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She Answers, that besides the losse of their conversation, she is vext with that of the Country: and that she will never make vow of solitude while she can hope the honour of their company.
MAdam, I must begin my Letter where you end yours, to assure you that I have too great an opinion of your good will to thinke it can di∣minish in my absence. I be∣leeve that my returne will not augment your friendship, but your joy: And that it will ren∣der
you more contented, not more affectionate: do not ima∣gine I speake this out of the good opinion I have of my selfe, but for that I conceive of your constancy; if I should judge your desire by my merit, I should have little cause to lament you: And if you had no other apprehensi∣on of mee, than I have of my selfe, you should bee without regret, as I am without vanity, I must then, that I may beleeve you, surveigh my selfe by ano∣ther measure: and ought to thinke that if indeed you have any greife, tis because I want the blessing of your company and not you mine; your chari∣ty doubtlesse gives you this feeling, and did I take it other∣wise, I should declare no lesse
presumption, than you doe courtesie; say what you please I am farre more worthy, than you, but it is of compassion▪ and wish in that we are separa∣ted the cause of our sorrow were but equall. The advan∣tage lies on your side in being at Paris, where the greatest discontent may finde diversi∣on, and the sickest soule ex∣pect some remedy: I on the contrary, am in a wilde Coun∣try, where all familiarity is a punishment. I am deprived of yours, and tired with theirs who are impertinent, and im∣portune. I have a double cause of paine, the privation of a great good, and the sufferance of a great ill. You cannot be so unhappy at Paris, where I left you in company good enough to make you forget mine:
meane while, that I meete with none here, which make me not sigh for yours. Be it so then, that when you thinke on mee it bee not without griefe, this cannot equall what I suf∣fer for so many excellent Dames, I alone loose many, and all you but one alone. I ought to reckon the causes of my sorrow so many as you are most accomplished Ladies: or rather so many as are the love∣ly qualities which each of you possesseth. Now if we measure the greatnesse of displeasure by that of the object, judge how much I suffer, by what I have lost, And you will grant that I have reason to seeke my consolation where you are. Is there then any appearance to feare that I should enure my selfe to the Country, or to
thinke that I can forget you. Never imagine I meane to make a vow of solitude, while I dare hope the honour of your company. I entertaine my selfe but too much with this good fortune, whereof ha∣ving at present lost the posses∣sion, I thinke it would bee ad∣vantagious to have also lost the memory. Neverthelesse, oblivion is a remedy too inju∣rious: I have too much cou∣rage to consent to buy my content at the price of ingrati∣tude; I had rather be unfortu∣nate than faulty, I beseech you beleeve it, and continue your prayers for my returne. It must needs bee, that either you are not in the state of grace, or that your petitions are unjust, see∣ing they obtaine so small successe. I could wish that fa∣sting,
and abstinence from your walkes might remedy this; And that you should bee depriv'd of every pleasure, that I might the sooner obtaine that of your company, which I desive to possesse with as much passion, as I have to bee all my life,
Madam,
Your most devoted, &c.