The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER XX.

To Mirza Muhammed Effendi, Vicar to the Mufti.

THE Jews have a Proverb, That he who breeds not up his Son to some Trade, makes him a Thief. And the Arabians say, That an idle Person is the Devil's Play-fellow. Therefore, our Holy, and Wise Lawgiver, has commanded all True Believers, to exercise themselves every Day in some Manual Oc∣cupation. Neither is the Sultan on his Throne, any more exempted from Obedience to this Ʋniversal Precept, than he who cleans the Streets. The Soul of Man, is active as Fire; or, to take our Comparison as the Hebrews do from another Element, It can no more

cease from being busie, than Water can with∣hold it self from running out of every Hole of a Sieve. Men will be always exerting their Faculties one way or other, and there is no Medium between Good and Evil: Whosoever is not employ'd in One, must necessarily fall into the Other. These are the Points to which all the Lines of Humane Actions tend, the Centers where all our Af∣fairs meet. But, though there be no such Thing as a Mediocrity between these Two Extremes, and every Man is within the Circumference either of Vertue or Vice: Yet, there are certain Steps and Degrees in each; Specifick Differences also, which take their Rise and Proportions from Nature, Morality and Religion. Thus, Humane Pru∣dence teaches us, of Two Evils to chuse the least; while the Divine Oracle instructs us, Not to stand upon Niceties and Punctilio's with Vertue, but to push forward till we arrive at an Heroick Generosity.

As for me, who serve the Grand Signior in this Station, I am forced to compound with the Law, and capitulate with the Severer Precepts of the Alcoran. I tell many a Lye, that I may do the more effectual Service to Truth. I am compell'd to deny my Religion, that I may pre∣pare a Way for others to propagate it. By ob∣lique and remote Fetches of Policy, I accomplish the Direct Intentions of Justice, while I com∣mit little Vices among the Infidels, to intro∣duce great Vertues. Thus, making good the Counsel of the Persian Philosopher, That it is

necessary for him who would reach his Journeys End, sometimes to go round about. And, thou knowest what Encouragement has been given me; being assur'd by the Sovereign Pre∣late of our Holy Law, That while I keep in the Orb of my Duty to the Grand Signior, I am out of the Devil's Circle.

If thou wouldst know how I busie my self at my Hours of Leisure: I make Watches; not knowing how better to spend my vacant Time, than in framing an Instrument, where∣by I may perceive how Time passes away. This little Engine, points out each Minute, and measures exactly the Succession of Hours; it keeps Pace with Years, yet out-runs not Months. 'Tis the Journal of the Sun, a faith∣ful Record of his daily Travel through the Heavens. In a Word, 'tis the Secretary of Time; and a compendious History of the First-born Issue of Eternity.

Eliachim the Jew, takes some off my Hands; and, the Rest I present to the Gran∣dees, or any Body whom I would oblige. I have sent some by the Way of Vienna to the most Venerable Mufti, and to thy self, as also to others of my Friends at the Sublime Port. They are all seal'd up, with Directions to those for whom they are Designed. I wish, that this mean Testimony of my Duty and Affection, may be accepted. And, that my Superiors would from hence conclude, that I am no bad Husband of my Time.

The Ʋnchangeable Essence, who moves all Things, yet is mov'd of None; who sets all

the Springs and Wheels of Nature a-going, yet remains himself in Eternal Rest; be∣holding all Things past, present, and to come with one undivided Glance; grant, that I may be approved of Heaven, while I obey the Mufti and his Vicar on Earth.

If thou favourest the Cause of the Merchant who brings thee this Letter, thou shalt do well. He will inform thee of his Affairs. God encrease thy Felicity.

Paris, 22^d of the 10^th Moon, of the Year 1644.