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being heated； Mr Milton begged that I would open the windows。 〃Nay；〃
said I； 〃if you desire fresh air and coolness； what should hinder us； as the
evening is fair； from sailing for an hour on the river？〃 To this they both
cheerfully consented； and forth we walked； Mr Cowley and I leading Mr
Milton between us； to the Temple Stairs。 There we took a boat； and
thence we were rowed up the river。
The wind was pleasant； the evening fine； the sky； the earth； and the
water beautiful to look upon。 But Mr Cowley and I held our peace； and
said nothing of the gay sights around us； lest we should too feelingly
remind Mr Milton of his calamity； whereof； however； he needed no
monitor： for soon he said； sadly； 〃Ah； Mr Cowley； you are a happy man。
What would I now give but for one more look at the sun； and the waters；
and the gardens of this fair city！〃
〃I know not；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃whether we ought not rather to envy
you for that which makes you to envy others： and that specially in this
place； where all eyes which are not closed in blindness ought to become
fountains of tears。 What can we look upon which is not a memorial of
change and sorrow； of fair things vanished； and evil things done？ When I
see the gate of Whitehall； and the stately pillars of the Banqueting House；
I cannot choose but think of what I have there seen in former days；
masques； and pageants； and dances； and smiles； and the waving of
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graceful heads； and the bounding of delicate feet。 And then I turn to
thoughts of other things； which even to remember makes me to blush and
weep；of the great black scaffold； and the axe and block； which were
placed before those very windows； and the voice seems to sound in mine
ears； the lawless and terrible voice； which cried out that the head of a king
was the head of a traitor。 There stands Westminster Hall； which who can
look upon； and not tremble to think how time； and change； and death
confound the councils of the wise； and beat down the weapons of the
mighty？ How have I seen it surrounded with tens of thousands of
petitioners crying for justice and privilege！ How have I heard it shake
with fierce and proud words； which made the hearts of the people burn
within them！ Then it is blockaded by dragoons； and cleared by pikemen。
And they who have conquered their master go forth trembling at the word
of their servant。 And yet a little while； and the usurper comes forth from
it； in his robe of ermine； with the golden staff in one hand and the Bible in
the other； amidst the roaring of the guns and the shouting of the people。
And yet again a little while； and the doors are thronged with multitudes in
black； and the hearse and the plumes come forth； and the tyrant is borne；
in more than royal pomp； to a royal sepulchre。 A few days more； and his
head is fixed to rot on the pinnacles of that very hall where he sat on a
throne in his life； and lay in state after his death。 When I think on all
these things； to look round me makes me sad at heart。 True it is that God
hath restored to us our old laws； and the rightful line of our kings。 Yet；
how I know not； but it seems to me that something is wantingthat our
court hath not the old gravity； nor our people the old loyalty。 These evil
times； like the great deluge； have overwhelmed and confused all earthly
things。 And； even as those waters； though at last they abated； yet； as the
learned write； destroyed all trace of the garden of Eden； so that its place
hath never since been found； so hath this opening of all the flood…gates of
political evil effaced all marks of the ancient political paradise。〃
〃Sir； by your favour；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃though； from many
circumstances both of body and of fortune； I might plead fairer excuses for
despondency than yourself； I yet look not so sadly either on the past or on
the future。 That a deluge hath passed over this our nation； I deny not。
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But I hold it not to be such a deluge as that of which you speak； but rather
a blessed flood； like those of the Nile； which in its overflow doth indeed
wash away ancient landmarks； and confound boundaries； and sweep away
dwellings； yea； doth give birth to many foul and dangerous reptiles。 Yet
hence is the fulness of the granary； the beauty of the garden； the nurture of
all living things。
〃I remember well； Mr Cowley； what you have said concerning these
things in your Discourse of the Government of Oliver Cromwell； which
my friend Elwood read to me last year。 Truly； for elegance and rhetoric；
that essay is to be compared with the finest tractates of Isocrates and
Cicero。 But neither that nor any other book； nor any events； which with
most men have； more than any book； weight and authority； have altered
my opinion； that； of all assemblies that ever were in this world； the best
and the most useful was our Long Parliament。 I speak not this as wishing
to provoke debate； which neither yet do I decline。〃
Mr Cowley was； as I could see； a little nettled。 Yet； as he was a man
of a kind disposition and a most refined courtesy； he put a force upon
himself； and answered with more vehemence and quickness indeed than
was his wont； yet not uncivilly。 〃Surely； Mr Milton； you speak not as you
think。 I am indeed one of those who believe that God hath reserved to
himself the censure of kings； and that their crimes and oppressions are not
to be resisted by the hands of their subjects。 Yet can I easily find excuse
for the violence of such as are stung to madness by grievous tyranny。
But what shall we say for these men？ Which of their just demands was
not granted？ Which even of their cruel and unreasonable requisitions； so
as it were not inconsistent with all law and order； was refused？ Had they
not sent Strafford to the block and Laud to the Tower？ Had they not
destroyed the Courts of the High Commission and the Star Chamber？
Had they not reversed the proceedings confirmed by the voices of the
judges of England； in the matter of ship…money？ Had they not taken
from the king his ancient and most lawful power touching the order of
knighthood？ Had they not provided that； after their dissolution； triennial
parliaments should be holden； and that their own power should continue
till of their great condescension they should be pleased to resign it
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themselves？ What more could they ask？ Was it not enough that they
had taken from their king all his oppressive powers； and many that were
most salutary？ Was it not enough that they had filled his council…board
with his enemies； and his prisons with his adherents？ Was it not enough
that they had raised a furious multitude； to shout and swagger daily under
the very windows of his royal palace？ Was it not enough that they had
taken from him the most blessed prerogative of princely mercy； that；
complaining of intolerance themselves； they had denied all toleration to
others； that they had urged； against forms； scruples childish as those of any
formalist； that they had persecuted the least remnant of the popish rites
with the fiercest bitterness of the popish spirit？ Must they besides all this
have full power to command his armies； and to massacre his friends？
〃For military command； it was never known in any monarchy； nay； in
any well ordered republic； that it was committed to the debates of a large
and unsettled assembly。 For their other requi