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SIR, I acquit my selfe of a charge that was laid upon me, and send you from Mounsieur Favereau the verses hee lately made for the King; they have had the approbation of all France, but they have not yet had his owne, and if this publicke judgement bee not confir∣med by your particular, he takes it but as the passion of a mother; and that France doth
but flatter her children. He thinkes no glory is legitimate whereof you are not the distribu∣tour, and that things are not so good by their owne goodnesse, as by the account you make of them; you see by this Sir what ranke you hold in the Commonwealth of Letters, and that I am not the onely man that looke upon you with veneration, being seated in the Throane of the great Scaliger, and giving lawes to all the civill parts of Europe. The highest degree that a man can aspire unto, who is Prince amongst his owne, is to become a judge amongst strangers; and there to get re∣verence where he cannot pretend subjection. To this uppermost Region of merit are you ascended; the light of your doctrine shines upon more then one people, and more then one country; it spreads and communicates it selfe in divers places and kinds; it hath as well adorers a farre off, as admirers at home: He of whom I speake Sir is worth a whole multitude, and makes not onely a part of a choise company, but is himselfe alone a com∣pany and a number. Doe you aske for quali∣ties intellectuall and morall? for vertues ci∣vill and militarie? would you have a Philoso∣pher a Mathematitian, a Poet, for Latine, Ita∣lian, French? you shall finde them all in his one person. Hee hath the key of the most sublime sciences, and the superintendance of the noblest Arts. Heretofore he hath beene the dispenser of the conceits of Marino, the refor∣mer and pruning knife of the superfluities of
his stile, at this time he is overseer of all cu∣rious workes; the Oracle that Carvers consult, and the spirit that guides the hand before Pain∣ters. Hee meddles in an infinite number of things with equall capacitie, and hath as many trades as Sage Stoicks had; but makes better workes of them then he did. It is not possible either to fill his spirit, or to set it about worke enough; so greedy and unsatiable it is of know∣ledge, so impatient of rest, and growing fresh with action. And to impart to you the ex∣pression of a gallant friend of ours; hee is in as great a heate for the pleasures of the minde, as the Princes of Asia are for the pleasures of the body; and as they have many Concubines besides the Sultana which they marry, so hath he one profession as his principall studie, but leaves not for all that to follow other exercises, though follow them but with inferiour affecti∣on; so that it cannot be sayd of him, that hee knowes all, but that hee ought to know; and that hee is nothing lesse then that hee ought to be. Hee acquits himselfe most worthily of his charge, and never stands in contemplation, when it is time to be in action. If hee be a great Poet, he is no lesse a great Lawyer; hee makes as well the draught of a Processe as the description of a Tempest; and having sung Phillis and Amarillis with an admirable grace, he treats of Seia and Sempronia with no lesse soliditie. I give this testimony as religiously of him, as if I gave it before a Iudge, and as if my writing were upon oath. Is it not fit you
should be ignorant of his merit, whom with∣out any merit you ought to respect, though but onely for his respect to you. It is fit you know that he is an elevated person, humbling him∣selfe before you, and a Saint offering you sa∣crifice. It is fit also I should satisfie his desire, which you shall see in the word he hath writ∣ten to you, as hee was going out of his Inne and taking Coach, but that done Sir, it is not fit I should forget my selfe; I entreate you therefore you will be pleased that in presenting to you the vowes of another, I may offer you also my owne, and make you this true prote∣station, that I am,
Sir,
Your, &c.
From Balzac, 5. Decemb. 1634.