however, is ftill the object of his attack in his Authoris pro fe Defenfio, publifhed in 1655, as a reply to the Fides Publica. Morus ventured to rejoin in a Supplementum, which was foon filenced by a brief Refponfio from Milton; and the controversy closed. He now gave himself up to his private studies, and to the duties of his office. As Latin Secretary, he is juftly fuppofed to have written the Protector's Declaration of the reasons for a war with Spain, in 1655. The peculiar elegance of the style bespeaks the author. He had before addreffed, in the name of Cromwell, the celebrated Latin verfes to Chriftina, queen of Sweden. For Milton, rather than Marvell, I think, has the fairest pretenfions to be their owner f. As Milton is believed to have continued his g friendship for Henry Lawes, the musician, throughout the Rebellion, I am led to think that he now often experienced a pleafing relaxation from business and study in listening to the "foft pipe, and fmooth-dittied fong," of his early acquaintance. Lawes, who was acquainted with the principal poets of his time, and was honoured with many of their productions for the ufe of his lyre, had now published two Books of Ayres ; See the Notes on Par. Reg. B. ii. 481, and on the Verses to Chriftina, vol. vi. p. 270. Account of Henry Lawes, vol, v. p. 208. in the latter of which, dated 1655, is a ballad, which "The Table, with the names of those who were the Authors of the Verfes," afcribes to "Mr. I. M. p. 37." The ballad confists of the first and last fextains of a little poem, which had appeared not long before in an edition of Shakspeare's poems; at the end of which is "An Addition of fome excellent poems, to thofe precedent of renowned Shakspeare, by other Gentlemen;" but thefe verfes are without any fignature, while Milton's epitaph on Shakspeare, in the fame volume, is fubfcribed I. M. It may not perhaps feem improbable, that Milton might formerly have acknowledged to Lawes this production of his earlier days, which yet he had not thought worthy of admiffion into his collection of poems. The little poem fhows at least a remarkable familiarity with Sylvefter's Du Bartas; a book, in which Milton wash affuredly converfant. I fubmit the verfes, with deference, to the determination of the reader. "Lavinia walking in a frosty morning. "I' the non-age of a winter's day, "Lavinia, glorious as May, "To give the morne an earlier birth, ▲ See the Inquiry into the Origin of Par. Loft, p. 289, &c i In Lawes's copy, "" an cafier birth.” « When each place, by which she came, 66 Calling to their rootes for blood: It has been already obferved, that Milton was fupplied with an affiftant in his office of Secretary. In 1657 Andrew Marvell was affociated with him in this duty; before which time, Marvell afferts that he "never had any, not the remoteft, relation to publick matters, nor correfpondence with the perfons then predominant;" * In Lawes's copy, In Lawes's copy, "Back returning quench'd the heat." n In Lawes's copy, "And Winter kept.” Rehearfall Tranfpros'd, Sec. Part, p. 127. but that he then “enter'd into an imployment, for which he was not altogether improper, and which he confider'd to be the most innocent and inoffenfive toward his Majesties affairs of any in that ufurped and irregular Government, to which all men were then expofed. And this he accordingly discharg'd without disobliging any one perfon; there having been opportunity and endeavours, fince his Majefties happy return to have discover'd had it been otherwise." So manly an avowal cannot but command refpect.-Of Marvell's regard for Milton, the verses, ufually prefixed to Paradife Loft, are an elegant teftimony. In the volume, from which I have made the preceding citation, are feveral anecdotes of Milton and his friends, not generally known, as Mr. Warton long fince obferved. This fecond part of Marvell's Rehearsal Tranfpros'd, published in 1673, is an attack on Dr. Samuel Parker, well known for his tergiverfation with the times; and of whom it was once faid that he "P had wit enough to colour any thing though never fo foule, and impudence enough to affirm any thing though never fo falfe." When Marvell attacked him with sarcastick and fuccefsful raillery, Parker was an antipuritan in the extreme. Marvell thus expreffes his honeft indignation against Parker for traducing his friend Milton, p. 377. “You Preface to "A Caveat to the Cavaliers, 1661," do three times at least in your Reproof, and in your Tranfprofer Rehears'd well nigh half the book thorow, run upon an author J. M., which does not a little offend me. For why should any other man's reputation fuffer in a contest betwixt you and me? But it is because you refolved to fufpect that he had an hand in my former book, [the first part of The Rehearfall, published in 1672,] wherein, whether you deceive yourself or no, you deceive others extreamly. For by chance I had not seen him of two years before; but, after I undertook writing, I did more carefully avoid either visiting or fending to him, left I should any way involve him in my confequences. And you might have understood, or I am fure your friend, the author of the Common Places, could have told you, (he too had a flash at J. M. upon my account,) that, had be took in hand, you you would have had cause to repent the occafion, and not escaped fo eafily as you did under my Tranfprofal.-But because in your 115. p. you are fo particular you know a friend of ours, &c. intending THAT J. M. and his answer to Salmafius, I think it here feafonable to acquit my promife to you in giving the reader a fhort trouble concerning my first acquaintance with you. J. M. was, and is, a man of as great learning and sharpness of wit as any man. It was his misfortune, living in a tumul |