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. LETTER VII.

IF this be the day that I am to entertain the person you re∣commended to me yesterday, I beseech you send me what you would have me to do it withall, or take it not ill, that I should make no presents to others, of a good, wherein the poorest are richer then my self. I never had so many painfull houres as the twelve I spent last, and since I had the honour of your presence, I have had so little rest, that I dare assure you there are few Feuillants but were better lodged then I. That man, in whose heart you yesterday left the dagger, hath had a better night; Fear, regret, despaire, and all the poisons of love that are of a cold nature, were my perpetuall Tormentors; and sleep, which for some time would needs give me some ease, hath been properlie to me the image of Death, since it continu∣allie represented to me that of your absence. The condition I am in considered, I do not think your friend would find anygreat en∣tertainment in my company, unlesse it be that her love must needs be converted into hatred, and all her passions swallowed up into that of Revenge. If this will serve, she shall find in me absolute satisfaction, and shall be well pleased to see the world affords some more wretched then she. However, give me leave to intreat you, what humour soever she may be in, not to leave me so much alone with her, that some bodie cannot se∣parate us; and withall to consider that there is no safetie for me, whether she love or hate me. I humbly beg this favour of you, that in case I may ever have her. —I may not receive my death from any other hands then yours, and that there may be no need of any other Instruments, but that I may be stifled by my own sighs, and the disturbances I am in for your absence. I know not whether you will begin, with this, to shew her the Letters I write to you; but I shall not complain of it, provided you give me leave to be gone immediately, and secure my selfe in Spain. For that I think a remedie appliable to all sorts of misfortunes; and if you have permitted another to retire thi∣ther to avoid a feavour, you may very well excuse me, if I go thi∣ther

to shun death. But, the misery I am in considered, I won∣der I should be guiltie of such a thought, an imagingtion of that nature, being, methinks, too light to fall into a mind so deeply afflicted as mine. However, since you everie year save one mans life, and that you professed yesterday that you would do all the kindnesses that cost you nothing; why should I not hope, that I haply am he whom you will favour so much, and that you will not suffer me to die, since you can prevent it with so much ease.