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  4. <TITLE>Milton -- Reading Revolutions -- Intellectual History</TITLE>
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  19.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><b><a href="lectures.html">INDEX</a></b><br><br><font size="+1"><center><i>Reading Revolutions:  Intellectual History</i><br><br>
    20. 

  20. 	<font size="+1">
    21. 

  21. 	In Defense of Bad Books: Milton's <i>Areopagitica</i><br><br><font size="+0">
    22. 

  22. 	Eric Brown</center>
    23. 

  23. 

  24. &nbsp;<p>
    25. 

  25.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">The following is based on the 
    26. 

  26. 	lecture given by Eric Brown.</p>
    27. 

  27. 	<p><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">Francis 
    28. 

  28. 	Bacon, a contemporary of Milton's, said in his essay on studies:&nbsp; 
    29. 

  29. 	&quot;Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be 
    30. 

  30. 	chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, 
    31. 

  31. 	others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and 
    32. 

  32. 	with diligence and attention.&quot;&nbsp; Milton might add to that -- some books are to be eaten and then thrown out.&nbsp; 
    33. 

  33. 	That is to say that they should be read and thought about and only after 
    34. 

  34. 	that can they be dealt with.&nbsp; They can't be thrown out or suppressed 
    35. 

  35. 	before they are read.&nbsp;
    36. 

  36. 

  37. 

  38. 

  39. In <i>Areopagitica</i> it is pre-publication censorship that is at 
    40. 

  40. 	issue rather than the censoring of books after they have been published.&nbsp; 
    41. 

  41. 	We will see that Milton isn't totally against censorship, but is writing in 
    42. 

  42. 	response to a law that would stop books from being printed at all, before 
    43. 

  43. 	they can be read. </p>
    44. 

  44. 	<table border="0" width="100%" id="table2">
    45. 

  45. 		<tr>
    46. 

  46. 			<td valign="top">
    47. 

  47.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">Milton has a complex image in 
    48. 

  48. 			literary history.&nbsp; William Blake said in his <i>The Marriage of 
    49. 

  49. 			Heaven and Hell </i>(1790)&nbsp; &quot;The reason Milton wrote in fetters 
    50. 

  50. 			when he wrote of Angels &amp; God, and at liberty when of Devils &amp; Hell, 
    51. 

  51. 			is because he was a true Poet and of the Devil's party without 
    52. 

  52. 			knowing it.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inspired by this quote, in the 1997 film <i>
    53. 

  53. 			The Devil's Advocate </i>the Satan character is called John Milton.&nbsp; 
    54. 

  54. 	There are so many sides to Milton that even Blake was in awe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
    55. 

  55. 

  56. 			<p>Milton (1608 - 1674) was educated in Cambridge.&nbsp; He returned 
    57. 

  57. 			home for a period but then traveled to France and Italy in the late 
    58. 

  58. 			1630's and met and talked with people including Galileo.&nbsp; This 
    59. 

  59. 			was part of his education, the experience was something that he 
    60. 

  60. 			valued all his life.&nbsp; In 1642 he married.&nbsp; He was 34 and 
    61. 

  61. 			she was 17.&nbsp; The age difference was not uncommon and would have 
    62. 

  62. 			been fine, but she liked the high life, wanted to go out and to 
    63. 

  63. 			entertain.&nbsp; Milton wasn't good at that sort of thing so the marriage initially lasted about three months.&nbsp; She left 
    64. 

  64. 			Milton and returned to her family.&nbsp; Milton soon after published 
    65. 

  65. 			one of his famous treatises &quot;<span class="booktitle"><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/ddd/book_1/">The 
    66. 

  66. 			Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce</a>.</span>&quot;&nbsp; He argued that 
    67. 

  67. 			divorce should be allowed not only for infidelity but also on other 
    68. 

  68. 			grounds such as incompatibility which he had experienced first hand!&nbsp; 
    69. 

  69. 			This was a radical idea at the time and Milton was excoriated for it.&nbsp; 
    70. 

  70. 			Being labeled a &quot;gay divorcer&quot; haunted Milton his entire life, 
    71. 

  71. 			in spite of the fact that he was married three times, and did not actually ever divorce.&nbsp; His 
    72. 

  72. 			first wife returned to him in 1645 and bore four children, three 
    73. 

  73. 			girls and a boy.&nbsp; She died in 1652 days after a daughter, 
    74. 

  74. 			Deborah, was born. He married again in 1656 but both his wife and 
    75. 

  75. 			the daughter of that marriage died in 1658.&nbsp; Finally, in 1663 he 
    76. 

  76. 			married a third time (against the wishes of his family).&nbsp; All 
    77. 

  77. 			three marriages seem to have been happy.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
    78. 

  78. 	<p>The controversy surrounding the divorce treatise was so strong that his 
    79. 

  79. 	reputation as a divorc</font></font><font face="Verdana" size="-1">é</font><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"> persisted in spite of a long domestic life.&nbsp; 
    80. 

  80. 	Further controversy surrounded him because the treatise was never licensed.&nbsp; That is, permission was 
    81. 

  81. 	never granted to publish.&nbsp; He did it anyway.&nbsp; He got a publisher 
    82. 

  82. 	to publish it.&nbsp; His radical views gave him a vested interest in the way in which books were 
    83. 

