On His Blindness
(JOHN MILTON)
John Milton's father was keen that he should be a writer. He sent him to St Paul's School, where he learned Latin and Greek, and then to Cambridge, where he wrote poems in Latin. Among the first of his English poems were two compaion pieces 'L'Allegro', and ; 'II Penseroso', the former about the actvities of the cheerful man, the other about those of the thoughtful or serious man. There was something of both these types of men in John. The cheerful man wrote entertainments for rich patrons, and married three times; and the thoughtful (even grim) man wrote pamphlets criticising bishops, and commending divorce. But it was the English Civil War (which came to an end with the excuetion of CharlesI, in 1649) that really altered the pattern of Milton's life. His talent as a propagandist was recognised by the new government, and he was appointed Latin Scretary to Cromwell (the Council of State). He continued to write nevertheless.
Milton lost his official post in 1660 when monarchy was restored; but time, and poverty encouraged a return to poetry. It was in 1667 that he published his Paradise Lost in 10 books. This has been called 'the only completed succesful epic in English'. It is the result of a life dedicated to God and poetry.
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