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

LXXII.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased the last time you writ, to send me a Poem of your own making or Composing, and to desire my Opinion of it, which Opinion, were you not such a Friend as not to be Exceptious, I would not Declare, for though I will not Dissemble, as to speak against my Conscience, yet I may Conceal or Bury my Thoughts, Opinion, or Judgment in Silence; but I know your Humour is, that I should Speak or Write freely my Thoughts, and ac∣cording to your Desires, give me leave to tell you, the Poem is good in that kind, but I do not like such kind of Poems, which are onely Com∣plements and Gratulations put into Verses, in which Poems is seldom much Wit or Fancy, onely Flattery, Rime, and Number; wherefore give me leave to Perswade you to alter the Sub∣ject of your Poem, and to take such a Subject as hath Ground and Room for Wit and Fancy to move on; also you desire my Opinion of G. Vs. Poems, I cannot Praise them, because the Wit & Expressions are Stoln out of several Excellent Poets, only he turns their Fancies and Expressi∣ons to other Subjects, so as he only Varies other mens Wits, but Produces none of his Own, and such Writers may rather be nam'd Translators than Authors; Indeed, most Writings now a

dayes, not onely Verse, but Prose, are but Va∣riations, and not Creations. But leaving Wit∣stealers, I return to your Poem, which is not Theft, but an Ill-chosen Subject, which I de∣sire you to Alter. Thus Professing, as also De∣claring my Friendship, in giving a Free and Plain Judgment, I rest,

Madam,

Your most faithful Friend and Servant.