Begley, who was a man of profound knowledge and an authority on matters of composition and style, ascribes this work to Milton. If this view be accepted, then to this poet’s glory must be added a further claim to immortality, because he was the first poet who expounded—from a Christian point of view—the idea of Israel’s Restoration in the form of a poetical romance. But from our point of view it does not matter whether Milton was the author, or another poet; the fact remains that this remarkable work is English and appeared in England in 1648.
XIV.
“Prædamitæ—Men Before Adam,” by Isaac de La Peyrère[¹]
[¹] Account of Peyreyra, Author of “Præadamitæ,” “Rappel des Juifs,” &c. Translated from “Lettres Choisies de M. [Richard] Simon, (1638–1721) ou l’on trouve un grand nombre de Faits et Anecdotes de Literature. Rotterdam 1702.”
(Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. lxxxii., November, 1812, pp. 432–434; and vol. lxxxiii., June, 1813, pp. 614–616.)
Another of his famous works, also published anonymously, was:—
Præadamitæ. | Sive | Exercitatio | super Versibus duodecimo, decimotertio, & | decimoquarto, capitis quinti Epistolæ | D. Pauli ad Romanos. | Qvibvs Indvcvntvr | Primi Homines ante Adamum | conditi. |
Anno Salvtis, | M.DC.LV. |
(4to. 22 ll. + 297 + 8 pp. [Synagogis Ivdæorvm Vniversis.]) [I. S.]