2rol 1
2 role in
12/69/6
77166
hi 18
ખ
Charles Wolmesley.
Westweed
14
2 boll in Ont.
84 48
ha Waterling;
7099
1731
X
10%
蕈
​THE
WORKS
Celebrated Walmes ky
Thanks of the Celebrated
Monfieur Voiture. Ve
CONTAINING,
I. HIS LETTER S, and CHARACTERS
of the moft Eminent Perfonages in the COURT
of FRANCE. Illuftrated with explanatory
Notes by Monf. RICHELET.
II. His METAMORPHOSE S
III. ALCIDALIS and ZELIDA; OF
the Undaunted LADY. A ROMANCE Com-
pos'd for the Entertainment of Mademoiselle de
RAMBOUILLET..
Done from the Paris Edition, by Mr. OŽELL
To which is prefix'd, the Author's LIFE.
AND
A Character of his WRITINGS, by Mr. PoPE.
In Two VOLUME S.
The Third Edition.
LONDON Printed,
And Re-printed in DUBLIN, by and for Samuel
Fairbrother Bookfeller, in Skinner-Row, oppofite
to the THOLSEL, MDccxxxI.
English
Blackwell
11-9-33
28284
ΤΟ Α΄
Young LADY
WITH THE
WORKS of VOITURE.
By Mr. POPE.
N thefe gay Thoughts the Loves & Graces fhine,
And all the Writer lives in ev'ry Line
His easy Art may happy Nature feem,
Trifles themſelves are elegant in him.
Sure to charm all, was his peculiar Fate,
Who without Flatt'ry pleas'd the Fair and Great ;
Still with Efteem no lefs convers'd than read;
With Wit well-natur'd, and with Books well-bred
His Heart, his Miftrefs, and his Friend, did fhare,
His Time, the Mufe, the Witty, and the Fair.
Thus wifely carelefs, innocently gay,
Chearful he play'd the Trifle, Life, away,
'Till Death fcarce felt, did o'er his Pleafures creep,
As fmiling Infants fport themſelves to fleep:
Ev'n rival Wits did Voiture's Fate deplore,
And the Gay mourn'd, who never mourn'd befores
The trueft Hearts for Voiture heav'd with Sighs;
Voiture was wept by all the brighteſt Eyes;
The Smiles and Loves had dy'd in Voiture's Death,
But that for ever in his Lines they breathe.
A z..
Let
Mr. Pope's Character of Voiture
Let the ftrict Life of graver Mortals be
A long, exact, and ſerious Comedy;
In ev'ry Scene fome Moral let it teach,
And, if it can, at once both pleaſe and preach :
Let mine, like Voiture's, a gay Farce appear,
And more diverting ftill than regular;
Have Humour, Wit, a native Eafe and Grace,
No matter for the Rules of Time and Place.
Criticks in Wit, or Life, are hard to pleaſe,
Few write to thofe, and none can live to theſe.
Too much your Sex is by their Forms confin'd,
Severe to all, but moft to Woman-kind :
Cuftom, grown blind with Age, must be your Guide;
Your Pleaſure is a Vice, but not your Pride;
By Nature yielding, ftubborn but for Fame;
Made Slaves by Honour, and inade Fools by Shame.
Marriage may all thofe petty Tyrants chace,
But fets up One, a greater, in their Place.
Well might you with for Change, by thofe accurft,
But the laft Tyrant always proves the worst.
Still in Conftraint your fuffering Sex remains,
Or bound in formal, or in real Chains :
T
Whole Years neglected, for fome Months ador'd,
The fawning Servant turns a haughty Lord.
Ah, quit not the free Innocence of Life!
For the dull Glory of a virtuous Wife!
Nor let falfe Shews, or empty Titles pleafe;
Aim not at Joy, but reft content with Eafe.
The Gods, to curfe Pamela with her Prayers,
Gave the gilt Coach and dappled Flanders Mares,
The fhining Robes, rich Jewels, Beds of State,
And to compleat her Blifs, a Fool for Mate.
She glares in Balls, Front Boxes, and the Ring,
A vain, unquiet, glitt'ring, wretched Thing!
Pride, Pomp, and State, but reach her outward Part,
She fighs, and is no Dutchess at her Heart.
But,
Mr. Pope's Character of Voiture. iii
But, Madam, if the Fates withftand, and you
Are deftin'd Hymens willing Victim too;
Truft not too much your now refiftlefs Charms,
Thofe Age or Sicknefs, foon or late, difarms:
Good Humour only teaches Charms to laſt,
Still makes new Conquefts, and maintains the paft:
Love, rais'd on Beauty, will like that decay,
Our Hearts may bear its flender Chain a Day,
As flow'ry Bands in Wantonnefs are worn,
A Morning's Pleaſure, and at Ev'ning torn:
This binds in Ties more eafy, yet more ftrong,
The willing Heart, and only holds it long.
癇​癪
​Thus *Voiture's early Care ftill fhone the fame,
And Montaufier was only chang'd in Name.
By this, ev'n now they live, ev'n now they charm,
Their Wit ftill ſparkling, & their Flames ftill warm,
Now crown'd with Myrtle on th' Elysian Coast,
Amidst thefe Lovers, joys his gentle Ghoft,
Pleas'd while with Smiles his happy Lines you view
And finds a fairer Rambouillet in you..
The brighteft Eyes of France infpir'd his Mufe,
The brighteft Eyes of Britain now perufe.
And dead as living, 'tis our Author's Pride,
Still to charm thofe, who charm the World befide..
*Mademoiselle Paulet..
The
A 3
The NAMES of the PERSONS with
whom Monfieur VOITURE cor-
refponded, and to whom the following
LETTERS are addreſs'd.
Arnaud,
A.
Rnaud, Monfieur,
B.
Balzac, Monfieur de
Gaul.
pag.
189
32
Bellegrade, Duke of, upon fending him Amadis de
Bourbon, Mademoiselle de,
C.
17
47
21
Chalais, Mademoiſelle
Chapelain, Monfieur,
230
Chaudebonne, Monfieur de,
66, 85, 90, 106.
Coftart, Monfieur,
206, 208, 211, 217.
F.
Fargis, the Lord,
81
G.
Godeau, Bishop of Graffe,
127
Gourdon, Monfieur,
118
I.
Lifieux, Bißop of,
221
Lyonne, Monfieur de
223
M
Montaufier, the Marquess of,
113
P.
Paulet, Mademoiſelle,
1, 8, 9, 28, 29, 60, 64,
67, 74, 75, 87, 94, 98, 100.
Pifani, the Marquefs of,
Puy-Laurens, Monfieur de
116, 196.
77, 79.
Ram
The CONTENTS.
R.
Rambouillet, Marquefs de,
Page
36
Marchioness de, in the Name of Callot,
an excellent Engraver, at the fame Time that
the Author fent her a Book of his Figures from
Nancy,
42, 84, 190, 216.
- Mademoiselle, 13, 18, 30, 42, 44,
57, 117, 130, 133, 134, 136, 140, 142, 145, 148,
150, 152, 154, 166, 169, 171, 197, 199, 201,
213, 214, 219, 227, 236.
Richelieu, Cardinal, his Character,
S.
172.
Sable, the Marchioness de, 22, 24, 26, 27, 58, 202, 233.
Saintot, Madam de, fent with the Orlando Furiofo of
Ariofto,
Sourdiac, the Marquefi de
40, 184, 185, 188,
V.
147.
Valette, Cardinal de la, 50, 125, 156, 158, 160, 162,
Vigean, Madam.de,
191, 193, 204, 224,
Son
vi
An ACCOUNT of
8
AN
ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE
020
O F
Monfieur Voiture,
00
Written by his NEPHEW..
20000000 T being my Intention to honour the Me
00 1 00 mory of an Uncle, whom I infinitely e-
fteem'd, and whofe Image will be always
oooooo dear to me, I thought myſelf, Reader,
oblig'd, when I gave you his Writings, to tell you
fomething of his Perfon. If I fpeak of him to his
Advantage, I hope, I fhall not be at all fufpected,
upon Account of being his Kinſman, fince that
very Reafon will make me more referv'd, than
any indifferent Perfon would probably be. Had I
been left to myſelf, I ſhould have wholly omitted
for
Monfieur VOITURE.
vii
fo juft a Duty, as well becauſe of my Incapacity to
perform it, as of the Repugnance I found in my
felf againſt publiſhing the Virtues of a Man to
whom I was fo nearly related. But I yielded to
the Perfwafions of his Friends and mine, who re-
prefented to me, that fince I had taken upon me
to publish his Works, I ought to give the Reader
fome Account of his Life and Perfon. I fhall there-
fore fay all that the Subject requires, with lefs
Art and Ornament, than Freedom and Truth:
And to give you an Idea of his Soul, that may go
beyond what appears in his Writings, however
beautiful and agreeable they may be, I dare affure.
you, that he had many. Qualities befides, which
were full as confiderable as his Wit, and which
were of themſelves fufficient to fet him above the
Generality of Mankind, and to obtain him the
Reputation of being the Glory of the Age he
liv'd in. He had feveral Talents very advantage-
ous in the Commerce of the World; and among
others, that of having wonderful Succefs in fami-
liar Converfation, and of doing and faying every
Thing with an uncommon Gracefulnefs. Tho' he
fpent most Part of his Life in the Diverfions of a
Court, yet he had ſtudy'd very hard, and had
great Knowledge of good Authors. He was..
thoroughly skill'd in what we call the belles Lettres;
and, which adds to their Value, knew perfectly
well how to make a right Ufe of them. When he
talk'd upon any Point of Learning, or gave his
Sentiments upon any Topick, he did it very much
to the Satisfaction of all that heard him, becauſe
he hit it off in a genteel lively Manner, without
any Thing of the Peevifhnefs or Contention of a
Pedant. He was a perfect Mafter of Rallery, and
agreeably us'd that Quality upon the moft ferious
Difcourfes. This wonderful Quicknefs of Wit ob
tain'd him a good Reception among
the chief
Lords at Court, and among Princes themselves.
દ
Ho
viii
An ACCOUNT of
He had a commendable Affurance in making him
felf known, join'd to an extraordinary Sweetneſs
and Civility, with which he always behav'd him-
felf in the Company of the Great, by whom he
was
far above his Rank; and we may
boldly fay, that no Man of his Condition and
Birth, ever carry'd it fo high as he did, or had
fuch noble Friends and Acquaintance. Cardinal
de la Valette, was the firft that introduc'd him at
Court, where he was immediately appointed to
be Maſter of the Ceremonies to his Royal High-
nefs; by Means of which Employment, and by his
own Merit, he might undoubtedly have had much
greater Promotions, had he been willing to apply
to Bufinefs; but he was born for fomething elfe,
and it would have been no fmall Lofs to the Mufes,
and to the Age he liv'd in, if he had given himſelf
up entirely to ferious Affairs. Not but that he had
fome very honourable Employments: He was a
long Time at the Court of Spain, on a Meffage
from his Mafter, (the Duke of Orleans) where he
grew acquainted with the Conde Duke D' Olivares,
and other Grandees, who had a particular Efteem
for his Wit. As he always lov'd the Language of
that Count and did afterwards make another
Journey thither, he became fo perfect a Mafter
of it, that he wrote fome Spaniſh Verſes which the
Spaniards themselves imagin'd to be Lope de Vega's,
one of their beft Authors. He was alfo fent by the
late King to the Great Duke, to notify to him
the Birth of his prefent Majefty; and thefe two
Journies made him perfect Maſter of the Spaniſh
and Italian Tongues.
He might have obtain❜d ſeveral other honoura-
ble Employments, but the Love, which he always
bore to Letters, would not fuffer him to push into
Bufinefs, to which he preferr'd Repofe. He na-
turally lov'd Men of Wit and Learning, of whats
ever Quality, and was equally belov'd by them.
Among
Monfieur VOITURE.
