the collective assemblies of every thing respectable among men, and cities, and nations. I now seem, in setting out upon my journey, to look down from my elevation over the widespread regions of the Continent upon innumerable crowds, their faces totally unknown to me, their feelings in perfect unison with mine. Here the manly and high-minded German, there the Frank with his animated and liberal impetuosity worthy of his name, here the meditative wisdom of the Spaniard, there the steady selfpossessing magnanimity of the Italian meets my eyes. Every free bosom, every ingenuous and noble principle, whether prudentially concealed or openly avowed, gives me it's silent or it's public suffrage; some attending and applauding my enterprise, and some reluctantly surrendering themselves to the power of truth. So accompanied, I appear as if I were bringing back Liberty, after her long long expulsion and exile, to every realm between the pillars of Hercules and the extremities of Bacchus' eastern conquests; and, like Triptolemus of old, communicating universally from my own state to others of all denominations a produce, much more valuable however than that of Ceres, the restoration of civil freedom and independence.

Nor do I come forward this second time either wholly unknown, or I hope wholly unacceptable: as I am He who before, upon the first application of the English leaders, encountered

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in single combat the hardy champion of tyrants, the contumelious assailant of our patriotic hosts -till then, in the general opinion as well as in his own, accounted invincible; and with my feathered arrow striking his scurrilous throat, defeated him even at his own weapons; and, if I may be permitted without depreciation to trust the sentiments and decisions of numbers of intelligent and impartial readers, bore off a complete victory. As a proof that this is no false or exaggerated account, I may state what appears perfectly providential, that when on the honourable invitation of Christina, ‡ that emi

* Adacto convitiantis in jugulum hoc stilo. The stilus, by it's form, was adapted to do execution in more ways than one: and to this P. Sarpi alluded, when he said, after having narrowly escaped assassination, "Ben riconosco lo stilo della Romana curia." He had, previously, been attacked with much violence by the writers of that church. From it's more bloody, though in many instances less malignant, application is derived the modern word, stiletto.

An English translator, however, in order to preserve the pun, is obliged to make a slight change in the figure.

+ Opima spolia, as it appears from Livy (iv. 20.) are those, quae dux duci detrahit. If we were obliged to interpret the phrase rigidly in this acceptation, we might perhaps justify Milton by referring to Saumaise's common title of 'Princeps Eruditionis,' to which likewise he probably thought he had himself as just a claim. But Varro will save his modesty, by his Si manipularis miles detraxerit, dummodò duci hostium. (Fest.)

Upon this most extraordinary woman, Warton in his edition of Milton's Minor Poems (Ed. 2d. 1791.) has two long notes, pp. 483-488. It does not appear, however, that she

nent patroness of every valuable art and every learned man, this Monsieur or Madame Saumaise (for by whether name he ought to be called, the notorious despotism of the lady* has rendered

dismissed Saumaise from her court with contempt; if we may trust her own declarations, in her letter to his widow, that she had for him "des sentimens de tendresse aussi veritables qu'elle les auroit pu avoir pour un pere," that he was "celui de tous les hommes qui meritoit le mieux d'être immortel," and that with regard to his son "elle vouloit contribuer, autant qu'il dependroit d'elle, à le rendre digne fils d'un si grand pere:" unless we allow, with Warton, that from her levity, or hypocrisy, or caprice" she might have acted inconsistently in some parts of this business." She herself says, in the same letter, that she had incurred "des soupçons d'être mediocrement interessée à la gloire de ce grand homme." That she did something more at least than merely "commend the wit and stile" of Milton's performance, of which Vossius has informed us, is probable from her being introduced twice more in this DEFENSIO Secunda, and in one of those passages made the subject of an animated apostrophe. It was no part of our author's character to recompense an empty compliment by the sacrifice of substantial truth.

Madame Saumaise, it appears from several letters in the Sarravian collection, was far from being a lamb in disposition. In Epist. ci, cxxiii, she is denominated Xanthippe;' in cxxxi, dozowa; in clvi, she is represented as suis consiliis parere solita; in others she is baptized Tanaquil,' &c. and seems particularly to have been so formidable a scold among her maids, that Sarrau could not induce any to venture upon her service, unless Saumaise would on his part engage to pay their expenses back again, if dismissed, from Leyden to Paris. By his brother-critics, Mr. Warton informs us, p. 487, she was called 'Juno.' She had some cause, however, for her ill temper; as the climate of Leyden, where Saumaise was strenuously urged by his friends to remain, had carried off three of her little girls

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universally a matter of doubt) had visited the court of Sweden, and had been entertained as a stranger with the most flattering attention, there was he suddenly surprised by the arrival of Defence. Which being eagerly read, and by the queen herself one of the very first, her majesty, out of regard to the dignity of her own character, remitted nothing, indeed, of her accustomed kindness and generosity to her guest: but in every other respect, if I may repeat the current story, such a sudden revolution of opinion took place, that he who a few days before stood in the highest favour, sunk instantly into the most entire neglect; and his subsequent departure, for which he easily obtained permission shortly afterward, left it problematical in the minds of numbers, whether he was received with greater honour or dismissed with greater

in rapid succession, and considerably affected the health both of her husband and herself. IB. Epist. clxi.

With regard to Christina, too, she could not be perhaps wholly without jealousy; as that singular personage, in the first stages of her regard for Saumaise, “when he was indisposed or confined to his room by the cold of the climate, would visit him in his chamber, and locking the door light his fire, make his breakfast, and stay with him for some hours!" (See Dr. Symmons' Life of Milton," Ed. 2d. 390, note 6.) But Need ham (a great crony, indeed, of Milton's) in his Mercurius Politicus' informs us, "she subsequently cashiered him her favour, as a pernicious parasite and a promoter of tyranny:" this might conciliate the offended majesty of Madame Saumaise. (IB.)

contempt. Neither did his reputation, in other places, suffer less severely.

All this however, I adduce, not to set myself off-there is no need for it: but simply to show more clearly, as I proposed in the beginning, upon what strong grounds I commenced my work with thanks to the Almighty; and, as my best and most creditable exordium, to demonstrate by an accumulation of proofs that, though not exempt from human affliction, I and mine are still under the care of the Deity, by whom I have been aided and encouraged in discussing, as it were, before the congregated world affairs of the deepest moment, connected intimately with the concerns of my country and most influential upon every civil and religious interest; and defending not one people only, not one poor solitary client, but rather the entire human race, against the enemies of human liberty. This is a privilege, beyond which it is neither in my power, nor indeed in my wishes, to aspire. Him then I humbly entreat that, relying solely upon his wonted bounty and assistance, I may evince at least the same integrity, diligence, fidelity, and good fortune, with which I lately defended deeds of heroism and justice, in defending those by whom they were done, and myself at the same time (classed as I have been with them, not for my honour, but my disgrace) from unmerited calumny and invective.

If there be any, who think that this might