An Introduction to the Prose and Poetical Works of John Milton / Comprising All the Autobiographic Passages in His Works, the More Explicit Presentations of His Ideas of True Liberty.

by John Milton

On his Blindness

P. 84. [1]. spent: extinguished.

P. 84. [2]. Ere half my days: i.e. are spent; Milton was about forty-four years old when his 'light' was fully 'spent.'

P. 85. [8]. fondly: foolishly; prevent: to come before, anticipate, forestall.

P. 85. [12]. thousands: i.e. of 'spiritual creatures.' See 'P. L.,' iv. 677.

P. 85. [14]. They also serve: i.e. as Verity explains, those other angels too, who, etc.

To Leonard Philaras. (Familiar Letters, No. XII.)

P. [85]. Angier (René): resident agent in Paris for the English Parliament.

To Henry Oldenburg. (Familiar Letters, No. XIV.)

P. [87]. Henry Oldenburg: b. at Bremen about 1615, d. 1677; sent in 1653 by the Council of Bremen as their agent to negotiate with Cromwell some arrangement by which the neutrality of Bremen should be respected in the naval war between England and Holland ('Dict. of National Biography'); became a member and secretary of the Royal Society of London, and was afterward elected a fellow of the Society; corresponded extensively with the philosopher, Benedict Spinosa; published the 'Transactions' of the Royal Society from 1664 to 1677.