Milton's Areopagitica Translated to Modern English

John Milton's 1644 polemic Areopagitica is one of the principal texts on freedom of speech and the free press. It's purpose was to criticize the English Parliament's Licensing Order of 1643 in which authors required approval by the government before publishing their works. Despite this singular purpose, the ideas expressed by Milton apply more broadly to the importance of allowing freedom of expression and have informed subsequent defenses of the principle of free speech.

The language of the original text is brilliant, but can be difficult to understand. William Altoft has spent 10 months rewording the text to make it more accessible to a modern audience. PDFs are freely available for download of both his translation and side-by-side comparisons:

https://williamaltoft.blog/free-speech-upon-the-rock-above-the-city-re-wording-john-milton/

For example, the opening paragraph of the original:

They, who to states and governors of the Commonwealth direct their speech, High Court of Parliament, or, wanting such access in a private condition, write that which they foresee may advance the public good; I suppose them, as at the beginning of no mean endeavour, not a little altered and moved inwardly in their minds: some with doubt of what will be the success, others with fear of what will be the censure; some with hope, others with confidence of what they have to speak. And me perhaps each of these dispositions, as the subject was whereon I entered, may have at other times variously affected; and likely might in these foremost expressions now also disclose which of them swayed most, but that the very attempt of this address thus made, and the thought of whom it hath recourse to, hath got the power within me to a passion, far more welcome than incidental to a preface.

Is reworded to:

Consider, High Court of Parliament, those who take it upon themselves to speak to governors and to states, or those who wish for privacy and thus write, instead, whatever they can which they believe will advance the public good. I believe these people must be significantly altered and moved within their minds for them to begin such an extraordinary task. Some beset by fear of failure, and others by fear of what disapproval may come. Some moved with hope, and others with confidence in what they have to write or say. And as I approached this subject, perhaps I was beset and moved by each of these at various times, and I could begin, in these opening lines,by describing which of them influenced me the most. But simply the act of beginning my address, and the thought of whom it offers an alternative to, has driven the desire within me to a passion – a passion very welcome to this preface.