the miscellaneous writings and speeches-1-第17章

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　much　wanted　of　late；　into　good　repair。

With　the　neighbouring　gentry；　however；　he　was　no　favourite。　　He　was　crafty　and　litigious。　　He　cared　nothing　for　right；　if　he　could　raise　a　point　of　law　against　them。　　He　pounded　their　cattle；　broke　their　hedges；　and　seduced　their　tenants　from　them。　He　almost　ruined　Lord　Caesar　with　actions；　in　every　one　of　which　he　was　successful。　　Von　Blunderbussen　went　to　law　with　him　for　an　alleged　trespass；　but　was　cast；　and　almost　ruined　by　the　costs　of　suit。　　He　next　took　a　fancy　to　the　seat　of　Squire　Don；　who　was；　to　say　the　truth；　little　better　than　an　idiot。　　He　asked　the　poor　dupe　to　dinner；　and　then　threatened　to　have　him　tossed　in　a　blanket　unless　he　would　make　over　his　estates　to　him。　　The　poor　Squire　signed　and　sealed　a　deed　by　which　the　property　was　assigned　to　Joe；　a　brother　of　Nap's；　in　trust　for　and　to　the　use　of　Nap　himself。　　The　tenants；　however；　stood　out。　　They　maintained　that　the　estate　was　entailed；　and　refused　to　pay　rents　to　the　new　landlord；　and　in　this　refusal　they　were　stoutly　supported　by　the　people　in　St　George's。

About　the　same　time　Nap　took　it　into　his　head　to　match　with　quality；　and　nothing　would　serve　him　but　one　of　the　Miss　Germains。　　Lord　Caesar　swore　like　a　trooper；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　　Nap　had　twice　put　executions　in　his　principal　residence；　and　had　refused　to　discharge　the　latter　of　the　two　till　he　had　extorted　a　bond　from　his　Lordship　which　compelled　him　to　comply。

THE　END　OF　THE　FIRST　PART。

。。。


A　CONVERSATION　BETWEEN　MR　ABRAHAM　COWLEY　AND　MR　JOHN　MILTON；　TOUCHING　THE　GREAT　CIVIL　WAR。

SET　DOWN　BY　A　GENTLEMAN　OF　THE　MIDDLE　TEMPLE。

（August　1824。）

〃Referre　sermones　Deorum　et　Magna　modis　tenuare　parvis。〃Horace。

I　have　thought　it　good　to　set　down　in　writing　a　memorable　debate；　wherein　I　was　a　listener；　and　two　men　of　pregnant　parts　and　great　reputation　discoursers；　hoping　that　my　friends　will　not　be　displeased　to　have　a　record　both　of　the　strange　times　through　which　I　have　lived；　and　of　the　famous　men　with　whom　I　have　conversed。　　It　chanced　in　the　warm　and　beautiful　spring　of　the　year　1665；　a　little　before　the　saddest　summer　that　ever　London　saw；　that　I　went　to　the　Bowling　Green　at　Piccadilly；　whither；　at　that　time；　the　best　gentry　made　continual　resorts。　　There　I　met　Mr　Cowley；　who　had　lately　left　Barnelms。　　There　was　then　a　house　preparing　for　him　at　Chertsey；　and　till　it　should　be　finished；　he　had　come　up　for　a　short　time　to　London；　that　he　might　urge　a　suit　to　his　Grace　of　Buckingham　touching　certain　lands　of　her　Majesty's；　whereof　he　requested　a　lease。　　I　had　the　honour　to　be　familiarly　acquainted　with　that　worthy　gentleman　and　most　excellent　poet；　whose　death　hath　been　deplored　with　as　general　a　consent　of　all　Powers　that　delight　in　the　woods；　or　in　verse；　or　in　love；　as　was　of　old　that　of　Daphnis　or　of　Callus。

After　some　talk；　which　it　is　not　material　to　set　down　at　large；　concerning　his　suit　and　his　vexations　at　the　court；　where　indeed　his　honesty　did　him　more　harm　than　his　parts　could　do　him　good；　I　entreated　him　to　dine　with　me　at　my　lodging　in　the　Temple；　which　he　most　courteously　promised。　　And；　that　so　eminent　a　guest　might　not　lack　a　better　entertainment　than　cooks　or　vintners　can　provide；　I　sent　to　the　house　of　Mr　John　Milton；　in　the　Artillery　Walk；　to　beg　that　he　would　also　be　my　guest。　For；　though　he　had　been　secretary；　first　to　the　Council　of　State；　and；　after　that；　to　the　Protector；　and　Mr　Cowley　had　held　the　same　post　under　the　Lord　St　Albans　in　his　banishment；　I　hoped；　notwithstanding　that　they　would　think　themselves　rather　united　by　their　common　art　than　divided　by　their　different　factions。　　And　so　indeed　it　proved。　　For；　while　we　sat　at　table；　they　talked　freely　of　many　men　and　things；　as　well　ancient　as　modern；　with　much　civility。　Nay；　Mr　Milton；　who　seldom　tasted　wine；　both　because　of　his　singular　temperance　and　because　of　his　gout；　did　more　than　once　pledge　Mr　Cowley；　who　was　indeed　no　hermit　in　diet。　　At　last；　being　heated；　Mr　Milton　begged　that　I　would　open　the　windows。　〃Nay；〃　said　I；　〃if　you　desire　fresh　air　and　coolness；　what　should　hinder　us；　as　the　evening　is　fair；　from　sailing　for　an　hour　on　the　river？〃　　To　this　they　both　cheerfully　consented；　and　forth　we　walked；　Mr　Cowley　and　I　leading　Mr　Milton　between　us；　to　the　Temple　Stairs。　　There　we　took　a　boat；　and　thence　we　were　rowed　up　the　river。

