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

To my Lord the Bishop of Nantes. LETTER. XXV.

SIR, It is told mee from all parts that you speake of me, as of one that is deare unto you, and of my ill fortune, as of a thing that concernes you. If this tendernesse proceeded from a soft effeminate spirit, yet it would not be without merit; and oblige me infinitely un∣to you; but now that it comes from a feeling of the purest spirit in the world, and the least capable of weakenesse; how much ought I to esteeme it, and of how great price to value it? It wants not much of making m•…•…e love that griefe which procures mee so glorious a con∣solation; and I vow unto you, that to be pit∣tied

of you, is a more pleasing thing than to be favoured of the Court. In that country men goe upon snares and ruines, the best places there are so slippery that few can stand upright; and if the miserable pretenders avoid a sudden fal∣ling, it is by enduring a tedious hanging, re∣ceiving perpetuall affronts, and returning per∣petuall submissions. I therefore like much bet∣ter to hide my selfe here with your good fa∣vour, and my owne good quiet, than to beare a shew there with their frights and soure lookes; and I blesse the winds, and count my Shipwracke happy which hath cast mee backe upon my old home. Some that were more sen∣sible than my selfe, would in this case com∣plaine of the world; but I content my selfe to forget it: I will neither have warre, nor com∣merce with the world: I have sounded a re∣treate to all my passions; as well those that be troublesome as those that be pleasing; and I protest unto you Sir, I should reade with more delight, a relation of one of your walkes at Cadillac, then the most delight∣some passage of all the German History; when I thinke upon you in company with—, me thinks I see Laelius come to visite Scipio, and confirming him in the resolution he hath taken to stand a loofe from the tumults and turbulen∣cies of worldly affaires, and by a quiet retreate to place his vertue, and his glory in a sure hold. I am extreamely glad of the honour hee will doe my father to passe this way, and bring you along with him; and you may well thinke

that after this I shall not reckon our Village in∣feriour to Tempe or to Tyvoly. If it were not for the fit of an Ague which is now leaving me, but very quickly to returne, I would goe as farre as Rochel to get before this good for∣tune, that I might bee at the first opening of those Largesses of the Church, which a mouth so holy and eloquent as yours must needs di∣stribute. But I am not happy enough to see you, and gaine a Iubilee both at once; It must be your pleasure to be so gracious as to accept of such a compliment as I am capable of; and to rest assured with my assuring you by this messenger that I am, and alwayes will be with all the forces of my soule,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 13. May, 1633.