Areopagitica

A Speech

for the Liberty of unlicensed printing to the

parliament of England

by

John Milton

Introductory Note

Order of the Long Parliament

Areopagitica—A Speech

Τοὐλεύθερον δ᾽ ἐκεῖνο, τίς θέλει πόλει

Χρηστόν τι βούλευμ᾽ ἐς μέσον φέρειν ἔχων.

Καὶ ταῦθ᾽ ὁ χρῄζων, λαμπρός ἐσθ᾽, ὁ μὴ θέλων

Σιγᾷ, τί τούτων ἔστ᾽ ἰσαίτερον πόλει;

Euripid. Hicetid

This is true Liberty when free born men

Having to advise the public may speek free,

Which he who can, and will, deserv’s high praise;

Who neither can nor will, may hold his peace:

What can be juster in a state than this?

Euripid. Hicetid