LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOTE ON THE SECOND EDITION PART ONE:THE POET IN HIS SETTING 1 Biographical summaries Chronological table Education and reading The Italian journey Literary career Appearance and character 2 Scientifu background Milton and seventeenth-century science The macrocosm The Microcosm 3 Political and religious background Charles I and Laud Presbyterians and Independents Milton and religion Milton's concept of freedom 4 Literary background Some foreign influences Milton and English poetry Masque and drama Epic and romance PART TWO:CRITICAL SURVEY The young Milton,1625-38 The years of revolution,1639-60 After I660:the great epic Last years:the two redeemers PART THREE:REFERENCE SECTION GENERAL INDEX INDEX TO MILTON'S WORKS