  83. 	published.&nbsp; The means, the methods, the mechanics of publishing in his 
    84. 

  84. 	day serve as a backdrop to the <i>Areopagitica, </i>1644.&nbsp; </td>
    85. 

  85. 			<td align="center" valign="top">
    86. 

  86. 			
    87. 

  87. 			<a href="pictures/Areopagitica/mhh6.jpg">
    88. 

  88. 			<img border="0" src="pictures/Areopagitica/mhh6ws.jpg" width="237" height="350" align="right"></a></font><p>&nbsp;</p>
    89. 

  89. 		
    90. 

  90. 			<p><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"><br>
    91. 

  91. 			<br>
    92. 

  92. 			&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
    93. 

  93. 			by permission of Richard Record, <br>
    94. 

  94. 			from his&nbsp; <a href="http://www.gailgastfield.com/mhh/mhh.html">
    95. 

  95. 			William Blake Page</a>.&nbsp; <br>
    96. 

  96. 			Click to enlarge.</font></td>
    97. 

  97. 		</tr>
    98. 

  98. 	</table>
    99. 

  99. 	<p><font size="+0" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">
    100. 

  100. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2325w.jpg" width="300" height="270" align="left"></font>We think of John Milton as a poet today, 
    101. 

  101. 	the author of <i>Paradise Lost</i>.&nbsp; In 1645 his first book of 
    102. 

  102. 	poetry, simply called <i>Poems,</i> was registered and published.&nbsp; This 
    103. 

  103. 	was a major publication, but until <i>Paradise Lost</i> was published in 
    104. 

  104. 	1667 he was more engaged with polemics with regard to political and 
    105. 

  105. 	religious issues of the day.&nbsp; He wrote a whole series of pamphlets.&nbsp; 
    106. 

  106. 	Three of the most controversial were; against bishops in 1642, his treatise on divorce in 1644, 
    107. 

  107. 	and in 1649 
    108. 

  108. 	shortly after the execution of Charles I his <i>Tenure of Kings and 
    109. 

  109. 	Magistrates</i> was published supporting regicides. This was the time of the 
    110. 

  110. 	Civil War in England and Milton was on the side of the republicans.&nbsp; 
    111. 

  111. 	The beheading of Charles I was a shocking event at the time, aside from the 
    112. 

  112. 	fact that he was head of government, the tradition of the Divine 
    113. 

  113. 	Right of Kings and power derived from God placed a religious value on the 
    114. 

  114. 	life of a king.&nbsp; Milton proposed more 
    115. 

  115. 	earthly standards for judging the fitness of rulers and argued the right of 
    116. 

  116. 	the people to rid themselves of tyrants.&nbsp; </p>
    117. 

  117. 	<p>In 1651 Milton was probably completely blind and by 1652, certainly was.&nbsp; 
    118. 

  118. 	It was in that year that his 
    119. 

  119. 	first wife, Mary, died.&nbsp; This began a difficult period for Milton.&nbsp; 
    120. 

  120. 	But he continued his political work and writing, holding important positions within the 
    121. 

  121. 	Republic.&nbsp; In 1658 Cromwell died and the Republic began to fall apart.&nbsp; 
    122. 

  122. 	The royalists become more powerful all through 1659.&nbsp; The Restoration was 
    123. 

  123. 	not well timed for Milton, he had just come out with <i>A Treatise of Civil 
    124. 

  124. 	Power</i> and <i>Ready and Easy Way To Establish a Free Commonwealth</i> in 
    125. 

  125. 	1659.&nbsp; Late that year he was arrested and imprisoned both for his work in the 
    126. 

  126. 	support of the Republic and his writings.&nbsp; He was released after paying 
    127. 

  127. 	an enormous fine after friends petitioned Parliament.&nbsp; Charles II returned to the throne in 1660.&nbsp; 
    128. 

  128. 	Milton retired from public life and devoted himself to poetry.&nbsp; He died 
    129. 

  129. 	in 1674.</p>
    130. 

  130. 	<p><a href="pictures/Milton/milton.jpg"><i>
    131. 

  131. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/miltonw.jpg" width="236" height="300" align="right" hspace="8"></i></a>Knowledge 
    132. 

  132. 	of the issues and conditions during the Civil War and the Republic are 
    133. 

  133. 	necessary to understand <i>
    134. 

  134. 	Areopagitica</i> but we must also look at the field of publishing and books.&nbsp; 
    135. 

  135. 	The first copyright act was not passed until 1710 in England.&nbsp; In the 
    136. 

  136. 	early 1600's writers would enter their work into the Stationer's 
    137. 

  137. 	Register.&nbsp; This was managed by a guild of publishers and printers who 
    138. 

  138. 	agreed that if 
    139. 

  139. 	a work showed up on this list they agreed not to publish pirated copies 
    140. 

  140. 	of it.&nbsp; The agreement offered some protection to both authors and 
    141. 

  141. 	publishers but it did not have the power of copyright.&nbsp; There were 
    142. 

  142. 	no restrictions on what could be published.&nbsp; This did not suffice for 
    143. 

  143. 	Charles I.&nbsp; With growing unrest in the country he moved to suppress 
    144. 

  144. 	opposition.</p>
    145. 

  145. 	<p>Charles I (1625 - 1649) was not a popular king.&nbsp; He was wildly 
    146. 

