Free Paradise Lost (Modern Library Classics) by John Milton, William Kerrigan, John Rumrich, Stephen M. Fallon

edition. Multiple entries in Works Cited are arranged chronologically.
    We use these abbreviations for works by John Milton:
    1667   
Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books
(1667).
1671   
Paradise Regained. A Poem in IV Books. To which is added Samson Agonistes
(1671).
1674   
Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books. The Second Edition …
(1674).
CMS
   
Manuscript of poems by Milton at Trinity College, Cambridge.
MLM
   
The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton
, ed. William Kerrigan, John Rumrich, and Stephen M. Fallon. Modern Library edition: New York, 2007.
Yale
   
Complete Prose Works of John Milton
, ed. Don M. Wolfe
et al
. (8 vols., Yale Univ. Press, 1953–80).
Anidmad
   
Animadversions on the Remonstrant’s Defense
Apology
   
An Apology for Smectymnuus
Areop
   
Areopagitica
CD
   
Christian Doctrine
Damon
   
Epitaph for Damon
DDD
   
The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce
Eikon
   
Eikonoclastes
Il Pens
   
Il Penseroso
L’All
   
L’Allegro
Lyc
   
Lycidas
Masque
   
A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle
Nat Ode
   
Nativity Ode
Of Ed
   
Of Education
Of Ref
   
Of Reformation
PL
   
Paradise Lost
PR
   
Paradise Regained
RCG
   
The Reason of Church Government Urged Against Prelaty
REW
   
The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth
SA
   
Samson Agonistes
TKM
   
The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates
1Def
   
Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio
(
A Defense of the English People
)
2Def
   
Defensio Secunda
(
Second Defense of the English People
)
    Citations to Milton’s prose refer either to the Modern Library Milton (
MLM
) or, for passages not included in the Modern Library Milton, to the volume and page number of the Yale edition.
    We use the following abbreviations for works by Shakespeare:
    ADO
   
Much Ado About Nothing
ANT
   
Antony and Cleopatra
COR
   
Coriolanus
HAM
   
Hamlet
1H4
   
The First Part of King Henry the Fourth
2H4
   
The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth
H5
   
King Henry the Fifth
JC
   
Julius Caesar
LLL
   
Love’s Labor’s Lost
LR
   
King Lear
MAC
   
Macbeth
MM
   
Measure for Measure
MND
   
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
OTH
   
Othello
R2
   
King Richard the Second
R3
   
King Richard the Third
ROM
   
Romeo and Juliet
TMP
   
The Tempest
TN
   
Twelfth Night
TRO
   
Troilus and Cressida
    Unless otherwise indicated, we quote the Bible from the
AV
(King James Version), and use standard abbreviations when referring to its books; we sometimes cite
Geneva
(
The Geneva Bible
, 1588). Poetry in English, except where otherwise indicated, we cite from the Oxford authors series. Classical works are cited from the Loeb Classical Library unless otherwise noted, with standard abbreviations, such as, prominently,
Il
. and Od. for Homer’s
Iliad
and
Odyssey, Ec
. and Aen. for Vergil’s
Eclogues
and Aeneid, and
Her
. and Met. for Ovid’s
Heroides
and
Metamorphoses
.
    We also use these abbreviations:
       Torquato Tasso,
GL   Gerusalemme Liberata
    Ludovico Ariosto,
OF   Orlando Furioso
    Edmund Spenser,
FQ   The Faerie Queene

A C HRONOLOGY OF M ILTON’S L IFE
    1608   
(December 9) John Milton born on Bread Street in London.
1615   
(November 24?) Brother Christopher born.
1620   
(?) Enters St. Paul’s School under the headmastership of Alexander Gill, Sr. Begins his friendship with Charles Diodati. Thomas Young tutors Milton at home.
1625   
(February 12) Admitted to Christ’s College, Cambridge.
1629   
(March 26) Receives his B.A. degree. In December writes
On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity
.
1632   
(July 3) Receives his M.A. degree. Retires to his father’s country house at Hammersmith for continued study.
1634   
(September 29)
A Masque
performed at Ludlow Castle in Wales.
1635 or ’36   
Moves with his parents to Horton.
1637   
A Masque
published (dated 1637 but