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

To Madam—LETTER XIIII.

MAdam, seeing I could not come to see you at your departure, as I was bound to doe, I doe not thinke I shall doe you any wrong to send you a better companion than that I promi∣sed you; I meane the Booke I now send you, whereof you have heard so much talke, and which you meant to have carried with you into Perigord, to be your comforter for the losse of Paris. It is in truth worthy of the good opini∣on you have of it, and of the impatience with which I am a witnesse, you have expected it. And if wagers have been layd upon Queenes great bellies, and assurance given they should be brought abed of a sonne, why should I won∣der that you have given before hand, your ap∣probation of a thing that deserves the approba∣tion of all the world? It will certainly bring you

out of tast with the Present I gave you, when you desired me to looke you out some of my Compositions. In it you shall finde that, that will shorten he longest dayes of this season; That, that will keepe you from tediousnesse when you are alone; That, that will make you thanke me for my absence. For to say true, all visits will be unseasonable to you, when you set your selfe to the Recreation of so sweet a rea∣ding; and whosoever shall come to trouble you at such a time, must needs have from you some secret maledictions, what civilities soever you make shew of, as your custome is. I would be loath to fall into this inconvenience, it is better I give my opinion a farre off, and in a Letter, which you may entertaine without any solem∣nitie: since then you will have me beleeve, that my judgement is not altogether bad, nor my o∣pinions wholly unsound; I professe unto you Madam, that setting aside the affection I beare to the Authour of this worke, I have observed in the worke it selfe, a number of excellent things, which I could not chuse but prayse, e∣ven in an enemy. He is not so cholerick I hope, but that he will pardon me if I say that he is one of the most pleasing lyars that ever I saw. I complaine not of his impostures, but when he ceaseth to deceive me, because I would gladly have them last alwayes. His History hath quite removed my spirit out of its place, and hath tou∣ched to the quicke all that I have sensible in me. I will not hide my weaknesse: I knew at first, that the painting I looked on, was all false, yet

I could not hold from having as violent passi∣ons, as if it had been true, and as if I had seen it with mine eyes: sometimes sorrowfull, some∣times glad; as it pleaseth Monsieur de Bois Ro∣bert to tell me tales of good or bad fortune. I find my selfe interessed in good earnest in all the affayres of his imaginary Kings; I am put in feare for the poore Anaxandra, more than I can expresse, and as much I am humbled for the mis-fortunes of Lysimantus, and I have seene them both in such extremities, that I made so∣lemne vowes for their safetie, when at the very height they were miraculously delivered. In conclusion Madam, though I have a heart hard enough, and eyes not very moyst, yet I could not forbeare to shed teares, in spight of my selfe; and I have been even ashamed to see, that they were but the dreames and fancies of another man, and not my owne proper evils which put into me such true passions. This is a tyrannicall power, which the sence usurpeth over the rea∣son, and which makes us see, that the neigh∣bour-hood of the imagination, is extreamly contagious to the intellectuall part, and that there is much more body than soule in this proud creature, which thinkes it selfe borne to command all others. The Aethiopick History hath oftentimes given me these Alarums, and I cannot yet reade it without suffering my selfe to be deceived. As for other writings of this kinde, it is true, I make some choice, and runne not after all Spanish Romanos, with equall pas∣sion. They are indeed for the most part, but He∣liodorus

in other clothes, or as—sayd, but children borne of Theagenes and Chariclea, and seeme to resemble their Father and Mother so neere, that there is not a haires breadth of difference betweene them. But in this worke Madam, I make you promise you shall see no∣velties, and shall finde in it this sweet ayre of the wide world, and these dainties of the spirit, which are not common in our Provinces. I con∣fesso unto you, there is in some passages some thing that may seeme too much painted, and perhaps too garish, and which will not beare examining by the rigour of Precepts; but then you must confesse as well that Fables looke chiefly after beautie, and care not though it be a little immodest, seeing this kinde of writing is rather a loose Poesie, than a regular Prose. As soone as I shall be able to ride, I will come and heare your Oracles hereupon, and tell you, as I use to doe, that as your selfe is one of the per∣fectest things I ever saw, so I am more than of any other,

Madam,

Your, &c.

At Balzac, 10. August, 1629.