that of Ely. 'Twas then also that he compos'd his fine poem on the gunpouder treafon; concerning all which and the rest of his juvenil pieces, the judicious MORHOF, in his Polybiftor literarius, fays, that MILTON's writings fhew him to have bin a man in his very childhood; and that these poems are excedingly above the ordinary capacity of that age. He continu'd in Cambridg feven years, where he liv'd with great reputation, and generally belov'd, till taking the degree of mafter of arts, and performing his exercises with much applaufe, he left the university: for he aim'd at none of those profeffions that require a longer ftay in that place. Som of his academic performances are ftill extant among his occafional poems, and at the end of his familiar letters. The five fucceding years he liv'd with his father in his country retirement at Horton near Colebrook in Barkshire, where at full leifure he perus'd all the Greec and Latin writers; but was not fo much in love with his folitude, as not to make an excurfion now and then to London, somtimes to buy books, or to meet friends from Cambridg; and at other times to learn som new thing in the mathematics or in mufic, with which he was extraordinarily delighted. It was about this time he wrote from London a Latin elegy to his intimat friend CHARLES DIODATI, wherin fom verses reflecting on the university, and preferring the pleafures of the town, gave a handle afterwards to certain perfons no lefs ignorant than malitious, to report that either he was expel'd for fom misdemeanor from Cambridg, or left it in difcontent that he obtain❜d no preferment and that at London he spau B 3 spent his time with leud women, or at playhouses. But the falfity of this ftory we fhall in due place demonftrat, and in the mean time infert thofe lines for the fatisfaction of the curious. Me tenet urbs reflua quam Thamefis alluit unda, Sed neque fub tecto femper, nec in urbe, latemus, Virgineos videas præteriiffe choros. He He wrote another Latin elegy to CHARLES DIODATI; and in his twentieth year he made one on the approach of the fpring: but the following year he describes his falling in love with a lady (whom he accidentally met, and never afterwards faw) in fuch tender expreffions, with those lively paffions, and images fo natural, that you would think Love himfelf had directed his pen, or infpir'd your own breaft when you perufe them. We fhall fee him now appear in a more serious scene, tho yet a child in comparifen of the figure he afterwards made in the world. The death of his mother happening likewise about this time facilitated his defign, which was with his father's leave to travel into foren regions, being perfuaded that he could not better difcern the preeminence or defects of his own country, than by obferving the customs and inftitutions of others; and that the study of never fo many books, without the advantages of converfation, ferves only to render a man either a stupid fool, or an infufferable pedant. First therfore he procedes to France with one fervant, and no tutor for fuch as ftill need a pedagog are not fit to go abroad; and those who are able to make a right use of their travels, ought to be the free mafters of their own actions, their good qualifications being fufficient to introduce 'em into all places, and to prefent 'em to the most deferving perfons. He had an elegant letter of direction and advice from the famous Sir HENRY WOTTON, who was a long time ambassador from king JAMES the first to the republic of Venice. Being arriv'd at Paris, he was moft kindly receiv'd by the English ambaffador, who spent his time with leud women, or at playhouses. But the falfity of this ftory we fhall in due place demonftrat, and in the mean time infert thofe lines for the fatisfaction of the curious. Me tenet urbs reflua quam Thamefis alluit unda, Sed neque fub tecto femper, nec in urbe, latemus, Virgineos videas præteriiffe choros. He He wrote another Latin elegy to CHARLES DIODATI; and in his twentieth year he made one on the approach of the fpring: but the following year he describes his falling in love with a lady (whom he accidentally met, and never afterwards faw) in fuch tender expreffions, with thofe lively paffions, and images fo natural, that you would think Love himfelf had directed his pen, or infpir'd your own breaft when you peruse them. We fhall fee him now appear in a more ferious fcene, tho yet a child in comparison of the figure he afterwards made in the world. The death of his mother happening likewise about this time facilitated his defign, which was with his father's leave to travel into foren regions, being perfuaded that he could not better difcern the preeminence or defects of his own country, than by obferving the customs and inftitutions of others; and that the study of never fo many books, without the advantages of converfation, ferves only to render a man either a stupid fool, or an infufferable pedant. First therfore he procedes to France with one fervant, and no tutor; for fuch as ftill need a pedagog are not fit to go abroad; and those who are able to make a right use of their travels, ought to be the free masters of their own actions, their good qualifications being fufficient to introduce 'em into all places, and to prefent 'em to the most deserving perfons. He had an elegant letter of direction and advice from the famous Sir HENRY WOTTON, who was a long time ambassador from king JAMES the first to the republic of Venice. Being arriv'd at Paris, he was most kindly receiv'd by the English ambaffador, who B 4 recom |