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 the same. Upon his promotion to the charge of Marshal of France. This Letter was written eight dayes after the precedent. LETTER. CXXIV.

My Lord,

OF all that I said to you prejudicial to War, I now make my recantation, and since the honour you have received is deriv'd from it, all controversy between me and it, is absolutely de∣cided. I have indeed long since been of opinion that so great va∣lour and Services, in a man of your quality, and a person so much in the respects of all the World, could not but meet with sudden re∣wards and acknowledgemets. But there being a vast difference between the things that are to be, and the things that effectually are, I could not but be extreamly glad to hear that, that had been done for you which needs must; and this news I was as sensible of, and as much surpris'd at, as if I had not expected it. It is out of all Question, my Lord, that the principal recompence of your actions

is the reputation they have gain'd you; but yet, it should be no slender satisfaction to you, to ascend at your age, to the highest de∣gree that the Fortune of War can raise men to. But, if on the other side, you consider how many dangers you have run through to ar∣rive to this, what hazards you have been put to, and how many gallant men you saw fall, who yet run the same race with you; you will think your self somewhat obliged to Fortune that hath pre∣serv'd you thus long, and hath not opposed your vertue. Among the many reasons I have to congratulate your happiness, there is one particular satisfaction which you cannot have your self, and which truely, at least in my opinion, surpasses all the rest; to dis∣cover by the unforc'd and unsuspected judgements of all the World, that your glory is free from all envy, and to see, there is not any one who is not as glad of your prosperity as if he were concern'd in it. The publick rejoycing at this particular good Fortune of yours, is to me a presage that it will be seconded by a many more, which it may produce; and I hope you will shortly add, to the honour you have received from the King, that reputation, which ••ou only can, and which indeed is the most solid and most real. I think you doubt not but I heartily wish it, since you know how much I am, a thousand wayes, obliged to be, with all manner of respect and passion,

My Lord,

Your, &c.