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 XXV.

SIR, I doe but now receive your Letter of the twelfth of this Moneth, which con∣firmes mee in the opinion I have alwayes had; that my interests are as deare unto you as your owne. To compliment with you for this, would be to thanke you for being good, as much as to say for being your selfe; It is much better to returne you friendship for friendship, then to pay you with unprofitable words. In a word Sir, I make profession to bee an honest man, and therefore all the thankefulnesse that can be desired from a person obliged you may expect from me. As concerning——I as∣sure you I wish him no ill, because I conceive he hath done me none; it is sufficient for mee that my friends have no good opinion of his opinions; and that his owne friends beginne to take notice of his false dealing. In all this there is nothing eyther new or strange; I am not the first innocent that have beene persecuted in the world, and if I could not beare detraction and slander, I should be more dainty then Princes, and their principall officers are, who forbeare not to doe well, though for their well doing they be evill spoken of; the best and soundest part is of my side, I want no protector eyther Males or Females, and if I would make use of

all my advantages, I could oppose Doctour to Doctour, and Gowne to Gowne;

Fratribus & fratres, & claustra minantia Claustris.

But it is fit sometimes to make spare of ones forces, and to restraine resentment within lesse bounds then justice allowes. The Prince you desire to heare of, is yet in the Idea of the king his father, farre from comming as yet to Paris or Thoulouze; for my selfe I am alwayes block∣ed up by my 'Sciatica, and I thinke all the stormes of the middle region of the ayre fall downe upon my unhappy legges; but it is you that will bring mee health and faire weather, and your presence will worke that miracle which I expect from Mounsieur de L'orme; come therefore I intreat you speedily, and suf∣fer not a man to die for want of succour, who passionately is,

Sir

Your, &c.

At Paris 30. March, 1628.