  146. 	extravagant, authoritarian, and rigid.&nbsp; When he was challenged by 
    147. 

  147. 	Parliament, he dismissed it and refused to call for Parliament for eleven 
    148. 

  148. 	years from 1629 to 1640.&nbsp; Following his own beliefs, he tried to impose 
    149. 

  149. 	a State religion on the people that would include more aspects of the pomp 
    150. 

  150. 	and ceremony of the Catholics.&nbsp; Many of the members of Church of 
    151. 

  151. 	England and members of other Protestant groups preferred a plainer liturgy.&nbsp; 
    152. 

  152. 	The division became known as &quot;high&quot; vs. &quot;low&quot; church.&nbsp; Charles 
    153. 

  153. 	established a &quot;Star Chamber&quot; of ministers to enforce his commands.&nbsp; 
    154. 

  154. 	They ignored the need for lawful process and acted as enforcers.&nbsp; All 
    155. 

  155. 	proceedings of the Star Chamber were conducted behind closed doors.</p>
    156. 

  156. 	<p>An example of what could happen to an individual who disobeyed the 
    157. 

  157. 	censorship of Charles I is the case of William Prynne.&nbsp; In 1632 Prynne, 
    158. 

  158. 	a Puritan, published<i> Histriomastix</i> in which he condemned just about 
    159. 

  159. 	everything fun, including dancing, music and masques.&nbsp; Women who 
    160. 

  160. 	participated in masques were slatterns.&nbsp; The Queen was fond of masques, 
    161. 

  161. 	a type of fancy-dress ball and took offense at this characterization.&nbsp; 
    162. 

  162. 	The King was a patron of the arts.&nbsp; Various bishops within the Anglican 
    163. 

  163. 	Church pushed to have this outspoken and powerful Puritan arrested.&nbsp; 
    164. 

  164. 	Prynne was called before the Star Chamber and convicted of sedition.&nbsp; 
    165. 

  165. 	He had the tips of his ears cut off, paid an enormous fine, lost his 
    166. 

  166. 	degrees, and his possessions were sold.&nbsp; He continued to write from 
    167. 

  167. 	prison with the result that in 1637 the remainder of his ears were cut off, 
    168. 

  168. 	he was branded on both cheeks with the letters &quot;SL&quot; for seditious libel, and 
    169. 

  169. 	he was sent to an awful prison rather than the Tower.&nbsp;&nbsp; What is 
    170. 

  170. 	more, the Puritan printers who had published his works were also tried and 
    171. 

  171. 	convicted.&nbsp; It was not just the author, but the press which was found 
    172. 

  172. 	guilty.&nbsp; It is one thing to write about something you believe deeply 
    173. 

  173. 	and defend it, it is another to face death for printing someone else's 
    174. 

  174. 	passions.</p>
    175. 

  175. 	<p>Without Parliament, Charles I had no legal way of imposing taxes so he 
    176. 

  176. 	raised money through fines and fees.&nbsp; This was less popular than 
    177. 

  177. 	anything else he did.&nbsp; Protests and resistance became stronger.&nbsp; 
    178. 

  178. 	In 1640 he called Parliament into session to attempt to regain control of 
    179. 

  179. 	the country.&nbsp; One of the first things that Parliament did in 1640 was 
    180. 

  180. 	to free Prynne.&nbsp;&nbsp; By 1642 the country was immersed in a Civil War.&nbsp; 
    181. 

  181. 	Parliament wished to suppress opposition just as much as the Charles had.&nbsp; 
    182. 

  182. 	Where Charles I had worked to censor speech and print through the Star 
    183. 

  183. 	Chamber, Parliament formalized it for their own purpose in 1643.&nbsp; 
    184. 

  184. 	Ostensibly the law would simply strengthen the Stationer's Register, but in 
    185. 

  185. 	effect, it transferred power from the stationers to Parliament, to the 
    186. 

  186. 	government.</p>
    187. 

  187. 	<blockquote>
    188. 

  188. 		<p align="center"><i>&nbsp;<b>Ordinance for correcting and regulating the 
    189. 

  189. 		Abuses of the Press</b>.
    190. 

  190. 		<p align="left">		&quot;Whereas divers good Orders have been lately made, by both Houses of 
    191. 

  191. 		Parliament, for suppressing the great late Abuses, and frequent 
    192. 

  192. 		Disorders, in printing many false, forged, scandalous, seditious, 
    193. 

  193. 		libellous, and unlicensed Papers, Pamphlets, and Books, to the great 
    194. 

  194. 		Defamation of Religion and Government; which Orders (notwithstanding the 
    195. 

  195. 		Diligence of the Company of Stationers to put them in full Execution) 
    196. 

  196. 		have taken little or no Effect, by reason of the Bill in Preparation for 
    197. 

  197. 		Redress of the said Disorders having hitherto been retarded through the 
    198. 

  198. 		present Distractions; and very many, as well Stationers and Printers, as 
    199. 

  199. 		others of sundry other Professions,<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2413w.jpg" width="350" height="339" align="right"> not free of the Stationers Company, 
    200. 

  200. 		have taken upon them to set up sundry private Printing Presses in 
    201. 

  201. 		Corners, and to print, vend, publish, and disperse, Books, Pamphlets, 
    202. 

  202. 		and Papers, in such Multitudes, that no Industry could be sufficient to 
    203. 