IX
Among Perfons of Condition, and who are now
employ'd in the Adminiftration of the Kingdom,
Monfieur d' Avaux was the firft that began to raiſe
our Author's Reputation; which being fupported
by a Man of fuch exquifite Judgment, and of fuch
cminent Virtue, could not fail of receiving daily
Addition. Monfieur de Chavigny afterwards help'd
to eſtabliſh it, by the Marks of Efteem which he
fhew'd him. The Marefchals Schomberg and Gram-
mont, honour'd him with a very ftrict Friendship;
and to go higher, the late Prince and all his Fa-
mily were pleas'd to look upon him with a graci-
ous Eye. The prefent Prince has often taken Plea-
fure in his Converſation, and gave him 'Leave to
write to him with great Familiarity. The Prince
of Conti began to conceive a very great Liking to
him; not forgetting here the Efteem and Affec-
tion which his Mafter, the Duke of Orleans, always
testify'd for him. He was not unknown to the
King and Queen themfelves; and his prefent
Lordfhip, the Cardinal, fometimes gave him Proofs
of his good Will. But he was particularly in the
Favour of that celebrated Family, where Virtue
has been always encourag'd and honoud; I mean
that of Rambouillet. Befides the Marquefs and
Marchionefs, all the polite Perfons of both Sexes,
who reforted to their Houfe, were extreamly fond
of his Company. Among the Learned that were
in a Condition more upon a Parallel with his
own, Monfieur de Balzac, Monfieur Chapelain, and
many others, whom it would be too tedious to
name, had a great Efteem for him while he was
alive, and have ftill a great Refpect and Love for
his Memory. And we may fay, that of all thofe
who have any Reputation at prefent for Wit,
there is hardly one that does not admire his; and
I am confident, that the whole Academy, of which
he was a Member, will be far from difowning what
I-fay in his Favour. But I don't think that the O-
སྙ
pinion
X
An ACCOUNT of
*
pinion of any Man, tho' ever fo well qualify'd, is
more advantageous to him, than the Approbation
of thofe illuftrious Ladies, who plac'd the Chief
of their Diverfions in his Converfation and Writ-
ings. That Sex has a very exquifite Tafte for the
Delicacies of Wit; and an Author muft write very
correctly, if he would be eternally read in a Circle
or a Lady's Clofet. In this, Monfieur Voiture was
a very great Mafter; and exactly practis'd that
old Oracle, which fays, That 'tis often a Piece of ´Skill
to avoid pleasing the Doctors. His Endeavours were tò
pleaſe thoſe that move in a different Sphere, I
mean the Court, of which the fair Sex is the great-
eft Ornament. I fhall be contented with naming
three, who will immediately draw after them the
Voice and Confent of every Body; and fhall lay
much leſs Streſs upon the Quality of the Perfons,
than upon their Merit. The Dutchess of Longueville
is indeed much oblig'd to the Blood of Bourbon and
Montmorency, for a great Eftate and a noble De-
fcent; but the is no lefs oblig'd to her Father and
her Mother, for the Advantages of Wit, which the
poffeffes in a high Degree: Of her Father, fhe
feems to inherit the Wiſdom and Quickneſs which
he had in all manner of Bufinefs; and of her Mo-
ther, the extraordinary Perfections, which make
that Princefs ftill admir'd as the Miracle of our
Age. To thefe, fhe has added fo many Graces,
and fo many Qualifications, which fhe has attain'd
by reading the best Books, that foreign Nations
justly ftrive with France which fhall praife her
moft. The World looks upon her, as it did upon
the Statue of an excellent Workman, which was
fo perfect and fo maſterly, that the others call'd
it The Rule,
The Gift which fhe enjoys of a wonderful Dif-
cernment, I don't fay between Good and Evil, but
between Good and Better; the Juftnefs, Strength,
and Extenfiveneſs of her Capacity, which give her
a Pe-
"
Monfieur VOITUre.
a Penetration into the moft hidden Beauties and
Defects, entitle her to a Right of judging defini-
tively in Matters of this Nature. The Marchionefs
de Sable, and Madam Montaufier are no fooner nam'd,
than our Souls are fill'd with the Image of two
Perfons accompliſh'd in themſelves, and in every
thing that may make a Lady compleat. I don't
undertake their Elogium; but I know that Prin-
ces, Ambaffadors, and Secretaries of State, pre-
ferve their Letters as the true Models of reafona-
ble Thoughts, and of a pure Style. I dare believe,
that that Princefs, and thefe Ladies, will not be
offended with me, for faying that they thought
our Author did in all Qualifications come very
near to the Standard which has been fet for what
the Italians call a perfect Courtier and the French a
gallant Man.
But 'tis Time to let you know fomething of his
Manners, which were no lefs commendable than
all his other Accomplishments. He was perfectly a
good Friend, which was one of the Reafons why
he had fo many. The Prefident de Maifons lov'd
him cordially, and gave feveral generous Tefti-
monies of his Affection, as well to him, as to his
Relations, even after his Death. When once he
contracted Friendship with any Body, he never
did any Thing contrary to the ftrictest Rules of
it; and as it was always founded more upon the
Virtue of his Friends, than upon their Fortune or
Quality, it never ceas'd upon Account of their Mis-
fortunes. He had not the leaſt Animofity in him,
and never envy'd the Writings of another Man, or
the Glory he might obtain by them. He judg'd of
Things without Paſſion, and never took Pleaſure
in Scandal, or in leffening any one's Reputation.
In Religion, he always had the Sentiments which
every Body ought to have; he was charitable to
the Poor; and thofe who knew him from his very
Youth, always found him exceedingly averfe to all
a
manner
xii
An ACCOUNT of
*
manner of Looſeneſs or Prophaneneſs. Tho' he
was a great Lover of Rallery, yet he never writ
any Thing Satyrical; and in all his Writings, there
is nothing but what is to the Advantage of thofe
he ſpeaks of. This laft Quality fhould engage the
Reader to uſe his Reputation as tenderly as he did
that of all the World. I don't doubt but that there
are fome Things in his Writings, which may be
liable to Cenfure, as indeed there is in the Works
of the greateft Authors, no body having yet dif-
cover'd the Art of Writing fo as to pleafe all; but
thefe ought not to be taken by Retail, but in
Grofs; not the Words, but the good Senfe, the
Genius, and the Wit of the Writer, ought to be
weigh'd; befides, it ſhould in ſome Meaſure be
confider'd, that he did not write for the Publick,
but for his Friends, at whofe Importunity alone
.his Works were publifh'd. There is not in his Let-
ters a tedious Uniformity of Style, but they are
full of Inventions and Figures; the Words are very
much vary'd, and every Thing in them is writ in
an eafy Manner, with a particular Air, and an in-
comparable Beauty. Perhaps his Manner of writ-
ing may ſeem too familiar, confidering the Rank
of the Perfons he writ too; but he had gain'd this
Privilege by Cuftom, and by Permiffion from the
Perfons themselves, who fuffer'd that in him,
which they would not have done in any body elſe.
However, he us'd this Advantage with Difcretion,
and always behav'd himſelf with a great deal of
Prudence in fo ticklifh a Point.
But I fhall conclude this Preface with appealing
to the fair Sex, whom, by his extraordinary Po-
liteness, he has always had the good Fortune to
pleafe and divert; and after having left the Men
to the Freedom of their Judgments, I must beg
leave to intreat the Approbation of the Women.
Let me beg you then, Ladies, to grant him your
Voices and Applaufe; look upon his Works with
as
Monfieur VOITURE.
XIIt
as favourable an Eye as he look'd upon you; de-
fend him courageoufly against all that fhould pre-
fume to find Fault with him: And as he never
faid any Thing that was not to your Honour, do
you never fay any Thing that is not to his. Con-
fefs with me, that the Loves and the Graces were
born with him, and that they would have dy'd too
with him, if they had not liv'd in you.
IfI fay too much of him in the Opinion of fome,
they must attribute the Excefs of my Commenda-
tions to the perfonal Refpect I had for him; and,
if in the Opinion of others, I have not faid enough,
they muſt aſcribe my Modeſty to the Proximity
of Blood..
M. PERRAULT's
A C.COUNT
OFF
VOITURE
V
IRGIL having a Mind to bring a Poet
into the Elyfian Fields, places him in
the midst of the greateit Heroes; there
DC by to fhew, that a Genius for Poetry,
when it is in a high Degree of Perfection makes
the Man who poffeffes it, fit to live among Prin-
ces and Kings, and in fome fort to be upon a Le-
vel with them. An Example of this was feen in
him whofe Elogium I am now writing. Tho' his
a 2.
Birth
xiv
An ACCOUNT of
Birth was but obfcure in Comparifon, being only
the Son of a Wine-Merchant; yet, by Means of
his extraordinary Wit, he had the Happineſs to
fpend his Life in the Friendſhip and Familiarity.
of the greateſt Perſons then at Court.
Indeed his Genius was very wonderful; and,
which is more, the only one of its Kind. There
appear'd, at that Time, a great many very elo-
quent Authors, who join'd with Balzac in giving
our Language the Elegance and Majefty which
was wanting to it. Malherbe, and feveral other
Poets, had carry'd Poefy to a much higher Pitch
of Perfection, than that wherein they found it
But this Eloquence, and this Poetry, was ftill of
the fame Species with that of the Ancients; and
they only differ'd as to the more or lefs.
Voiture, in all his Writings, whether Profe or
Verfe, had fuch a genteel Air of Rallery, and
fuch a beautiful Simplicity, as was not to be found
in the moſt polite Authors of Antiquity. This Ta-
lent, being admirable in it felf, and having, befides,
the additional Charms of Novelty, acquir'd him
the Love and Efteem of all the World. The most
inconfiderable Things became valuable by his
handling them. Even Proverbs, which in our
Language do generally make a Difcourfe mean
and unpolite, made his agreeable, whenever he
had Occafion to bring them in. It was in the Hotel
de Rambouillet, (at that Time the common Rendez-
vous of the Wits) that his Mcrit began first to be
taken Notice of. The Duke of Orleans, the King's
only Brother, being defirous to have him always
near his Perfon, made him his Mafter of the Cere-
monies; an Office which he executed to the Day
of his Death, and of which he acquitted himſelf
perfectly well, being in Poffeffion of all the Talents
and Languages that were requir'd for it. The
Duke fent him to Spain about fome Affairs; and
being There, out of Curiofity he crofs'd over to
Africa,
Monfieur VOITURE.
XV
Africa, as may be feen in his Letters. He was very
much efteem'd at Madrid, where he writ fome
Spanish Verfes, which every Body took to be Lope
de Vega's, the Diction of them was fo pure and fo
natural. The Conde Duke d' Olivarez, prime Mini-
fter and Favourite of the King of Spain, took great
Pleaſure in his Converfation, and defir'd he would
write to him when he was return'd to Flanders.
He made two Journies to Rome, and was fent to
Florence to carry the News of the King's Birth.
He had alſo a Place in his Majesty's Houfhold
and the Count d' Avaux, Super-Intendant of the
Finances, made him his Deputy, not to exercife
the Office, but only to receive the Salary. He
might have dy'd rich, but that he was fo addicted
to Gaming, that in one Night he loft fifteen hun-..
dred Pistoles. The Prince of Conti, even when he
was Duke of Anguien, was pleas'd to honour him
with his Favour and Friendship. The Approba
tion of this young Heroe, help'd not a little to ele-
vate his Soul; and his Defire to pleafe fo nice a
Tafte, is perhaps one of the principal Caufes of
the Excellence of his Works. This may be feen
by the Epiftolary Poem which he writ to that
Prince at his Return from his Conquefts in Ger
many; a Piece, wherein it is hard to fay, which.
prevails moft, Wit, Pleafantry, or Solidity: Never
were the Grave and the Serious temper'd with a
more clean and ingenious Rallery.
Tho' he himſelf never printed any of his Writ
ings, yet his Reputation extended not only all over
France, but alfo into moft foreign Countries; and
the Academy of the Humoristi at Rome, fent him
Letters of Admiffion into their Society. His
Works were publifh'd after his Death in one Vo-
lume, which was fo well receiv'd, that two Edi-
tions of it were fold off in fix Month's Time. His
Profe is rather more correct than his Verfe, and
has an Air of Gallantry quite throughout, not to
be
xvi
An ACCOUNT of.
be found in any Author but himſelf. His Poetry is
full of Variety, and has fomething in it fo new and
uncommon, that the more it is endeavour'd to be
imitated, the more inimitable it is found to be.
He was a Member of the French Academy, and
prov'd one of its greateſt Ornaments. He was born
at Amiens, and educated at Paris, where he dy'd in
the Year 1648, aged 50 Years,
As there were great Numbers that admir'd him,
fo there were fome who envy'd his Glory, which
they endeavour'd to celipfe in a very particular
Manner, I mean, by praifing him; for they only
admir'd two or three of his Letters: One, for Ex-
ample, which he wrote as from a Carp to a Pike;
and another, where he praiſes an Abbefs for not
fuffering a Cat to get to the Cheefe; and in praif-
ing fuch as thefe, they endeavour'd to infinuate,
that he excell'd only in Trifles. M. Coftar, who
perceiv'd the Maliciouſneſs of theſe Commenda
tions, was refolv'd to expofe them to all the World;
and in order to it, made a Collection of all ſuch
Paffages in his Letters as are moſt noble and moſt.
moving. Tho' one has never ſo often read over
thefe beautiful Things in their natural Places, it is
hardly credibie how one is amaz'd at them when
they appear all together.
After his Death, Sarazin publiſh'd a little Pamph-
let, call'd his Funeral Pomp, wherein his Life and
Manners are very ingenioufly defcrib'd. This is
an admirable Piece, and I believe the only one of
that Nature. It is an Honour to him for whom it
was written; not only becauſe it praifes him, and
is in it felf excellent, but becaufe the beautiful
Turn which is admir'd in it, is owing chiefly to
the Imitation of his Writings. His Works are one
Volume of Letters, with fome Poems, and a Ro-
mance, call'd ALCIDALIS and Zelida.
