consent, and Sir Henry Wotton's directions; with the celebrated
precept of prudence, i pensieri stretti, ed il viso sciolto;
"thoughts close, and looks loose."

In 1638 he left England, and went first to Paris; where, by the
favour of Lord Scudamore, he had the opportunity of visiting
Grotius, then residing at the French court as ambassador from
Christina of Sweden. From Paris he hasted into Italy, of which he
had with particular diligence studied the language and literature;
and, though he seems to have intended a very quick perambulation of
the country, stayed two months at Florence; where he found his way
into the academies, and produced his compositions with such applause
as appears to have exalted him in his own opinion, and confirmed him
in the hope, that, "by labour and intense study, which," says he, "I
take to be my portion in this life, joined with a strong propensity
of nature," he might "leave something so written to after-times, as
they should not willingly let it die."

It appears, in all his writings, that he had the usual concomitant
of great abilities, a lofty and steady confidence in himself,
perhaps not without some contempt of others, for scarcely any man
ever wrote so much, and praised so few. Of his praise he was very
frugal; as he set its value high, and considered his mention of a
name as a security against the waste of time, and a certain
preservative from oblivion.

At Florence he could not indeed complain that his merit wanted
distinction. Carlo Dati presented him with an encomiastic
inscription, in the tumid lapidary style; and Francini wrote him an
ode, of which the first stanza is only empty noise; the rest are