  203. 		discover, or bring to Punishment, all the several abounding Delinquents; 
    204. 

  204. 		and, by reason that divers of the Stationers Company, and others, being 
    205. 

  205. 		Delinquents (contrary to former Orders, and the constant Custom used 
    206. 

  206. 		among the said Company), have taken Liberty to print, vend, and publish, 
    207. 

  207. 		the most profitable vendible Copies of Books belonging to the said 
    208. 

  208. 		Company, and other Stationers, especially of such Agents as are employed 
    209. 

  209. 		in putting the said Orders in Execution, and that by Way of Revenge for 
    210. 

  210. 		giving Information against them to the Houses, for their Delinquency in 
    211. 

  211. 		Printing, to the great Prejudice of the said Company, Stationers, and 
    212. 

  212. 		Agents, and to their Discouragement in this Public Service: It is 
    213. 

  213. 		therefore Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That no Order 
    214. 

  214. 		or Declaration of both or either House of Parliament shall be printed by 
    215. 

  215. 		any, but by Order of One or both the said Houses; nor other Book, 
    216. 

  216. 		Pamphlet, or Paper, shall from henceforth be printed, bound, stitched, 
    217. 

  217. 		or put to Sale, by any Person or Persons whatsoever, unless the same be 
    218. 

  218. 		first approved of, and licensed under the Hands of such Person or 
    219. 

  219. 		Persons as both or either of the said Houses shall appoint for the 
    220. 

  220. 		Licensing of the same, and entered in the Register Book of the Company 
    221. 

  221. 		of Stationers, according to ancient Custom, and the Printer thereof to 
    222. 

  222. 		put his Name thereto; and that no Person or Persons shall hereafter 
    223. 

  223. 		print, or cause to be re-printed, any Book or Books, or Part of Book or 
    224. 

  224. 		Books, heretofore allowed of and granted to the said Company of 
    225. 

  225. 		Stationers, for their Relief, and Maintenance of their Poor, without the Licence or Consent of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the said 
    226. 

  226. 		Company; nor any Book or Books lawfully licensed, and entered in the 
    227. 

  227. 		Register of the said Company for any particular Member thereof, without 
    228. 

  228. 		the Licence and Consent of the Owner or Owners thereof; nor yet import 
    229. 

  229. 		any such Book or Books, or Part of Book or Books, formerly printed here, 
    230. 

  230. 		from beyond the Seas, upon Pain of forfeiting the same to the respective 
    231. 

  231. 		Owner or Owners of the Copies of the said Books, and such further 
    232. 

  232. 		Punishment as shall be thought fit; and the Master and Wardens of the 
    233. 

  233. 		said Company, the Gentleman Usher of the House of Peers, the Serjeant of 
    234. 

  234. 		the Commons House, and their Deputies, together with the Persons 
    235. 

  235. 		formerly appointed by the Committee of the House of Commons for 
    236. 

  236. 		Examinations, are hereby <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="+1">
    237. 

  237. 		<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2333w.jpg" width="332" height="300" align="left" hspace="8"></font>authorized and required, from Time to Time, to 
    238. 

  238. 		make diligent Search, in all Places where they shall think meet, for all 
    239. 

  239. 		unlicensed Printing Presses, and all Presses any Way employed in the 
    240. 

  240. 		Printing of scandalous or unlicensed Papers, Pamphlets, Books, or any 
    241. 

  241. 		Copies of Books, belonging to the said Company, or any Member thereof, 
    242. 

  242. 		without their Approbation and Consents; and to seize and carry away such 
    243. 

  243. 		Printing Presses, Letters, together with the Nut, Spindle, and other 
    244. 

  244. 		Materials, of every such irregular Printer, which they find so 
    245. 

  245. 		misemployed, unto the Common Hall of the said Company, there to be 
    246. 

  246. 		defaced and made unserviceable, according to ancient Custom; and 
    247. 

  247. 		likewise to make diligent Search, in all suspected Printing-houses, 
    248. 

  248. 		Warehouses, Shops, and other Places, for such scandalous and unlicensed 
    249. 

  249. 		Books, Papers, Pamphlets, and all other Books, not entered nor signed 
    250. 

  250. 		with the Printer's Name as aforesaid, being printed or reprinted by such 
    251. 

  251. 		as have no lawful Interest in them, or any Way contrary to this Order; 
    252. 

  252. 		and the same to seize and carry away to the said Common Hall, there to 
    253. 

  253. 		remain till both or either House of Parliament shall dispose thereof; 
    254. 

  254. 		and likewise to apprehend all Authors, Printers, and other Persons 
    255. 

  255. 		whatsoever, employed in compiling, printing, stiching, binding, 
    256. 

  256. 		publishing, and dispersing, of the said scandalous, unlicensed, and 
    257. 

  257. 		unwarrantable Papers, Books, and Pamphlets, as aforesaid, and all those 
    258. 

  258. 		who shall resist the said Parties in searching after them; and to bring 
    259. 

  259. 		them before either of the Houses, or the Committee of Examinations, that 
    260. 

  260. 		so they may receive such further Punishments as their Offences shall 
    261. 

  261. 		demerit; and not to be released until they have given Satisfaction to 
    262. 

  262. 		the Parties employed in their Apprehension, for their Pains and Charges, 
    263. 

