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

Redeemer of dark centuries of shame—

The friend of Petrarch—hope of Italy—

Rienzi! last of Romans! while the tree

Of Freedom's withered trunk puts forth a leaf,

Even for thy tomb a garland let it be—

The forum's champion, and the people's chief—

Her new-born Numa thou—with reign, alas! too brief.'

—Byron's Childe Harold, Canto iv. St. cxiv.

P. [120]. the resentment of Achilles: the subject of the Iliad.

P. [120]. the return of Ulysses: the subject of the Odyssey.