Nevv epistles of Mounsieur de Balzac. Translated out of French into English, by Sr. Richard Baker Knight. Being the second and third volumes

To Mounsieur Huggens, Coun∣sellor and Secretary to my Lord the Prince of Orange. LETTER. XVIII.

SIR, your Letter hath runne great hazards before it arrived here; It wandred about seaven moneths together, and that now at last it is come to my hands; I ascribe it to the remorse of a man unknowne, who being but halfe wicked, contented himselfe onely with opening it, but would not by any meanes that I should lose it. Happy were I if I could as

well recover other things I greeve for, and that I could say, hee were but strayed whom I loved with my heart; but I have lost him for ever, and you are never able to restore mee that I lent you; yet I lay it not to your charge, nor to the charge of your innocent Country. I am not of that mans humour, who spake a thousand villanies against poore Troy, and tax∣ed all her Histories and Fables, because (for∣sooth) his brother dyed there, and perhaps of a maladie that he had gotten somewhere else. My greefe is wiser then his, I should take my losse unkindly at your hands, if you were your selfe the richer for it, but now the losse is com∣mon to us both; we both lament a common friend, and your selfe have rather the greater share in this sad societie, in as much as herein you have advantage over me, for having per∣formed to him the last duties. Hee saw your teares fall amongst his blood, you filled your eyes and your spirit with all circumstances of his death, and I doubt not but it hindred you from being perfectly sensible of the victory at Mastrich, and to shew a joyfull countenance in the most joyfull day of all your Princes life. For my selfe, I am not as yet capable of con∣solation, yet have layd upon my wound all the plasters Philosophie could minister. Mee thinkes my griefe is to mee in place of my friend; I possesse it with a kind of sweetnesse, and am so tender of it, that I should thinke it a second losse, if I had it not to passe my time withall; yet I must intreate it a little forbea∣rance,

that I may have time to make you an account of your liberalitie, and that you may know what is become of the presents you sent me; I received them Sir after your Letter, and that by another kind of adventure. I have imparted them to the worthiest persons of our Province, I am at this time adorning my Clo∣set with them, and make more reckoning of them then of all the riches your Havens can shew, or then all the pretious rarities the Sea brings to you from the farthest parts of the earth. There is as much difference betweene your friends stile, and that of other Panegy∣rists, as betweene the stoutnesse of a Souldier and the coynesse of a Courtesan. This manly eloquence full of mettall and courage, seemes rather to fight then to discourse; and rather to aide the King of Sweden then to praise him. The ordering of his Tragedie is according to the rules and intention of Aristotle; precise de∣cencie most religiously observed, The verses lofty and worthy of a Theater of Ivory. Eve∣ry part pleased me, but that of the Chorus'es even ravished me, and because I sigh alwayes after Italy, that Chorus of the Romane Soul∣diers put me in passion; I finde my selfe tou∣ched with it at the very quicke, and in all com∣pany where I come I cannot forbeare crying out, as if I were in rapture with divine fury: O laeta otia Formiae; Lucrini O tepids lacus, Bai∣arum O medii dies; O sola Elysiis aemula valli∣bus: Lassi temperies Maris: Campani via littoris, lia Baccho ac Cereri vetus, &c, I have onely

one lit•…•…le seruple to propose unto you; I know not well why Tysiphone is brought in with Mariamne, speaking of Styx, Cocytus and Ache∣ron; and I cannot conceive how it is possi•…•…le a naturall body should be formed of two as diffe∣ring peeces as are in my opinion, the Iewish religion and the Heathenish. My doubt growes from my ignorance, and not from presump∣tion: I aske, as desirous to learne, and not to picke a quarrell, specially with a man, who in such Criticismes is a King, and whom I ac∣knowledge for the true and lawfull successor of the great Scaliger; I have read his two Tracts upon the Satyre of Horace, which are in∣deede two Master-peeces; and I doe not thinke, I ever saw together so much an∣tiquitie renued, so much reason displaied, so much subtiltie fortified with so much force. Hee stands not dreaming upon a word of no difficultie, erecting as it were Trophees of like passages, after the fashion of our Note-makers now adayes, who heape up places upon places, and bring nothing in their writings, but the cruditie and indigestion of their reading. He handles Grammar like a Philosopher, and makes Bookes to be subject to Reason; and the authority which time hath given them to the Principles, which truth hath established; he hath discovered that Idea of art, which the best workemen never yet came neere, and hath added that last perfe∣ction, which shewes spots and impuritie in the most elaborate writings. I have a great de∣signe

Sir, to goe make my selfe an Artist under his discipline, and to be at once both your Courtier and his Schollar. I have thought upon this Voyage a yeare since; but I would faine your warres would make passage for mee the way I would goe, and that there were no∣thing Spanish betweene Paris and the Hage. The sanctitie of Oratours and Poets is not re∣verenced over all the world, they beare no awe amonst Barbarians; these publike enemies would not spare Apollo himself, nor the Muses, and my person would find as little respect at their hands as my Booke did, which in full councell they caused to be burnt by the hands of the Marquesse of Aytona, yet I think you may say, you never heard speake of a more illustri∣ous Executioner, nor of one that doth more honour to his trade; and that the Counts of Egmont and Horne were not handled in their punishment with such pompe and state. I dare not laugh Sir, at this extravagant crueltie. The Truce I had taken is expired, and I cannot pos∣sibly stretch the leave which my griefe gave me any further. I therefore leave you to re∣turne to her, and end with swearing, Per illos manes numina doloris nostri, that there is nothing in the world more deare unto mee than your friendship, and that I am with all my soule,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 2. of February 1633.