  263. 		and giving sufficient Caution not to offend in like Sort for the future; 
    264. 

  264. 		and all Justices of the Peace, Captains, Constables, and other Officers, 
    265. 

  265. 		are hereby Ordered and Required to be aiding and assisting to the 
    266. 

  266. 		aforesaid Persons, in the due Execution of all and singular the 
    267. 

  267. 		Premises, in the Apprehension of all Offenders against the same; and, in 
    268. 

  268. 		case of Opposition, to break open Doors and Locks: And it is further 
    269. 

  269. 		Ordered, That this Order be forthwith printed and published, to the End 
    270. 

  270. 		that Notice may be taken thereof, and all Contemners of it left 
    271. 

  271. 		unexcuseable.&quot;</p>
    272. 

  272. 		<p align="right">		House of Lords Journal Volume 6<br>
    273. 

  273. 		<a href="http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=37271">14 
    274. 

  274. 		June 1643</a></i></p>
    275. 

  275. 	</blockquote>
    276. 

  276. 	</font>
    277. 

  277.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="+1">
    278. 

  278. 	<p><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">Briefly, the law 1) 
    279. 

  279. 	establishes a monopoly of approved printers 2) reinforces the traditional 
    280. 

  280. 	Stationer's List 3) gives Parliament the right and duty to search and 
    281. 

  281. 	destroy unlicensed papers and presses 4) and to further search for 
    282. 

  282. 	scandalous or unlicensed books and carry them away 5) to arrest authors, 
    283. 

  283. 	printers, stichers, binders, and sellers of such books 6) and gives them the 
    284. 

  284. 	right to break in to search any premises.&nbsp; The law uses the same 
    285. 

  285. 	tactics developed under the Star Chamber and applies them universally.&nbsp; 
    286. 

  286. 	Milton, a supporter of the Republic, must have been outraged to see the 
    287. 

  287. 	replacement of one tyranny for another.&nbsp; He wrote <i>Areopagitica</i> 
    288. 

  288. 	in spite of the very last line where it is made unlawful to call the law 
    289. 

  289. 	into question.&nbsp; He had to publish without a license and had difficulty 
    290. 

  290. 	finding a printer.</font></p></font>
    291. 

  291.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">
    292. 

  292. 	<p><a href="pictures/Milton/DSCN2510wl.jpg">
    293. 

  293. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/DSCN2510w.jpg" width="400" height="322" align="left" hspace="8"></a>In 
    294. 

  294. 	the preface of the 1738 edition the editor writes &quot;Is it possible that any 
    295. 

  295. 	Free-born Briton, who is capable of thinking, can ever lose all Sense of 
    296. 

  296. 	Religion and Virtue, and of the Dignity of human Nature to such a degree, as 
    297. 

  297. 	to wish for that universal Ignorance, Darkness, and Barbarity, against which 
    298. 

  298. 	the absolute Freedom of the Press is the only Preservative?&quot;&nbsp; Milton 
    299. 

  299. 	would appreciate this as a preface to his work.&nbsp; He said something 
    300. 

  300. 	similar when he quoted&nbsp; &quot;<font size="-1">This is true liberty, when 
    301. 

  301. 	free-born men, Having to advice the public, may speak free...&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
    302. 

  302. 	Euripid. Hicetid. at the opening of <i>Areopagitica</i>.</font> </p>
    303. 

  303. 	<p>The post publication censorship issue is a little bit tricky.&nbsp; 
    304. 

  304. 	Milton didn't include everyone under the same umbrella.&nbsp; It's ironic, 
    305. 

  305. 	given that this has come to represent, as the preface suggests, this work of 
    306. 

  306. 	great liberty, that Milton had his own intolerances.&nbsp; He is not 
    307. 

  307. 	tolerant of popery for instance.&nbsp; If you were a Roman Catholic writing 
    308. 

  308. 	in support of shifting back or urging others to do so, Milton believed it 
    309. 

  309. 	would be permissible to stamp it out before it could see the light of day 
    310. 

  310. 	&quot;...as it extirpates all religions and civil supremacies, so itself should 
    311. 

  311. 	be extirpate...&quot;&nbsp; He refers to the Inquisition and his prejudice is 
    312. 

  312. 	more a matter of politics than of religion.&nbsp; The arguments with the 
    313. 

  313. 	Catholic Church during this period were not about truth and belief but about 
    314. 

  314. 	power and supremacy. </p>
    315. 

  315. 	<p>
    316. 

  316.     <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="+1">
    317. 

  317. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2363w.jpg" width="400" height="300" align="right" hspace="8"></font>Milton 
    318. 

  318. 	began <i>Areopagitica</i> with a series of precedents, proposing that 
    319. 

  319. 	censorship is a fairly recent development.&nbsp; Even among the early 
    320. 

  320. 	Christians Milton said: &quot;The books of those whom they took to be grand 
    321. 

  321. 	heretics were examined, refuted, and condemned in the general Councils; and 
    322. 

  322. 	not till then were prohibited, or burnt, by authority of the emperor.&quot;&nbsp; 
    323. 

  323. 	The books were read and thought about, THEN they were burnt.&nbsp; At least 
    324. 

  324. 	they would read over the ideas and digest them before condemning them.</p>
    325. 

