London:: Printed for Jacob Tonson; and for John Poulson; and for J. Darby, A. Bettesworth, and F. Clay, in Trust for Richard, James, and Bethel Wellington., MDCCXXXII.
Physical Description
[xx], 399, [xvii] p., frontis. (port.); 285 mm. (Quarto).
General Note
The number of unnumbered pages at the beginning of the book is described variously by cataloguers as 18, 20 or 22. Some copies (including that of the Royal Academy) have a second portrait plate, facing the opening page of the poem.
Contents
[Half-t., front., t.p.] - The Preface, By Dr. Bentley - The Verse. By Milton - The Argument. By Milton - Errata - [Port.] - Paradise Lost [text, with notes] - Index.
Responsibility Note
Both plates are signed as engraved by G. Vertue.
References
ESTC, T133945
A.T. Bartholomew and J.W. Clark, Richard Bentley, D.D.: a bibliography (1908).
Summary Note
The frontispiece portrait carries the date of 1731.
This edition of Milton was regarded as marred by rash emendation; and immediately drew a response from Jonathan Swift, 'Milton restor'd, and Bentley depos'd' (London, 1732).
The only illustrations are the two portraits of Milton. The frontispiece portrait is captioned, 'Ioannes Milton Æetatis XXI. Nascuntur Poetae, non fiunt.' The second portrait (not present in all copies) is captioned, 'Ioannes Milton Ætatis LXII 1670', with a quotation from Homer (in Greek letter), 'Ton peri Mous' ephilêse, didou d'agathonte caconte: Ophthalmôn men amerse, didou d'hêdeian aoidên'.
Reproductions
A reprint was published in 1974 (New York, AMS Press) (ISBN 0404115373).
Provenance
Acquired by 1802. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Binding Note
18th-century red morocco, with gilt decoration; rebacked, retaining former black morocco spine-label, lettered, 'Bentley Milton'.
Subject
Bible., O.T., Genesis.
Bible stories, English - Adam (Biblical figure) - Eve (Biblical figure) - Fall of man
English poetry - Epic poetry - Epics - 17th century
Criticism, textual - Great Britain - 18th century