“For the Sake of Liberty” 1652–1654by Heart,” commenting that it scales “the Height of the Roman Eloquence” with
its many figures, and that Milton’s conquest of Salmasius and More amounts to as
great a triumph as Trajan’s double triumph over Decebalus. He also inquires with
“affectionate Curiosity... what becomes of Colonell Overtons businesse.” Marvell,
also from Hull, evidently knew Overton during his long tenure as governor of Hull
Castle, and evidently also knew that Milton was concerning himself about the in-
vestigation of Overton. Marvell ends by expressing pleasure “that Mr. Skyner is got
near you, the Happiness which I at the same Time congratulate to him and envie”
(CPW IV.2, 864–5). The letter offers an indication of the warm regard Milton
offered to and received from friends of various ages and stations and politics. The
comment that Cyriack Skinner now lives near Milton probably indicates that he is
now a regular visitor and occasional amanuensis.
Milton also sent a copy of the Defensio Secunda to Henry Oldenburg, who had
been Bremen’s envoy to London since the summer of 1653, and followed it by a
letter (dated July 6) that begins with a review of their recent exchanges. They had
discussed the Clamor and Milton’s response “several times shortly after you came
here from Holland”; then Milton, who was kept by “unexpected business” from
answering a letter from Oldenburg at once, sent him the Defensio Secunda; and
Oldenburg replied with a letter mixing thanks and praise with criticism and ad-
vice.^130 That letter agrees, Milton notes, with his harsh judgment of the Clamor, but
expresses doubts about More’s authorship and about the fierceness of Milton’s po-
lemics; he also urged Milton to give over such quarrels for more worthy writing.
Responding to this “sincere judgement and praise free from flattery,” Milton de-
fends his work with candid forthrightness.^131 He reminds Oldenburg that in their
earlier discussions “you seemed to have no doubt that the author was Morus, since
that was certainly the opinion there and since no one else was named,” and asks
him to provide any “more certain knowledge” if he has it. As for his writing,
Milton expresses pride in his past defenses of liberty as well as some ambivalence as
to whether any work could be “nobler,” or whether he could accomplish it, given
his illness and blindness and his country’s needs:
To prepare myself for other labors, whether nobler or more useful I do not really
know (for what among human endeavors can be nobler or more useful than the
protection of liberty), I can be easily persuaded, if illness allow and this blindness,
which is more oppressive than the whole of old age, and finally the cries of such
brawlers. For an idle leisure [sic] has never pleased me, and this unexpected contest
with the enemies of liberty snatched me unwilling from studies far different and alto-
gether delightful. Not that I regret the contest by any means, since it was necessary,
for I am far from believing that I have spent my labor on vain things, as you seem to
suggest. (CPW IV.2, 866–7)He ends by seeking a closer relationship with Oldenburg, inviting him, despite this
disagreement, to “count me among your friends.” Milton can with considerable