return, addressed him in a Latin poem, which must have raised a high
opinion of English elegance and literature.

His purpose was now to have visited Sicily and Greece; but hearing
of the differences between the king and parliament, he thought it
proper to hasten home, rather than pass his life in foreign
amusements while his countrymen were contending for their rights.
He therefore came back to Rome, though the merchants informed him of
plots laid against him by the Jesuits, for the liberty of his
conversations on religion. He had sense enough to judge that there
was no danger, and therefore kept on his way, and acted as before,
neither obtruding nor shunning controversy. He had perhaps given
some offence by visiting Galileo, then a prisoner in the Inquisition
for philosophical heresy; and at Naples he was told by Manse, that,
by his declarations on religious questions, he had excluded himself
from some distinctions which he should otherwise have paid him. But
such conduct, though it did not please, was yet sufficiently safe;
and Milton stayed two months more at Rome, and went on to Florence
without molestation.

From Florence he visited Lucca. He afterwards went to Venice; and,
having sent away a collection of music and other books, travelled to
Geneva, which he probably considered as the metropolis of orthodoxy.

Here he reposed as in a congenial element, and became acquainted
with John Diodati and Frederick Spanheim, two learned professors of
divinity. From Geneva he passed through France; and came home,
after an absence of a year and three months.

At his return he heard of the death of his friend, Charles Diodati;