M
M. RICHELET's ACCOUNT
of VOITURE.
Q20
£Q V 00
90
VOD000.00 Incent Voiture was born about the Begin-
ing of the laft Age at Amiens, the Capi-
tal of Picardy; but he was educated at
00000000 Paris, and at Court, and bred up with
Perfons of the firft Quality His Father was a
Wine-Merchant, and ferv'd the Court. He faid
that his Son was chang'd at Nurſe, becauſe he
drank nothing but Water, for which he was often
rally'd. One Day, going by Chance into a Part of
the Duke of Orlean's Palace, where fome Officers
were carowfing, one of them cry'd out to him,
Glafs in Hand,
Thy Father was an honeft Cod,
As ever fold the Grape's rich Blood:
Thou Voiture's Son! the Dev'l a Bit:
Thou neither ſell'fſt nor drinkeſt it.
Another Time, it being thought that he was upon
courting a Cook's Daughter nam'd la Prou in the
Way of Marriage, this Epigram was written upon it,
Thrice happy Pair, beyond Expreffion bleft!
Whofe Life fall be but one continu'd Feast,
A Banquet which the Morn to Night fall join ;
For as la Prou finds Meat, Voiture fall furniß Wine.
Madam Deloges, playing ane Day at Proverbs with
Voiture, and not liking one of his: This is not worth a
Farthing, M. Voiture, faid fhe, come, pierce us año-
ther. Monfeignieur de Baſſompierre, is reported to
have broke the following Jeft upon Voiture: Tis a
thousand Pities he was not of his Father's Trade; for be-
ing
4
xviii M. Richelet's Account of Voiture.
ing fe fond as he is of fweet Things, he would have drawn
nothing but Hypocrafs. "Tis believ'd, that the fame
Lord had this Rallery too upon Voiture: Wane,
which fetches other this Man
eople to themfelves, makes
foon if he does but bear it nam'd. Voiture could not
bear to be rally'd upon the Subject of his Birth;
and in this Point he was very weak: A Man of
Wit and Senfe, tho' of mean Parentage, is more
valuable than a Man of Quality without Parts or
Capacity.
Monfieur d'Avaux introduc'd Voiture at Court,
having contracted a Friendſhip with him at School
;
Monfieur de Chaudebonne carry'd him to the Hotel
de Rambouillet. Afterwards he was taken into the
Family of the Duke of Orleans, who fent him about
Tome Affairs into Spain; from whence, out of mere
Curiofitý, Voiture went to Africa. He had feveral
Penfions, and might have dy'd rich, had it not
been for his Love of Play; for he loſt more than
a Man of his Condition could poſſibly bear.
Voiture was good-natur'd, civil, amorous, or at
leaft pretended to be fo, and he boaſted, that he
had made Love from the Scepter to the Sheep-Hook, and
from the Coronet to the round-ear'd Cap. He dy'd at
about fifty Years of Age; he was finely fhap'd,
drefs'd well, and faid Things in a very polite
Manner; the Works he has left us, are glorious
Proofs of his Wit. His Profe, which confifts of a-
bout two Hundred Letters, and a fmall Romance,
call'd Alcidalis and Zelida, more correct than his
Poetry. His Letters, which do not treat of Love,
have, for the Generality, an admirable Turn, and
are in a Manner fo many Originals. In his Profe,
he imitated the charming Simplicity of Cicero,
and in his Verfe, that of Clement Marot, and Melin
de St, Gelais, whom he infinitely excell'd.
Monfieur
(1)
Monfieur Voiture's
WORKS.
AHADDADODOO+CD-DODACIDIC
*
To Mademoiselle PAULET,
MADAM,
LETTER I
38-32T was much more my Intereft than if
was yours, to keep the Riches you had
I fent me, from falling into other Hands
than mine. I had rather lofe all I
0033-300 have in the World, than thofe Things
you make me a Prefent of; and fo long as I en-
joy thefe latter, I could almoft difpenfe with e-
very thing elfe. If the Stones you have given me,
can't break mine, they will at leaft make me fup-
VOL. I.
B
port
*She was the Daughter of Charles Paulet, Secretary
of the King's Bed-Chamber: This Lady was one of thofe
who had the ftrongeft Paffion for Monfleur Voiture, whe
suas not infenfible to the fair One, for he was rich and
deferving. She was call'd the Iyonefs, on account of ber
bigh Spirit, and yellow Hair.
=
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
port the Torment with Patience; and I think I
ought never to be forry for my having the Stone-
Cholick, fince it has procur'd me fo much Happi-
nefs. Yet I can't help telling you, that this Gene-
rofity had lik'd to have coft you dear, for I had
much ado to hinder your Prefent of Jewels from
bringing a Scandal upon you. The Gentleman I
live with knows you do me the Honour to write
to me, becauſe I fhew'd him the Billet in which
you fend your Service to him. I was in his Com-
pany when your Letters were deliver'd to me;
he either knew, or gueſs'd it was your Hand, by
the Superfcription, and I did not deny but that it
was. I had the Curiofity to look firft upon a Pa-
per which feem'd more heavy than any of the
reft, and having open'd it, I pull'd out in his Pre-
fence a Bracelet more brilliant and handfomer
made than any I ever faw before. 'Tis impoffible
to tell you how much I was furpriz'd to find a
thing I fo little expected from You, and that I had
been fo indifcreet in the very first Favour you ever
did me. My Blood flew all into my Face, and
made me redder than the very Ribband you fent
me; and he, before whom I ſtood, affum'd a Coun-
tenance as grave and fevere, as if it had been gi
ven me by fome Mifs. But upon reading your
Letter, I found that what I at firft took for a Fa-
vour, was only a Medicine; and that the Bracelet
was not fent to a Gallant, but to a poor fick Pati-
ent. Whatever you may think, Madam, 'tis my
Opinion I am very good; for I, who would have
given all I have in the World to have had this
Prefent from you by way of Gallantry, was how-
ever contented tho' it was not one, and was ex-
treamly glad to find that you appear'd innocent,
tho' it made me lefs happy. Thus the Ejade has
already done you a Kindness, tho' you did not ex
pect it; and by its Virtue has defended yours,
which was accus'd, and almoſt upon the Point of
being
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
[em
being condemn'd. After this, I cannot but look
upon it as very precious; and coming from fa
good Hands, I have mighty Faith in it. I am in
no fmall want of this Remedy, in a Country where
there is no other, and where Affiftance is to be ex-
pected fooner from Stones, than from Men. If you
can but call to mind one Particularity, which was
formerly told you about this Place, you'll very
much pity thofe who have the Cholick in't. If
you don't find out what I mean, I fhan't be forry
for it; for this Talk is not a bit too gallant for a
Man that has had fome little Reafon to believe
he is in your Favour. I fhall only tell you, Ma-
dam, that you are very much oblig'd to take care
of me; for befides that you have had the fame
Diftemper, I muft inform you, that this Time
mine proceeds from the fame Caufe, and the Phy-
ficians of Madrid, give me the fame Preſcriptions
as thoſe of Paris did formerly give you. In your
worst Humours, you were never more folitary,
more untractable, nor more peevith, than I am
here: You can't imagine how differently I live
from what I us'd to do; and you'll be aftonifh'd
when I tell you that I have spent eight Months
without fpeaking to a Woman, without fcolding,
without gaming, and, which is moft ftrange of all,
without fo much as warming my felf at a Fire
once: The very Relation of this is terrible. I
have endur'd a Winter more cold and piercing
than any we have in France, in a Place where there
are no Night-Gowns, no Chimnies, nor any Fires,
but upon a Victory, or the Birth of a Prince. This
Mifery has often made me wifh for the good Fires
you keep at your Houſes and I repent that I re-
fus'd to be the Cyclop of a Lady who is more
charming than her who governs the Mafter of all
the Cyclops. You must be very learned, if
underſtand this; but if you guess who I mean, I
humbly beg you, Madam, to give me Leave to
B 2
you
affure
4
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
affure her here, that I have a more paffionate Re-
fpect for her than ever, and that I fhould be con-
tented with her Abfence, if I thought it had the
fame Effect upon her, as it has upon me; for, up-
on my Word, it has confiderably increas'd the
Defire I always had to ferve her, and has made
me forget all the Things fhe has done to vex me,
fo that now I only remember the excellent Qua-
lities which make her fo agreeable and charming
Whatever I might pretend outwardly, I had ftill
fome little Spite against her in my Heart; and
'twas not till my laft Fit of Sicknefs, that I for-
gave her the Trick fhe play'd me once in your
Prefence, when fhe almoſt drown'd me with a Ba-
fon full of Water. But now all Defire of Revenge
is chang'd into a Longing to fee her, to honour
her, and to ſerve her; and if there is any one Bo-
dy in the World that I love more than herfelf, 'tis
only one whom the too loves more than fhe does
herfelf. As for that one Perfon, fhe fhall always
keep a particular Rank, both in my Memory, and
in my Efteem; fhe fhall never have either a Com-
panion, or an Equal in my Affection, no more than
The has in the World: And if my Love for you
were any thing elſe but Friendfhip, I confefs I
fhould not love you ſo much as I do her. Don't
knit your Brows at this, nor wonder that I fhould
not avoid faying fhocking Things in my Letter,
when you have not the fame Confideration for
me in yours. For what Occafion had you to tell
me, that thofe two Ladies have gotten new Ac-
quaintance, who may perhaps make them forget
their old Friends? And why fhould you put this
at the End of the moſt obliging Letter in the
World? Indeed, if my Diftemper might be cured
like the Quartan Ague, by violent Apprehenfion,
this Malice might be of fome Ufe; tho' I fhould
be but little oblig'd to you neither, if you gave me
the Diſeaſe of Jealouſy, in order to cure me of the
Cholick.
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
Cholick. Pray take care to make me eafy upon
this Head; for ferioufly it has broken my Reft,
and I have hardly been able to fleep for it. I was
a little inclin'd to fear this before; not that I in
the leaft doubt the Goodnefs of thofe Ladies; but
I can't help confidering what a dangerous Thing
'tis to be at a great Diftance from Folks. In a
word, Madam, I know no Body but you, that I
may depend upon; for to hold out againſt ſo long
an Abfence, 'tis not enough to be conftant, one
must be obftinate. But fince you have been pleas'd
to put me into the Lift of your Friends, I am
fure my Misfortunes will not make you retract it;
either would you care to ſee Chance bring about
a Thing, which formerly fo many Priefts, and fo
many religious People, could never effect. If there
is any other Perfon that does me the Honour to
love me, I enjoy that Happiness with Fear and
Trembling, as a thing I am liable to lofe, and of
which may be every Day Time robs me of fome
Part. You tell me, that the Miftrefs of your For-
tune has not forgot me: I can hardly tell how to
unriddle this. Pray, is not your Miftrefs a young
Lady, whofe Eyes are very lively, and whofe Nofe
turns up a little at the End; who is cunning, proud,
difdainful, haughty, and civil, and good-natur'd
who often fcolds, and yet always pleafes; who is
a very good Girl, and yet has a Mother that leads
her a weary Life; and whom I lov'd once from
Baignolet to Charonne ? If this be your Miftrefs, I
can tell you fhe deferves to be Miftrefs of the
whole World; and I have maintain'd for eight
Months together in this Court, that there's no-
thing under the Son fo good, nor fo beautiful as
fhe. All my Concerns put together, have not gi
ven me fo much Uneafinefs as hers have, and
have fhed abundance of Tears, in which the ha
had the greateſt Share. And indeed it must be
own'd, 'tis a miferable Thing to think of, that her
Birth
B 3
6 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Birth fhould be fo happy, and her Life fo unhap
py; and that one and the fame Perfon, fhould at
once have all the Graces, and all the Difgraces in
the World. I receive the Honour fhe does me,
with all the Refpect and Joy it is my Duty to do,
and I pray God to comfort her, as fhe comforts o-
thers. This Goodnefs ought to be a Shame to that
Lady who had three Lice found upon her one
Day; but your Miftrefs, by her faying nothing to
me, feems to ftand mightily upon her Fidelity to
you; tho' fhe might make me a Compliment,
without giving me the leaft Caufe for Jealoufy.
