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Madam,
I Believe that if you have been the last who have understood the death of your Servant, that you will be one of the first, and indeed the onely person, who will in your soul celebrate
the sad remembrance of him, a much longer time than any of his Friends: not that his merit doth oblige you, for I well know that all merit loses its esteem in your presence, being so perfect as you are; nor your Piety, though it be a thing natural to you with your other vertues; but only his love, and constancy, as be∣ing both equally incomparable. Neither do I believe, that ei∣ther of these do oblige you at all, for though his love were very great, that could not be otherwise, seeing you were his object, no more than his constancy whatever it were; so that to say the truth, I know not what can urge you to bewail his loss, unless it be the goodness of your inclinations, being as mild and sweet as you are, fair, and consequently full of Piety. I should weep my self, for having the least thought to condemn your tears, yet give me leave to believe, that when you remember that the fires pro∣ceeding from your eyes did help to consume his life, it would make them weep for sorrow. Now what punishment will you im∣pose upon your Beauty, if there be nothing in you that hath par∣taken of the millions of pains which he hath endured for your sake: Certainly you ought to suffer Shipwrack in the Sea of your tears, unless the God of Love have need of you for one of his Altars. Since you are the only Idol, to whom all mortals will present the sacrifices of their Servitude. And as for my self, who have undertaken to succeed to the merits and constancy of your deceased Servant, I will not give assurances in words, for deeds themselves shall always be my sureties. Dry up your tears, stop your sighs. I summon you to this duty, in the behalf of Reason it self, knowing that his Commands are to be obey'd. Madam, when I first put Pen to Paper, I had a design to comfort you, but knowing the greatness of your resolution against all sorts of accidents, I chang'd my intention, to assure you of the love and servitude that I have vow'd to you, under the title of,
Madam,
Your most humble Servant.