tican library. By him he was introduced to Cardinal Barberini, the patron Cardinal of the English; who, at an entertainment of musick, performed at his own expence, waited for him. at the door, and condefcended to lead him into the affembly. Milton did not forget the extraordinary civilities of this accomplished Cardinal. In thanking Holftenius afterwards for all his favours to him, he adds." De cætero, novo beneficio devinxeris, fi Eminentiffimum Cardi 6 I learn from the manufcript of Dr. Bargrave, (preferved in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral,) of which an ample account is given in my Note on Milton's Epigram to Chriftina, Queen of Sweden, that," at Rome, euery forraigne Nation hath fome Cardinall or other to be their peculiar Gárdian: when I was 4 feuerall times at Rome," fays Dr. Bargrave, "this Cardinall Barberini was Gardian to the Inglish." He adds, "When I was at Rome with the Earle of Chefterfield, then under my tuition, 1650, at a yeare of Jubile, this Cardinall (formerly kinde to me) would not admitt my lord or myfelfe to any audience, though, in eleuen months. time, tryed feuerall times: and I heard that it was, because that we had recommendatory letters from our Queen Mother to Cardihall Capponius, and another from the Dutchefs of Sauoy to Cardinall Penzirolo; and no letters to him, who was the English (Ifay REBELLS) Protector; and that we vifited them before him." Lit. Lucæ Holftenio, dat. Florent. Mart. 30. 1639, Profe Works, vol. iii. p. 327. edit. 1698. Milton, it may be obferved, is careful not to omit the title firft applied to the Cardinals by Barberini: fince whofe time, Dr. Bargrave relates," the title of Padrone continueth to the Pope's chiefe Nephew, and the title of Eminenza to all the Cardinalls. Indeed the authority which Urban VIII. gave to Francifco [Barberini, his eldeft Nephew,] was not ordinary; for he thought it not enough to giue the powre, except he gaue it the vanety and nalem quantâ poteft obfervantiâ meo nomine falutes, cujus magnæ virtutes, rectique ftudium, ad provehendas item omnes artes liberales egregiè comparatum, femper mihi ob oculos verfatur." At Rome alfo, Selvaggi and Salfilli praised the attainments of Milton in thofe verfes, which are prefixed to his Latin poetry. He next removed to Naples, in company with a hermit; to whom Milton owed his introduction to the patron of Tasso, Manso, marquis of Villa, a nobleman distinguished by his virtue and his learning. To this eminent perfon he was obliged in many important instances; and, as a testimony of gratitude, he presented to him, at his departure from Naples, his beautiful eclogue, entitled Manfus; which Dr. Johnson acknowledges must have raised in the noble Italian an high opinion of English elegance and literature. title of Padrone, that is, Mafter and Lord, a title never heard of before at Rome. But Urban had nothing in his mouth but the Cardinall Padrone: Where is the Cardinall Padrone? Call the Cardinall Padrone: Speake to the Cardinall Padrone: Nothing was heard of but the Cardinall Padrone; which the embassadors of Princes did not like, faying they had no Padrone but the Pope himfelfe. Howeuer theire [the Barberinis'] ambition stayed not at this title they tooke exceptions of the quality of Illuftriffimo, with which hitherto the Cardinalls had binn content for fo many ages. The title of Excellency belonging to foveraine Princes in Italy, they ftrove to find out fomething that should not be inferiour to it; and, canvafing many titles, at length they pitched upon Eminency, which the Princes hearing of, they took upon themselves the title of Highnefs," MS.. as before. : Manfo likewife has addreffed a diftich to Milton, which is prefixed to the Latin poems. From Naples Milton intended to proceed to Sicily and Athens: "countries," as Mr. Warton has excellently observed, "connected with his finer feelings, interwoven with his poetical ideas, and impressed upon his imagination by his habits of reading, and by long and intimate converse with the Grecian literature. But fo prevalent were his patriotick attachments, that, hearing in Italy of the commencement of the national quarrel, instead of proceeding forward to feaft his fancy with the contemplation of scenes familiar to Theocritus and Homer, the pines of Etna and the paftures of Peneus, he abruptly changed his courfe, and haftily returned home to plead the caufe of ideal liberty. Yet in this chaos of controverfy, amidst endless disputes concerning religious and political reformation, independency, prelacy, tithes, toleration, and tyranny, he fometimes feems to have heaved a figh for the peaceable enjoyments of lettered folitude, for his congenial purfuits, and the more mild and ingenuous exercifes of the mufe. In a Letter to Henry Oldenburgh, written in 1654, he fays, "Hoc cum libertatis adverfariis inopinatum certamen, diverfis longè et amanioribus Preface to his Edition of the Smaller Poems. "Profe-Works, vol. iii. p. 330. ed. 1698. y. omninò me ftudiis intentum, ad fe rapuit invitum. And in one of his prose-tracts, * I may one day hope to have ye again in a still time, when there shall be no Chiding. Not in thefe Noifes.' And in another, having mentioned fome of his fchemes for epick poetry and tragedy, of highest hope and hardest attempting' he adds, y With what small willingness I endure to interrupt the purfuit of no lefs hopes than these, and leave a calm and pleafing folitarineffe, fed with cheerful and confident thoughts, to imbark in a troubled fea of noifes and hoarfe disputes, from beholding the bright countenance of Truth in the quiet and still air of delightfull ftudies, &c.' He ftill, however, obftinately perfifted in what he thought his duty. But furely these speculations fhould have been configned to the enthusiasts of the age, to such restless and wayward fpirits as Prynne, Hugh Peters, Goodwyn, and Baxter. Minds lefs refined, and faculties lefs elegantly cultivated, would have been better employed in this task: • Coarfe complexions, • And cheeks of sorry grain, will serve to ply • What need a vermeil tinctur'd lip for that, Love-darting eyes, and treffes like the morn?'" He returned by the way of Rome, though fome mercantile friends had acquainted him that the Jefuits there were forming plots against him, for the liberty of his converfation upon matters of religion. He paid little attention to the * advice of his friend Sir Henry Wotton, "to keep his thoughts clofe, and his countenance open.' Nor did the liberal and polished Manfo omit to acquaint him, at his departure, that he would have shown him more confiderable favours, if his conduct had been lefs unguarded. He is fuppofed to have given offence by having vifited Galileo. And he had been with difficulty reftrained from publickly afferting, within the verge of the Vatican, the caufe of Proteftantifm. While Milton, however, defended his principles without hypocrify, he appears not to have courted conteft. When he was queftioned as to his faith, he was too honeft to conceal his fentiments, too dauntless to relinquish them. He staid at Rome two months more without fear, and indeed without moleftation. From Rome he proceeded to Florence, where he was received with the most lively marks of affection by his friends, and made a fecond refidence of two months. From Florence he vifited Lucca : Then, croffing the Apennine, he paffed by the way of Bologna and See the Prelim. Notes to Comus, in this edition, vol. v. P. 183. |