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MADAM,
I Cannot Blame you, if you were in a Passion, as in your Letter you Express you were, for there is nothing so apt to Inkindle an Anger in my Mind, or to Inflame my Spirits, than to receive a Contumely from my Superiours, or a Rude Boldness from my Inferiours, unless Cold Discretion, and Fluent Prudence could Quench those Flaming Spirits into an Un∣active, and Dead Patience; VVhen I say Su∣periours,
I mean, Superiours for Outward Title, and not for Inward VVorth. But you must Consider, Madam, that Bold Rudeness, or Negligent Contumely, proceeds from Ig∣norance or Envy, as either Ignorant of Ci∣vil Manners, being a Kin to the Brutes; or Envious, having no VVorth or Merit in themselves, and if you call your Reason to Counsel, and your Judgment to Decide the Cause, those would let them pass, as Incon∣siderable, and not to be Regarded; for Rea∣son and Judgment will never regard the Bray∣ing of an Ass, the Barking of a Dog, the Buzzing of a Flie, an Idle Drone, the Speech of a Fool, the Follies of a Knave, nor the Envy of the Base; But, Madam, your Worth and Merit is so Transcendent, as the Tongue of Malice, nor the Eye of Envy, can never Reach to, no more than the Blind can See the Light of the Sun, or the Dumb Teach the Truth of Knowledg; and I am Happy in Knowing that I am,
Madam,
Your Humble and Devoted Servant.