The secretary of ladies. Or, A new collection of letters and answers, composed by moderne ladies and gentlewomen, collected by Mounsieur Du Bosque. Translated out of French by I.H.

The XVI. Answer. (Book 16)

She replies that even at Paris it selfe, there are not many which judge soundly, of good bookes, and praises the Author of that she sent.

MAdam, tis nothing strange if in the Countrey they doe not esteeme good bookes as they should: wee have not indeed many here which can Iudge of them soundly. There is no body that praises not that you received; and I can assure you, that never was approbati∣on so generall, as that is given

it. I speake of that of the bet∣ter sort, which speake without passion, and without interest. There are some people found, which not being able to know good things, or to suffer their brightnesse, straine themselves to make them ill, but they have gained nothing, but re∣pentance, to have their igno∣rance, and malice publickely appeare, they have beene con∣strained to change their dis∣course, albeit, perhaps they have not diminished their en∣vy. But whatever they utter of it, or would perswade indiffe∣rent men, it is profitable to all sorts of humours, and persons. The learned doe there finde content, and the ignorant in∣struction. Neverthelesse I ad∣vertise you of one thing, that whatever esteeme you make of

this booke, you ought to pre∣pare a speciall one for him that made it, you desire to see him, and I assure my selfe, you will be no lesse satisfied with his entertainement, then the rea∣ding of his writings. You shall observe nothing in his visage, nor his discourse, which smels of that, we call an Author. And you shall not finde in him that ••aturall or affected dulnesse of many, which dreame in the best company, and give no o∣ther reason of their silence, but that they compose. These are fitter for a closet, then society, they cannot expresse them∣selves, but by the pen. He, you shall see, is not of this humour: he speakes yet better then hee writes, and gives the lye to those, who maintaine that the same temperament cannot be

proper to both. There is no lesse force in his discourse then judgement in his writings. And above all you may marke in both an extraordinary facility. I speake not of that vitious ea∣finesse which proceedes from lightnes orindiscretion. I know well that the earth doth easily produce superfluous things, and that of her selfe she beares thornes, and thistles enough. I praise that excellent facility which comes from the strength of spirit, when a man is master of the subject he handles, and good words are joyned with rich thoughts. I will use a sa∣cred example to explaine a profane matter. If holy Scrip∣ture saith of the covetous that they are the men of riches, in∣stead of saying that tis the ri∣ches of men; wee may say of

certaine Brokers, that they are the men of science, not that they have the science of men, the one, and the other be the slaves of their wealth, & know not how to distribute it with reason. The Authour you shall see is in no wise of this number, let him speake or write, he ex∣presses himselfe with an ad∣vantage extraordinary, try him and you will affirme without doubt, aswell as many others that know him, that readinesse, and strength of Spirit, are in him both equall. He is prompt without being light, solid, with out being dull. I will say no more of him, and indeede, it would alwaies be lesse then he deserves, and I beleeve, howe∣ver more then hee desires. In effect tis a modesty without paralell, but his owne. Never

have I heard him speake of his workes, or of himselfe with the least appearance of vanity, you shall judge of him then, when I shall have the honour to pre∣sent him to you, and that I shall assure you from my owne mouth, how that I am,

Madam

Your, &c.