royalty restored-第80章
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our； fifth Duke of Somerset。
CHAPTER XXI。
A period rich in literature。John Milton's early life。Writing 〃Paradise Lost。〃Its publication and success。His later works and death。John Dryden gossips with wits and players。Lord Rochester's revenge。Elkanah Settle。John Crowne。Thomas Otway rich in miseries。Dryden assailed by villains。The ingenious Abraham Cowley。The author of 〃Hudibras。〃Young Will Wycherley and Lady CastlemaineThe story of his marriage。Andrew Marvell； poet and politician。John Bunyan。
The men of genius who lived in the days of the merry monarch have rendered his reign； like that of Elizabeth； illustrious in the annals of literature。 The fact of 〃Paradise Lost；〃 the 〃Pilgrim's Progress；〃 〃Hudibras；〃 and 〃Alexander's Feast〃 being given to the world whilst Charles II。 occupied the throne； would have sufficiently marked the epoch as one exceeding in intellectual brilliancy； but besides these works； an abundance of plays； poems； satires； treatises； and histories added fresh lustre to this remarkable age。
At the period of the restoration； John Milton had reached his fifty…second year。 He had studied in the University of Cambridge； published the 〃Masque of Comus；〃 likewise a treatise against the Established Church； taught school at Aldersgate Street； married a wife and advocated divorce； printed a pamphlet to compose the minds of those disturbed by the murder of Charles I。； as also a defence of his murderers； justifying the monarch's execution； for which the author was awarded a thousand pounds； had become secretary to Cromwell； whom he stooped to flatter； and had even； on the advent of his majesty's return； written and set forth 〃A Ready and Easy Way to establish a Free Commonwealth。〃 ＇〃To your virtue；〃 writes John Milton to Oliver Cromwell； 〃overpowering and resistless； every man gives way； except some who； without equal qualifications； aspire to equal honours； who envy the distinctions of merit greater than their own； and who have yet to learn that； in the coalition of human society； nothing is more pleasing to God； or more agreeable to reason； than that the highest mind should have the sovereign power。 Such； sir； are you； by general confession： such are the things achieved by you； the greatest and most glorious of our countrymen； the director of our public councils； the leader of unconquered armies the father of your country； for by that title does every good man hail you with sincere and voluntary praise。〃＇
On the landing of Charles II。 Milton withdrew to the privacy afforded by a residence in Bartholomew Close； near West Smithfield。 For a time he was apprehensive of punishment。 His pamphlet justifying the late king's execution was； with others of a like kind； burned by the common hangman； but though parliament ordered the attorney…general would prosecute the authors of these works； Milton was neither seized nor brought to trial。 Soon after his arrival； Charles published an act of grace promising free pardon to those instrumental in overthrowing his father's government； with the exception of such as had contrived his death； and inasmuch as Milton had but justified that monstrous act after it had taken place； he escaped condemnation。 Moreover； he received a special pardon； which passed the privy seal in December； 1660。 His escape has been attributed to his friend Davenant。 This loyal soldier had； when taken by Cromwell's troopers in the civil war； been condemned to speedy death； from which； by Milton's intercession； he escaped； an act of mercy Davenant now repaid in kind； by appealing to his friends in behalf of the republican's safety。
Having secured his freedom； Milton lived in peace and obscurity in Jewin Street； near Aldersgate Street。 During the commonwealth his first wife； the mother of his three children； had died； on which he sought solace and companionship in a union with Catherine Woodcock； who survived her marriage but twelve months； and being left free once more； he； in the year of grace 1661； entered into the bonds of holy matrimony for a third time； with Elizabeth Minshul； a lady of excellent family and shrewish temper； who rendered his daughters miserable in their father's lifetime； and defrauded them after his death。
In order to support his family he continued to keep a school； and likewise employed himself in writing 〃Paradise Lost〃 the composition of which he had begun five years previously。 From his youth upwards he had been ambitious to furnish the world with some important work； and prevision of resulting fame had given him strength and fortitude in periods of difficulty and depression。 And now the time had arrived for realization of his dream； though stricken by blindness； harassed by an unquiet wife； and threatened by poverty； he laboured sore for fame。 The more fully to enjoy quiet necessary to his mental condition； he removed to a house in Artillery Walk； Bunhill Fields。 His life was one of simplicity。 He rose as early as four o'clock in summer and five in winter； and being 〃smit with the love of sacred song；〃 had a chapter of the Bible read to him； studied until twelve； dined frugally at one； and afterwards held discourse with such friends as came to visit him。
One of these was Thomas Elwood； a quaker much esteemed amongst good men； who； in order that he might enjoy the advantages of the poet's conversation； read Latin to him every afternoon save Sunday。 The whilst his voice rose and fell in regular monotony； the blind man drank his words with thirsty ears； and so acute were the senses remaining to him； that when Elwood read what he did not understand； Milton perceived it by the inflection of his voice； and stopped him to explain the passage。 In fair weather the poet wandered abroad； enjoying the fragrance of sweet pasture land； and the warmth of glad sunlight he might not behold。 And anon； seated in a high…backed chair without his door； his straight pale face full of repose and dignity； his light brown hair falling in curls upon his shoulders； his large grey eyes； 〃clear to outward view of blemish or of spot；〃 fixed on vacancy； his figure clad in coarse clothhe received those who sought his society。
In their absence the poet spent solitary hours conning over as many lines of the great poem as his memory could store； until one of his friends arrived； and relieved him by taking the staazas down。 Frequently his nephew； Edward Philips； performed this task for him。 To him Milton was in the habit of showing his work as it advanced； and Philips states he found it frequently required correction in orthography and punctuation； by reason of the various hands which had written it。 As summer advanced； he was no longer favoured by a sight of the poem； inquiring the reason of which； Milton told him 〃his vein never happily flowed but from the autumnal equinox to the vernal； and that whatever he attempted at other times was never to his satisfaction； though he courted his fancy never so much。〃
In the year 1665 〃Paradise Lost〃 was completed； but no steps were taken towards its publication； as the author； in company with his neighbours； fled from the dreaded plague。 The following year the citizens were harassed by losses sustained from the great fire； so that Milton did not seek to dispose of his poem until 1667； when； on the 27th of April； it was sold to Samuel Simmons； a publisher residing in Aldersgate Street。 The agreement entered into stated Milton should receive an immediate payment of five pounds； with the stipulation that he should be given an equal sum on sale of thirteen hundred copies of the first edition； and five pounds on disposal of the same number of the second edition； and yet five pounds more after another such sale of the third edition。 Each edition was to number fifteen hundred books。 Two years after the publication of 〃Paradise Lost；〃 its author received the second payment of five pounds； five years later a third payment was made him； before the fourth fell due his life had been set free from care。
From the first his poem had come in contact with a few receptive minds； and borne the blessed fruit of appreciation。 Richardson recounts that Sir John Denham； a poet and man of culture； one morning brought a sheet of the great epic fresh from the
