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IN the Name of God and his Prophet, what Occasion hadst thou to send me such an an∣gry Letter? Thou that art thy self but a Slave, as I am, to the Slaves of him, whose Throne is above the Flight of the Eagle! Dost thou think to frighten Mahmut into a sordid Com∣pliance with thy Ambition, whom Nothing can terrify, so long as he preserves himself free from any Stain of Disloyalty? I tell thee,
I'm another Achilles, Invulnerable all over, save the Soles of my Feet, which are the Em∣blems of our most tender Affections. There thou may'st wound me, with the soft Ar∣rows of pretended Friendship. But if once thou appearest, with the Naked Face of an Enemy, I'm presently on my Guard.
Thou accusest me of many Crimes, where∣of I was never Guilty; loadest me with a Thousand undeserved Reproaches, and all to vent thy Choler: Threatning me with Revenge, because I once excus'd the Lateness of my Ad∣dress to Minezim Aluph Bassa, then newly Vested by our Munificent Sultan, by laying the Blame on the Badness of the Ways, or the Insolence of Soldiers by whom the Posts are often intercepted in Time of War: or, in Fine, on thy Neglect in not supplying me with more early Intelligence. Wherein 'tis easie to discern, That thou wert the last I wou'd accuse to that Minister, though thou wert Principally in the Fault. For I was after∣wards inform'd, That the Posts were neither retarded by any Impassable Roads, or stopp'd by the Orders of Military Men, but arriv'd here at their accustom'd Seasons. Where∣fore thou hast no Reason to be offended at me, unless it be for the Shortness of my Ac∣cusation, and that it was defective in Malice.
Thou wouldst take it ill, if in my own Defence I shou'd complain to the Vizir Azem, of thy frequent Neglects in this Kind. But I scorn to vindicate my self, at the Price of a∣nother Man's Disgrace and Peril. Onely I
advise thee, to forbear threatning. It is a Re∣flection on thy Prudence, to menace a Man who has no other Resentments of thy Passion, than to own himself oblig'd to thee, for so open a Discovery of it. Woud'st have the very Spleen of my Humour? I smile at thee. Thou hast made me as Jocund as Democritus. If thou know'st not who I mean; He was a pleasant sort of a Philosopher, to whom all Hu∣man Actions, were Objects of Mirth. There was another Whining Sage, that perpetually Wept. The most Comical Passages, and such as mov'd all Men to Laughter, drew Floods of Tears from his Eyes. His Name was He∣raclitus. It is hard to determine, which of these Two was in the Right. But I think I am not much in the Wrong, to be a little pleasant with thee. Perhaps, it may put thee into a better Humour. However, I wou'd not have thee be displeas'd with thy self, for being of so peevish a Disposition. 'Tis observ'd, That Passionate Men are always best Natur'd, and free from secret Malice. Choler is as necessary as our Blood. Without the Lat∣ter, we cou'd not live; and if we were void of the Former, our Lives wou'd be as Ʋna∣ctive, as that of Snails and Oysters. We shou'd be absolute Drones.
Hippocrates, the famous Physician, says, This Complexion is the most Noble of all the Four, transforming Men to Heroes, and re∣fining our Earthly Mold, to a Constitution like that of the Immortal Gods; whose Bodies, according to the Poets, consist wholly of an Ethereal Flame.
Therefore be not discouraged, neither re∣pine at a Temper, which ranks thee among those, to whom Sacrifices are made. On the other Side, take it not amiss from Mahmut, if he tells thee, he has not Devotion enough, to become thy Voluntary Victim.
Yet if I cannot be so Obsequious, as to throw my self away, by acknowledging Crimes where∣in I was never concern'd, and for which I have a Natural Abhorrence; rest satisfy'd at least, That I will serve thee as far as I can, without entrenching on the Duty I owe to the Grand Signior. And be assur'd, I will do thee no Harm, so long as thou observest that Rule.
In fine, I advise thee to order thy Steps, like a Man that is walking in the Bogs of E∣gypt, where if he observe the Track of those who have gone before him, he may be safe; but if his Foot slips, he Sinks in the Mire. Such is the Life of Courtiers.
Paris, 18th. of the 2d. Moon, of the Year 1651.