Mary Powell Deborahs Diary | Page 6

olde Bookes. Mr. Milton concluded
with the Exclamation, "Indeede, there never was such a Woman;" on
which, deare Roger, whome I beginne to love, quoth, "Oh yes, there are
manie such,--we have two at Table now." Whereat, Mr. Milton smiled.
At Leave-taking pressed Mr. Agnew and Rose to come and see us soone;
and Dick askt Mr. Milton to see the Bowling Greene.

Ride Home, delightfulle.

May 14th, 1643.
Thought, when I woke this Morning, I had been dreaminge of St. Paul
let down the Wall in a Basket; but founde, on more closely examining
the Matter, 'twas Grotius carried down the Ladder in a Chest; and
methought I was his Wife, leaninge from the Window above, and
crying to the Souldiers, "Have a Care, have a Care!" 'Tis certayn I
shoulde have betraied him by an Over-anxietie.
Resolved to give Father a Sheepscote Dinner, but Margery affirmed the
Haunch woulde no longer keepe, so was forced to have it drest, though
meaninge to have kept it for Companie. Little Kate, who had been out
alle the Morning, came in with her Lap full of Butter-burs, the which I
was glad to see, as Mother esteemes them a sovereign Remedie 'gainst
the Plague, which is like to be rife in Oxford this Summer, the Citie
being so overcrowded on account of his Majestie. While laying them
out on the Stille-room Floor, in bursts Robin to say Mr. Agnew and Mr.
Milton were with Father at the Bowling Greene, and woulde dine here.
Soe was glad Margery had put down the Haunch. Twas past One o' the
Clock, however, before it coulde be sett on Table; and I had just run up
to pin on my Carnation Knots, when I hearde them alle come in
discoursing merrilie.
At Dinner Mr. Milton askt Robin of his Studdies; and I was in Payne
for the deare Boy, knowing him to be better affected to his out-doore
Recreations than to his Booke; but he answered boldlie he was in Ovid,
and I lookt in Mr. Milton's Face to guesse was that goode Scholarship
or no; but he turned it towards my Father, and sayd he was trying an
Experiment on two young Nephews of his owne, whether the reading
those Authors that treate of physical Subjects mighte not advantage
them more than the Poets; whereat my Father jested with him, he being
himselfe one of the Fraternitie he seemed to despise. But he uphelde his
Argumente so bravelie, that Father listened in earneste Silence.
Meantime, the Cloth being drawne, and I in Feare of remaining over

long, was avised to withdrawe myself earlie, Robin following, and
begging me to goe downe to the Fish-ponds. Afterwards alle the others
joyned us, and we sate on the Steps till the Sun went down, when, the
Horses being broughte round, our Guests tooke Leave without
returning to the House. Father walked thoughtfullie Home with me,
leaning on my Shoulder, and spake little.

May 15th, 1643.
After writing the above last Night, in my Chamber, went to Bed and
had a most heavenlie Dreame. Methoughte it was brighte, brighte
Moonlighte, and I was walking with Mr. Milton on a Terrace,--not our
Terrace, but in some outlandish Place; and it had Flights and Flights of
green Marble Steps, descending, I cannot tell how farre, with Stone
Figures and Vases on every one. We went downe and downe these
Steps, till we came to a faire Piece of Water, still in the Moonlighte;
and then, methoughte, he woulde be taking Leave, and sayd much
aboute Absence and Sorrowe, as tho' we had knowne eache other some
Space; and alle that he sayd was delightfulle to heare. Of a suddain we
hearde Cries, as of Distresse, in a Wood that came quite down to the
Water's Edge, and Mr. Milton sayd, "Hearken!" and then, "There is
some one being slaine in the Woode, I must goe to rescue him;" and
soe, drewe his Sword and ran off. Meanwhile, the Cries continued, but
I did not seeme to mind them much; and, looking stedfastlie downe into
the cleare Water, coulde see to an immeasurable Depth, and beheld, oh,
rare! Girls sitting on glistening Rocks, far downe beneathe, combing
and braiding their brighte Hair, and talking and laughing, onlie I coulde
not heare aboute what. And theire Kirtles were like spun Glass, and
theire Bracelets Coral and Pearl; and I thought it the fairest Sight that
Eyes coulde see. But, alle at once, the Cries in the Wood affrighted
them, for they started, looked upwards and alle aboute, and began
swimming thro' the cleare Water so fast, that it became troubled and
thick, and I coulde see them noe more. Then I was aware that the
Voices in the Wood were of Dick