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Show ARCH ENEMY OF MILTON. Qplte of One Man Embittered Whole Life of Great Poet "Milton's llfo was embittered by tho contemptlblo spllo of ono Salmns-lus," Salmns-lus," writes Mario Corelll in tho Strand Mngazlno. "Snlmaslua was tho author of tho 'Dufenslo Hcgl, or 'Defense of Kings,' n poor pleco of work long ngo forgotten, ond ho was tho procurer of foul libel ngalUBt tho author of 'Paradlso Lost.' What small claim ho has to tho worlu's memory nrlses merely from his vie-lousness, vie-lousness, for not only did ho mako uso of the lowest tool to aid him In conspiring against Milton's reputation, but ho spread tho grossest lies broadcast, broad-cast, oven accusing tho poet of having hav-ing a hideous personal appcaranco 'a puny pleco of man; a homunculus; n dwarf deprived of the human figure; a contemptlblo pedagogue.' When tho dcspleablo slanderer learned tho fact that Milton, so far from answering to this description, was of a pleasing and attractive nppearnnco, ho Immedlatly changed his tactics and began to attack at-tack his moral character which, as oven Milton's bitterest political cno-mles cno-mles know, wns austerely nbovo tho very shadow' of suspicion. It was said that tho poet's ovprzeftlousness In answering tho calumnies of Salmastus cost him his eyesight." |