The following year the citizens were harassed by losses sustained from the great fire； so that Milton did not seek to dispose of his poem until 1667； when； on the 27th of April； it was sold to Samuel Simmons； a publisher residing in Aldersgate Street。 The agreement entered into stated Milton should receive an immediate payment of five pounds； with the stipulation that he should be given an equal sum on sale of thirteen hundred copies of the first edition； and five pounds on disposal of the same number of the second edition； and yet five pounds more after another such sale of the third edition。 Each edition was to number fifteen hundred books。 Two years after the publication of 〃Paradise Lost；〃 its author received the second payment of five pounds； five years later a third payment was made him； before the fourth fell due his life had been set free from care。
From the first his poem had come in contact with a few receptive minds； and borne the blessed fruit of appreciation。 Richardson recounts that Sir John Denham； a poet and man of culture； one morning brought a sheet of the great epic fresh from the press to his friend Sir George Hungerford。 〃Why； what have you there？〃 asked the latter。 〃Part of the noblest poem that was ever written in any； language or in any age；〃 said Sir John； as he laid the pages before him。 And a few weeks later my Lord Dorset； looking over a bookstall in Little Britain； found a copy of this work； which he opened carelessly at first； until he met some passages which struck him with surprise and filled him with admiration： observing which the honest bookseller besought him to speak in favour of the poem； for it lay upon his hands like so much waste…paper。 My lord bought a copy； carried it home； read and sent it to Dryden； who； in due time returning the volume； expressed his opinion of its merits in flattering terms。 〃The author；〃 said he； 〃cuts us all outaye； even the ancients too。〃
Such instances as these were； however； few in number。 That the work did not meet with wider appreciation and quicker sale is not surprising when it is called to mind that from 1623 to 1664 but two editions of Shakespeare's works； comprising in all about one thousand copies； had been printed。 In an age when learning was by no means universal； and polite reading uncommon； it was indeed a scource of congratulation； rather than a topic for commiseration； that the work of a republican had in two years reached a sale of thirteen hundred copies。
Before a third edition was required his fame had spread。 The house in which he had been born； in Bread Street； was shown with pride to foreign visitors； parents sent their sons to read to him； that they might reap the benefit of his remarks。 The latter testimony to his genius was a tribute the blind poet appreciated。 But it happened there were times and seasons when these obliging youths were not at hand； or when it was inconvenient for him to receive them。 On such occasions he demanded that his daughters should read him the books he required； though these were frequently written in Hebrew； Greek； Latin； Italian； and Spanish languages of which they were wholly ignorant。 The torment this inflicted on those striving to pronounce unaccustomed words which had no meaning to their ears； and the torture endured by him； may readily be conceived。 Expressions of complaint on the one side； and of pain on the other； continually interrupted the readings； which were eventually wholly abandoned； the poet sending his children； whose education was so limited that they were unable to write； to learn 〃ingenious sorts of manufacture proper for women； particularly embroideries in gold and Silver。〃
When in 1665 Milton had shown his poem to Elwood； the good quaker observed； 〃Thou hast said a great deal upon Paradise Lost： what hast thou to say upon Paradise Found？〃 This question resting in the poet's mind； in due time produced fruit； for no sooner had his first poem been published than he set about composing the latter； which； under the name of 〃Paradise Regained；〃 was given to the world in 1670 〃This；〃 said he to Elwood； 〃is owing to you； for you put it into my head by the question which you put to me； which otherwise I had not thought of。〃 This poem； he believed； had merits far superior to those of 〃Paradise Lost；〃 which he could not bear to hear praised in preference to 〃Paradise Regained。〃 In the same year he published 〃Samson Agonistes；〃 and two years later a treatise on 〃Logic；〃 and another on 〃True Religion； Heresy； Schism； Toleration； and the Best Methods to Prevent the Growth of Popery。〃 In this； the mind which had soared to heaven and descended to hell in its boundless flight； argues that catholics should not be allowed the right of public or private worship。 In the last year of his life he republished his 〃Juvenile Poems；〃 together with 〃Familiar Epistles in Latin。〃
