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She entertaines her with a certaine stupide fellow, who is no otherwise happy, but in being ignorant.
MAdam, I must needs en∣tertaine you with this fellow of whom you write un∣to me. I wish he might be con∣tent, I thinke he has no reason so to be: hee is not happy but because hee is ignorant, nor
hath hee a quiet soule, but be∣cause it is insensible. It is no great marvell that hee is with∣out disturbance, seeing hee is without knowledge. Tis not to be counted a miracle, if those that are blinde doe not ••eare lightning; If they trembl•• not like others, they are not there∣in the more happy: On the contrary I suppose they would have a good sight, yea on con∣dition to have it sometimes dazled. You will tell mee I have read the booke you e∣steeme so much, and that my Letter bewraies it: well, think what you please, I beleeve there is no more danger to borrow a good thing from a booke we like, than to gather fruite from a tree of our owne: We do not reade them meere∣ly for pleasure, but partly for
use. But to returne to our man; I protest I desire not such a good fortune; I love better the restlessenesse of your Spirit, than the tranquillity of his, I speake of those noble cares which knowledge bringeth forth; and of that moderate feare which serves but to a∣wake the soule, and not to trou∣ble it. The happinesse of these people whereof you write un∣to mee, is like to that of men a∣sleepe, their spirit is quiet, be∣cause it is not capable of di∣sturbance. I must make you laugh as I conclude this Letter at a comparison, which per∣haps you will judge a little too high for mee. It seemes that men may bee set safe from the blowes of misfortune, as from those of thunder, by being ve∣ry high, or very low; but in
both these, albeit, the safety be equal, the glory is not. I had rather scape a tempest being on the mount Olympus, then in a cave. And to talke like your booke (the onely one that can make mee guilty of theft.) I would rather choose to be a∣bove, then below affliction, and be thereof uncapeable by rea∣son, rather then stupidity. I conclude this then, beseeching you to speake no more of that matter, & not to pleade against your owne Interest, in quitting that of great Spirits. You have thereof too great a share to re∣nounce. And if I defend them, I doe but praise a good which you possesse, and I desire. I wish as many good termes to ex∣presse my thoughts upon this subject, as I have desires to serve you, and to witnesse on
all occasions how much I am,
Madam,
Your most affectionate, &c.