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 her. LETTER XXXIX.

MAdam, it hath beene, as much my shame, as my glory, to reade your Letter, ha∣ving so ill deserved it, and the remorse of the fault, I committed, makes mee; that I dare not yet rejoyce in the honour, I received. You

are good and gracious, even to the not hating o•…•…evill actions; Your delinquents, not onely obteine impunitie, but you allow them recom∣pence, and idlenesse hath more respect with you, than diligent service with ordinary Ma∣sters. This is the faelicitie of the Golden age, where Plentie had no neede of tilling; and where there was reaping without sowing. Yet Madam, I must not so abandon my cause, that I forbe are to alledge the good it hath in it; it is long since I writ unto you, it is true, but the cause hath beene for that these six moneths, I have every day been upon comming to see you: and according to the saying of the Oratour your acquaintance, I have dispenced with my ordinary dyet, in hope of a great Feast, and to performe my devotion with the more solemni∣tie. If Monsieur de—have kept his word with mee, he hath told you, how often he hath found me upon the very poynt of comming; but as many journeys, as I intended to make, so many crosse accidents alwayes happened to hinder them, and the mis-fortune that accom∣panies me, makes every dutie, though never so casie to another, impossible to me. Yet Ma∣dam, I have never ceased from doing continu∣all acts, of the reverence I beare you, and I ne∣ver sweare, but by your merit. My braine is drie in any other Argument, and wordes are drawne from me one by one; but when there is occasion to speake of you, then I over∣flow in words; upon this onely Text, I take

a pleasure to be Preaching; and Monsieur de—to whom I am alwayes before a har∣kener; as soone as I beginne discourse of you, becomes my auditour. I can assure you Ma∣dam, he honours you exceedingly; and nei∣ther his ambassage to Rome, from whence Gentlemen returne not commonly without a certaine conceit of soveraigntie; nor the im∣ployments of the State, which make particu∣lar men, thinke themselves the Publike, have beene able to make him take upon him, this un∣gratefull gravitie, which makes Greatnesse ri∣diculous, and even vertue it selfe odious. He hath protested here, before good companie, that hee will never be found other, and that Fortune should have an ill match in hand, to thinke to corrupt him. I used my ordinary rudenesse, and intreated him, to be mindfull of his word, and to be one of our first exam∣ples of so rare a moderation: You shall see Madam, in a Letter I send you; that which hereupon I am bound to say of him: and I in∣treat you, to maintaine for me, that I am no common prayser: and that, if I were not per∣swaded of what I say, it is not all the Canons of the Towne should make mee to say it. It is onely the worth of things, or at least, the opi∣nion I have of their worth, that drawes from mee the prayses I give them. If Monsieur de—should returne to be a private person, I should not respect him a jot lesse, than now I doe: and if you should be made Governesse of

the Kings house, I should not be a whit more than I am,

Madam

Your, &c.

At Balzac, 30. Aprill. 1633.