readers than were supplied at first the nation did not afford. Only
three thousand were sold in eleven years; for it forced its way
without assistance; its admirers did not dare to publish their
opinion; and the opportunities now given of attracting notice by
advertisements were then very few; the means of proclaiming the
publication of new books have been produced by that general
literature which now pervades the nation through all its ranks. But
the reputation and price of the copy still advanced, till the
Revolution put an end to the secrecy of love, and "Paradise Lost"
broke into open view with sufficient security of kind reception.

Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture with what temper Milton
surveyed the silent progress of his work, and marked its reputation
stealing its way in a kind of subterraneous current through fear and
silence. I cannot but conceive him calm and confident, little
disappointed, not at all dejected, relying on his own merit with
steady consciousness, and waiting without impatience the
vicissitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of a future
generation.

In the meantime he continued his studies, and supplied the want of
sight by a very odd expedient, of which Phillips gives the following
account:-

Mr. Philips tells us, "that though our author had daily about him
one or other to read, some persons of man's estate, who, of their
own accord, greedily catched at the opportunity of being his
readers, that they might as well reap the benefit of what they read
to him, as oblige him by the benefit of their reading; and others of
younger years were sent by their parents to the same end; yet