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 Chapelain. LETTER XIII.

SIR, if your ticket had overtaken me at Or∣leans, I had certainly returned to Paris to receive that honour it promised me; and not have lost so pleasing a visit, which would have comforted me for a troublesome one that afflicted me not a little the day before. But the mischiefe is, that I was come hither before your ticket, and all I can doe now, is to let you know the greefe I take, that my inclina∣tion and my affaires lye not alwayes in the same place. They have drawne mee from the suburb Saint German, to make me ride Poste in the greatest violence of the late heate; and have exposed my head to all the beames, or to speake like a Poet, to all the Arrowes of the Sunne. I vow unto you that being in this case, I even repented my selfe of all the good I had ever said of it, and would faine call backe my praises, seeing it made no difference at all be∣tweene

mee and my Post boy who had never praysed it. Thankes be to God I am now in place of safety, where you may well thinke I seeke rather to quench my thirst, then to make my selfe fat, and looke more after re∣freshing then tricking my selfe up. To this purpose I forget nothing of that I have lear∣ned in Italy: My ordinary Diet is upon the fruits of Autumne; being of opinion that no intemperance of these pure Viands can be di∣shonest, and that it is not fit to be sober as long as the Trees offer us their store, and tempt our appetite. Bee pleased Sir, that my businesse may not be to doe untill the Trees shall have nothing upon them but leaves; and that I may not goe to the Citty but when the Winter drives mee from the Country. In the meane time, I leave mine honour to your care, in the place where you are, and recommend unto you a little reputation that is left me, having so many warres upon me, and so many com∣binations made against me. I would bee glad my name had lesse lustre, and my life more quiet, but I know not where to finde obscuri∣tie; I am so well knowne, it not by my good qualities, at least by my ill fortune, that though I should banish my selfe into a strange coun∣try, I doe not thinke I could be hidden. Ubique Notus perdidi exili•…•… locum, I have no remedy therefore but to continue in this famous mi∣serie, and to be labouring continually to pro∣voke the envious, and to make worke for the idle; wherein notwithstanding, if I shall doe

any thing that pleaseth you; I shall not thinke my labour ill bestowed—: I am in truth in great impatience to make knowne to all the world, the account I make of your vertue: and to leave a publike testimony, and if I durst say it, an eternall; by which posteri∣ty may see, that wee have loved one another; and I passionately have beene and am,

Sir,

Your, &c.

From Balzac, 10. Septemb. 1631.