You take great Pains to affure me of the Friend-
fhip your Servant has for me; if 'twere not he I
guefs at, I fhould not like your remembring him
To much; but that Gentleman deferves all Things,
and I can envy him nothing. As for Madam de
Clermont, tho' you had not fo much as mention'd
her, I fhould nevertheleſs have been affur'd, that
fhe does me the Honour to love me; knowing the
Extenfiveness of her Charity, as I do, Ican't doubt
of her Affection; and 'tis enough to be in the
Number of the Afflicted, to be in the Number of
her Friends. In the midst of all the Joy I re-
ceive from the Honour fo many extraordinary Per-
fons are pleas'd to do me, I am extreamly griev'd
to find that you fay nothing to me of a Man whofe
Remembrance of me you know would be the
greatest Comfort to me. I am touch'd with no-
thing, in all my Misfortunes, fo much as I am
with that; and there's nothing but what I could
endure with more Patience. I am afraid he won't
take it well, that I fhould fpeak of him; but this,
nor no other Confideration, can hinder me from
publifhing in every Place where I come, that
there's no Man in the World more deferving the
Love of his Friends, and Efteem of his Enemies.
If the Count de Guiche is at Court, pray give me
Leave humbly to beg him to think of me fome-
F
times,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
7
times, and to give a Proof of his Conftancy, by
loving a Perfon fo ufelefs, and fo far diftant. I was
very well pleas'd t'other Day, to find Mademoiselle
de Montaufier in the Gazette; but I own I never could
have thought that her Fame would have reach'd
farther than her Brother's. I fhould be glad if he
were inform'd, that I am ſtill his moft humble
Servant, and that I wish him all the Conquefts in
his Amours he deferves. But however, I muft ex-
cept one Lady from this Wifh, upon whofe Ac-
count I formerly fear'd him; and I muft here af
fure that Lady herfelf, that fhe'd be the most
ungrateful Woman in the World, if ever fhe for-
gets me, be it for whom it will. For in fober
Sadness, the Paffion I have for her, goes beyond
any Thing fhe can imagine: But if after all this,
fhe rewards that Peo with Infidelity, I'm re-
folv'd to ufe Sword, Dagger, Poifon, or any Thing
elfe, to be reveng'd. I don't think, Madam, you
can guefs who I ſpeak of; that is a Secret too im-
portant to be trusted to any Body. I only defire
you to fhew this Part of the Letter to Mademoiselle
du Pin: But I grow now accuftom'd to write long
Letters, and I'm afraid I fhall tire you: I have
yet a thoufand Things more to fay to you, and 'tis
not without the greatest Violence, that I content
my felf with telling you, that I am,
Madrid.
Madam,
Your moß, &c.
To
B 4
8
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
MADAM,
SINCE
To the fame.
LETTER IL
1X
INCE the Favour you did me in writing to
me, is not to be valu'd, and 'tis impoffible for
me to deferve it, you ought not to have left it off,
tho' I may have feem'd to forget acknowledging it.
The Condition I was in two Months ago, made
me let the Poft-man fet out without writing to
you; and if this was the Reafon, as 'tis very like, y
to be, why he did not bring me any of your Let-
ters, I'll affure you my Cholick has done me no In-
jury fo great as this. Since they are fo neceffary,
pray, Madam, don't refuſe me your Affiftance
and fince you are fo charitable to every Body in
Affliction, why fhould you not be fo to me, who
am tormented with fo many forts of Miferies?
You are yet more oblig'd to be fo, fince my great-
eft, and that which I endure with moft Impari-
ence, is feeing my felf abfent from you. If befides
this Grief, I have fome other, 'tis for Perfons whom
you love no lefs than you do your felf. I moft
humbly befeech you to be often telling them, that
the Paffion I have for them, cannot be told, and
keep fome Place for me in their Minds; you, who
have fo great a Share in them, that at leaft we
may be together there, if we cannot any where
elfe. As for you, Madam, I once more beg you
not to defert me; the Honour of receiving Let-
ters from you, is a Happineſs I durft never hope
for; but now I am us'd to it, 'tis impoffible for me
to live without it. Don't then deprive me of it,
after
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters
after having fo generoufly beftow'd it upon me,
nor fall off at once from two Virtues which are fo
natural to you, Liberality and Conftancy. And
fince 'tis not in my Power to repay this Obligati-
on, at leaſt I will wish I could, and fhall beg no-
thing of Fortune fo earnestly, as that it may be in
my Power to testify to you, how much more than
I can fpeak, I am,
Madamy
Yours, &c.
To the fame.
LETTER HI
MADAM,,
Nothing
Nable,
[Othing in your Letters can be more agree-
than themſelves; I found in the very
Beginning of yours, what you would not give me :
any Hopes of, 'till at the End, and you gave me
the Satisfaction you promis'd me elfewhere. Ex
don't think you read what was added to it in a
different
and 'tis not to be believ'd that
you, who fend me nothing but Gold and Jewels,
or Words which are even more valuable than ei-
ther of them, would ever have fent me Abuſes.
Yet I muftown I do in fome Meaſure deferve that
which is written to me; and I am not at all gal-
lant, fince I had not the Courage to be fo with you.
Tis a burning Shame that I fhould fend you fo
many long Letters, without inferting a Word of
that Stile which one of your Friends fays is fo like
Poetry; and tho' I'm fo many Leagues from you,.
fhould never yet dare to tell you my Thoughts.
But I'd have you to know, I won't be diſhonour'd i
any more for you, and if you don't fed and get
B
JIW
10
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
me Satisfaction for thefe Reproaches, I am re-
folv'd to write you Letters full of nothing but
Flames, and Darts, and wounded Hearts, and to
do fo many Gallantries, that you shall repent you
ever provok'd me. I can hardly forbear doing it
this very Moment, and I have no other Way to
reftrain my ſelf from it, than by thinking of that
excellent Perfon, of whom I have learnt to fore-
fee in every Thing the Inconveniencies that may
arife from it; and the fole Remembrance of her,
obliges me to be reſpectful and prudent. You,
Madam, who know every thing that paffes in my
Mind, pray be fo kind as to tell her in what a
Manner fhe is in it, and with how much Grate-
fulneſs and fincere Affection I repay the Honour
fhe does me. I think too, being fo good-natur'd
as you are, you might by the fame Means induce
Madam de Clermont to continue to love me, and to
put me in her Prayers. On my Part, I fhall do
all I can to make my felf worthy the Bleffings fhe
may obtain for me; and the Deuce is in't, if a Man
whom you preach to, and fhe prays for, fhould
not be converted! But pray let her know that I
am more defirous of her Affection, than her Pray-
ers; and tho' I believe the may make me holy,
conftant, and happy, I don't fo much defire all
this, as I do to be belov'd by her. 'Twas with the
greatest Joy and Satisfaction that I read what you
tell me of the Divine Perfon before whom I for-
merly made my Epitaph. I can tell her, that
even when I had two Fans at my Throat, and was
in the Hands of my greateſt Enemies, I was not
more to be pity'd than I am now; and that 'tis
more happy to die in her Prefence, than to live
from her. After the extraordinary Honour the
does me, I have nothing more to wish for, in or-
der to make my Glory compleat, except it were,
that I had been fo happy as to have been remem-
ber'd by the young Lady who had like to have
been
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
Ti
been run away with at Lima. But Heaven is ab-
folutely refolv'd that her Mother fhall never have
her Equal in this World; and that if by Chance
there may be fome one as handſome, at leaſt ſhe
fhall never be fo good. I think fhe, for whom I
made the Dryades laugh one Time, I mean Madam
de G, (I believe there'd be no Danger if I
fhould write her Name at length.) I fay, I think
fhe need not be fo inveterate against the Rebels,
as not to do me the Honour to think of me fome-
times. If what is reported, be true, namely, that
we had a Defign to fleal her away, it had been in
the fame Manner as the Greeks ftole the Image of
Pallas from the Cuftody of their Enemies, in a
Belief that Happineſs and Victory would always
attend that Side who had her with them. But
really I knew nothing of that Defign; fhe herſelf
can tell, that if I had any Defign at all upon her,
twas in an honourable Way; and fhe may pleaſe
to remember, that my Courtship of her, was al-
ways full of Refpect and Decency. And without
Lying, whatever Love I may have for our Affairs,
I can't help having fome for her. Every Time I
confider her, I reftrain my Wiſhes, and have much ·
ado to adhere to my Party as I ought, I have
been more generous to praife her, than fhe has
been to remember me. "Tis not eight Days ago
fince I repreſented her here fo like herſelf, that Fi
got her the Love, or at leaſt the Eſteem to a high
Degree, of a Man who has no great Réafon to
with well to all her Family. I am your Servant's
moft humble Servant, and I affure him, that he
has not a greater Paffion for you, than I have for
him. You tell me, Madam, that there is one of
your Servants who thinks of no Body fo much as
me, and that a Favour fo unufual from him, de-
ferves a very grateful Return; but you should
have been more plain, that I might have been fure
who you mean: Pray Heaven it be him I hope it
is,
18 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
*
is 'tould comfort me for all my Misfortunes
you may eaſily guefs who I with it may be. I don't
know whether twill be dangerous for you to fpeak
to him of me, but pray, Madam, don't let that-
Hinder y
from doing it. Whatever he may
appear outwardly, there's no need to fear him fo
much he's better than he feems to be. I know
thus much of him, he can't, for the Heart's Blood
of him, help loving thofe that love him. I believe,
when I go from hence, I'fhall pafs by the Way of
Granada; and to take the Advice, or rather to o-
bey the Commands, that I have receiv'd, fhall fail
five hundred Leagues by Sea, to avoid travelling
two hundred by Land. The Danger and Incon-
veniency of the Voyage don't vex me fo much as
'twillinor to pafs thro' France. Tho' I was long ag
engag'd to promife it, I can hardly tell how to re-
folve to do it. IfI had my Will, I'd have taken
the great Road with the fame Boldnefs and Se-
curity as ever, and gone directly to Bourg. La Reine.
I fancy they that diffwaded me from this Defign,
were not fo much afraid for me, as they were a-
fraid of me ; and imagin'd that my Coming would
be known all the Town over, and that I fhould
run headlong into all Companies publickly. But
I had taken a Refolution to be more difcreet;
fhould have been fatisfy'd with ferenading three
or four People or fo, and away: But I must be
contented to obey, and to believe that we are com
manded for the beft: But this Submiffion ought
to be taken mighty well, for in my Opinion, rfs
both Obedience and Sacrifice together. At least,
I ought no longer to be accus'd of being abitinate,
when I was not fo upon fuch an Occafion as this,
This Submiffion, and my taking fo much Pleafure
In writing, as not to know how to give over, are
two notable Alterations in me. Forgive me one,
for the Sake of the other, and be fo good as fome-
times to call to Mind how heartily lam, Madam,
Madrid,
Xour, &c.
R
P. S.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters
13
PS. Imoft humbly befeech you, Madam to
give me leave to anfwer a Word or two, with all
the Mildnefs imaginable, to the Perfon who a
tacks me in your Letter. I have ftudy'd a long
while to find out who could be that little Man of
whom fuch great Things are reported, and who is
fet fo much above and below me. It can't be
Ms. Vigean, for I am but two Fingers taller than
him, and he is but ten times more gallant than I.
After much Thought, believe that this is a Fib,
to tell you my Mind, and that 'tis impoffible there
fhould be a Man either fo little, or fo witty. I
beg, Madam, you'd let me know the Truth of
the Bufinefs.
TO
Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
LETTER IV.
IF your other Letter was like this I have re-
ceiv'd, the Lofs of it is no mighty Misfortune
to me; and it were to be wifh'd that this fecond
Time too I had only known that you had done
me the Honour to write to me, without any Thing
farther. When I first read what you tell me,
namely, that you had much ado to perfwade your
felf to venture your Compliments, I really ex-
pected fome, and when I went on, I could find no
other Compliments, than that you put me in Mind
Iam little, and tell me I'm not at all witty, or
gallant. If theſe were all the Compliments you
Had to make me, Madam, there was no need of
your patting them under the Protection of the
va.
