The book's premises are threefold. First, because learning foreign languages is enjoyable, and Milton enjoyed doing so, my own enjoyment of language-learning gives a suitable angle of address to ‘Milton's languages’. Secondly, while more languages are studied nowadays, Milton's ten included classical or extinct ones which are less studied in the English-speaking world; which means that readers of his English need help to recover what his mind was like in so far as it moved among his languages. Thus, thirdly, a study from the inside of its processes, rather than a mere assimilating of their product in the drab form of English footnotes, is timely.

But what are my credentials for the undertaking, since nobody can know Milton's languages exactly to the same extent and in the same way as he did? My Greek and Latin are of long standing and reputable. My Italian is similar. Hebrew, I have had to learn for this project; which means a loss of disinterestedness, as well as the wine being new and raw. Is it only special pleading, nonetheless, to think my known incapacity equips me as well as competence would to enter into Milton's mental processes, the ‘quick forge and working-house’ of his polyglot versatility?

One other credential should be mentioned. Like most students of Classics (Literae Humaniores) till this century, I was compelled to write Latin and Greek verses, in the manner of approved ancient models like Ovid or Euripides. I found this a barren exercise in itself.