[Milton-L] RE: The two-handed engine yet one more once

[Campbell, W. Gardner]

When I got a few golden moments with the Trinity MS a few years back, I noted that Milton spells it "tow-handed engine." "Tow" is a variant spelling of "two" during this period, of course, but it did set me (idly) wondering. 
 
Gardner
 
Dr. Gardner Campbell 
Director, Academy for Teaching and Learning 
Assoc. Prof. of Literature and Media, Honors College 
Baylor University 
One Bear Place, Box 97189 
Waco, TX 76798 
254.710.3412 
www.gardnercampbell.net

________________________________

From: milton-l-bounces at lists.richmond.edu on behalf of FLANNAGAN, ROY
Sent: Sat 11/22/2008 9:46 AM
To: John Milton Discussion List
Subject: The two-handed engine yet one more once



After many years of reading more and more essays submitted to the Milton Quarterly, all trying to solve the mystery of what became known around the office as "that damned engine," I almost wrote an "I don't care what it is" note in the Riverside Milton. But instead I acknowledged that it is the most famous crux in English literature, and I cited summary articles by Carter Revard, J. Karl Franson, and Robert Fleissner. I wrote that "[s]cales of divine judgment, a sheep hook, shears of destiny, and the keys of St. Peter have all been suggested" by various critics. One of my colleagues in Ohio, after reading yet another manuscript, sent me the note, "Of course it was a LAWNMOWER!"

Roy Flannagan

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