Professor J. L. Lowes, G. '03, professor of English in the University, speaking yesterday afternoon on "Milton", stressed the beauty of Milton's lyric poetry and the many elements of interest to modern readers in his work. Professor Lowes stated that the uninteresting and austere parts of Milton's life have been impressed upon our minds, and that this has had a deadening effect on our desire to read his writings, but declared that, if students could rid themselves of this natural antipathy, they would find in Milton much delightful romance.

In introducing his subject, the lecturer said that he did not intend to give any balanced judgment on Milton, but hoped to answer the question why we, with other activities, should read Milton. "The early University period of Milton's work", Professor Lowes said, "during which he wrote much admirable Latin verse, is interesting because it shows the influences acting to form the man, and because it foreshadows what is to come. At this time Milton was steeped in the work of Ovid, and showed the power, which he later developed to a great extent, to assimilate and present the material which he read."

Five Years of Influence

After leaving the university Milton spent five years at his father's estate at Wharton, which, Professor Lowes brought out, were of great importance in shaping his character, because he devoted them entirely to reading the classics and to deep meditation. "In 'L'Allegro' and 'II Penseroso', which Milton wrote at this time", the speaker continued, "we see the poet's reaction to the beautiful scenery around him, and the evidences of his lyrical genius. Although these poems may appear dry to us because they have been forced upon us as required reading, to the readers of Milton's time they were filed with wonderful freshness, and still stand out as perfect examples of lyric poetry. In Comus, which Milton wrote next, we see the theme of temptation and the disciplinary power of temptation, which ran through all of his later works." Professor Lowes also showed that in Milton we see a long conflict between his appreciation of beauty and his Puritan attitude toward beauty.

Trip to Italy

The speaker next told of Milton's trip to Italy for further study, and of his return to England when the news of the English people's struggle for liberty reached him. At this time, Professor Lowes continued, Milton began his prose work, his "left-handed writing". Among other subjects, he wrote on the prohibition of some books which were deemed immoral, Professor Lowes bringing out by reading some of his writing the deep belief of Milton that virtue consists "not in avoiding the conflict, but in the power to see, to know, and yet abstain".

Professor Lowes, in closing, discussed "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained", emphasizing their magnificent romance and wonderful diction by reading several passages from them. "One finds in these living works of Milton", he concluded, "what one brings to them, each reader getting a different reaction and meaning. If you read Milton expecting to find him interesting, you will surely find him so".

Professor Lowes' lecture completes the series of Wednesday afternoon lectures by University professors on the "Four Great Poets".