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 XV.

SIR, in the Letter which—received from you, I saw a line or two for me, that would even tickle a heart that were harder then mine, and which I could not reade with∣out some touch of vaineglory. There is a plea∣sure in yeelding to such sweete temptations, and though I know my merit hath no right to so gratious a remembrance, yet by what title soever I come to be happy, I am not a little proud of my fortune. These are Sir the meere effects of your goodnesse, and your experi∣ments in that art, with which you know how to gaine hearts, and to purchase men with∣out buying them. The fairest part of the earth in which you have left a deere remembrance of your name, gives this testimony of you by the mouth of its Princes, and of their subjects, but seeing in the place where you are, you meete with spirits of love and tendernesse; it cannot be that any should escape you, upon whom you have any designe to take hold. All things are biting beyond the Garonne; the Sheepe of that Country are worse then the Woolves of this; and I have heard a great person of our age say, That if France had a soule, certainly Gascognie should be the Irascible part. Yet I heare Sir, you have already sweetned all you found fowre

there; and that your onely looke hath melted all the stcele of the courages of that Province. Mounsieur de—and my selfe make ac∣count to goe see the progresse of so admirable a beginning, and this next Summer to come and behold you in all your glory. But if we goe thirtie miles for——wee would more wil∣lingly goe three hundred for———and I begin to thinke already of a vow to Loretta, that I may thereby have a colour to goe to Rome, to be there at the time when you shall doe honour to France, and maintaine the Kings rights. This cannot be too soone for his ser∣vice, nor soone enough for my desire, who am,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 4. August. 1631.