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was equal to his king, could hardly want an audience.

That the performance of Salmafius: was not difperfed with equal rapidity,, or read with equal eagernefs, is very, credible. He taught only the ftale doc trine of authority, and the unpleafing. duty of fubmiffion; and he had been, fo long not only the monarch but the tyrant of literature, that almost all mankind were delighted to find him defied and infulted by a new name, not yet con→ fidered as any one's rival. If Chriftina, as is faid, commended the Defence of the People, her purpose must be to topment Salmafius, who was then at her Court; for neither her civil ftation nor her natual character could difpofe her to

favour the doctrine, who was by birth

a queen, and by temper defpotick.

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That Salmafius was, from the appearance of Milton's book, treated with neglect, there is not much proof; but to a man fo long accustomed to admiration, a little praife of his antagonist would be fufficiently offenfive, and might incline him to leave Sweden.

He prepared a reply, which, left as it was imperfect, was published by his fon in the year of the Reftauration. In the beginning, being probably most in pain for his Latinity, he endeavours to defend his use of the word perfona; but, if I remember right, he miffes a better authority than any that he has found, that of Juvenal in his fourth fatire:

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-Quid agas cum dira & fodior omni

Crimine Perfona eft?

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As Salmafius reproached Milton with lofing his eyes in the quarrel, Milton delighted himself with the belief that he had fhortened Salmafius's life, and both perhaps with more malignity than reafon. Salmafius died at the Spa, Sept. 3, 1653; and as controvertifts are commonly faid to be killed by their laft difpute, Milton was flattered with the credit of deftroying him.

Cromwel had now difiniffed the parliament by the authority of which he had deftroyed monarchy, and commenced monarch himself, under the title of protector, but with kingly and more than kingly power. That his authority was

law

lawful, never was pretended; he himself founded his right only in neceffity; but Milton, having now tafted the honey of publick employment, would not return to hunger and philosophy, but, continuing to exercife his office under a manifeft ufurpation, betrayed to his power that liberty which he had defended. Nothing can be more just than that rebellion fhould end in flavery; that he, who had juftified the murder of his king, for fome acts which to him feemed unlawful, fhould now fell his fervices, and. his flatteries, to a tyrant, of whom it was evident that he could do nothing lawful.

He had now been blind for fome years; but his vigour of intellect was fuch,

fuch, that he was not difabled to dif charge his office, or continue his controverfies. His mind was too eager to be diverted, and too ftrong to be fubdued.

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About this time his firft wife died in childbed, having left him three daughters. As he probably did not much' love her, he did not long continue the appearance of lamenting her; but after a fhort time married Catherine, the daughter of one captain Woodcock of Hackney; a woman doubtlefs educated' in opinions like his own. She died within a year, of childbirth, or fome diftemper that followed it; and her hufband has honoured her memory with a poor fonnet.

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