gallinaceus. But his supreme pleasure is to tax his adversary, so
renowned for criticism, with vicious Latin. He opens his book with
telling that he has used Persona, which, according to Milton,
signifies only a MASK, in a sense not known to the Romans, by
applying it as we apply PERSON. But as Nemesis is always on the
watch, it is memorable that he has enforced the charge of a solecism
by an expression in itself grossly solecistical, when for one of
those supposed blunders, he says, as Ker, and I think some one
before him, has remarked, propino te grammatistis tuis vapulandum."
From vapulo, which has a passive sense, vapulandus can never be
derived. No man forgets his original trade: the rights of nations,
and of kings, sink into questions of grammar, if grammarians discuss
them.

Milton, when he undertook this answer, was weak of body and dim of
sight; but his will was forward, and what was wanting of health was
supplied by zeal. He was rewarded with a thousand pounds, and his
book was much read; for paradox, recommended by spirit and elegance,
easily gains attention; and he, who told every man that he was equal
to his king, could hardly want an audience.

That the performance of Salmasius was not dispersed with equal
rapidity, or read with equal eagerness, is very credible. He taught
only the stale doctrine of authority, and the unpleasing duty of
submission; and he had been so long not only the monarch, but the
tyrant of literature, that almost all mankind were delighted to find
him defied and insulted by a new name, not yet considered as any
one's rival. If Christina, as is said, commended the defence of the
people, her purpose must be to torment Salmasius, who was then at
court; for neither her civil station, nor her natural character,