THE CHARACTERS OF PARADISE LOST.
The Characters of Paradise Lost, By M. A. Woods. (John Ouseley. 2s.)—Miss Woods continues in this little volume her very acute and interesting criticisms on Milton. Her apprecia- tion of the poet's greatness is so excellent that she has every right to point out the passages in which he seems to have been more or less unequal to his theme ; the marvel is that, this theme being what it is, these are not more frequent. Of all Milton's characters, his Eve naturally pleases her least. She is far too submissive, and that to a being who is by no means equal to the superior position which he occupies. Perhaps the best of the "characters" is Satan; he "lives in our memories not as the guileful serpent, but as the exiled chief, splendid in ruin." There are grand traits in it, but, as Miss Woods well puts it, "the despair, painted as only Milton could paint it, impresses us most." And she appropriately quotes from "Paradise Evained" the striking lines :—
" I would be at the worst: worst is my port, My harbour, and my ultimate repose."
We are reminded of the anecdote of how Lord Eldon, hearing for the first time the story, which was read to him by a companion in a postohaise on a circuit journey, exclaimed "By G—, I hope he will win I"
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