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 the Master Ad∣vocate in the Parliament. LETTER XLII.

SIR, you know I have fed upon the fruits of Pomponne, even beyond the rules of tempe∣rance; and I have signified to you in each place where they grew, that they are general∣ly excellent; yet I now specially declare my selfe, in favour of the last you sent mee, and finde them, farre surpassing the Amber Peare, or all other kindes, which I cannot name. It is true, I affect specially the Tree it selfe that beares them: and I account the meanest of the leaves, no meaner than jewels: yet their owne goodnesse is such, that though they grew in the garden of—: or grew upon a stocke that Father—: had planted; yet I should not for all that, but highly esteeme them, and take a pleasure in their taste. In a word, to leave speaking in Allegory, and not to flounder my selfe in a Figure, into which you have most maliciously cast me: I say Sir, that in all your Presents, I see nothing but excellent; and least you should thinke, I meant to exempt my selfe from giving a particular account of my judge∣ment, by speaking in generall termes: I let you know, that in the first place, the two lives spo∣ken of at the end of the discourse, please me in∣finitely; and next to this that place which is

written upon occasion of—: that France is too good a Mother to rejoyce in the losse of her children; and that the victories gotten upon our selves, are fit to weare mourning, and be covered with blacke vailes. All that cuold have beene said upon this Argument, would never have beene comparable to this ingenious si∣lence. And as he hath dexterously shunned a passage so tender, so he enters as bravely, and as proudly upon a matter that will beare it; when speaking of—: hee saith, that having over∣come the waves & the winds, that opposed his passage, & traversed the fires of so many canons of the enemies; with a few poore Barkes, hee made his way thorough a Forrest of great shippes. And a little after; where hee saith: that God, who bestowes his favours upon Na∣tions, by measure; seeing, that the admirable valour of ours, would easily conquer the whole world; if it had Prudence equall to its courage, seemes therefore to have given us, as a coun∣terpoise to the greatnesse of our spirits; a kinde of impetuositie and impatience, which to our Armies have oftentimes beene fatall, and cause of ruine. But that now the case is altered in this point: for now the French are no longer French, then they are valiant: now these Lyons are growne reasonable; and now, to the strength and courage of the North; they joyne the prudence and staiednesse of the South, &c. Also where hee saith, that the carriage at Ca∣zal, is a thing incomprehensible; and for which we must be faine to looke out some new name;

for it cannot be called a Seige, seeing the place was surrendred before ever it was battered: nor it cannot be called a Battell, seeing no man strooke a stroake: nor it cannot be called a treatie seeing treaties are not made with wea∣pons in hand, &c. But that which pleaseth mee most of all, because it toucheth indeede the string of my owne inclination; is that which he speakes of the Marquesse of Rambovillet: that there had beene Statues erected in honour of her vertue; if she had fortuned to be borne in the beginning of her race. For, as you know Sir, this illustrious woman, is of Romane stocke; Et de Gente Sabella; of which Virgil speakes. These are the passages I can call to minde, having not the Originalls by me: be∣ing taken from me, by a neighbouring Lady; who affects the King of Sweden with the like passion, as Madame Rambovillet: so elevated a spirit may chastly enough be loved of both sexes; and let the slanderous History speake its pleasure; I for my part thinke no otherwise of it, then as the Queene of Sheba loved Salomon: and as Nicomedes loved Caesar. I had begunne something for the triumph of this great Prince, but his death made my Penne fall out of my hand; and therefore you are like to have nothing from me at this time; in revenge of your Sonnet. For your French Prose, I send you another, which I will never beleeve to be Latin, untill—shall assure you, it is; to whom I entreate you to shew it from me: Vir plane cum Antiquitate conferen∣dus,

& qui mihi est in hoc genere, vnus curia, Censor & Quirites. I have read many things of his with infinite satisfaction: but I know, hee hath certaine mysteries in his Writing, which he lets not common people know; and—hath told me of a continuation hee hath written, of the History of M. de Thou; which is not im∣parted but to his speciall friends; and which, I am infinitely desirous to see: but I am not a man that will enter by force upon any mans secrets: and my discretion in such cases, shall be alwayes graeter, then my curiositie, Opture licebit, si potiri non licet, If I should not present∣ly: make an end of my Letter, I should kill you with Latine; for I find my selfe in an humour that way; and in this desert where I live: I have no commerce, but with such as speake all Latin, I would perswade you to revive them in our language; by an imitation which you are able to doe, not much unlike those great exam∣ples; I meane of Cicero, of Salust, and of Livie; not of Cassiodore, or Ennodius Ticinensis, or Sidonius Apollinuris. They that love this im∣puritie of stile, are in a ficker state, then they that love to eate coales and ashes. Farre be it from us, to have such disordered appetites, and let us never be so foolish, to preferre the cor∣ruption and decay of things, before their prime, and their maturitie, I am,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac. 4. Febru. 1633.