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

To Monsieur, the Earle of Excester. LETTER VI.

SIR, if I had made a vow of humility, you give me here a faire occasion to bee proud for not breaking it, yet this should not be an effect of the love of wisedome; it should be a marke of aversion from goodnesse, if I did not testifie the joy of the Newes I have recei∣ved I could never expect from your honour a more sweet recompence of my travaile then this, which is presented to me by your hands, and when I see the sonne of the great Cecile let downe his spirits so low as to mine, and make himselfe lesse then hee is by represen∣ting me in his Country; I cannot forbeare to vow unto you that it hath touched the most sensible part of my soule, and that with joy thereof my miseries have given me a comfor∣table breathing time. For your selfe Sir, all the •…•…aine you can take herein is but this, that it may bee sayd, you have your sports as well as your businesses, and that all the houres of

your life are not equally serious, but seeing the gods in times past have changed their shapes, and disguised themselves in a thousand fashi∣ons; I conceive it may be justly allowed to you to give us the morall sence of those fables, you are able without any wrong to your selfe, to shew us, that great persons cloyed with their felicitie are glad sometimes to imitate the acti∣ons of private men, and to put on Maskes to save themselves from the imp•…•…rtunity of their greatnesse, whatsoever your designe were I cannot but turne to my advantage, for by this meanes I am certainly an honester man in Eng∣land then in France: seeing I speake there by your mouth, I therefore most humbly thanke you for the favour you have done me, in ma∣king mee better then I was; and I joy in this, that by your meanes I am improved in value, which inables me to make you the more wor∣thy present, in presenting you my affection, and the desire I have to be all my life,

Sir,

Your, &c.