"
The Lady is free and, greatly rejoicing, the Guardian Spirit
leads her, with her brothers, safe to their father's home.
All these poems of which I have told you, Milton wrote during the
quiet years spent at Horton. But at length these days came to an
end. He began to feel his life in the country cramped and
narrow. He longed to go out into the great wide world and see
something of all the beauties and wonder of it. Italy, which had
called so many of our poets, called him. Once more his kindly
father let him do as he would. He gave him money, provided him
with a servant, and sent him forth on his travels. For more than
a year Milton wandered, chiefly among the sunny cities of Italy.
He meant to stray still further to Sicily and Greece, but news
from home called him back, "The sad news of Civil War." "I
thought it base," he said, "that while my fellow-countrymen were
fighting at home for liberty, I should be traveling abroad at
ease."
When Milton returned home he did not go back to Horton, but set
up house in London.
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