Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 7.djvu/97

 JOHN MILTON 61 This must not be forgotten in speculating on Milton's public life, and his in- exorable hostility to the established government in church and state ; for it will thus appear probable that he was at no time withdrawn from the influence of Puritan connections. In 1632, having taken the degree of M.A., Milton finally quitted the University, leaving behind him a very brilliant reputa- tion, and a general good-will in his own college. His father had now retired from London, and lived upon his own estate at Horton, in Buckinghamshire. In this rural solitude Milton passed the next five years, resorting to London only at rare intervals, for the purchase of books or music. His time was chiefly occupied with the study of Greek and Roman, and, no doubt, also of Italian literature. But that he was not neg- ligent of composition, and that he applied himself with great zeal to the culture of his native literature, we have a splendid record in his " Comus," which, upon the strongest presumptions, is ascribed to this period of his life. In the same neighborhood, and within the same five years, it is believed that he produced also the " Arcades," and the " Lycidas," to- gether with " L' Allegro," and " II Penseroso." In 1637 Milton's mother died, and in the following year he commenced his travels. The state of Europe confined his choice of ground to France and Italy. The former excited in him but little interest. After a short stay at Paris he pur- sued the direct route to Nice, where he embarked for Genoa, and thence pro- ceeded to Pisa, Florence, Rome, and Naples. Sir Henry Wotton had recommended, as the rule of his conduct, a celebrated Italian proverb, inculcating the policy of reserve and dissimulation. From a practised diplomatist, this advice was characteristic ; but it did. not suit the frank- ness of Milton's manners, nor the nobleness of his mind. He has himself stated to us his own rule of conduct, which was to move no questions of controversy, yet not to evade them when pressed upon him by others. Upon this principle he acted, not without some offence to his associates, nor wholly without danger to himself. But the offence, doubtless, was blended with respect ; the danger was passed; and he returned home with all his purposes fulfilled. He had con- versed with Galileo ; he had seen whatever was most interesting in the monu- ments of Roman grandeur, or the triumphs of Italian art ; and he could report with truth that, in spite of his religion, everywhere undissembled, he had been honored by the attentions of the great, and by the compliments of the learned. After fifteen months of absence, Milton found himself again in London at a crisis of unusual interest. The king was on the eve of his second expedition