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

CXLVIII.

MADAM,

I Thank you for the Cup you sent me, but I cannot Guess whether it be Glass, Metal, or Stone, for it seems too Light to be Metal, too Thin to be Stone, and too Strong to be Glass, but I suppose it is of a Mix'd Nature, as many things are; as for Example, Feathers seem to be betwixt Hair and Wool, for the Quils seem to be somewhat like Soft Souls, being Hollow, and within them a Pith, somewhat like Brains, and the Small Sprigs of Feathers are like as Hair Growing thereupon, and Sprouting thereout, and the Downy part of Feathers which Grow towards the Bottom, or Root of the Quils, are of the Nature and Likeness of Wool; so the Scales of Fishes seem to be betwixt Sinews or Gristles, and Skin, for they are like Gristles in being Tough and Clammy, and like Skin in being Smooth, Slick, and Thinner than Sinews are; Also Horns of Beasts, Hoofs, and Claws, Bills of Fowls, and Nails of Men, are betwixt Bones and Gristles, as to be Harder than Gristles, and Softer than Bones. Also there are many se∣veral Creatures, which seem to be of a Mix'd Kind, as a Bat seems to be betwixt a Beast and a Bird, having a Body like a Mouse, and Wings like a Bird, and an Owl seems somewhat like

a Cat, and hath the Nature of a Cat, to catch Mice, and many other Creatures could be brought for Examples, which would bee too Tedious for a Letter. But to return to your Present, which is now my Cup, I am so Pleased with it, as to my thinking my Drink is nothing so Tastable out of any other thing as out of that, for if I Drink out of any thing that is Metal, methinks my Drink tasts Brackish, as if it were mix'd with Mineral Waters, although it were Gold, and out of any thing made of Earth, methinks my Drink hath a Musty Tast, although out of Purceline; and out of Glass, it is so Cold in Winter time, that it Deads my Tast so much, as if it had no Tast at all. But these Faults are found only since I have the Cup you sent me; wherefore by this you may see, a New Acquaintance is Preferr'd before an Old, like as Men that find so many Sweet Graces in a New Mistress, at least do think so, and so ma∣ny Foul Faults in a Wife, as the Wife is cast By, and the Mistress only made Use of. But 'tis most Probable, I am so Pleas'd with the Cup because it was yours, and now it is mine, yet it is yours still, for whatsoever is mine, is yours, for I my self am so, as,

Madam,

Your very faithful Friend and Servant.