The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.

LXI. In answer to a friend, ill of a cold.

Sir,

THe next degree to the happines of not having evils, is to have had them: which imports, though not our immunity, yet riddance: & to have overcome annoiance may be better, then not to have suffered it. This since you say, you have bin almost dead of a Cold, congratulates your al∣most Resurrection: and hopes to find your short-windednes turn'd into free respiration. 'Tis a vulgar Probleme, whether this malady may be called a disease, or Physick. You I believe found it trouble some; but will not repent, if it prove medicinall. I imagin (allur'd by Aprils forward Sun) you slipt too early into your Summer Apa∣rell; which, though it prov'd too thin to defend you, yet not unable, to make you take a warier choise of your Wardrobe next Spring. Gondamar was of opinion, as there were in England many seasons of the year in one day; so a man had need of severall suits: My fancy is, if you will not alwaies be shifting, 'tis best not to shift till you see nature in her best Green gown: whose fa∣shion you may harmlesly follow. Sir, you see by my spinning out this one Clause of your letter, I want matter; Yet you may see too,

there's nothing drops so raw from you, but affords subject. Nor must you blame me, if your indisposition busie my Pen, since your 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is the Copie of it, and my own best constitution. Hence you have a double care lies upon your pre∣servation; your love to your self, and indulgence to

Sir,

Your servant, W.D.