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TH

HE Duke of York, it is faid, one day told the King his brother, that he had heard fo much of old Milton, he had a great defire to fee him. Charles told the Duke, that he had no objection to his fatisfying his curiofity; and accordingly fhortly after, James, having informed himself where Milton lived, went privately to his house. Being introduced to him, and Milton being informed of the rank of his gueft, they conversed together for fome time; but, in the course of their converfation, the Duke asked Milton, "Whether he did not think the loss of his

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"fight was a judgement upon him for what he had "written against the late King his father?" Milton's reply was to this effect: If your Highness thinks • that the calamities which befall us here, are indications of the wrath of Heaven, in what manner are 'we to account for the fate of the King your father? The displeasure of Heaven muft, upon this fuppofi'tion, have been much greater against him than

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against me; for I have only lost my eyes, but he loft • his head.' The Duke was exceedingly nettled at this answer, and went away foon after very angry. When he came back to the court, the first thing he faid to the King, was, "Brother, you are greatly to "blame that you don't have that old rogue Milton hanged." Why, what's the matter, James?' faid the King, you seem in a heat! what, have you feen • Milton?"-"Yes," anfwered the Duke, "I have "feen him." Well,' faid the King, In what him.”—“Well,' "condition did you find him?”—“ Condition!” replied the Duke, "why he's old, and very poor."- Old and poor!' faid the King; well, and he is blind, is he not?'"Yes," faid the Duke, " blind as a "beetle." Why then you are a fool, James,' replied the King, to want to have him hanged as a punishment: to hang him will be doing him a fer

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vice; it will be taking him out of his miferies. No, if he is old, poor, and blind, he is miferable enough ⚫ in all confcience: let him live.'

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INTERESTING

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INTERESTING ANECDOTE

OF

PETER THE THIRD OF CASTILE.

A Canon of the cathedral of Seville, affected in

his dress, particularly in his shoes, could not find a workman to his liking. An unfortunate fhoemaker to whom he applied, after quitting many others, having brought him a pair of fhoes not made to please his tafte, the Canon became furious, and feizing one of the tools of the shoemaker, gave him with it fo many blows on the head, as laid him dead on the floor. The unhappy man left a widow, four daughters, and a fon fourteen years of age, the eldest of the indigent family. They made their complaints to the chapter; the canon was profecuted, and condemned not to appear in the choir for a year.

The young fhoemaker having attained to man's eftate, was fcarcely able to get a livelihood; and, overwhelmed with wretchedness, fat down on the day of a proceffion, at the door of the cathedral of Seville, in the moment the proceffion paffed by. Among the other canons he perceived the murderer of his father. At the fight of this man, filial affection, rage, and despair, got fo far the better of his reason, that he fell furioufly on the priest, and stabbed him to the heart. The young man was seized, convicted of the crime, and immediately condemned to

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