njust。 Many men have there been ignorant of letters； without wit； without eloquence； who yet had the wisdom to devise； and the courage to perform； that which they lacked language to explain。 Such men often； in troubled times； have worked out the deliverance of nations and their own greatness； not by logic； not by rhetoric； but by wariness in success； by calmness in danger； by fierce and stubborn resolution in all adversity。 The hearts of men are their books； events are their tutors； great actions are their eloquence： and such an one； in my judgment； was his late Highness； who； if none were to treat his name scornfully now shook not at the sound of it while he lived； would； by very few； be mentioned otherwise than with reverence。 His own deeds shall avouch him for a great statesman； a great soldier； a true lover of his country； a merciful and generous conqueror。
〃For his faults； let us reflect that they who seem to lead are oftentimes most constrained to follow。 They who will mix with men； and especially they who will govern them； must in many things obey them。 They who will yield to no such conditions may be hermits； but cannot be generals and statesmen。 If a man will walk straight forward without turning to the right or the left； he must walk in a desert； and not in Cheapside。 Thus was he enforced to do many things which jumped not with his inclination nor made for his honour； because the army； on which alone he could depend for power and life； might not otherwise be contented。 And I； for mine own part； marvel less that he sometimes was fain to indulge their violence than that he could so often restrain it。
〃In that he dissolved the Parliament； I praise him。 It then was so diminished in numbers； as well by the death as by the exclusion of members； that it was no longer the same assembly； and； if at that time it had made itself perpetual； we should have been governed； not by an English House of Commons； but by a Venetian Council。
〃If in his following rule he overstepped the laws； I pity rather than condemn him。 He may be compared to that Maeandrius of Samos； of whom Herodotus saith； in his Thalia； that； wishing to be of all men the most just； he was not able； for after the death of Polycrates he offered freedom to the people； and not till certain of them threatened to call him to a reckoning for what he had formerly done； did he change his purpose； and make himself a tyrant； lest he should be treated as a criminal。
〃Such was the case of Oliver。 He gave to his country a form of government so free and admirable that； in near six thousand years； human wisdom hath never devised any more excellent contrivance for human happiness。 To himself he reserved so little power that it would scarcely have sufficed for his safety； and it is a marvel that it could suffice for his ambition。 When； after that； he found that the members of his Parliament disputed his right even to that small authority which he had kept； when he might have kept all； then indeed I own that he began to govern by the sword those who would not suffer him to govern by the law。
〃But； for the rest； what sovereign was ever more princely in pardoning injuries； in conquering enemies； in extending the dominions and the renown of his people？ What sea； what shore did he not mark with imperishable memorials of his friendship or his vengeance？ The gold of Spain； the steel of Sweden； the ten thousand sails of Holland； availed nothing against him。 While every foreign state trembled at our arms； we sat secure from all assault。 War； which often so strangely troubles both husbandry and commerce； never silenced the song of our reapers； or the sound of our looms。 Justice was equally administered； God was freely worshipped。
〃Now look at that which we have taken in exchange。 With the restored king have come over to us vices of every sort； and most the basest and most shameful；lust without loveservitude without loyaltyfoulness of speechdishonesty of dealing grinning contempt of all things good and generous。 The throne is surrounded by men whom the former Charles would have spurned from his footstool。 The altar is served by slaves whose knees are supple to every being but God。 Rhymers； whose books the hangman should burn； pandars； actors； and buffoons； these drink a health and throw a main with the King； these have stars on their breasts and gold sticks in their hands； these shut out from his presence the best and bravest of those who bled for his house。 Even so doth God visit those who know not how to value freedom。 He gives them over to the tyranny which they have desired； Ina pantes epaurontai basileos。〃
〃I will not；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃dispute with you on this argument。 But； if it be as you say； how can you maintain that England hath been so greatly advantaged by the rebellion？〃