14
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
valianteft young Lady in all France. Even tho'
they had been intercepted, they could never have
witneſs'd againſt you for favouring the Rebels;
and in the Manner your Letter was written, you
ought to have fear'd nothing but its being deliver'd
to me. After having been fo defirous to hear
from you, you take the Pains to write five or fix
Lines, wherein you blame Fortune for daring to
attack Things that you fend; and all that you fay
as to my felf, is this, "We have a Man here, a
"Foot and a half ſhorter than you, and I'll fwear
a thouſand times more witty and gallant." This
is a fine comfortable Letter truly, and thefe Words
are mighty likely to make me forget all my Afflic-
tions! I believe, Madam, I have told you before
now, you are fitter for writing a Challenge, than a
Letter. All you have to do after this, is to add,
that this you will maintain in the Court of Trebi
zond, and fo fign ALASTRAXEREA. Since
you have fo many wonderful Qualities, and fo
much Power over me, why fhould you make uſe
of both thefe Advantages only to do me harm,
and be one of the Faries who delight in nothing
but making Miſchief, and undoing the Good
which others had done? When Mademoiſelle
Paulet has written me a fine obliging Letter, in
which the Marchionefs affures me of her Friend-
fhip, Madam de Clermont of her Prayers, and the
moſt perfect Lady in the World of her Remem-
brance; you come at last to knock all my Joy on
the Head, and to undo all that they had done in
my Favour. 'Tis a ſtrange Thing that the Pyre-
nean Mountains, which ferve for Boundaries to
two large Kingdoms, fhould not be able to defend
me from You! My Misfortunes are ſo far from
appeafing you, that you come to perfecute me at
the fartheft Corner of the World, and to torment
me even more than my ill Fortune. At a Time
when my very beſt Friends durſt not hold any
-༔,,སྶ
Cor-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. IS
Correfpondence with me, and when 'tis dangerous
to write to me, you paſs by all theſe Confidera-
tions, only to tell me that you don't think I've the
leaft Morfel of Wit or Gallantry in me, and that
thereo
Dwarf that you like a thousand times
better than you do me. Tho' I have all the Rea
fon in the World, Madam, to fcold at this, yet,
not to confirm what you fay of me, and to fhew
you that I have fome Gallantry in me, I will tell
you, Madam, that I thought my Miferies could
receive no Allevation, and yet they were aleviat-
ed the Moment I read what you did me the Ho-
nour to write to me. Not that they were leſs
great than I took 'em to be; but this is to fhew
that nothing is impoffible to you, and that you
can give a Remedy even to Things which are in-
capable of receiving any. Nevertheless, I can't
but wonder that you could do me fo much good,
tho' you fay nothing to me but what is to the laft
Degree unkind; and that I fhould be fatisfy'd
only with fome of your Writing, tho' what you
write, has nothing fatisfactory in it. Magick Cha-
racters have not a more wonderful Effect than
yours have; and this fhews that you have the
Art of giving a fecret Virtue to Words, and a
Power quite different from what they have of
themfelves. That by telling me of my Faults,
you fhould eaſe me of all my Sorrow ; and that I
fhould receive Pleafure from hearing that you
like another better than me, is a Miracle I can
never comprehend! But I have long forborn, Ma-
dam, to endeavour to affign any natural Caufe to
any Thing that belongs to you. I know that a
Perfon who is full of Miracles, may now and then
work fome: But however great yours may be,
the ftrangeft you ever perform'd, is, the giving
Joy to one who is in the Condition I am, and
making happy a Man who is at once poor, ba-
niſh'd, and fick. In this you fhew that Fortune,
who
16 Monfieur VOITURE's Letterst
1
who has the World beneath her Feet, is herfelf
beneath yours, and that you are able to give Suc
cefs to thoſe whom ſhe condemns to be wretched..
And indeed, fo I have but you on my Side, no™
matter if the Stars are against me; and tho they
all confpire to ruin me, yet if you will undertake
my Defence, I fhall believe that the better Part
of Heaven is for me. Pray, Madam, dont't aban-
don a Man who repofes fo much Confidence in
you. If you will but pleaſe to defire I may be
happy, I must be fo; and if but in your Heart
you wifh me well, I fhall even at this Diſtance
feel the Effects of your Thoughts and Wifhes.
You are oblig'd to make fome for me; for I fwear
albmine are for you, and my moſt earnest ones
Beauty
are, that you may have every Thing your
and Virtue deferve... 'Tis true, my Intereft is con-
cern'd even in this; for if you had all you deferve,
there would no longer be two Parties, nor two
· Factions in the World; all Mankind would be of
one Mind, and all the Earth obey you.
This is to teach you, Madam, to take care what
you fay another Time, and to let you fee that I
have more Wit and Gallantry than you fay F
have. If you would convince me that I have not,
let your little Man write a Letter a thoufand
times more gallant than this. But even tho' he
hadithe Advantage of me in that, I fhould have it
over him in fomething elfe which I value more,
I mean in being a thoufand times more than him
or any Botly elfe, ed ag
alled Istbor Madam,
no-italvesan duider bac
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30
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 17
To the Duke of BELLEGRA DE
A fending him Amadis de Gaul.
I
176
ai op shitwo
LETTER V.
My LORD,
Nan Age wherein Hiftory is fo perplex'd,
;
in a Place where your only Defign is to divert
your felf, you might afford to the Converfation
of Amadis, fome of thofe Hours which you give to
the Gentlemen of your Province. I hope that in
your Solitude, he will fometimes agreeably divert
you, by relating to you his Exploits, which, 'till
you fuffer yours to be publish'd, will certainly be
the greateft in the World. But whatever Won-
ders we read of him, it muſt be confefs'd your
Fortune is as amazing as his ; and of all the En-
chantments which he put an End to, there is not
one but what you could have finifh'd, unless per-
haps it be that of the Bow of Loyal Lovers, In Ef
fect, my Lord, you have fhewn to France a Rogero
more amiable and accomplish'd, than him of
Greece, and of Arifto, and without enchanted Ar
mour, without the Affiftance either of Alquif or.
Urganda: In fhort, without any other Charms than
thofe of your own Perfon, you have had the great-
eft Succefs that could be wifh'd for, both in War
and Love. And if one were to confider that
Complaifance fo exact, and which never left you;
that charming Gracefulness by which you gain.
the Affections of all that fee you, and that Great
nefs and Steddinefs of Soul which never fuffer'd'
you to go contrary to Duty, nor even to Decency;
'tis hard not to imagine that you are of the Race
of
18
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
of the Amadiffes. And I verily believe that one
Day the Hiftory of your Life will be added to
the many Books we have of theirs. You have
been the Ornament and Prize of three feveral
Courſes; you have known how to have Kings for
your Rivals, without having them for your Ene-
mies, and to poffefs Their Favour and that of
their Miftreffes at the fame Time; and in an Age
where Diſcretion, Civility, and true Gallantry.
were banifh'd from this Court, you have taken
them into your own Perfon, as into an Afilum,
where they have been admir'd by all the World,
without being imitable by any Body. And I muſt
confefs, one of the chief Reafons which induc'd
me to fend you this Book, was to let you fee what
Advantage you have even over thofe that were
form'd at Pleaſure to be an Example to others,
and how far fhort the Invention of the Italians and
Spaniards is of your Virtue. In the mean while, I
humbly beg you to believe, that amongst the ma-
ny Affections it has gain'd you, it has infpir'd
none with fo much Admiration nor real Paffion as
it has me; and that I am, more than I can ex-
prefs, and with all Refpect,
My Lord,
Your &c.
TO
Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET
MADAM,
LETTER VI.
LL the Means that you have taught me to
ſelf eaſy, are of no Uſe to me in
A make my au of no to me in
this
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
19
affures es fo perfectly well.
this Country; and the more reaſonable your Ad-
vice feems to be, the lefs Cauſe I have to be com-
forted, for having loft the Pleaſure of hearing one
Every Body here
affures me that this is a very agreeable Place, and
there is not one that belongs to my Lord's Train,
who has not a Highneſs, or at leaſt a Princeſs, to
converfe with. But however gallant the Court of
Lorain may be, I am as lonely in it, as I was about
eight Months ago in the Journies of la Beauffe ;
and I have feen better Company in the Streams
of Paris, than I have yet met with in the Dutchefs's
Chamber. I can't tell whether 'tis an Effect of
the Spleen, which I have been tormented with
for fome time; but in my Opinion, there are no
more Perfons of Converfation, befides thoſe which
I faw in the laft Journey I had the Honour to go
with you; and I could difcourfe much more agree-
ably with M than I could do with the Dutchefs
of.
The Melancholy I have in my Heart
and Eyes, makes every Face appear to,
me as if
I faw it thro' the Smoke of Brandy, and I can fee
nothing here but what feems frightful to me.
Thofe Hours which the Marquifs calls the Hours
of Digeftion, laft me from Morning 'till Night;
and I am fuch ill Company, that M. de Chaudebonne
is angry about it, and I can plainly fee that he
takes it ill: But I have made my Peace with him,
by promifing one of thefe Days to talk to him for
two Hours together, and that I will tell him a
Story more agreeable than that of Heliodorus, and
made by a Perfon more hand fome than Chaviclea.
You will eafily judge, Madam, that 'tis that of
Alcidalis and Zelida, which I have promis'd him,
for that can be faid of no other. As ftupid as
I'm grown, don't fear, that in telling it I fhall rob
it of any of its Beauty; for in all my Misfortunes,
I have till preferv'd my Memory found, and I
believe it will ferve me faithfully when 'tis for
you,
''.
20 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you, fince you have as much Share in it as any
Body, and I am, more than I can expreſs,
Madam,
Your, &c.
To Mademoiselle PAULET.
LETTER VII.
MADAM,.
T
Here never were fuch fine Enchantments as
yours are, and all the Magicians that ever
made Ufe of Images of Wax, never work'd fuch
ftrange Effects with them as you. That which
you fent me has fill'd all who have feen it with
Amazement, and that which is much more ad-
mirable, and which I believe no Magick can bring
to pafs, it has ftruck Madam the Marchioness of
Rambouillet with Love, and me with Joy, the fame
Day you went away. I can't comprehend how
this could happen to you;. but the Letter and
Preſent which came from you, really made me
forget all my Misfortunes; and I receiv'd the lit-
tle Europa with as much Satisfaction, as if I had
been prefented with that which makes one of the
three Parts of the World, and which is divided
into feveral Kingdoms. And indeed it is of more
Value, fince it refembles you; and Madam the
Marchionefs, under that Pretence, rob'd me of it
by Force, and fwore by Styx fhe fhould not leave
her Clofet. Thus Europa has been run away with
a fecond Time, and, in my Opinion, much more
glorioufly than when fhe was ftoln away by Jupi
ter. 'Tis true, to appeafe me, they have given me
*
two
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
21
two Dogs, with fuch long Snouts, that in my Mind
they are well worth a Gentlewoman; and I don't
know whether there is e'er a one at Paris that I
would change them for: Indeed in the Humour I
am now in, I ought no longer to converfe with
reaſonable Creatures; and in my Defpair I wifh
I were in a Defart, in the Claws of the moſt cruel
of the Lions, I, who faid that one ought to love
nothing but Dogs. You, who made them gallant,
pray make them grateful too, and let them fome-
times remember me, fince I honour them more
than any one in the World, and am,
Mademoiſelle,
Your, &c.
end
To Mademoiselle CHALAIS,
LETTER VIII.
MADAM,
Did not care to put you in Danger, any more
than the Marchionefs. by making you read this
Letter; but, I believe, Perfons who have taken
the Tincture of Gold, cannot be infected. For my
Part, I every Morning take three Grains of Anti-
mony, and fix of the Fifhes Eyes, which you know
of, with this I may fafely go any where. Pray
continue to honour me with your Love; for if
that once fails me, I fhall take my Antimony un-
prepar'd. I am,
om usvig ovad
Madam,
With all my Heart,
751
GWS
Your, &c.
To
:1
22 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To the Marchionefs de SA BLE.
MADAM,
I Receiv'd
LETTER IX
Letter
Receiv'd with your Letter the greatest Joy I
your
have been fenfible of fince Abfence. If
you confider with how much Friendship and Wit
all thofe are written which you do me the Honour
to fend me, you would not doubt it; and you would
not entertain fuch an Opinion of my Negligence,
if Fortune had not loſt the laſt I writ to you. "Tis
a Lofs which you have Reafon to be concern'd
for, fince there was one from Mademoiſelle de
Rambouillet in it. She defires you to learn of Ma-
dam de St. Amand, for whom 'tis directed, what
is become of it, for fhe is in Pain about it, becaufe
of feveral Things which fhe tells you in it. For
my Part, Madam, I affure you I take fo much Plea-
fure in writing to you, that I don't take more in
being idle. And my Letters are writ with fuch a
true Affection, that if you confider'd well of it,
you would efteem them more than thofe which
you afk of me again. Thofe proceeded only from
my Head, thefe proceed from my Heart, thofe
were a Trouble to me, thefe eaſe me extreamly.
Is it not true, Madam, that I fhould have made
you angry, if I had put any more of thofe and thefe
and that you would have been amaz'd at the No-
velty of the Style? I had a Thought of doing it,
to fee what you would fay; but fince you were
abfent, I have had no Inclination for Mirth; and
I thould have left this Place long ago, had not
fome Affairs detain'd me. My Slothfulneſs was
born under the happieſt Conſtellation in the World;
it
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 23
it always finds fome Pretence or other for every
thing that it does not care to do; and I have put
off my Journey from Week to Wees, nor has it
been my Fault that I ftay'd here till now. I be-
lieve, Madam, you won't think this ftrange, you,
who would ftill have beer here, if the Cart of
thoſe that were infected with the Plague, had not
frighten'd you away. But I am refolv'd to force
my felf away from Paris in ten or twelve Days,
and I believe I fhall have no great Trouble in it.