  325. 	<p>He then traced the idea of licensing to &quot;those whom ye will be loath to 
    326. 

  326. 	own&quot; -- the Catholics.&nbsp; You would not want to identify yourselves with 
    327. 

  327. 	these, you would not want to associate yourselves with them.&nbsp; Next he 
    328. 

  328. 	considered the general nature of reading.&nbsp; This section is more 
    329. 

  329. 	theoretical, a discourse on what books are and how they ought to be treated 
    330. 

  330. 	and whether they should be treated any different than anything else.&nbsp; 
    331. 

  331. 	Then he moved onto the practicality of the licensing law.&nbsp; He pointed 
    332. 

  332. 	out that even if it were a good idea, which he doesn't, it would still be 
    333. 

  333. 	impossible to enforce.&nbsp; Finally, he discussed how licensing would harm 
    334. 

  334. 	English political and religious reformation.</p>
    335. 

  335. 	<p>Let's take a closer look at these major points.&nbsp; As far as the 
    336. 

  336. 	precedents go, he pointed to the Inquisition and said that they &quot;rake 
    337. 

  337. 	through the entrails of many an old good author, with a violation worse than 
    338. 

  338. 	any could be offered to his tomb.&quot;&nbsp; In contrast he drew attention 
    339. 

  339. 	through classical allusions to the ideal of Greece.&nbsp; The very title 
    340. 

  340. 	itself refers to <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/65/ar/Areopagu.html">Ares 
    341. 

  341. 	Hill</a> where the council of Athens met.&nbsp; In Athens, he said, there 
    342. 

  342. 	were only two sorts of writings that were punished:&nbsp; the sort that were 
    343. 

  343. 	blasphemous and those that were libelous and took someone's reputation away.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
    344. 

  344. 	In Rome, even Critolaus, by that he meant the &quot;dirty&quot; poets, were allowed to 
    345. 

  345. 	write.&nbsp; It was only when Rome turned to tyranny that books were 
    346. 

  346. 	silenced.&nbsp; </p>
    347. 

  347. 	<p>He wanted the members of Parliament to see England as a sort of 
    348. 

  348. 	culmination of classical learning.&nbsp; It was the idea that they were on 
    349. 

  349. 	the cusp of some radical shift in history.&nbsp; The people at that time saw 
    350. 

  350. 	significance in numerology -- 1666 was coming up, a year of unique 
    351. 

  351. 	importance.&nbsp; It was the way we felt about Y2K but more so.&nbsp; Of 
    352. 

  352. 	course, 1666 was, in fact, a very bad year.&nbsp; The Great Fire of London 
    353. 

  353. 	broke out.&nbsp; It is also the year in which all Roman numerals are used 
    354. 

  354. 	and used only once -- MDCLXVI -- and in a descending sequence.&nbsp; </p>
    355. 

  355. 	<p>For Milton it meant that this is a crucial time in England.&nbsp; There 
    356. 

  356. 	was enormous intellectual activity.&nbsp; He believed that England was &quot;a 
    357. 

  357. 	nation not slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious and piercing spirit, 
    358. 

  358. 	acute to invent, subtle and sinewy to discourse, not beneath the reach of 
    359. 

  359. 	any point the highest that human capacity can soar to. Therefore the studies 
    360. 

  360. 	of learning in her deepest sciences have been so ancient and so eminent 
    361. 

  361. 	among us, that writers of good antiquity and ablest judgment have been 
    362. 

  362. 	persuaded that even the school of Pythagoras and the Persian wisdom took 
    363. 

  363. 	beginning from the old philosophy of this island.&quot;</p>
    364. 

  364. 	<p><i>
    365. 

  365. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2444w.jpg" width="350" height="320" align="left"></i>He 
    366. 

  366. 	then went on to talk about the importance of books and pointed out that &quot;<i>To 
    367. 

  367. 	the pure, all things are pure;</i> not only meats and drinks, but all kind 
    368. 

  368. 	of knowledge whether of good or evil; the knowledge cannot defile, nor 
    369. 

  369. 	consequently the books, if the will and conscience be not defiled.&quot;&nbsp; It 
    370. 

  370. 	is not the books or the ideas that are bad, it is up to the pure at heart to 
    371. 

  371. 	discern which are good.&nbsp; Further, bad books have merit in that &quot;Bad 
    372. 

  372. 	meats will scarce breed good nourishment in the healthiest concoction; but 
    373. 

  373. 	herein the difference is of bad books, that they to a discreet and judicious 
    374. 

  374. 	reader serve in many respects to discover, to confute, to forewarn, and to 
    375. 

  375. 	illustrate.&quot;&nbsp; He pointed out that a scientist does not abandon earlier 
    376. 

  376. 	incorrect books or theories but delves into them for lessons for the future.&nbsp; 
    377. 

  377. 	To squelch error, to suppress bad books is to run away from the 
    378. 

  378. 	confrontation that allows one to become independently the self and find 
    379. 

  379. 	truth.</p>
    380. 

  380. 	<p>He came to the core of his argument when he said, &quot;Good and evil we know 
    381. 

  381. 	in the field of this world grow up together almost inseparably; and the 
    382. 

  382. 	knowledge of good is so involved and interwoven with the knowledge of evil, 
    383. 

  383. 	and in so many cunning resemblances hardly to be discerned, that those 
    384. 