〃Understand me rightly； Sir；〃 said Mr Milton。 〃This nation is not given over to slavery and vice。 We tasted indeed the fruits of liberty before they had well ripened。 Their flavour was harsh and bitter； and we turned from them with loathing to the sweeter poisons of servitude。 This is but for a time。 England is sleeping on the lap of Dalilah； traitorously chained； but not yet shorn of strength。 Let the cry be once heardthe Philistines be upon thee； and at once that sleep will be broken； and those chains will be as flax in the fire。 The great Parliament hath left behind it in our hearts and minds a hatred of tyrants； a just knowledge of our rights； a scorn of vain and deluding names； and that the revellers of Whitehall shall surely find。 The sun is darkened； but it is only for a moment： it is but an eclipse； though all birds of evil omen have begun to scream； and all ravenous beasts have gone forth to prey； thinking it to be midnight。 Woe to them if they be abroad when the rays again shine forth！
〃The king hath judged ill。 Had he been wise he would have remembered that he owed his restoration only to confusions which had wearied us out； and made us eager for repose。 He would have known that the folly and perfidy of a prince would restore to the good old cause many hearts which had been alienated thence by the turbulence of factions； for； if I know aught of history； or of the heart of man； he will soon learn that the last champion of the people was not destroyed when he murdered Vane； nor seduced when he beguiled Fairfax。〃
Mr Cowley seemed to me not to take much amiss what Mr Milton had said touching that thankless court； which had indeed but poorly requited his own good service。 He only said； therefore； 〃Another rebellion！ Alas！ alas！ Mr Milton！ If there be no choice but between despotism and anarchy； I prefer despotism。〃
〃Many men；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃have floridly and ingeniously compared anarchy and despotism； but they who so amuse themselves do but look at separate parts of that which is truly one great whole。 Each is the cause and the effect of the other； the evils of either are the evils of both。 Thus do states move on in the same eternal cycle； which； from the remotest point； brings them back again to the same sad starting…post： and； till both those who govern and those who obey shall learn and mark this great truth； men can expect little through the future； as they have known little through the past； save vicissitudes of extreme evils； alternately producing and produced。
〃When will rulers learn that； where liberty is not； security end order can never be？ We talk of absolute power； but all power hath limits； which； if not fixed by the moderation of the governors； will be fixed by the force of the governed。 Sovereigns may send their opposers to dungeons； they may clear out a senate…house with soldiers； they may enlist armies of spies； they may hang scores of the disaffected in chains at every cross road； but what power shall stand in that frightful time when rebellion hath become a less evil than endurance？ Who shall dissolve that terrible tribunal； which； in the hearts of the oppressed； denounces against the oppressor the doom of its wild justice？ Who shall repeal the law of selfdefence？ What arms or discipline shall resist the strength of famine and despair？ How often were the ancient Caesars dragged from their golden palaces； stripped of their purple robes； mangled； stoned； defiled with filth； pierced with hooks； hurled into Tiber？ How often have the Eastern Sultans perished by the sabres of their own janissaries； or the bow…strings of their own mutes！ For no power which is not limited by laws can ever be protected by them。 Small； therefore； is the wisdom of those who would fly to servitude as if it were a refuge from commotion； for anarchy is the sure consequence of tyranny。 That governments may be safe； nations must be free。 Their passions must have an outlet provided； lest they make one。
〃When I was at Naples； I went with Signor Manso； a gentleman of excellent parts and breeding； who had been the familiar friend of that famous poet Torquato Tasso； to see the burning mountain Vesuvius。 I wondered how the peasants could venture to dwell so fearlessly and cheerfully on its sides； when the lava was flowing from its summit； but Manso smiled； and told me that when the fire descends freely they retreat before it without haste or fear。 They can tell how fast it will move； and how far； and they know； moreover； that； though it may work some little damage； it will soon cover the fields over which it hath passed with rich vineyards and sweet flowers。 But； when the flames are pent up in the mountain； then it is that they have reason to fear； then it is that the earth sinks and the sea swells； then cities are swallowed up； and their place knoweth them no more。 So it is in politics： where the people is most closely restrained； there it gives the greatest shocks to peace and order； therefore would I say to all kings； let your demagogues lead crowds； lest they lead armies； let them bluster； lest they massacre； a little turbulence is； as it were； the rainbow of the state； it shows indeed that there is a passing shower； but it is a pledge that there shall be no deluge。〃
〃This is true；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃yet these admonitions are not less needful to subjects than to sovereigns。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃and； that I may end this long debate