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 Monsieur Costart. LETTER. CXXXV.

Sir,

COnsider I pray, whether I deal not favourably and ingenuously with you, since so specious a pretence as that of a great jour∣ney perform'd with so much precipitation, (for we are come in six dayes from Paris to Grenoble by Coach,) hinders me not from giving you an answer? I received your last Letter a quarter of an hour before my departure; I rejoyce at your prosperities as much as if they were my own, and while I am unfortunate in whatever I desire, I think my self fortunate, when you are so. For I cannot say that Fortune is absolutely my enemy, since shee is your friend, and I forgive her all the mischief shee hath done me, in requital of the favour shee doth you. You will be astonish'd at what I shall tell you, and truely I am asham'd to tell you; M— is more unmerci∣ful to me then ever, more cruel then shee was in her Letters; and what is lamentable and shameful both, this resistance enflames me, and I am fallen more deeply in love with her then ever you knew me.

O indignum facinus, nunc ego & Illam Scelestam esse, & me miserum sentio; Et taedet, & amore ardeo, & prudens, sciens, Vivus, videns{que} pereo, nec quid agam scio.

It is one of the reasons mov'd me to undertake this journey, ut defatiger; but I fear me I shall have the same Fortune with that other. Do you, who are more discreet, and better acquainted with her, give me some advice in this case, and let me know, whether you conceive shee will persist in the resolution which shee seems to have taken. But deal freely with me, and in such an adventure as this, use not your ordinary compliance; It will haply prove a kind of re∣medy to me, to be perswaded that there is not any. You are oblig'd above all others to deliver me out of this disturbance, for besides that your affection to me ought to be greater then any man's, you are, in some sort, the cause of all the afflictions I groan under at the pre∣sent, as who first brought me to the sight of her,

Te, cum tuâ Monstratione magnum perdat Jupiter.

I speak it not in good earnest, but me thought it came very pat to my purpose. As to the word wherein you desire my judgement, I can say as little to it as you, though I reflected on it by the way as we came. That, 'tis true, does not signify much, for my thoughts were wholly taken up with her. Farewel, get my heart from her as soon as you can, that you may have it wholly to your self, or, if shee must keep it, that it may be with some justice, I am,

Sir,

Your, &c