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 Talon; Secretary to my Lord the Cardinall De la Ualette. LETTER XLII.

SIR, I tooke infinite pleasure, to see my selfe in one of your Letters; and Mounsieur——who imparted it to mee, can witnesse for me, with what greedinesse I read that pas∣sage which concerned me. I cannot say, that he is here, though it be true, that he is not in Gascognie; for we enjoy nothing of him here but his Image; he is so married, that he would thinke it a disloyalty to his wife, if hee should dare to laugh when shee is not by. All his so∣ciable humour he hath left with her, and hath brought nothing to us, but his Melancholy.

When I would make him merry, he tels me, I goe about to corrupt him. All visites he makes in her absence, though it be to covents, and Hospitals, yet he calls them De bauches. So as Sir, you never saw man better satisfied with his present estate; nor a greater enemy to single life. He is not contented to pitty you and me, and to lament our solitude; but he reproacheth us outragiously, and cals us unprofitable mem∣bers of the Common-wealth, and such as are fit to be cut off. As for me, I make no defence for my selfe, but your example; I tell him, let him perswade you to it first, and he shall soone finde me ready to follow his counsell. I hope we shall meete together ere long; and then we shall not neede to feare his being too strong for us, in our conferences, when we two shall be against him alone. Provide therefore Solutions for his Arguments; but withall deny me not your assistance in other encounters, where it may stand me instead. You can never doe cour∣tesies to a man more capable of acknowledge∣ment; nor that is more truely, then I,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 12. Febru. 1633.