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

Another to him. LETTER XXXIIII.

SIR, my deare Cosin, I am exceeding glad to heare of your newes; as for newes of the world I set so little by them, and interest my selfe so little in generall affaires, that I may boldly say, I never yet read a whole Gazetta through; you may thinke this a strange di∣staste of the present time, and a remarkeable impatience, specially in a man who complaines that Livies History is too short, and wishes He∣rodotus would never make an end. Things that wounded me heretofore at the very heart, doe not now so much as superficially touch mee; that which I accounted as my owne is now be∣come a stranger to me, and my heart is hard∣ned against all accidents that happen, if they concerne not either my selfe or my friends. It is true the death of—wrought in mee some compassion; I can never hate men that are extraordinary, & it grieves me that cowar∣dice should triumph over vertue; and the la∣zie cause the valiant to bee murthered. For this man it would not serve to take him at table, it was necessary to come behinde him; for else the most resolute of the conspiratours would never have had the courage to doe the act, would never have a•…•…idden the splendor

of that terrible countenance, and would have thought he had alwayes heard this voyce.

Fallit te mensas inter quod credis Inermem Tot bellis quaesita viro, tot caedibus armat Majestas aeternam Ducē. Si admoveris or as sta Cannas et trebiā ante oculos, Thrasymena{que} bu- Et Pauli stare in gentem mir aberis umbram.

Change but the Latin names for Duch, and wē may conclude thus;

Gustavi stare ingentem mir aberis umbram.

If I should say more, I should seeme to make his Funerall Oration; I am neither fit nor of∣ficious enough to goe so farre, my designe was onely to write a word or two, and to pay you all your Compliments with this one little word, I am but most truly,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 7. Aprill, 1634.