A

FAMILIAR EXPLANATION

OF THE

POETICAL WORKS

O F

MILTON.

To which is prefixed

Mr. ADDISON'S CRITICISM on PARADISE LOST.

With a PREFACE

BY

The Rev. Mr. D OD D.

LONDON:

rinted for J. and R. TONSON, in the Strand; and J. NEWBERY, in St. Paul's Church-Yard.

MDCCLXII.

4

(iii):

PREFACE

By Mr. DOD D.

HILE all read and all admire

WH

Milton, it is confeffed that few understand him; few, at leaft, of the common Readers: More learned ones frequently find themfelves at a Lofs, fo unbounded is he in his Knowledge, fo univerfal in his Allufions to the whole Round of Science. To elucidate his Difficulties, able and ingenious Men have applied their beft Efforts, and that with defirable Succefs. But as their Annotations are often large, and often critical, they perplex the common Reader, interrupt the Attention, and are