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 D' Andilly, Coun∣sellor of the King in his Counsels. LETTER XXXII.

SIR, I perceive that Mounsieur the great Master is a great extender of Expositions, and hath tied you to explaine your selfe in a matter whereof I never doubted. Herein hee hath exceeded his Commission, and done more than hee had in charge to doe. I seeke no new assurance of your friendship; this were to shew a distrust in the old, whereas the founda∣tion already laidis such that makes me forbeare even ordinary duties, for feare I should make shew to neede them, and as if I would hold by any other strength then your owne inclination. Care and diligence, and assiduitie are not al∣wayes the true markes of sincere affections, which I speake in your behalfe as my owne:

Truth walkes now a dayes with a lesse traine, men use not to make open profession of it, but rather to confesse it as a sinne: her enemies are strong and open, her adherents weake and se∣cret: yet Sir, if she were in more disgrace, and were driven out of France by Proclamation: I should beleeve you would be her receiver, and to finde her out, I should goe directly to Pom∣pone. I therefore never doubted of your love; God keepe me from so evill a thought, onely I marvelled that—knew nothing of it, and that you let him take possession of his go∣vernment, without recommending unto him, your friends there. To satisfie my selfe in this point; I said in my minde, that certainely this proceeded from the great opinion you had of his justice; and that conceiving there would not be with him any place for Grace or Fa∣vour; you would not doe me a superfluous of∣fice. This is the interpretation I made of an omission, which in appearance seemed to ac∣cuse you; and this is the conjecture I made of your silence, before I came to know the cause. Now I see I was in the wrong, to imagine you had such subtill considerations; or that you were restrained by such a cowardly wisedome which dares not assure the good to be good, least such assuring should corrupt it. For my part I renounce a prudence that is so dastardly and scrupulous, that feares to venture a word for a vertuous friend, because this friend is a man, and may perhappes lose his vertue. You doe much better than so, and Pam glad to find you

not so jealous of the glory of your judgement, but that you can be contented to be slighted and scorned, when it is for the benefit of a friend you love: let us leave fleame and cold∣nesse to old Senatours; and never make que∣stion whether wee ought to call them infirmi∣ties of age, or fruits of reason: These are good qualities for enabling men to judge of criminall causes, but are nothing worth for making men fit to live in societie: and he, of whom it was said, that all he desired, hee desired extremely, seemes to mee a much honester man than those that desire so coldly; and are so indifferent in their desires. If you were not one of these vio∣lent reasonable men, and had not some of this good fire in your temper, I should not have your approbation so good cheape. That which now galls you would not at all touch you; and things which now descend to the bottome of your soule, would passe away lightly before your eyes. There came yesterday a man to see me, who is not so sensible of the pleasures of the minde, and tooke great pitty of me and my Papers: hee told me freely that of all know∣ledges which require study, he made reckoning of none but such onely as are necessary for life; and that he more valued the stile of the Chan∣c•…•…ry than that of Cicero; he more esteemed the penning of a Chancery Bill, than the best pen∣ned Oration that ever Cicero writ. I thought this at first a strange compliment, but thinking well of it, I thought it better to seeme to be of his opinion, then undertake to cure a man un∣cureable.

I therefore answered him, that the Patriarch Calarigstone so famous for the peace of Uervins, was in a manner of his minde, who being returned from his Embassage, and asked what rate and admirable things hee had seene at Paris; made mention of none but their Cookes shoppes; saying to every body, as it were with exclamation Ueramente quelle rostisseries sono Cosa stupenda; as much as to say that there are Barbarians elsewhere, then at Fez and Morocco. One halfe of the world doth not so much as excuse that which you praise: our merchandise is cried downe long since, and to bring it into credit againe and put it off, there had neede returne into the world, some new Augustus and Antoninus.—saith, that whilst he waites for the resurrection of these good Princes; hee is resolved to rest him∣selfe; and not to publish his Verses, till they shall be worth a Pistole a peece. I feare it will be long ere we shall see this Edition come forth; for my selfe who make no such recko∣ning of my Prose; I have no purpose to make merchandise of it; yet desire I not nither to tire my hands with writing continually to no profit. I meane to make hereafter no other use of my Penne, then to require my friends to let mee heare of their healths; and to assure you Sir, that I am no mans more,

Than yours, &c.

At Balzac 12. Iune 1633.