esire 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 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。 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 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 requisition； that he should give up to their vengeance all who had defended the rights of his crown； his honour must have been ruined if he had complied。 Is it not therefore plain that they desired these things only in order that； by refusing； his Majesty might give them a pretence for war？
〃Men have often risen up against fraud； against cruelty； against rapine。 But when before was it known that concessions were met with importunities； graciousness with insults； the open palm of bounty with the clenched fist of malice？ Was it like trusty delegates of the Commons of England； and faithful stewards of their liberty and their wealth； to engage them for such causes in civil war； which both to liberty and to wealth is of all things the most hostile。 Evil indeed must be the disease which is not more tolerable than such a medicine。 Those who； even to save a nation from tyrants； excite it to civil war do in general but minister to it the same miserable kind of relief wherewith the wizards of Pharaoh mocked the Egyptian。 We read that； when Moses had turned their waters into blood； those impious magicians； intending； not benefit to the thirsting people； but vain and emulous ostentation of their own art； did themselves also change into blood the water which the plague had spared。 Such sad comfort do those who stir up war minister to the oppressed。 But here where was the oppression？ What was the favour which had not been granted？ What was the evil which had not been removed？ What further could they desire？〃
〃These questions；〃 said Mr Milton； austerely； 〃have indeed often deceived the ignorant； but that Mr Cowley should have been so beguiled； I marvel。 You ask what more the Parliament could desire？ I will answer you in one word； security。 What are votes； and statutes； and resolutions？ They have no eyes to see； no hands to strike and avenge。 They must have some safeguard from without。 Many things； therefore； which in themselves were peradventure hurtful； was this Parliament constrained to ask； lest otherwise good laws and