Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To Heaven.

Their martyred blood and ashes sow O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway The triple tyrant; that from these may grow A hundredfold, who, having learned Thy way, Early may fly the Babylonian woe." This is what Johnson calls "carving heads upon cherry-stones!" Milton's calamity had, of course, required special assistance.

He had first had Weckherlin as coadjutor, then Philip Meadows, finally Andrew Marvell.

His emoluments had been reduced, in April, 1655, from L288 to L150 a year, but the diminished allowance was made perpetual instead of annual, and seems to have been intended as a retiring pension.

He nevertheless continued to work, drawing salary at the rate of L200 a year, and his pen was never more active than during the last months of Oliver's Protectorate.