The　wind　was　pleasant；　the　evening　fine；　the　sky；　the　earth；　and　the　water　beautiful　to　look　upon。　　But　Mr　Cowley　and　I　held　our　peace；　and　said　nothing　of　the　gay　sights　around　us；　lest　we　should　too　feelingly　remind　Mr　Milton　of　his　calamity；　whereof；　however；　he　needed　no　monitor：　　for　soon　he　said；　sadly；　〃Ah；　Mr　Cowley；　you　are　a　happy　man。　　What　would　I　now　give　but　for　one　more　look　at　the　sun；　and　the　waters；　and　the　gardens　of　this　fair　city！〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Mr　Cowley；　〃whether　we　ought　not　rather　to　envy　you　for　that　which　makes　you　to　envy　others：　　and　that　specially　in　this　place；　where　all　eyes　which　are　not　closed　in　blindness　ought　to　become　fountains　of　tears。　　What　can　we　look　upon　which　is　not　a　memorial　of　change　and　sorrow；　of　fair　things　vanished；　and　evil　things　done？　　When　I　see　the　gate　of　Whitehall；　and　the　stately　pillars　of　the　Banqueting　House；　I　cannot　choose　but　think　of　what　I　have　there　seen　in　former　days；　masques；　and　pageants；　and　dances；　and　smiles；　and　the　waving　of　graceful　heads；　and　the　bounding　of　delicate　feet。　　And　then　I　turn　to　thoughts　of　other　things；　which　even　to　remember　makes　me　to　blush　and　weep；of　the　great　black　scaffold；　and　the　axe　and　block；　which　were　placed　before　those　very　windows；　and　the　voice　seems　to　sound　in　mine　ears；　the　lawless　and　terrible　voice；　which　cried　out　that　the　head　of　a　king　was　the　head　of　a　traitor。　　There　stands　Westminster　Hall；　which　who　can　look　upon；　and　not　tremble　to　think　how　time；　and　change；　and　death　confound　the　councils　of　the　wise；　and　beat　down　the　weapons　of　the　mighty？　　How　have　I　seen　it　surrounded　with　tens　of　thousands　of　petitioners　crying　for　justice　and　privilege！　　How　have　I　heard　it　shake　with　fierce　and　proud　words；　which　made　the　hearts　of　the　people　burn　within　them！　　Then　it　is　blockaded　by　dragoons；　and　cleared　by　pikemen。　　And　they　who　have　conquered　their　master　go　forth　trembling　at　the　word　of　their　servant。　　And　yet　a　little　while；　and　the　usurper　comes　forth　from　it；　in　his　robe　of　ermine；　with　the　golden　staff　in　one　hand　and　the　Bible　in　the　other；　amidst　the　roaring　of　the　guns　and　the　shouting　of　the　people。　　And　yet　again　a　little　while；　and　the　doors　are　thronged　with　multitudes　in　black；　and　the　hearse　and　the　plumes　come　forth；　and　the　tyrant　is　borne；　in　more　than　royal　pomp；　to　a　royal　sepulchre。　　A　few　days　more；　and　his　head　is　fixed　to　rot　on　the　pinnacles　of　that　very　hall　where　he　sat　on　a　throne　in　his　life；　and　lay　in　state　after　his　death。　　When　I　think　on　all　these　things；　to　look　round　me　makes　me　sad　at　heart。　　True　it　is　that　God　hath　restored　to　us　our　old　laws；　and　the　rightful　line　of　our　kings。　　Yet；　how　I　know　not；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　something　is　wantingthat　our　court　hath　not　the　old　gravity；　nor　our　people　the　old　loyalty。　　These　evil　times；　like　the　great　deluge；　have　overwhelmed　and　confused　all　earthly　things。　　And；　even　as　those　waters；　though　at　last　they　abated；　yet；　as　the　learned　write；　destroyed　all　trace　of　the　garden　of　Eden；　so　that　its　place　hath　never　since　been　found；　so　hath　this　opening　of　all　the　flood…gates　of　political　evil　effaced　all　marks　of　the　ancient　political　paradise。〃