He had now reached his sixty…sixth year。 His life had been saddened by blindness； his health enfeebled by illness； his domesticity troubled by his first marriage and his last； his desires disappointed by the result of political events。 So that when； on the 10th of November； 1674； death summoned him； he departed without regret。
Amongst those who visited Milton was John Dryden； whom the author of 〃Paradise Lost〃 regarded as 〃a good rhymester； but no poet；〃 an opinion with which posterity has not held。 At the restoration； John Dryden was in his twenty…ninth year。 The son of Sir Erasmus Dryden； Baronet； of Canons Ashby； he enjoyed an income of two hundred pounds a year； a sum then considered sufficient to defray the expenses of a young man of good breeding。 He had passed through Westminster School； taken a degree at Cambridge； written a eulogistic stanza on the death of Cromwell； and a joyous poem on the happy restoration of the merry monarch。
Three years after the arrival of his majesty； Dryden's comedy entitled 〃The Wild Gallant〃 was produced； this being the first of twenty…eight plays which followed。 In the year 1668 he had the honour to succeed Sir William Davenant as poet laureate； the salary attached to which office was one hundred pounds a year and a tierce of wine。 His dignity was moreover enhanced； though his happiness was by no means increased； by his marriage with the Lady Elizabeth Howard； daughter of the Earl of Berkshire。 For my lady's temper sorely marred the poet's peace； and left such impressions upon his mind； that to the end of his days his invectives against the bonds of matrimony were bitter and deep。 In justice it must be mentioned the Lady Elizabeth's mental condition was supposed to be unsettled； a conjecture which was proved true by a madness which befell her； subsequent to her husband's death。
Dryden was now a well known figure in town； consorting with men of the highest quality and parts； and gossiping with wits and players who frequented Will's coffee…house。 Here； indeed； a special chair was appropriated to his use； which being placed by the fire in winter； and on the balcony in summer； he was pleased to designate as his winter and his summer seat。 At Will's he was wont to hold forth on the ingenuity of his plays； the perfection of his poems； and the truth of astrology。 It was whilst leaving this coffee house one night a memorable occurrence befell the poet； of which more anon。
It happened at one time the brilliant； poetical； and mercurial Earl of Rochester extended his favour and friendship towards Dryden； gratified by which； the poet had； after the manner of those days； dedicated a play to him； 〃Marriage a la Mode。〃 This favour his lordship received with graciousness； and no doubt repaid with liberality。 After a while； Dryden； led by choice or interest； sought a new patron in the person of the Earl of Mulgrave。 For this nobleman Rochester had long entertained a bitter animosity； which had arisen from rivalry； and had been intensified from the fact that Rochester； refusing to fight him； had been branded as a coward。 Not daring to attack the peer； Rochester resolved to avenge himself upon the poet。 In order to effect his humiliation； the earl at once bestowed his favour on Elkanah Settle； a playwright and poet of mean abilities。 He had originally been master of a puppet…show； had written verses to order for city pageants； and produced a tragedy in heroic verse； entitled 〃Cambyses； King of Persia。〃
His patron being at this time in favour with the king； introduced Settle to the notice of the court； and induced the courtiers to play his second tragedy； 〃The Empress of Morocco；〃 at Whitehall； before their majesties。 This honour； which Dryden； though poet laureate； had never received； gave Elkanah Settle unmerited notoriety； the benefit of which was apparent by the applause his tragedy received when subsequently produced at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset Gardens。 Nor did the honour and profit which 〃The Empress of Morocco〃 brought him end here； it was published by William Cademan； and had the distinction of being the first English play ever illustrated； or sold for the price of two shillings。 It was scarce to be expected； in an age when men ventilated their merest grievances by the publication of pamphlets； Dryden could refrain from pointing out to the public the