At leaſt the ſtrongeſt Tie that retain'd me, was
remov'd the Day that you fet out; and if any
thing now could keep me here, "twould be Madam
and Mademoiſelle de Rambouillet, who every Day
tell me I ought to be gone. I can affure you,
Madam, without offending against the Freedom
with which I ought to fpeak to you, that you are
belov'd by thofe two Ladies as much as you can
defire; and I hear them fpeak of you every Day
with fo much Tendernefs, that one of the chief
Things for which I love them, is the Affection
they bear to you. Have no more Diſtruſt there-
fore of them than of me, and don't reckon their
Friendſhip amongst the Happineffes which you
might fpare. I am very glad you have confirm'd
the others who were not of that Nature, and that
you have put your Affairs in the Order you defir'd.
I humbly thank you for not having forgot the
Care of mine. In my Neglect of fuch Things,
it would be neceffary for me to know what I have
to do, from one whom I dare not difobey, and
who advifes and commands at the fame Time.
That which gave me fo much Trouble, and de-
tain'd me ſo long, is in a better Poſture than I
could have expected, and I believe we fhall bring
it to a Conclufion for a Piece of Money. But I
fhall think my felf well come off, if it coft me no
more than that; and befides, Madam, I am lefs
fond of Money than ever, fince I am affur'd that
you
24 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you have it. Let the worst come to the worst,
with the Secrets I have in Chymiftry and Phyfick,
you may very well entertain me; and when you
have a Mind I fhould ufher you by the Hand, 'tis
but giving me the Habit of a Gentleman. You
rightly imagin'd that I fhould ſtand in need of
your Intereft with Mademoiſelle d' Atichi; and I
humbly beg you, Madam, to write to her for me.
I have feen her but once fince your Departure
That, and what Monfieur Nerli may have faid to
her, will, I hope, make her believe that you re-
commend to her one who is not indifferent to you,
and who is faithful enough to deferve that Favour
of you. If the believes thus, Madam, I think ſhe
will judge better of this than of a great many o-
ther Things: For 'tis true, and forgive me, Ma-
dam, if I do not tell it you with Refpect enough,
that I love nothing in the World fo much as you;
and that I am, with all my Heart,
Madam,
Your, &c.
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER X.
THE Moment I faw the Beginning of your
Letter, I admir'd your Judgment; for you
did indeed perceive a Sentiment which lay con-
ceal'd in my Heart, before I my felf did. For my
Part, I thought I was in mighty Hafte to be gone;
but however glad I always am to hear from you,
I own when I ſaw Robineau, I was in a little Con-
fternation,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
5
;
fternation, to think that I had then no farther Ex-
cufe for ftaying here; and I believe, I fhould have
been very glad to have been without that Joy for
feven or eight Days longer. Yet, Madam, what-
ever Uneafineſs I may have, I can eafily be com-
forted, by the Concern you fhew for my Intereft
and I am mightily pleas'd to fee that you have
writ more Letters for me in one Night, than you
have done in four Years for Madam de Loges, and
Madam d'Aubigni. "Tis certainly the greateſt
Proof of Affection it is poffible for me to get from
you, eſpecially, when I confider it with the Cir-
cumftance you writ to me of; and I need not
doubt, but you would do any thing for the Ad-
vancement of my Fortune, fince you take Pains
for it. I acknowledge this Obligation, Madam,
with the Heart you know me to be Owner of; and
befides the Satisfaction I receive in this, with re-
gard to my felf, I am alfo extreamly glad to find
that you are as generous and good a Friend as I
always defir'd you fhould be; and I fwear, I am
fo contented with this Part of my Fortune, that I
believe I fhall neglect it in every thing elfe, and
that I fhall defpife the Friendfhip of Queens eve-
ry Time I think of yours. I defire you therefore,
Madam, to be very well fatisfy'd with what you
have done for me, without giving your felf any
Diſturbance about the Succefs or Fruit your Let-
ters will bring me; and if you writ them with an
Intent to procure me either Profit or Honour, be
affur'd they have already had the Effect you de-
fir'd. I fhall not fail to deliver them with the
Order you command. You did well in excufing
the Style, for really I could hardly endure that
Jargon of Marficia, Merlin, and Alexis. Yet, amidst
it all, I perceive abundance of Wit and wonderful
Skill, and efpecially a great Zeal to do fomething
for me. What you fay to Mademoifelle Rambou
illet is very comical, namely, that if Care be not
C
taken,
26 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
-
taken, I fhall go to Flanders as I went to Vaugirard;
and in my Opinion, that one Word is worth a
whole Letter. 'Tis true, Madam, had it not
been for the Care that was taken to give me No--
tice, I fhould have gone with the Meffenger of
Bruffels. And to tell you the Truth, I take this
Journey fo unwillingly, that I can't imagine why
I fhould fear being taken up; and were it not for
Madam- I fhould be very well contented to
paſs the rest of the Winter in a Chamber of the
Baftile, fo it were but warm enough. The — is
entirely ruin'd; M. de -was four Months ago
in ftrict Friendship with him and Monfieur de
Bellegarde: You may well imagine, Madam, he
will be ne'er the better for it, nor I neither. Ma-
demoiſelle d' Atichi has promis'd me Wonders, and
with as much Kindness as you yourfelf could have
done I'll affure you, I never deferv'd it of her,
neither can I tell whether or no I ever fhall. You
may be fecure of Madam de Villery, and of every
thing elfe. I have receiv'd all your Advice, and
I fhall take it. Madam and Mademoiſelle de Ram-
bouillet love you mightily. I bid you Farewel,
Madam, with Tears in my Eyes; and give you
my Word, I love you as much as you deferve, and
more than you can imagine.
:
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER XI.
Eally 'tis very ungrateful in you, not to give
your felf the Trouble to fend me an Anſwer;
and being more idle even than I my felf, is too
idle of all Confcience. Whatever fair Excufes I
might
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
27
might have, for being fix Months without writing
to you, I could not let Robineau go, without affur-
ing you, that after all, I am more your humble
Servant than ever. 'Tis too true, Madam, that
you can never loſe me, be as negligent as you will i
Í ſhould be very glad, and fo would Mademoiſelle
de Chalais, to fave my felf from your Service; and
there are fome certain People here, that would
not think it Labour loft to fteal me away, but I
can never confent to it; and to me, it would be as
bad as deftroying me, to fave me in fuch a man-
ner. Madam de Rambouillet commanded me to
tell you, that to fupply your Want of an ingenious
Perfon, to be in the Place of her you have loft,
fhe has fent you Mademoiſelle who, as
good Luck would have it, had not fettled her felf.
She believes you will receive her as one fhe has
chofen for you, and has caus'd her to fet out, to
come to you, two Days ago. I fhould not have
writ this Raillery, if I had been commanded to
do it ; for, in ferious Sadnefs, Madam, my Heart's
too full of the little Regard you have for me;
diſcharge it of that Uneafinefs I beseech you, for
I fwear I am,
Entirely Your.
I
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER XII.
F you take no Care about my Pleaſure or Re
pofe, at leaſt take fome about my Fortune.
I am now just upon the Point of being gone, with
out any further Delay, except it be 'till I have
heard from you; I am afraid the Letters you have
*
C2
given
•
28 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
given me, will be too old: If you ftill keep up
your Intelligence in that Country, I believe it
would do me no harm, if you gave me others,
wherein you ſhall take Occafion to fpeak in my
Favour, if you think fit: If you don't, at least, you
would do well to fpeak for your felf, and by your
Letters renew the Affurances of your Fidelity and
Service. And this, Madam, will however be
fome Recommendation for me: I humbly beg
you would fend them me as foon as poffible, for
I wait only for them to begin my Journey. I bid
you farewel, Madam, with fo much Affection and
Tenderness, that it would be more dangerous for
Nerli to fee this than the other; and I fwear, I am
more concern'd at going further off from you, than
at parting with all thofe whom I leave here. And
indeed, Madam, you will for ever be more con-
fiderable to me, than all the reft of the World;
and if you knew how true this is, you your felf
would be fatisfy'd, you, who can never be con-
tented, unless you have the fole Poffeffion of all
Hearts. I fpeak this with the fame Sincerity, as I
fhall do my laft Words upon my Death-Bed:
There never will be any Body that I fhall love,
honour, and esteem, fo much as you; and I ſhall
always be, Madam, at all Times, and in all Places,
Xour, &c.
To Mademoiselle PAULET.
LETTER XIII.
MADAM,
I
Return you my humble and hearty Thanks,
you,
you
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
29
...
you have lefs Caufe to do it, than any Body in
the World. I'm amaz'd at your faying, that the
Perfons, who do me the Honour to love me, blame
me for my Slothfulnefs, and yet are fo flothful
themſelves, that they reproach me by Proxy. In
the Condition I'am in, it would be much better
done, to ſend me Comfort than chide me; and
thofe who are in Affliction and Banifhment, and
who have loft their All, have but little Heart to
divert others. When I fay this, I would not have
you think I complain of that rare Perfon, whofe
Merit and want of Health, fet her above all forts
of Duty: But thoſe who write out of wantonneſs
of Heart, and only to fay fine Things, are not, ja
in
my Mind, to be excus'd for omitting to do me that
Honour. I'll affure you, there never was Melan-
choly equal to mine; and, if I durft write mourn-
ful Letters, I could fay Things that would cleave
your Heart. But, to tell you the Truth, I had
much rather have it remain entire ; and Í ſhould
be afraid, if it were once in two, it would be di-
vided in my Abfence. You fee what Ufe I can
make of the fine Things I hear you fay: But pray,
Madam, do you, to whom I am oblig'd for that,
take care to fend me fome now and then, fince I
know how to make fuch good Uſe of them, and
tranſmit ſome Words to me, which I may remem-
ber as long as I have thofe. All thofe which I
have hitherto feen of yours, are fo indifferent, that
they have not in the leaft taken from my Diftur-
bance; and I humbly beg you to fend me fome
that may have more Virtue in them, fince you
can give what you pleafe to thofe that belong to
you. If you don't, I fhall think the hafty Recon-
ciliation, which was fo fuddenly clapt up before
my Departure, was falfe; and that there is no-
thing fincere in you, but your Coldnefs and Indif
ference. You may judge, whether it be poffible
for me to live with this Imagination, and whether
C5
J
;
you
30 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you are not the moſt miſchievous Body in the
World, if you put me to fuch imminent Danger,
I conjure you to have more Care of me; for you
are very much bound to do it, fince I am more
than ever,
Madam,
Your, &c.
S. After having writ this Letter, I thought
there were five or fix Drachms of Love in it; but
tis fo long ago fince I have mention'd it, that I
could not forbear, and then I am ſo little, that
know there is no great Danger of me.
you
The Marryou fpeak of, has been dead this great
while; it remains only to bury him, but they have
not done it yet, through Negligence.
Your, &c.
To Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET.
I
MADAM,
LETTER XIV.
Am far from finding any Fault with your Pru
dence, fince it is joyn'd with fo much Goodness,
and is not lefs ufed for the Good of others, than
for your own. I confefs, I was amaz'd to find my
felf the first unhappy Wretch that you abandon'd;
and that you fhould try upon me the Experiment
of that pitylefs Virtue, which could not yet be
compatible with your Goodneſs. And, indeed,
fince thofe Actions, in which there is moft Dan-
ger, are moft efteem'd, it is not reafonable always
to expect fo much Safety in doing Good; and you,
Madam,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
31
Madam, I take to be particularly oblig'd to take
care of the Unhappy, fince, by a Word fpeaking,
you may change their Condition. Thofe which
you did me the Honour to fend me, have produc'd
in me all the Effect you can imagine, and I have
fince been griev'd at nothing, but at my Inability
to fhew you the Senfe I have of them. It muſt be
own'd, Madam, when you are not mifchievous, you
are the most accomplish'd Lady in the World;
and the Goodnefs, which in any other is fo amia-
Ble, is much more eſtimable in you, in whom it is
better accompany'd, than it ever was in any other.
I fhould not fo long have deterr'd returning you
my Thanks for that you have been pleas'd to fhew
me, if I had had an Opportunity to do it ; and this
Letter I put into the Hands of Fortune, without
being able to conceive how it can pafs through all
the Difficulties and Flames which ſurround us. Yet
I believe it will be fo happy as to escape, fince 'tis
to you that 'tis directed, and you will not fail to
receive it, by means of the good Fortune which you
fay attends you in all infignificant Matters.
I have a great deal to fay to you that is not in-
fignificant, which I fhould be glad to have you
know; but I believe you defire I fhould be prudent
as well as you, and not write any thing that will
admit of Explanation. Yet, tho' we are of con-
trary Parties, I fancy I may fay, without a Crime,
that there is no Body, even in ours, I would fol-
low fo willingly, as you, and that I fhall be all my
Life-time, with all Refpect, and fincere Efteem,
Tour, &c..
T
C 4
32 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
G D G D A D
I
SIR,
-KD
To Monfieur de BALZAC.
