that the first conception was a tragedy or mystery, not of a
narrative, but a dramatic work which he is supposed to have began to
reduce to its present form about the time (1655) when he finished
his dispute with the defenders of the king.

He long had promised to adorn his native country by some great
performance, while he had yet perhaps no settled design, and was
stimulated only by such expectations as naturally arose from the
survey of his attainments, and the consciousness of his powers.
What he should undertake it was difficult to determine. He was
"long choosing, and began late."

While he was obliged to divide his time between his private studies
and affairs of state, his poetical labour must have been often
interrupted; and perhaps he did little more in that busy time than
construct the narrative, adjust the episodes, proportion the parts,
accumulate images and sentiments, and treasure in his memory, or
preserve in writing, such hints as books or meditation would supply.
Nothing particular is known of his intellectual operations while he
was a statesman; for, having every help and accommodation at hand,
he had no need of uncommon expedients.

Being driven from all public stations, he is yet too great not to be
traced by curiosity to his retirement; where he has been found by
Mr. Richardson, the fondest of his admirers, sitting before his door
in a grey coat of coarse cloth, in warm sultry weather, to enjoy the
fresh air; and so, as in his own room, receiving the visits of
people of distinguished parts as well as quality. His visitors of
high quality must now be imagined to be few; but men of parts might
reasonably court the conversation of a man so generally illustrious,