commotion; but as that rumour seems to have been a political device of the royalists, contrived to strengthen the new government, he probably regained his freedom, though we know not how his active days were concluded. The anxiety and anguish that Milton must have indured in the various calamities to which his friends were exposed on the vicissitude of public affairs, formed, I apprehend, the severest sufferings of his extraordinary life, in which genius. and affliction seem to have contended for pre-eminence.

Some traces of the sufferings I allude to, though mysteriously veiled, are yet visible in his poetry, and will be noticed hereafter. Not to anticipate the severest evil of his destiny, let me now speak of a foreign friend, in whose lively regard he found only honor and delight. On the publication of his defence, Leonard Philaras, a native of Athens, who had distinguished himself in Italy, and risen to the rank of envoy from the Duke of Parma to the court of France, conceived a flattering desire to

cultivate the friendship of Milton. With this view he sent him his portrait, with very engaging letters, and the highest commendation of the recent defence. The reply of Milton is remarkable for its elegance and spirit; after thanking his correspondent for presents so agreeable, he says,-"* If

* Cum enim Alexander ille magnus in terris ultimis bellum gerens, tantos se militiæ labores pertulisse testatus sit, της παρ' Αθηναίων ευδοξίας ἕνεκα ; quidni ergo mihi gratuler, meque ornari quam maxime putem, ejus viri laudibus, in quo jam uno priscorum Atheniensium artes, atque virtutes illæ celebratissimæ, renasci tam longo intervallo, et reflorescere videntur. Quâ ex urbe cum tot viri disertissimi prodierint, eorum potissimum scriptis ab adolescentia pervolvendis, didicisse me libens fateor quicquid ego literis profeci. Quod si mihi tanta vis dicendi accepta ab illis et quasi transfusa inesset, ut exercitos nostros et classes ad liberandam ab Ottomanico tyranno Græciam, eloquentiæ patriam, excitare possem ; ad quod facinus egregium nostras opes pene implorare videris, facerem profecto id quo nihil mihi antiquius aut in votis prius esset. Quid enim vel fortissimi olim viri, vel eloquentissimi gloriosius aut se dignius esse duxerunt, quam vel suadendo vel fortiter faciendo ἐλευθερες και άυλονόμες ποιεισθαι της Ελληνας ? Verum et aliud quiddam præterea tentandum est, meâ quidem sententia longe maxi

Alexander in the midst of his martial toil confessed, that he laboured but to gain an eulogy from Athens, I may think myself fortunate indeed, and esteem it as the highest honor, to be thus commended by the man in whom alone the genius and virtue of the ancient Athenians seem, after so long an interval, to revive and flourish. As your city has produced many most eloquent men, I am perfectly willing to confess, that whatever proficiency I have made in literature is chiefly owing to my long and incessant study of their works. Had I acquired from them such powers of language as might enable me to stimulate our fleets and armies

mum, ut quis antiquam in animis Græcorum virtutem industriam, laborum tolerantiam, antiqua illa studia dicendo, suscitare atque accendere possit. Hoc si quis effecerit, quod à nemine potius quam abs te, pro tua illa insigni erga patriam pietate, cum summa prudentia reique militaris peritia, summo denique recuperandæ libertatis pristinæ studio conjunctâ, expectare debemus; neque ipsos sibi Græcos neque ullam gentem Græcis defuturam esse confido. Vale.Prose. Works, Vol. II p. 575.

to deliver Greece, the native seat of eloquence, from the tyranny of the Turks (a splendid enterprise, for which you almost seem to implore our assistance) I would assuredly do what would then be among the first objects of my desire; for what did the bravest or most eloquent men of antiquity consider as more glorious or more worthy of themselves, than by persuasive language or bold exploits to render the Greeks free, and their own legislators." He closes his letter by observing very justly, that "it is first necessary to kindle in the minds of the modern Greeks, the spirit and virtue of their ancestors," (politely adding) that "if this could be accomplished by any man, it might be most reasonably expected from the patriotic enthusiasm, and the experience, civil and military, of his accomplished correspondent." This letter is dated June 1652. Milton had soon afterwards the gratification of a visit from this liberal Athenian, who took so tender an interest in the blindness of his friend, that, on his return to Paris, he wrote to him on the subject. The

following answer of Milton relates the particulars of his disorder, and shews at the same time with what cheerful magnanimity he supported it.

"To Leonard Philaras.

"As I have cherished from my childhood (if ever mortal did) a reverential fondness for the Grecian name, and for your native Athens in particular, so have I continually persuaded myself, that at some period I should receive from that city a very

Leonardo Philare Atheniensi.

Cum sim a pueritiâ totius Græci nominis, tuarumque in primis Athenarum cultor, si quis alius, tum una hoc semper mihi persuasissimum habebam, fore ut illa urbs præclaram aliquando redditura vicem esset benevolentiæ erga se meæ. Neque defuit sane tuæ patriæ nobilissimæ antiquus ille genius augurio meo; deditque te nobis et germanum Atticum et nostri amantissimum; qui me, scriptis duntaxat notum, et locis ipse disjunctus, humanissime per literas compellaveris et Londinum postea inopinatus adveniens, visensque non videntem, etiam in ea calamitate, propter quam conspectior nemini, despectior multis fortassis sim, eâdem benevolentiâ prosequaris. Cum itaque author mihi sis, ut visus recuperandi spem