When I compare Shakespeare with Æschylus, I want to make it clearly understood that I regard him as the regenerator of the theatre in Europe, and superior to Corneille and Racine as to dramatic essence, although he may be assuredly much inferior to them as to form. Æschylus, in Greek, was inspired by Homer; while, on the contrary, it was Shakespeare who inspired Milton. It is known that _Paradise Lost_ was at first conceived as the subject of a tragedy, and that it was only after reflection that the English poet saw therein the material for an epic poem. I will tell later on, in speaking of the _Messiah_ of Klopstock, what has prevented these two subjects, which appear equally epics, from attaining wholly to the majesty of epopœia. As many of the motives that I have to offer apply to the two works, I will thus avoid useless repetition. I shall begin by translating the exposition and invocation of Milton, by imitating its movement and its harmony, as I have done with the other poets. De l’homme, viens chanter la disgrâce, et la fruit De cet arbre fatal, dont le goût homicide Livra le Monde au crime, à la mort, aux malheurs, Et nous ravit Eden, jusqu’au moment qu’un Homme Plus grand, par son trépas, racheta le séjour Du bonheur: viens, ô Muse! ô toi qui, sur la cime Se Sinaï, d’Oreb, en secret inspiras La Berger d’Israël, quand d’une voix sacrée Il enseignait comment et la terre et des cieux Sortirent du Chaos! ou bien, si tu préfères Les sommets de Sion, les bords du Siloë, Qui, près du Temple saint, roule ses flots, ô Muse! Viens protéger de là mes chants audacieux, Mes chants qui, surpassant d’un essor non timide, Les monts Aoniens, vont raconter des faits Que n’ont point encor dits la prose ni la rime. Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us and regain the blissful seat, Sing, heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top Of Oreb or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of chaos; or if Sion hill Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flow’d Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.