The XXXII. Letter. (Book 32)
Sh•• wisheth her much wealth, and saith
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.
About this Item
- Title
- 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.
- Author
- Du Boscq, Monsieur.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by Tho. Cotes, for William Hope, and are to be sold at the signe of the Vnicorne in Cornehill neere the Royall Exchange,
- 1638.
- Rights/Permissions
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- Subject terms
- French letters -- Early works to 1800.
- Women -- Early works to 1800.
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20892.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20892.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 13, 2024.
Pages
Page 196
she is rich in the goods of nature, if poore in those of fortune.
MIstris, after the letter you wrote unto mee, I know not what to begge of heaven for you, or what prayers to make, may give you satisfacti∣on. I seare least mine be con∣trary to yours, and that you should complaine of the felici∣ty which I desire you, tell mee your minde in this, that my prayers may be more confi∣dent, and profitable, but whiles I lo••ke to heare from you, I must tell you what I feare, as wel as what I desire. Although you cannot choose but be con∣tent, if fortune does her duty for you; I feare not withstan∣ding least wee have cause to complaine of her blindnesse, who without doubt would a∣verre, she is not rich enough to
Page 197
equall your perfections with her presents, if she had eyes to consider what you are. In which this shall alwayes be your great consolation, to be able to thinke, if shee doe you no good, shee knowes not your worth, how liberall soever she be towards you, shee cannot e∣quall nature, which will al∣wayes make you merit more favours, then the other can give. I beleeve you will ne∣ver be so happy as you are per∣fect, by my advice you should use this thought to sweeten that which makes you melan∣cholly, when you doe not so much consider what you have, as what you want. And indeed if you take but a little paine to regard what you are, your glasse, and your conscience, will hinder you to complaine,
Page 198
the one shewing you the grea∣test beauty, the other, the pu∣rest vertue of the age. Your humility forbids it not, since after you have well knowne your owne extraordinary qua∣lities; you can conclude no o∣ther thing, but that you are specially obliged to him, with∣out whose favour there is no∣thing faire, nor in the soule, nor face: it will be said I preach, in stead of Complement, but you are so good you will tole∣rate the liberty of my dis∣course, because of the affecti∣on I have to serve you, and to be,
Madam,
Your, &c.