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

To———LETTER. XXVIII.

SIR, since you have taken pleasure in ob∣liging me, I will not have you have the greefe to loose your obligation, nor that my incompetent acknowledgment should make you have the lesse stomacke for doing good. I know your goodnesse is cleare and free from all forreigne respects, and hath no mo∣tive but it selfe; it is not at any mans prayers that the Sunne, riseth neither doth he shine the more for any mans thankes; your courtesies are of like condition: Your favours have not beene procured by my making suite; and as of my part nothing hath gone before the kind∣nesses I have received, so on your part I assure my selfe you expect not that any thing should follow them; yet something must bee done for examples sake, and not to give this colour for shewing little courtesie to such as com∣plaine

that men are ungratefull. The place where you are is full of such people; all com∣merces are but Amusements, and to make men beleeve the whole world is given to deceive; and it is a great merit in you that you can fol∣low so forlorne and solitary a thing as truth is; in a Country where Divines maintaine her but weakely, and where shee dares scarce bee seene in a Pulpit, doth it not shew an ex∣traordinary courage to take upon him to di∣stribute her amongst the pretenders, and that in open Theater? It is no meane hardinesse to be good at the Court, to condemne false Max∣imes where they have made a Sect, and where they have gotten the force of Lawes. I have beene assured you make profession of this diffi∣cult vertue, and that in the greatest heate of calumnie; and the coldest assistance that ever a poore innocent had, you have beene passio∣nately affected in my behalfe, being altoge∣ther unknowne unto you, but by the onely re∣putation of my ill fortune, and even at this present you are taking care of some affaires of mine which I in a manner had abandoned, and upon the report you heard of my negligence you make mee offer of your paines and indu∣strie. The onely using your name were enough for all this, I might well spare my owne un∣profitable indeavours, where my negligence being favoured by you shall without all doubt be crowned. You have heard speake of that Grecian whom the love of Philosoph•…•…e made to forget the tilling of his ground; and of

whom Aristotle said that hee was wise, but not prudent. Hee found a friend that supplied the defect of his owne ill husbandry, and repaired the ruines of his house. If my estate was like his, I should expect from you the like favour; but I aske not so much at this time. All that I desire now,—hath promised me a dozen times over; and I see no reason to distrust an Oracle. Hee is neither inspired by any false Deitie, nor hath made mee any doubtfull an∣swer; so that resting my selfe upon this foun∣dation, there seemes to have beene a kinde of Religion in my negligence: and I am not alto∣gether in so much blame, as—would make you thinke mee. Hee is, I deny not, an Authour worthy to be credited; and his testi∣mony ought to be received; but yet hee hath not the gift of not erring, and never beleeve him more, then when hee assures you that I am.

Sir,

Your, &c.

From Balzac 9. of Feb. 1630.