LETTER XV.
Fit be true, that I have always kept the Rank,
which you tell me I have held in your Memory,
methinks you have fhewn but an indifferent Con-
cern for my Satisfaction, in delaying fo long to
impart the pleafing News to me, and in fuffering
me fo long to be the happiest of Men, without
dreaming I was fo. But, perhaps, you were of
Opinion, that this very good Fortune, was fo in-
finitely above any thing that I could in reafon
hope for, that it was neceffary you fhould take
Time to invent Arguments, which might render
it credible, and that you had an Occafion to em-
ploy all the Power of Rhetorick to perfwade me,
that you had not forgot me. And thus far, at
leaſt, I must needs confefs, that you have been
very juft, that refolving to let me have nothing
but Words for all the Affection you owe me, the
Choice which you have made of them, has been
fo rich, and fo beautiful, that, let me die, if I be-
lieve the Thing they affure me of would be of
greater Value: This, at leaft, I'm fure of, that
they would fuffice to counterballance any Friend-
fhip but mine. I am only difcontented at one
thing, and that is, that fo much Artifice, and fo
much Eloquence, fhould not be able to difguife
the Truth from me and that in this I fhould re-
femble your own Shepherdeffes, who are too filly
to be beguil'd by a Man of Wit. But, indeed,
you muſt excufe me, if I am fomething inclin'd to
fufpe&t an Art, which could invent Commendati-
ons
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
33
籍
​ons for a Quartan Ague, and for Nero, and an
Art which you have at more Command than e-
ver Man had before you. All thofe Graces, and
that Air of the Court, which I fo much admire in
yours, convince me rather of the Excellence of
your Wit, than of the Goodnefs of your Will. And
from all the fine things which you have faid in
my Favour, all that I can conclude, even when I
am inclin❜d to flatter myſelf, is, That Fortune has
been pleas'd to give me a Place in your Dreams :
Nay, I know not if the very Extravagancies of a
Soul fo exalted as yours, are not too ferious, and
too reaſonable, to deſcend fo low as to me. And I
fhall efteem myſelf too obligingly us'd by you, if
you have but fo much as dream'd that you love
me. For to imagine, that you have referv'd a
Place for me amidst thofe fublime Thoughts,
which are, at preſent, employ'd in recompencing
the Virtues of all the World, and diftributing
Shares of Glory to Mankind; to imagine this,
would be extream Prefumption in me, I have too
great an Opinion of your Underſtanding, to be-
lieve that you could be guilty of any thing that is
fo much below you; and I fhould be unwilling,
that your + Enemies fhould have that to object to
C 5
you.
* Some Wits, to fhew their Eloquence, have ta
ken extraordinary Subjects: One has chofen the
Praife of Nero, another, that of a Quartan Ague,
and of Folly; and Furetiere did not difdain to write
a Letter to Jack-Catch.
2
Theophile, and Father Goulu, General of the Or
der of St. Bernard, were two of Balzac's greateſt E-
nemies, and thofe that were the most formidable,
Theophile writ a bloody, tho agreeable, Letter a
gainſt that Author; and Father Goulu, under the
Name of Philarchus, writ two Volumes againft
him, which are almoſt as dull as The Roman Ci
tizen,
34 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you. I am perfectly fatisfy'd, that the only Affec-
tion which you can have juftly for any one, is that
which you owe to yourfelf; and that Precept of
tudying one's felf, which is a Leffon of Humility
to all befides you, ought to have a contrary Effect
in relation to you, and oblige you to contemn
whatever you find without you. And therefore
here let me fwear to you, That, without pretend-
ing to any Share in your Affection, I fhould have
been very well fatisfy'd, if you had preferv'd, with
never fo little Care, the Friendfhip which I have
vow'd eternally to have for you, and that you
would have plac'd it, if not amongst the Things
which you value, at least amongst thoſe which
you are not forward to lofe. But, in leaving me
here with that lovely Rival, of whom you made
mention of in yours, you have fhewn, let me tell
you, too little fealoufy; and you have fuffer'd her
to gain fo much Advantage of you, that I have
reafon to fufpect, that you have confpir'd with
her, to do me a Miſchief. And therefore I have
more Reaſon than you to complain, that ſhe has
enrich'd herfelf by your Loffes, and that you have
fuffer'd her to get into her Power, that which I
thought to have fecur'd from her Tyranny, by en
trufting it in your Hands. If you had been wil-
ling to have made never fo little Defence, the
better part of myſelf had yet been our own; but
you, by your Negligence, have fuffer'd her to fur-
prize it; and to advance her Conqueft at fuch a
rate over me, that tho' I ſhould furrender to you
all that remains of me, you would not have fo
much as one half of that which you have loft.
Nevertheless, let me affure you, That you have.
gain'd in my Efteem, as much as you have loft in
my Affection; and that at the very Time that I
was beginning to love you lefs, I was forc'd to ho-
hour you more. I have feen nothing of yours fince
your Departure, which does not go beyond all that
you
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
35
you had done before: And by your laſt Works
you have the Honour of excelling him who fur-
paf'd all others. It cannot therefore but appear
trange, that when you have fo much reaſon to be
contented, you fhould yet be complaining; and
that you yourſelf fhould be the only great Man
who remains diffatisfy'd with you. At prefent all
France is liftening to you, and you are indifferent
to no Man, who has but learn'd to read. All who
are concern'd for the Honour of their Country, are
not more inquifitive after what the Marefchal de-
Crequi is doing, than they are after what is doing
by you.
And you are the Perfon who can make
more Noife in your Solitude, than the most
happy and most renown'd of our Generals, at the
Head of forty thoufand Men. Can you wonder
then, that with fo much Glory, you ſhould be ob-
noxious to Envy; and that the very fame Judges
with whom Scipio was Criminal, and who con-
demn'd Ariftides and Socrates, fhould not unanimouf
ly do Juftice to your Defert? The People can
plead Prefcription for hating the very Qualities
which they admire in any one. Every Thing which
tranfcends 'em, they think affronts 'em and they
can better bear with a common Vice, than an ex-
traordinary Virtue. So that if that Law was in
Force amongst us, of banishing the most powerful
*
༈
for
*By this Word Solitude, he means the Village.
call'd Balzac,, 'Tis a little Place near Angouleme
where M. de Balzac was retir'd to ſtudy at Quiet.
He himſelf calls it, fometimes, his Solitude, and
fometimes his Hermitage, His Friend Mainard calls
him the Hermit of Charente.
# Heretofore in Greece, the Cities, where the
People rul'd, often banifh'd thofe that were molt:
rich, who had most Credit, or were moft power-
ful in Friends and this fort of Exile was call'a
Oftraciſm
36
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
for Authority or Reputation, I make no doubt,
but that you would ftand the Mark of the publick
Envy And I believe ev'n the Cardinal' would
not run greater Hazard. But, for God's fake,
have a care of calling that your Misfortune, which
is but that of the Age: And complain no more of
the Injuftice of Men, fince all, who have Worth,
are of your Side; and that amongst them you have
found a Friend, whom yet, perhaps you may lofe
once more; at leaft, I fhall do my utmost to put
you into a Condition of doing fo. For every Man's
darling Vanity, at prefent, is to be accounted yours.
For my own part, I have always in fo publick a
manner profefs'd my felf fo, that if, thro' ill For-
tune, I ſhould not be able to love you fo much as
I have done, yet here let me fwear to you, that
you fhall be the only Man to whom I will dare to
declare it; and that I will always own myfelf to
the reft of the World, to be as much as ever,
Yours, &c.
+ He means Cardinal Richlieu, a Minifter of
State, the greatest and moft fortunate, the moſt
fear'd and moſt hated, that perhaps ever was. He
-dy'd in 1643, five Months before Louis XIII,
To the Marquifs of RAMBOUILLET,
Embaffador at the Court of Spain.
LETTER XVI.
I
My LORD,
Could never have believ'd it poffible, that I
fhould give you any Reafon to complain of me,
or that ever Libels fhould be written againft me
in
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
3·7
2
in Madrid. And to deal fincerely with you, I
fhould not eafily have been appeas'd for the one
or the other, if, when I receiv'd that unhappy
News, I had not, at the fame Time, met with an
Account of your Welfare, and the great Reputa-
tion you daily gain among a Sort of Men, who,
before they faw you, could not admire any thing
but themfelves. But fince I number all your Hap
pineffes amongst my own, I muft think it abfo-
lutely unlawful for me to be melancholy at a Time
when all Europe ſpeaks fo advantagioufly of you :
Nor can I do lefs than rejoyce as often as I hear it
faid here, that you have taught the Spaniards Hu-
mility, and that they honour you as much as if
you were of the Blood of the Guzmans, or that of
the Mendoza's. You may therefore conclude, my
Lord, that my Soul is more tender than you make
it; and that I have this at leaſt common with all
the Virtuous, that I concern my felf in whatever
good Fortune happens to you. 'Tis true, I had
once refolv'd with myfelf to fmother this Senti
ment, fo as not to communicate it even to you:
For amidst thofe great Affairs, whereof you have
now your Hands full, I thought it a Breach of
publick Peace, to occafion the leaft Diverfion of
your Thoughts, by any unneceffary Addrefs; and
how much Liberty foever you might have given
me to do it, yet fhould I not have had Confidence
enough to make Uſe of it, if I had not another ex-
traordinary Adventure to acquaint you with. Be
pleas'd then to know, that upon Sunday the 21ft of
the laft Month, about Twelve at Night, the King
and the Queen Mother, having affembled the
whole Court at one End of the great Hall, in the
Louvre, where nothing appear'd before, a great
Brightnefs broke forth on a fuddain, and imme-
diately there appear'd, amidst an infinite Number
of Lights, a Company of Ladies, cover'd all over
with Gold and precious Stones, and appear'd as if
they
38 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
€
they were newly defcended from Heaven: But
there was one amongst the reft, fo eafily obferva-
ble, as if he had been all alone; and I'verily be-
lieve that human Eyes never faw any thing fo-ex-
cellent. She was the very fame, my Lord, that
upon another Occafion, had been fo much admir'd
under the Name, and in the Habit of Pyramus, and
that had another Time appear'd among the Rocks
of Rambouillet, with the Bow and Countenance of
Diana. But imagine not, that you can reprefent
to yourſelf above half her Beauty, if you meafure
it only by what you have ſeen, and know, that
this Night the Fairies had ſhed on her thofe fe-
cret Advantages of Beauty, which make the Dif
ference between Women and Goddeffes: For e-
ven, when she had mafk'd herfelf, with the reft,
in order to the Ball which they were to prefent,
and confequently had loft the Advantage her Face
gave her over 'em, the Majefty of her Stature and
Carriage, render'd her as remarkable as before
and whitherfoever fhe went, fhe drew along with
her the Eyes and Hearts of all Beholders, info-.
much, that renouncing the Error I was in, in be-
Heving fhe could not dance excellently well; I now
confefs, with a great deal of Shame, it was only
fhe that could. And this very Judgment was fo
generally given by all preſent, that thofe that can't
endure to hear her Praiſes, muft certainly baniſh
themſelves from the Court. This, my Lord, ac-
quaints you, that while you receive great Honours
where you are, you mifs greater Enjoyments here;
and that Fortune, how nobly foever the may em
ploy you elfe where, does you no fmall Injury,
whenever ſhe takes you from your own Houfe. For,
in fine, now that you have pafs'd the Pyrenean
Mountains, if you fhould pafs that Sea which fe-
parates Europe and Africa, and proceeding farther,
would vifit that other Side of the World, which
Nature feems to have difpos'd at a great Distance
pur-
;
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
39
**
purpofely for the greater Safety of her Wealth and
Treaſure, you fhould not find any thing there fo
rare or entertaining, as what you have left behind-
you; and, indeed, all other Parts of the Univerſe
cannot afford you what may equal that which you
have left at Paris. This makes me believe your
Abfence will not be long; and that as foon as his
Majefty's Affairs fhall give you Leave, you will
return hither, to enjoy that Happiness which none
but you yourself can be worthy of. But, my Lord,
I am not fatisfy'd, whether we are not over-confi
dent of a Nation that has made fo great Ufurpa-
tions upon us, to have trufted you in their Power,
and accordingly fear the Spaniards will be as loth
to part with you, as la Valteline. This Fear certain
ly would put me into a far greater Diſorder, were
I not confident that thofe of the Council of Spain,
have not, fince you came into the Country, been
Mafters of their own Refolutions; and that you
have made too many humble Servants there, to
ftand in Fear of any Violence. We may then
hope, as foon as the Sun, which fcorches Men, and
dries up Rivers, fhall begin to re-affume his Heat,
you will return hither and overtake the Spring,
which you had already pafs'd over there, and ga-
ther Violets, after you have feen the Fall of Rofes.
