perhaps too diffuse on common topics: but the last is natural and
beautiful.

From Florence he went to Sienna, and from Sienna to Rome, where he
was again received with kindness by the learned and the great.
Holstenius, the keeper of the Vatican library, who had resided three
years at Oxford, introduced him to Cardinal Barberini: and he, at a
musical entertainment, waited for him at the door, and led him by
the hand into the assembly. Here Selvaggi praised him in a distich,
and Salsilli in a tetrastich: neither of them of much value. The
Italians were gainers by this literary commerce; for the encomiums
with which Milton repaid Salsilli, though not secure against a stern
grammarian, turn the balance indisputably in Milton's favour.

Of these Italian testimonies, poor as they are, he was proud enough
to publish them before his poems; though he says, he cannot be
suspected but to have known that they were said non tam de se, quam
supra se.

At Rome, as at Florence, he stayed only two months: a time indeed
sufficient, if he desired only to ramble with an explainer of its
antiquities, or to view palaces and count pictures; but certainly
too short for the contemplation of learning, policy, or manners.

From Rome he passed on to Naples, in company of a hermit, a
companion from whom little could be expected; yet to him Milton owed
his introduction to Manso, Marquis of Villa, who had been before the
patron of Tasso. Manso was enough delighted with his
accomplishments to honour him with a sorry distich, in which he
commends him for everything but his religion: and Milton, in