Letters of affaires love and courtship. Written to several persons of honour and quality; / by the exquisite pen of Monsieur de Voiture, a member of the famous French Academy established at Paris by Cardinall de Richelieu. English'd by J.D.

To my Lady Marchioness de Sablé. LETTER. CVIII.

Madam,

HOw excellent soever the Letters of Monsieur de la Mesnar∣diere may be, yet Mademoiselle de Chalais, and I could not think our selves satisfy'd with the bare receipt of them only by this return, especially when all the news they brought us, was that you had caught a very great cold. But what is more strange, is, that I, who ever quarrel with you for being too scrupul••us in point of health, am at the present fallen into the same humour for what concerns you, and more troubled for your cold then a quoti∣dian feaver I should have had. T'is true, I have now occasion enough to be troubled at it, since that thereupon depends your journey, and upon your journey all my joy. For, I assure you, Madam, I am resolved not to entertain any if you come not, and must expect to be the happiest or the unhappiest man in the World according to the resolution you shall take. I dare also tell you that you shall not want your part of the satisfaction we intend you, and that infallibly you will find greater diversion and mirth here, and consequently more health. But till you do come, it would be an extraordinary kindness, would you but send Mademoiselle — and Mademoiselle de — before, that in this interim, I might have some one to discourse withal of you, and with whose conver∣sation I might elude my impatience.

—

T'is very confidently done, to dash out four lines together when a man writes to a Marchioness. But you know better then any one, of what consequence it is that should be allow'd, and how advantageous these blottings are to humane Society. I write not — for I am vex'd that shee sent me nothing the last time,

I send you a Bourriche of Fancies, which I humbly beseech you to put into the hands of her confident: Let her dispose of them as shee pleases, and keep them herself, if shee think shee cannot pre∣sent them to — without giving suspicion to her Mother. But I entreat her to pick out the best, and to present them to you, from herself, I would say, from me, if I durst, and were not confident, that you are not much taken with presents of that nature. I send them also some images, because it now comes into my mind that I had promised them some. I have nothing to acquaint you with as to your friend, the poor lasse, is, if I am not mistaken, in a very sad condition; Her Husband is never a minute absent from her; he is a perpetual torment to her, nor is her Mother lesse trouble∣some; in a word, never was any one so little marryed, nor so much. Madam, hasten to the sight of this — spectacle, I am,

Yours, &c