rough a pipe eight inches long。 An act of parliament was passed enabling the marquis to reap the benefit and profit from this invention； subject to a tenth part which was reserved for the king and his heirs。
The Royal Society soon became one of the foremost objects of interest in the city。 Foreigners of distinction were conducted to its rooms that they might behold the visible signs of knowledge it could proudly boast； and women of culture were admitted to hear the lectures its members delivered。
Amongst these latter may be mentioned the eccentric Duchess of Newcastle； a lady who dressed her footmen in velvet coats； habited herself in antique gowns； wrote volumes of plays and poetry； desired the reputation of learning； and indulged in circumstances of pomp and state。 Having expressed her desire to be present at one of the meetings of the Royal Society； the council prepared to receive her； not； it must be admitted； without some fear her extravagance would expose them to the ridicule of the town； and place them fit the mercy of ballad… mongers。 So it happened one fair May…day； in the year 1667 a vast concourse of people had assembled to witness her arrival at Arundel House in the Strand； where the society held its meetings for some years after the burning of Gresham College。 And she in good time reaching there； surrounded by her maids of honour； gentlemen in waiting； and lackeys； was met by the president； Viscount Brouncker； having his mace carried before him； and was conducted to the great room。 When the meeting was over； various experiments were tried for her satisfaction； amongst others a piece of roasted mutton was turned into pure blood。 The while she witnessed these sights； crowds of gallants gathered round her that they might catch and retain such fine things as fell from her lips； but she only cried out her wonder and admiration at all she saw； and at the end of her visit was conducted in state to her coach by several noble lords； notable amongst whom was a vastly pretty young man； Francis Seymour； 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 Milt