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

[1554]. needs: is necessary.

[1557]. tell us the sum: the main fact, defer what accompanied it.

[1581]. glorious: used proleptically.

[1594]. eye-witness: ocular testimony.

[1599]. high street: main or principal street; so, highway, high seas.

[1608]. sort: rank.

[1610]. banks: benches.

[1619]. cataphracts: heavy-armed cavalry soldiers, whose horses as well as themselves were covered with a complete suit of mail armor. Gr. κατάφρακτος, covered; spears: spearmen.

[1621]. rifted: split.

[1625]. assayed: tried.