'll fet thee in a show'r of gold, 504. Barbarico poftes auro fpoliifque fuperbi. and Æn. VIII. 685. Hinc ope barbarica variifque Anto nius armis Victor ab aurora populis Taffo alfo (as Mr. Thyer farther adds) 20 Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heaven Yielded with full confent. The happier state adds) adopts this word into the Italian language in a defcription fimiflar to this, Cant. 17. St. 10. E ricco di barbarico ornamento, 1. Pow'rs and Dominions,] As St. Paul calls the Angels, Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers, Col. I. 16. 18. Me though just right, &c.] Me is rightly placed first in the fentence, being the emphatical word and the accufative cafe govern'd by the two verbs which follow, create and establish'd. Me though juft right, &c did first create your there 25 ༢༠ From leader, yet this lofs hath much more establish'd in a safe unenvied throne. 21. — achiev'd] We fpell it as we pronounce it atchiev'd; but Milton writes it achiev'd, like the French achever, from whence it is deriv'd. 24. The happier ftate In Heav'n, which follows dignity, &c.] He means that the higher in dignity any being was in Heaven, the happier his fate was; and that therefore inferiors might there envy fuperiors, because they were happier too. P 2 Pearce. 33-none, |