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MADAM,
YOu were pleas'd to desire me to send you my opinion of Mrs. R. Es. Wit, truly I cannot judge of her Wit until I have a longer Acquaintance with her, for there are many se∣veral Degrees, and divers Sorts of VVit, as from a Pint to a Tun, or Teirce, or Pipe of VVit, all which may be drawn Dry, and their Brains be
as Empty Barrels; and some have Rivers, or Seas of Wit, which sometimes Ebb and some Flow, wherein some have Double Tides; and others have Springs of Wit, which issue out in∣to small Streams, but make great Flouds, by rea∣son they constantly Flow without Intermission. But there are not many Seas, nor Rivers, nor Floods, nor Springs of Wit, for there are more Bottels than Springs, and more Barrels than Seas of Wit. As for Spring Wit, it is Fresh, Sweet, Calm, Smooth, Pure, Bright and Clear, whereas Sea Wit is Salt, Sad, Fomy, Rough, Boi∣sterous, Unsteady, & sometimes Dangerous. And as there are several Degrees of Wit for Quanti∣ty, and Sorts of Wit for Quality, so there are Several Weights of Wit, for Salt Wit is Heavy and Searching, it Presses to the Centre, and Peir∣ces to the Quick, and opens the Obstructions of the World of Mankind, like as Mineral VVa∣ters do the Splene, or the like parts of the Body, whereas Fresh Spring Wit is Light and Airy, Running with a Smooth and Quick Motion, Re∣freshing the VVorld of Mankind, Bathing the Soul, Cleansing the Thoughts, and Quenching the Drought of Time, which is Overheated with Running; but least my Pen should become Dry with Writing, having not VVit enough to Moisten it, I'le take my leave, and rest,
Madam,
Your faithful Fr. and S.