CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CXLV.

MADAM,

I Am sorry, that when you were last in this City, I was forced through my being Sick, to deny my self the Honour of your Company, but I did it rather out of Respect to your self, than to my self, for your Company would have been some Recompense for the Absence of my Health; but though your Presence would have been as a Cordial to me, and might have Refreshed, and Nourished my Faint Spirits, yet I should have been to you as a Draught of Pudled Water, for Sickness is full of Trouble, and a Sick Body cannot have a Sociable Mind, nor Pleasing Discourses, your Ears would have been fill'd with nothing but Complaints and Groans, your Eyes would have been Benighted in a Dark Chamber, wherein the Light was Shut out. Thus would you have been as in a Tomb, for a Sick Bodies Chamber is in a De∣gree of a Dead Bodies Grave, and their Groans as a Passing Bell, which would not have been Agreeable to your Ladiships Humour, who hath a Healthful Constitution, which makes your Mind like as the Spring, and your Thoughts like Nightingals, Singing with Plea∣sure and Delight therein. And thus, had I re∣ceived your Charitable Visit, I should have

been as a Dark Cloud to the Sun-shine of your Mirth; But since I am Recovered to Health, I shall come to that City you are in, to give your Ladiship Thanks for your Favours, and to Ex∣press how much I am Really,

Madam,

Your Ladiships most Humble Servant.