After six years at Horton, he spent fifteen months making the Continental tour, and would have stayed longer; but the civil war breaking out, he returned, considering it dishonorable to be enjoying himself abroad while his countrymen were striking a blow for freedom. He laid aside all thought of belles lettres and devoted his pen to the cause of Puritanism, writing many pamphlets in defense of regicide, freedom of the press, divorce, etc. In 1849 he was appointed Latin Secretary to the Council of State, and became the recognized literary champion of the Government in the fierce controversies of that age. Upon the restoration of the monarchy Milton was for a time in hiding, but after 1660 was permitted to go unmolested. In his blind old age he again reverted to poetry, and wrote the immortal epics, "Paradise Lost," "Paradise Regained," and the tragedy, "Samson Agonistes." THE MAN 1. What political opinions did Milton hold? VIII, 390. 2. Give your impression of his morals and personal appearance. 3. Account for the three main divisions of his works--lyric poems, prose, and epic poems, with their differing tone--by his condition in life at different times. 4. In what remarkable respect does Milton's character resemble that of the Satan of his epic? VIII, 367, 369. 5. With what religious and political party did he ally himself? 6. What office did he hold under the Commonwealth? 7. In what virtues was he preëminent? 8. State two circumstances illustrating the heroism of his nature. STYLE AND WORKS 1. What was the extent of Milton's education? VIII, 354. 2. In what field does "Comus" stand among the foremost? VIII, 359. 3. Which did Milton consider his best poem? VIII, 360. 4. Compare "Paradise Lost" with the "Divine Comedy" as to the different modes pursued by Milton and Dante in exciting the imagination. VIII, 361. 5. Are Milton's grand visions the result of inspiration or of industry? I, 404. 6. Why is Milton so little read at the present time? VI, 279. 7. Were the civilization with which he was surrounded and the learning which he had acquired helps or hindrances to the composition of a great epic poem? VIII, 350. 8. Characterize the style of his prose writings. VIII, 394. "LYCIDAS" 1. What qualities are attributed to laurel, myrtle, and ivy by the 'language of the flowers'? 2. Lycidas is the poetic appellation of what deceased friend of Milton? 3. Who were the "sisters of the sacred well"? 4. To what circumstance does the allusion to "the remorseless deep" closing o'er the head of Lycidas refer? And what is the propriety of referring to Druids and Mona in that connection? 5. Who is meant by "The pilot of the Galilean lake"? Note the symbols of his office which he carries, "two massy keys." 6. "Shepherd" and "sheep" are used in a metaphorical sense. Explain their real meaning. To whom do these terms refer in the Bible?