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 Conrade. LETTER XX.

SIR, the account I make of you is farre from being a scorne. One should doe you wrong to take you for any other than your selfe; and it would be a hard matter to finde a man for whom you could be changed without losse. I see therefore your drift, you would not thinke the number of your Vertues compleate, if you added not humility, and you would make me see that there are Capuchine Hu∣guenots. Indeede a fine noveltie, but it belongs not to you, to be so modest; nor to take upon you Perfection who have not yet attained Conversion. To speake uprightly, your respects and your submissions are not sufferable, men used to speake otherwise in the golden age; and to say nothing more hardly of you, you are too unjust a valuer of your selfe. Doe what you can, you are never any more able to weaken the Testimony which Madam de Loges, and Moun∣sieur Chapelain have given of you, then you can deny me your friendship which I crave of you in their name. You see how contagious an ill example is; and how I imitate you in condem∣ning you. I can play the Reserved as well as you, and seeke for mediators and favour to ob∣taine that favour you have granted me already. These are the subtilties of my passion, to the

end I may taste a second joy; I will make you tell me twice one thing; I will have you once again lay forth your letter to our former view, thereby to husband the better for so long time, the pleasure I take to heare you assure me that you love me. Such assurances should perswade me but little in the mouth of many men; but for you, I know with what Religion you make your promises, & of what holinesse your word is. I know you approve of no lies, but those of the Muses, and that fictions in Poetry you can beare withall, but banish them from your conversation; I am glad therefore I have found one face among so many vyzards, and that I can lay hold of something, I can feele, and that hath truth in it. It is nothing but the free∣dome of my minde that gives mee the bold∣nesse to approach other vertues, with all which I am at defiance, if I finde not this free∣dome in their companie. By this Sir, you have wo•…•…e me, and I must vow unto you, that this syncerity whereof you make profession hath been a wonderfull allurement to a man, that is no longer taken with the bravery or galantnes of spirit. These flashes have so often abused me, that I am now growne to be afraid of any thing lookes r•…•…d de, least it should be fire and burne me. I suspect these Barkes that are so painted and guilded over, I have often made ship∣wracke in such: I desire those that are sound and safe, and enter them as Vessells to sayle in, and not as Galleries to walke in. When I speake of a friend, I meane not a companion in

trade or in disorder, nor one that can returne visites the next day aftet hee hath received them, and is not failing in the least duties of a civile life, but I meane, a witnesse of the con∣science: a Physitian of secret griefes, a mode∣ratour in prospe ritie; and a guide in adversitie. I have some few left me of this sort, but have had many losses, and very lately one, which but for you would be irreparable; you whom God hath sent to comfort me, and whom I substitute in the place of one of the honestest men that was in France. Our contract if you please shall be short and plaine. I will propose no matter of lustre to engage you in it; onely I assure you my heart, and a sinceritie answera∣ble to yours. It is now of proofe from the most dangerous Ayre of Christendome, I have brought it from Rome, I have preserved it at Paris; It is not therefore likely that to deceive you, I am come to lose it in a Village; and that I have any designe to falsifie my faith; seeing I assure you, I will ever be

Sir,

Your, &c.

From Balzac 5. of February 1633.