May 23rd. (T leaste, so sayeth the Calendar; but with me it hath beene trulie an April Daye, alle Smiles and Teares. And now my Spiritts are soe perturbed and dismaid, as that I know not whether to weepe or no, for methinks crying would relieve me. At first waking this Morning my Mind was elated at the Falsitie of my Mother's Notion, that no Man of Sense woulde think me worth the having; and soe I got up too proude, I think, and came down too vain, for I had spent an unusuall Time at the Glasse. My Spiritts, alsoe, were soe unequall, that the Boys took Notice of it, and it seemed as though I coulde breathe nowhere but out of Doors; so the Children and I had a rare Game of Play in the Home-close; but ever and anon I kept looking towards the Road and listening for Horses' Feet, till Robin sayd, "One would think the King was coming: " 66 coming" but at last came Mr. Milton, quite another Way, walking through the Fields with huge Strides. Kate saw him firste, and tolde me; and then sayd, "What makes you look soe pale?" We sate a good Space under the Hawthorn Hedge on the Brow of the Hill, listening to the Mower's Scythe, and the Song of Birds, which seemed enough for him, without talking; and as he spake not, I helde my Peace, till, with the Sun in my Eyes, I was like to drop asleep; which, as his own Face was from me, and towards the Landskip, he noted not. I was just aiming, for Mirthe's Sake, to steale away, when he suddainlie turned about and fell to speaking of rurall Life, Happinesse, Heaven, and such like, in a Kind of Rapture; then, with his Elbow half raising him from the Grass, lay looking at me; then commenced humming or singing I know not what Strayn, but 'twas of "begli Occhi" and "Chioma aurata; and he kept smiling the while he sang. After After a time we went In-doors; and then came my firste Pang: for Father founde out how I had pledged myselfe overnighte; and for a Moment looked soe grave, that my Heart misgave me for having beene soe hastie. However, it soone passed off; deare Father's Countenance cleared, and he even seemed merrie at Table; and soon after Dinner alle the Party dispersed save Mr. Milton, who loitered with me on the Terrace. After a short Silence he exclaimed, "How good "is our God to us in alle his Gifts! For "Instance, in this Gift of Love, whereby "had he withdrawn from visible Nature a "thousand of its glorious Features and gay Colourings, we shoulde stille possess, "from within, the Means of throwing over "her clouded Face an entirelie different "Hue! while as it is, what was pleasing "before now pleaseth more than ever! "Is it not soe, sweet Moll? May I express thy Feelings as well as mine own, un"blamed? or am I too adventurous? You are silent; well, then, let me believe 66 "that "that we think alike, and that the Emo"tions of the few laste Hours have given. "such an Impulse to alle that is high, and 66 66 sweete, and deepe, and pure, and holy in our innermoste Hearts, as that we seeme "now onlie firste to taste the Life of Life, "and to perceive how much nearer Earth "is to Heaven than we thought! Is it "soe? Is it not soe?" and I was constrayned to say "Yes," at I scarcelie knew what; grudginglie too, for I feared having once alreadie sayd "Yes too soone. But he saw nought amisse, for he was expecting nought amisse; soe went on, most like Truth and Love that Lookes could speake or Wordes sounde: "Oh, I know it, I "feel it :—henceforthe there is a Life re“served for us in which Angels may sym 66 pathize. For this most excellent Gift "of Love shall enable us to read together "the whole Booke of Sanctity and Virtue, "and emulate eache other in carrying "it into Practice; and as the wise Magians kept theire Eyes steadfastlie fixed on the Star, and followed it righte on, through 66 66 "rough |