〃Sir；　by　your　favour；〃　said　Mr　Milton；　〃though；　from　many　circumstances　both　of　body　and　of　fortune；　I　might　plead　fairer　excuses　for　despondency　than　yourself；　I　yet　look　not　so　sadly　either　on　the　past　or　on　the　future。　　That　a　deluge　hath　passed　over　this　our　nation；　I　deny　not。　　But　I　hold　it　not　to　be　such　a　deluge　as　that　of　which　you　speak；　but　rather　a　blessed　flood；　like　those　of　the　Nile；　which　in　its　overflow　doth　indeed　wash　away　ancient　landmarks；　and　confound　boundaries；　and　sweep　away　dwellings；　yea；　doth　give　birth　to　many　foul　and　dangerous　reptiles。　　Yet　hence　is　the　fulness　of　the　granary；　the　beauty　of　the　garden；　the　nurture　of　all　living　things。

〃I　remember　well；　Mr　Cowley；　what　you　have　said　concerning　these　things　in　your　Discourse　of　the　Government　of　Oliver　Cromwell；　which　my　friend　Elwood　read　to　me　last　year。　　Truly；　for　elegance　and　rhetoric；　that　essay　is　to　be　compared　with　the　finest　tractates　of　Isocrates　and　Cicero。　　But　neither　that　nor　any　other　book；　nor　any　events；　which　with　most　men　have；　more　than　any　book；　weight　and　authority；　have　altered　my　opinion；　that；　of　all　assemblies　that　ever　were　in　this　world；　the　best　and　the　most　useful　was　our　Long　Parliament。　　I　speak　not　this　as　wishing　to　provoke　debate；　which　neither　yet　do　I　decline。〃

Mr　Cowley　was；　as　I　could　see；　a　little　nettled。　　Yet；　as　he　was　a　man　of　a　kind　disposition　and　a　most　refined　courtesy；　he　put　a　force　upon　himself；　and　answered　with　more　vehemence　and　quickness　indeed　than　was　his　wont；　yet　not　uncivilly。　　〃Surely；　Mr　Milton；　you　speak　not　as　you　think。　　I　am　indeed　one　of　those　who　believe　that　God　hath　reserved　to　himself　the　censure　of　kings；　and　that　their　crimes　and　oppressions　are　not　to　be　resisted　by　the　hands　of　their　subjects。　　Yet　can　I　easily　find　excuse　for　the　violence　of　such　as　are　stung　to　madness　by　grievous　tyranny。　　But　what　shall　we　say　for　these　men？　　Which　of　their　just　demands　was　not　granted？　　Which　even　of　their　cruel　and　unreasonable　requisitions；　so　as　it　were　not　inconsistent　with　all　law　and　order；　was　refused？　　Had　they　not　sent　Strafford　to　the　block　and　Laud　to　the　Tower？　　Had　they　not　destroyed　the　Courts　of　the　High　Commission　and　the　Star　Chamber？　　Had　they　not　reversed　the　proceedings　confirmed　by　the　voices　of　the　judges　of　England；　in　the　matter　of　ship…money？　　Had　they　not　taken　from　the　king　his　ancient　and　most　lawful　power　touching　the　order　of　knighthood？　　Had　they　not　provided　that；　after　their　dissolution；　triennial　parliaments　should　be　holden；　and　that　their　own　power　should　continue　till　of　their　great　condescension　they　should　be　pleased　to　resign　it　themselves？　　What　more　could　they　ask？　　Was　it　not　enough　that　they　had　taken　from　their　king　all　his　oppressive　powers；　and　many　that　were　most　salutary？　　Was　it　not　enough　that　they　had　filled　his　council…board　with　his　enemies；　and　his　prisons　with　his　adherents？　　Was　it　not　enough　that　they　had　raised　a　furious　multitude；　to　shout　and　swagger　daily　under　the　very　windows　of　his　royal　palace？　　Was　it　not　enough　that　they　had　taken　from　him　the　most　blessed　prerogative　of　princely　mercy；　that；　complaining　of　intolerance　themselves；　they　had　denied　all　toleration　to　others；　that　they　had　urged；　against　forms；　scruples　childish　as　those　of　any　formalist；　that　they　had　persecuted　the　least　remnant　of　the　popish　rites　with　the　fiercest　bitterness　of　the　popish　spirit？　　Must　they　besides　all　this　have　full　power　to　command　his　armies；　and　to　massacre　his　friends？

〃For　military　command；　it　was　never　known　in　any　monarchy；　nay；　in　any　well　ordered　republic；　that　it　was　committed　to　the　debates　of　a　large　and　unsettled　assembly。　　For　their　other　requisition；　that