  384. 	confused seeds which were imposed upon Psyche as an incessant labour to cull 
    385. 

  385. 	out, and sort asunder, were not more intermixed.&quot;&nbsp; Good and evil are 
    386. 

  386. 	hard to tell apart.&nbsp; Who is going to do this unless they have the 
    387. 

  387. 	opportunity to learn the difference?&nbsp;&nbsp; What happens if you refuse 
    388. 

  388. 	the confrontation?&nbsp;&nbsp; Milton answered, &quot;I cannot praise a fugitive 
    389. 

  389. 	and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out 
    390. 

  390. 	and sees her adversary but slinks out of the race, where that immortal 
    391. 

  391. 	garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.&nbsp; Assuredly we 
    392. 

  392. 	bring not innocence into the world, we bring impurity much rather; that 
    393. 

  393. 	which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary.&quot;&nbsp; So if 
    394. 

  394. 	you live in isolation and do not seek the truth, you do not have purity 
    395. 

  395. 	because you have never been tempted.&nbsp; You have only ignorance.</p>
    396. 

  396. 	<p>He raised the practical objections that Parliament might have concerning 
    397. 

  397. 	the fear that infection might spread so controversy must be stopped.&nbsp; 
    398. 

  398. 	Milton responded &quot;but then all human learning and controversy in religious 
    399. 

  399. 	points must remove out of the world, yea the Bible itself; ...&quot;&nbsp; If you 
    400. 

  400. 	are going to try to censor bad books because they might infect then you 
    401. 

  401. 	can't stop there.&nbsp; Milton continued, &quot;It will ask more than the work of 
    402. 

  402. 	twenty licensers to examine all the lutes, the violins, and the guitars in 
    403. 

  403. 	every house; they must not be suffered to prattle as they do, but must be 
    404. 

  404. 	licensed what they may say. And who shall silence all the airs and madrigals 
    405. 

  405. 	that whisper softness in chambers? The windows also, and the balconies must 
    406. 

  406. 	be thought on; there are shrewd books, with dangerous frontispieces, set to 
    407. 

  407. 	sale; who shall prohibit them, shall twenty licensers?&quot;&nbsp; If you want to 
    408. 

  408. 	control infection, you have to rid yourself of every idea not only in books 
    409. 

  409. 	but in music and thought itself.&nbsp; It will require an army of 
    410. 

  410. 	bureaucrats.&nbsp; Who is going to keep the bureaucrats pure?&nbsp; As they 
    411. 

  411. 	go about finding bad thoughts, will they not spread the infection?&nbsp; 
    412. 

  412. 	Using wry humor he pointed out that &quot;And he who were pleasantly disposed 
    413. 

  413. 	could not well avoid to liken it to the exploit of that gallant man who 
    414. 

  414. 	thought to pound up the crows by shutting his park gate.&quot;</p>
    415. 

  415. 	<p>In his last chapter he talked about his travels abroad and his meeting 
    416. 

  416. 	with Galileo.&nbsp; He talked about the fact that everywhere he went people 
    417. 

  417. 	envied the fact that he lived in England.&nbsp; What a great place it must 
    418. 

  418. 	be to be able to say what you think.&nbsp; &quot;I could recount what I have seen 
    419. 

  419. 	and heard in other countries, where this kind of inquisition tyrannizes; 
    420. 

  420. 	when I have sat among their learned men, for that honour I had, and been 
    421. 

  421. 	counted happy to be born in such a place of philosophic freedom, as they 
    422. 

  422. 	supposed England was, while themselves did nothing but bemoan the servile 
    423. 

  423. 	condition into which learning amongst them was brought; that this was it 
    424. 

  424. 	which had damped the glory of Italian wits; that nothing had been there 
    425. 

  425. 	written now these many years but flattery and fustian.&quot;&nbsp; Milton had 
    426. 

  426. 	heard the same complaints on the continent as he was hearing then in 
    427. 

  427. 	England.&nbsp; The Inquisition was simply recycling these Roman Catholic 
    428. 

  428. 	atrocities.</p>
    429. 

  429. 	<p>
    430. 

  430. 	<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2437w.jpg" width="296" height="350" align="right">&quot;Truth 
    431. 

  431. 	is compared in Scripture to a streaming fountain; if her waters flow not in 
    432. 

  432. 	a perpetual progression, they sicken into a muddy pool of conformity and 
    433. 

  433. 	tradition. A man may be a heretic in the truth; and if he believe things 
    434. 

  434. 	only because his pastor says so, or the Assembly so determines, without 
    435. 

  435. 	knowing other reason, though his belief be true, yet the very truth he holds 
    436. 

  436. 	becomes his heresy.&quot;&nbsp; Milton continued the argument with an ancient 
    437. 

  437. 	example:&nbsp; &quot;Truth indeed came once into the world with her divine 
    438. 

  438. 	Master, and was a perfect shape most glorious to look on: but when he 
    439. 

  439. 	ascended, and his Apostles after him were laid asleep, then straight arose a 
    440. 

  440. 	wicked race of deceivers, who, as that story goes of the Egyptian
    441. 

  441. 	<a href="http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/typhon.html">Typhon</a> with his 
    442. 

  442. 	conspirators, how they dealt with the good
    443. 

  443. 	<a href="http://www.touregypt.net/osirform.htm">Osiris</a>, took the virgin 
    444. 

