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CHAPTER XII.

GREAT as Milton's English reputation now was, it had not yet become cosmopolitan. Known he was, indeed, to many erudite foreigners, and especially to the admiring academicians of Florence, of Rome, and of Venice. His genius and piety had also won the appreciative plaudits of the able professors of the reformed theology at Geneva. Yet when, in the brilliant belles-lettres circles of the Continent, critics counted the famous scholars of the age, and lauded the great rhetoricians, they did not couple Milton's name with those of Grotius and the literati.

An event however now occurred which speedily gave him a splendid European reputation, and not only in the opinion of his contemporaries, but in the estimation of calm posterity, linked his name with those of the grandest and most immortal writers.

Charles Stuart, the exiled son of the recently executed monarch, spurred thereto by

filial piety and a natural desire to keep his name and regal claims before Europe, determined to invoke, in the defence of his house and fainting cause, the pen of some great continental writer; hoping thus, though beaten in many a stricken field, to retrieve his shattered fortunes in the arena of letters. The voice of fame speedily led the exile to select Claudius Salmasius, then residing at Leyden in the capacity of honorary professor in the university.

Salmasius was descended from a noble family, whose seat was near the town of Semar, in the ancient province of Burgundy. Receiving from his mother a strong bias towards Protestantism in early youth, he became, a little later, the stanch defender of the reformed tenets, and the vehement assailant of the popish citadel. Since the death of the illustrious younger Scaliger, no scholar had acquired the reputation of Salmasius. The author of many rare and imperishable works, Grotius alone was at that time ranked as his equal. Selden speaks of Grotius as "the greatest, the chief of men," and of Salmasius as "most admirable," whom he desired much more to re

semble than the most eminent person for riches and honor in the world; and Cardinal Richelieu declared that Bignon, Grotius, and Salmasius were the only persons of that age whom he looked upon as having arrived at the summit of learning.* Salmasius was a man of

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skill in languages, knowledge of antiquity, and sagacity of criticism, almost exceeding all hope of human attainment; and having by excessive praises been confirmed in great confidence in himself, though he probably had not much considered the principles of society and the rights of government, undertook the employment without the distrust of his own qualifications; and as his expedition in writing was wonderful, in 1649-50 published the 'Defensio Regia.' It is certainly wonderful that Salmasius, the pensioner of a republic, should write a vindication of monarchy."+ Perhaps however Charles' retaining fee of a hundred jacobuses may afford a satisfactory solution of the enigma, especially if the haughty pride of the self-confident scholar at being selected by a prince for such a service be considered.

* Mitford's Life, pp. 51, 52. † Johnson's Life of Milton

The appearance of the Defensio Regia" created a decided sensation, though it is said to have somewhat disappointed the expectations of the learned.* Still it was a formidable volume, both on account of its author's reputation and its own intrinsic merit. It abounded in subtle and specious arguments, clothed in pure and perspicuous language.

Upon its publication in England, the Council of State immediately met and unanimously appointed Milton to answer Salmasius and defend the Commonwealth. "His compliance with the honorable requisition was instant; and, inattentive to the suggestions of his friends, who were fearful of his reputation, committed against so renowned an adversary; undeterred by the remonstrance of his physicians, who predicted that the loss of his sight would be the infallible result of his labor; and unrestrained by the dissuasion of his bad health, which allowed him to compose only at intervals and with hourly interruptions, he persevered in the duty which he had undertaken; and with principle strong within his heart, and the attraction of glory

* Symmons' Life, p. 301.

bright before his view, he produced, early in the year 1651, that noble acquittal of his engagement to the Council, The Defence of the People of England.'"*

Both the "Defensio Regia," and the "Defence of the People," were written in Latin. It was the purpose of Salmasius to support the despotic dogma of the divine right of kings; to prove that in the monarch resides naturally and of right the sovereign power, and that the king is responsible for his acts to God alone. Milton, taking the extreme republican ground, asserted with masterly and unanswerable logic the unlimited sovereignty of the people. In comprehensive erudition, in profound political wisdom, in sublime poetic eloquence, in noble Christian sentiment, in terse logical power, in biting satire, in mirth-provoking wit, in all those attributes which make a composition approximate perfection, Milton's magnificent defence of the Commonwealth stands to this day unrivalled.

Milton used every art known to his rhetoric to interest and attract all classes, knowing well the importance in a contest like that, as Boyle * Symmons' Life, pp. 310, 311.

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