"_Milton_ coloured, crumpled them up, and yet put them in his Pocket; then askt us what the Lady was like. And herein lay the Pleasantry of the Affair; for I truly told him she had a Pear-shaped Face, lustrous black Eyes, and a Skin that shewed '_il bruno il bel non toglie_;' whereas, _King_, in his Mischief, drew a fancy Portrait, much liker you, _Moll_, than the Incognita, which hit _Milton's_ Taste soe much better, that he was believed for his Payns; and then he declared that I had beene describing the Duenna! . . . Some Time after, when _Milton_ beganne to talk of visiting _Italy_, we bantered him, and sayd he was going to look for the Incognita. He stoode it well, and sayd, 'Laugh on! do you think I mind you? Not a Bit.' I think he did." Just at this Turn, Mr. _Agnew_ stumbled at something in the long Grass. It proved to be an old, rustic Horse-pistol. His Countenance changed at once from gay to grave. "I thought we had noe such Things hereabouts yet," cried he, viewing it askance.--"I suppose I mighte as well think I had found a Corner of the Land where there was noe originall Sin." And soe, flung it over the Hedge. ----First class Geniuses are alwaies modest, are they?--Then I should say that young _Italian_ Lady's Genius was not of the first Class. _Oct. 19, 1644_. Speaking, to-day, of Mr. _Waller_, whom I had once seen at Uncle _John's_, Mr. _Agnew_ sayd he had obtayned the Reputation of being one of our smoothest Versers, and thereupon brought forth one or two of his small Pieces in Manuscript, which he read to _Rose_ and me. They were addrest to the Lady _Dorothy Sydney_; and certainlie for specious Flatterie I doe not suppose they can be matcht; but there is noe Impress of reall Feeling in them. How diverse from my Husband's Versing! He never writ anie mere Love-verses, indeede, soe far as I know; but how much truer a Sence he hath of what is reallie beautifulle and becoming in a Woman than Mr. _Waller_! The Lady _Alice Egerton_ mighte have beene more justlie proud of the fine Things written _for_ her in _Comus_, than the Lady _Dorothea_ of anie of the fine Things written _of_ her by this courtier-like Poet. For, to say that Trees bend down in homage to a Woman when she walks under them, and that the healing Waters of _Tonbridge_ were placed there by Nature to compensate for the fatal Pride of _Sacharissa_, is soe fullesome and untrue as noe Woman, not devoured by Conceite, coulde endure; whereas, the Check that Villanie is sensible of in the Presence of Virtue, is most nobly, not extravagantlie, exprest by _Comus_. And though my Husband be almost too lavish, even in his short Pieces, of classic Allusion and Personation, yet, like antique Statues and Busts well placed in some statelie Pleasaunce, they are alwaies appropriate and gracefulle, which is more than can be sayd of Mr. _Waller's_ overstrayned Figures and Metaphors. _Oct. 20, 1644_.