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 LI. Letter. (Book 51)

Shee complaines of the incon∣stancie of a certaine Lady, who had in the beginning exprest an extraordinary in∣clination, and soone after quitted it.

MAdam, I know no lon∣ger what to thinke of our age, I am of the opini∣on of those, who have nei∣ther hope, nor faith, but in God: that wee give to the world, is too often abused, not to leave us undeceived, would you ever beleeve that Beliana had ceast to visite mee, after the protestations shee made mee in your pre∣sence? had you thought she

could live without mee? and neverthelesse I heare no more newes of her. I have given her many visites, with∣out receiving any. And when I meete her by the way, shee salutes mee with so much coldnesse, as will serve to expresse her ficklenesse. I protest I have beene decei∣ved in her. I never thought so faire a beginning had beene so neere the end, and that so much dearenesse shee made mee at first, should have beene followed in so short a time with neglect. You know how farre my humour is estranged from lightnesse; but I protest at present, I wish my selfe more facility, that I might bee lesse troubled with hers. My

constancy is no lesse impor∣tunate, then unjust, since or∣dinarily it carries mee to those that have it not. I chaine my selfe so strongly to what I love, that it can∣not be separated from mee without carrying away a peece. I still behold with griefe what I should behold with contempt. It is true, I doe my selfe all the vio∣lence of the world, to lose my prize. But what shall I doe more for her, not be∣ing able to returne, I must needes let her goe; and let the force of reason comfort mee in a chance, where the tendernes of affection would bee without remedy, but let us leave a discourse unpro∣fitable, and irkesome, tis

better I entertaine you with my voyage. I have beene in the Countrey, since I saw you, and was never so much vext in so little time. Tis a strange countrey where I thinke they would never speake, should you barre ray∣ling. There is no more ho∣nesty, then ingenuity: And what ever they talke of the simplicity of the village, I know they are no lesse vici∣ou•• there, then in the City, and that all the difference is, they sinne more grosse••y. I have met there but with two sorts of persons, which are to mee equally vexati∣ous, the ignorant, or the envious; they have all abad wit, or a bad nature. The one know not vertue, the o∣ther

love it not, judge now if I tooke delight in the Countrey. I know not if they have observed my averse∣nesse, but I am sure I had all the labour of the world to conceale it. You may tell me I will make my selfe ene∣mies: but for my part, I had rather loose unprofita∣ble friends, then retaine the troublesome. I cannot ob∣serve so tedious a pollicy. Tis a prudence too labori∣ous, which commands to please the unworthy. I re∣nounce it, say what they will, and henceforth will force my selfe in nothing, if the complacency bee not necessary for your service: I assure you of it with as

much truth, as I am,

Madam,

Your, &c.