  444. 	Truth, hewed her lovely form into a thousand pieces, and scattered them to 
    445. 

  445. 	the four winds. From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as 
    446. 

  446. 	durst appear, imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled 
    447. 

  447. 	body of Osiris, went up and down gathering up limb by limb, still as they 
    448. 

  448. 	could find them. We have not yet found them all, Lords and Commons, nor ever 
    449. 

  449. 	shall do, till her Master's second coming; he shall bring together every 
    450. 

  450. 	joint and member, and shall mould them into an immortal feature of 
    451. 

  451. 	loveliness and perfection.&quot;&nbsp; Truth is a process of progressive 
    452. 

  452. 	revelation.&nbsp; To get from one point to another you have diverge from the 
    453. 

  453. 	path you are supposed to be on.&nbsp; He included the &quot;schisms and sects&quot; of 
    454. 

  454. 	different approaches to religion in the legitimate search for truth.</p>
    455. 

  455. 	<p>
    456. 

  456. 

  457. In <i><a href="http://www.online-literature.com/milton/paradiselost/">Paradise 
    458. 

  458. Lost</a></i> Milton expresses his idea of free will as God having made man </p>
    459. 

  459. 	<blockquote>
    460. 

  460. 		<blockquote>
    461. 

  461. 			<blockquote>
    462. 

  462. 				<blockquote>
    463. 

  463. 					<p>All he could have; I made him just and right,<br>
    464. 

  464. 					Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. <br>
    465. 

  465. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
    466. 

  466. 					Book 3</p>
    467. 

  467. 				</blockquote>
    468. 

  468. 			</blockquote>
    469. 

  469. 		</blockquote>
    470. 

  470. 	</blockquote>
    471. 

  471. 	<p>Truth is a continual process of choice, the choice to confront, to choose 
    472. 

  472. 	and to move on.</p></font><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="+1">
    473. 

  473. 	<p>
    474. 

  474. 

  475. &nbsp;</p>
    476. 

  476. 	<p>
    477. 

  477. 

  478. <font size=-2 face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">Milton portrait from
    479. 

  479. <a href="http://utopia.utexas.edu/project/portraits/milton.jpg">University of 
    480. 

  480. Texas collection</a></font></p><hr width="60%"><hr width="40%"></font>
    481. 

  481. 	<font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1">
    482. 

  482. 	<p>
    483. 

  483. 

  484. Following an extensive question period, members of the audience had the 
    485. 

  485. opportunity to examine the 1738 edition of <i>Areopagitica</i>.&nbsp; Click on 
    486. 

  486. images below for larger versions.</p>
    487. 

  487. 	</font><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="+1">
    488. 

  488. 	<table border="0" width="100%" id="table1">
    489. 

  489. 		<tr>
    490. 

  490. 			<td>
    491. 

  491. 			<a href="pictures/Milton/Milton2492fwl.jpg">
    492. 

  492. 			<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2492fws.jpg" width="400" height="329"></a></td>
    493. 

  493. 			<td><font size="+0" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">
    494. 

  494. 			<a href="pictures/Milton/Milton2482wl.jpg">
    495. 

  495. 			<img border="0" src="pictures/Milton/Milton2480ws.jpg" width="298" height="400"></a></td>
    496. 

  496. 		</tr>
    497. 

  497. 		</table>
    498. 

  498. 	<p><br>
    499. 

  499. 

  500. 

  501. 	</p>
    502. 

  502. <center><table border="6" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse"  width="80%" id="decorative" bgcolor="#cccccc">
    503. 

  503.         <tr>
    504. 

  504.           <td width="100%"><center><table border="6" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse"  width="100%" id="credits" bordercolor="#111111" bgcolor="#cccccc">
    505. 

  505.         <tr>
    506. 

  506.           <td width="100%"><blockquote><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><br>Citation:<br><br>
    507. 

  507. "In Defense of Bad Books:&nbsp; Milton's Areopagitica."&nbsp; 
    508. 

  508. 

  509. Summary of a lecture by Eric Brown.&nbsp;  University of Maine at Farmington, October 19, 2005. &nbsp;
    510. 

  510. Retrieved _______.&nbsp;  &lt;http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/Milton.html&gt;. <br><br>URL:  <a href="http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/index.html">http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/index.html</a>  <br><br>Marilyn Shea, 2005<br><br>
    511. 

  511. 

  512. </blockquote></td></tr></table></center>
    513. 

  513. </td></tr></table></center>
    514. 

  514. 

  515. </td>
    516. 

  516.     <td width="110" background="wrightcenter.jpg" height="456">&nbsp;</td>
    517. 

  517.   </tr>
    518. 

  518.   <tr>
    519. 

  519.     <td width="110" height="105">
    520. 

  520.     <img border="0" src="wleftbottcorner.jpg" align="top" width="108" height="105"></td>
    521. 

  521.     <td width="100%" background="wbottcenter.jpg" height="105">&nbsp;</td>
    522. 

  522.     <td width="109" height="105">
    523. 

  523.     <img border="0" src="wrightbotcorner.jpg" align="top" width="105" height="105"></td>
    524. 

  524.   </tr>
    525. 

  525. </table>
    526. 

  526. 

  527. </body>
    528. 

  528. 

  529. </html>
    530.