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IT is one of the fairest daies that ever were seen in Summer; I am at Liancour, one of the most pleasant places in the World; I have the companie of three or four of the handsom∣est Ladies in France, and yet I lock my self up in my Chamber, alone, to write to you. Hence you may easilie inferre that I am in a much better humour now then I was the last time, and consequentlie this Letter will be milder then the other. I re∣pented
me I had sent it an hour after it was gone, and the same night I received yours, wherewith I was absolutelie satisfied; not that it caused any change in my judgement, or that I thought not my resentment just; but I could be no longer angrie with you, and am convinced, that you cannot do me so great a dis∣pleasure, for which three words from you shall not procure an act of Oblivion. For, in fine, my affection is at the present, arrived to that point whereto you said once at St. Clou, that it ought to be, in so much, that though I should finde you guil••ie, not of a negligence but an infidelitie, I could not forbeare lo∣ving you. Since it was decreed I should be in the power of some one, it is certainlie my great happinesse that I am fallen into the hands of a person of so much goodnesse, reason, and integritie, and who disposes of me with more care, caution, and lenitie, then I could do my self. But all this granted, I have at the present to object to you, that you have not that tenderness of my quiet you ought: for to deal freelie, what was your in∣tention, to write to me that Fortune hath carried her self verie stranglie towards you, without acquainting me how, and lea∣ving the rest to my conjecture? It is indeed an invention the neatest that may be, to make me imagine and feel all the mis∣fortunes that may have happned to you, whereas I should have had but some to wrastle with, if you had acquainted me how it is. Deliver me as soon as you please out of this paine, which I professe, is one of the greatest I ever had in my life. I write to you in much haste and disturbance, for I am now called away by some that knock at my Chamber door. But I cannot endure to write you a short Letter, and you, h••pl••e, would think it as mischievous as the other, if it be not long enough. I have kissed yours a thousand t••mes, and read it almost as manie; it is the han••somest and m••st obliging in the World: But, I be∣seech you write to me negligentlie▪ that you may do it the more pleasantlie, and entertain me in your Letters with the same freedom as you spoke to me in your Chamber. I am but too well acquainted with your abilities, fear it not, and I would have a knowledge of your affection proportionable to my wi∣shes. I am extreamlie glad you are with the person you tell me of; for knowing how much you love her, and how amiable she is, I doubt not but she contributes much to your enjoyments. You tell me that she is now as well acquainted with me as you
are. How? have you acquainted her with all my ill condi∣tions, have you told her how full of mischief I am, and what trouble I have put you to? If it be so, it is certainlie verie maliciouslie done, and assure your self, I shall, to be revenged, know what I have to tell her of you, when I see her. It was not necessarie to make such a particular description of me, and it had been better to have done it lesse like, that so I might have been more handsome; for she, who is so tender of your quiet, and who hath no jealousie for you, and so much affects what you love, I am afraid may wish me ill for having tormented you so much, and believe me, a person of little honour, when she shall understand I have been jealous. But I beseech you, make it your businesse to raise in her a good opinion of me, for I de∣sire, above all things to be in her favour, and now that I con∣ceive my self in your affection••, there is not any thing I desire so much as her friendship. Fo••r daies since, I lost Monsieur C. — and certainlie with much reg••et, for J love and esteem him infinitelie. I told him that J was to write to you by the way of — you have satisfied me verie much where you tell me, that you take great delight in reading the books I presented you with; but let me know which of them you are most taken with, and in that, what pleases you best. I was resolved to beg some account of them from you, but now I desire not onelie that, but of whatever you do; for I shall be extreamlie glad to know the most inconsiderable of your thoughts and actions. I am upon my return to Paris, where I shall finde a Letter of yours, which makes me verie impatient to be there; two daies, I hope, will bring me thither: But in regard the Messenger goes not away till to morrow noone, I send this Letter before by a Lacqueie. Adieu, I begge the continuance of your affe∣ction; for my part, how much I love you, I am not not able to tell you, time shall discover.