l took place accordingly, but, like that of Ophelia, "with
maimed rites." The curate of Saint Eustace had directions not to give
his attendance, and the corpse was transported from his place of
residence and taken to the burial-ground without being, as usual,
presented at the parish church. This was not all. A large assemblage
of the lower classes seemed to threaten an interruption of the funeral
ceremony. But their fanaticism was not proof against a thousand francs
which the widow of Moliere dispersed among them from the windows, thus
purchasing for the remains of her husband an uninterrupted passage to
their last abode.

JOHN MILTON

(1608-1674)

John Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608. His father, in
early life, had suffered for conscience sake, having been disinherited
upon his abjuring the Catholic faith. He pursued the laborious
profession of a scrivener, and having realized an ample fortune,
retired into the country to enjoy it. Educated at Oxford, he gave his
son the best education that the age afforded. At first young Milton
had the benefit of a private tutor; from him he was removed to St.
Paul's school; next he proceeded to Christ's College, Cambridge; and
finally, after several years preparation by extensive reading, he
pursued a course of continental travel. It is to be observed that his
tutor, Thomas Young, was a Puritan, and there is reason to believe
that Puritan politics prevailed among the fellows of his college.

This must not be forgotten in speculating on Milton's public life, and
his inexorable hostility to the established government in church and
state; for it will thus appear probable that he was at no time
withdrawn from the influence of Puritan connections.

[Illustration: John Milton.]

In 1632, having taken the degree of M.A., Milton finally quitted the
University, leaving behind him a very brilliant reputation, and a
general good-will in his own college. His father had now retired from
London, and lived upon his own estate at Horton, in Buckinghamshire.
In this rural solitude Milton passed the next five years, resorting to
London only at rare intervals, for the purchase of books or music. His
time was chiefly occupied with the study of Greek and Roman, and, no
doubt, also of Italian literature. But that he was not negligent of
composition, and that he applied himself with great zeal to the
culture of his native literature, we have a splendid record in his
"Comus,"