Hartman associates this image of Milton's standing ab extra with the figures in so many of those similes who seem also to be standing ab extra.

哈特曼把弥尔顿从外俯视的形象,和他众多的明喻中似乎也置身局外的形象,相联系进行思考。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选