For my own part, I expect this Seafon with very
much Impatience; not fo much, becaufe it 'fur-
niſhes us with Flowers and fine Weather, as thatit
brings your Return; and I promife you, I fhall
not think it pleafant, if it comes without you. I
am of the Opinion, you will eafily believe what I
fay; for I am confident you'll allow me to be fo
good, as that I fhould paffionately with that Hap-
pinefs wherein fo many are concern'd; befides that,
you know how particularly
I am your Honour's
bumble Servant, &c,
To
40 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Madam DE SAINTOT, fent with
the Orlando Furiofo of Ariofto. Tran-
flated into French by du Roffet.
LETTER XVII.
MADAM,
TH
His is the fineſt of all Orlando's - Adventures;
and he acquir'd lefs Glory when he fingly
defended Charlemain's Crown, and wrefted the
Scepters from many Royal Hands, than he ob-
tains from the Honour of kiffing yours. The
Title of Furious, by which he has hitherto wan-
der'd about the World, ought not to difcourage
you from granting him this Favour, or make you
apprehend his Acquaintance; for I am confident
that he will grow very civil as foon as he ap-
proaches you, and the very first fight of you, will
make him forget Angelica. At leaft, I know by
Experience, that you have already done greater
Miracles, and that you have heretofore cur'd with
a fingle Syllable, a more dangerous Madneſs than
his. Indeed, it would exceed all that Ariofto could
fancy,, if he did not acknowledge the apparent
Advantage which you have over his Miſtreſs, and
if he did not confefs that fhe, were fhe fet near
you, would have more Occafion than ever fhe had,
to flie for Affiftance to the Force of her enchanted
Ring. That Beauty, which of all the Champions
of the World, found not one that was Proof againft
her, who never yet ftruck the Eyes of any Man,
but at the fame Time fhe pierc'd his very Heart
and Soul, and who fir'd as many Parts of the
World, as the Sun himſelf enlightens, was but a
rough
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
41
By
rough Draught of the Wonders which we admire
in you. Nor were all the most glittering Colours
of Poetry able to reprefent her fo charming as
Nature has painted you. The very Flights of
Poetick Fancies have been unable to reach fuch
Excellence. And indeed, the extravagant Apart-
ments of Cryftal, and Palaces glittering with Gold
and with Diamonds, were a great deal more cafily
fancy'd, than fuch Parts of Beauty as we behold
in you; and all the Enchantments of imaginary
Knights, Enchantments which appear fo incredi
ble to you, are not half fo hard to be believ'd as
yours. To captivate with a Glance the moſt ob-
ftinate Minds, and the moſt averfe from Slavery,
to kindle in them Love, which is obedient to Rea
fon, and a Stranger to Defire and Hope, to raviſh
with Excefs of Pleafure and Glory the very Souls
from whom at the fame Time you take Repofe
and Liberty, and to contrive that they should be
perfectly pleas'd with you, who defpair of being
oblig'd by you, thefe are more improbable unac
countable Wonders than flying Chariots and fiery
Dragons, and all the Adventures related in Ro-
mantick Legends. I fhould make-a Book more
voluminous than that which I fend you, if I fhould
go on with this Subject. But, Madam, this Cham-
pion, who has been us'd to give Place to no Man,
begins to murmur at my having convers'd fo long
with you, and is now advancing to entertain you
with the Story of his Paffion. This is a Favour
which I have been often refus'd by you. Yet I
can endure, without being jealous, to fee Orlando
more fortunate, fince he has promis'd me, by Way.
of Requital, to prefent you with this from me,
and to oblige you to read it before you do any
Thing elfe; which Enterprize requir'd a no leſs
daring Courage than his, and yet the Event is but
very uncertain. And yet methinks it should be
but reaſonable, fince I oblige him with an Oppor
tunity
1
A
42 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
tunity of making his Paffion known to you, that
he fhould acquaint you with mine, and that a-
mongſt ſo many Fables, he fhould mingle fome
Truths. I am very fenfible that you are ſeldom
in a Humour to hear them: But fince you can
never be touch'd by them, and they are too in-
confiderable to oblige you to have any feeling
of them, you may be told, without any Danger,
that I efteem you alone above all the reft of the
World; and that I fhould be more proud to obey.
you, than to command that. I am,
PAL
Madam, &c.
0 oo 0 0 3
To the Marchioness of RAMBOUIL-
LET, in the Name of Callot, an ex-
cellent Engraver, at the fame Time
that the Author fent her a Book of
bis Figures from Nancy.
LETTER XVIII.
MADAM,
O'
F all the various Fancies which my Mind
has produc'd, the most reaſonable that L
have had, is that of prefenting this Book to you;
to you, Madam,, who principally excel in that
Faculty of Soul, which makes great Painters,
Carvers, and Architects, and which is defended
by your Example, against the old Accufation, that
it never appears in an eminent Degree join'd with
a perfect Judgment. For befides that Light of
your Underſtanding, which makes Things appear.
to you as they are, you have an Imagination in-
comparably ſkilful in difcerning their Beauties.
And
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 43
And as there is not a Perfon alive, who has more
Intereft than you, that perfect Things fhould be
valu'd, there is not one who can be thought to
commend them with more Addreſs than yourſelf.
It is but a moderate Commendation to tell you,
that you are ſkill'd in them, when at the fame
Time I might truly affirm, that you can produce
them, whenever you pleafe, in Perfection. Nay,
it has frequently happen'd, that by Way of Di-
verfion, you have conceiv'd Defigns which Michael
Angelo need not have blufh'd to own. And befides,
we may justly boaſt, that you have oblig'd the
World with a Mafter-piece, which furpaffes all
that Greece and Italy ever produc'd of Beautiful,,
and which might eclipfe the Glory of the Minerva
of Phidias. Madam, it would be fuperfluous to
tell you, that I ſpeak of your Daughter, in whom
alone we may juítly affirm, that you have wrought
divers Wonders; but a bolder Hand than mine is
requir'd, to paint the Beauties which are to be
found in you both. That would be a Tafk for
which Volumes would be too little, tho' I under».
took it, who have the Skill to employ whole Ar-
mies in one fingle Sheet, and to fhew Seas and
Mountains in it their full Proportion. Imust be
contented then to tell you, with a great deal of
Reſpect, and with a great deal of Truth, that L
amy
2
Madam,
Yours, &c.!
44 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Mademoifelle DE RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
LETTER XIX.
Since I have bad
Ince I have had the Happineſs to fee you,
have been extremely troubled, yet have not
been unmindful of the Commands you laid upon
me. As I.paft by Efpernay, I went, by your Or-
der, to vifit the Marefchal Strozzi, and was fo
mightily charm'd with the Magnificence of his
Monument, that confidering the Condition I was
in, and finding my felf upon the Spot, I was very
defirous to lie clofe by him. But this was a little
boggled at, becauſe it was perceiv'd I had too
much Warmth about me; I refolv'd therefore to
cauſe my Body to be tranſported to Nancy, whi-
ther at laft it is arriv'd, but fo harrafs'd, and out
of Order, that there are many at Reft in their
Graves, that had lefs need of reft. I have lain
ftill eight Days to no Purpofe; for the more I reſt,
the wearer I am. Befides, there is fo great a
Difference between the fifteen Days wherein I had
the Honour to be with you, and the fifteen laft
paſt, that I wonder how I can fuffer it; and me-
thinks, Monfieur Margone, who is a School-mafter
here, and my ſelf, are the two moft deplorable
Examples of the Uncertainty of Fortune that ever
were feen. I am troubled with certain Obſtru&i-
ons and Weakneffes, which give me not one Day's-
Intermiffion, there being no fuch Thing here, as
Theriacon; and confequently, I am ficker than e-
ever I was, and that in a Place where I can find
no Remedy. So that, Madam, I much fear Nancy
may prove as fatal to me, as to the Duke of Bur-
gundy;
ay
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
45
gundy; and that after I have run through great
Hazards, and oppos'd powerful Enemies, as he
had done, it is decreed I fhall end my Days here.
But I will hold out as well as I can; for 1 affure
you, I never am fo much in Fear of Death, as when
I think I fhall not have the Honour to fee you a-
gain; and therefore have efcap'd Death by the
Hands of one of the most beautiful in the Univerſe,
and neglect many Opportunities to die in your
Prefence; it would grieve me very much to come
and lay my Bones three hundred Miles from you,
and to think one Day, when I fhould rife again,
that I fhould have the Diffatisfaction of finding
my ſelf once more in Lorain. I am,
Madam,
Yours, &c.
DDDDDDDDDOONDIDI-D DODOOD✪
To the fame, in the Name of Guſtavus
Adolphus, King of Sweden.
LETTER XX.
MADAM,
Ehold the *
B
Lyon of the North, and that Con-
queror whofe Name has made fo much Noife
in the World, who comes to lay his German Tro-
phies at your Feet; and who, after having de-
feated Tilly, and overthrown the Fortune of Spain,
and
* So he calls Gustavus, becauſe he was really va-
liant, and the Kings of Sweden bear Lyons in their
Arms.
Tilly, one of the greateſt Captains of the Age,
General of the Emperor's Troops, and of the Duke
of Bavaria's, beaten twice by Gustavus Adolphus,
wounded in the firſt Battle, and having the fame
Misfortune in the fecond, he was carry'd to Ingol-
fat, where hedy'd of a Wound in his Thigh.
Vide Loccenius's Hiftorie de Suede.
46 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
and the Imperial Forces, comes with all his Pride to
fubmit to yours. Amongst the Shouts of Joy, and
the Songs of Triumph, which I have heard for fo
many Days, nothing has founded fo agreeably to
me, as the Affurance they give me, that I have
your good Withes; upon that Information, I have
alter'd all my Projects; and that Ambition has
ftopt at you, which before grafp'd at the Univerſe.
This is not fo much to have retrench'd, as to have
enlarg❜d my Defigns. For the World itfelf has its
Bounds; and the Defire of becoming the Mafter
of it, has fallen upon other Minds. But the Under-
ftanding which we admire in you, thar Under-
ftanding which nothing can confine, and which no
other can comprehend, that Greatneſs of Mind
by which you are rais'd fo far above Crowns and
Scepters, and thofe Graces which caufe you to cap-
tivate all Mens Souls, are infinite Poffeffions, to
which no one but I has ever dar'd to afpire; and
they who have coveted feveral Worlds, have in
doing it, form'd more temperate Wishes than mine.
Should they fucceed, and fhould Fortune, which
makes me victorious every where, fecond my. At-
tempt upon you, I fhould have little Reafon to en-
vy the Conqueſts of Alexander; and I ſhould believe
that they who controul'd the Univerfe, were never
in Poffeffion of fo fair an Empire as mine. Madam;
I have abundantly more to fay to you, but I am a
bout to engage the Imperial Army, and to take
Nuremberg fix Hours afterwards. I am
Your moſt paſſionate Servant, Guſtavus Adolphus.
18
+Guftavus Adolphus fought the Emperor's Army İs
Battels, and in the 3d, which was that of Lutzen, he
loft his Life, being, at the Beginning, fhot in the
left Arm; after which, as they were carrying him
out of the Fight, he fell among a Body of the Ene
mies, of whom he receiv'd two Wounds of a Mus
ket, one in his Head, and other inchis Body, and
dy'd glorioufly, fince he triumph'd in hieDeath This
happen'd in 1622. See Loccenius's Hiftoire de Suede.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Mademoifelle DE BOURBON.
MADAM,
L
LETTER XXI.
AST Friday in the Afternoon I was tofs'd in
a Blanket, becauſe I had not made you laugh
in the Time that was given me: Madam de Ram-
bouillet pronounc'd the Sentence, at the Requéft of.
her Daughter, and Mademoifelle Paulet. They
had deferr'd the Execution to the Return of the
Princefs, and yourfelf, but they bethought them-
felves afterwards, not to delay it any longer, and
that it was very improper to put off Punifhment
to a Time which ought to be wholly devoted to
Pleaſure. 'Twas in vain to cry out, and make Re-
fiftance; the Blanket was brought, and four of the
luftieft Fellows they could get, were pick'd out
for this Service. I may venture to affirm to you,
Madam, that no Man was ever yet in fo exalted
a Condition as I was, and I did not believe that
Fortune would ever have rais'd me fo high; at
every Tofs they threw me out of Sight, and fent
me higher than a foaring Eagle. I faw the Moun-
tains crouching far below me, the Winds and
Clouds travel beneath my Feet, difcover'd Coun-
tries that I ne'er had feen, and Seas I ne'er had
thought of. There can be nothing more divert
ing, than to fee fo many Things all at once, and
to difcover half the Globe at one View. But I af
fure you, Madam, all this cannot be feen without
fome Disturbance, when one is in the Air, and
certain of falling down again. That which frighten'd
me the moft, was, that when I was very high,
looking downwards, the Blanket appear'd fofmall,
that
48
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
that I thought it impoffible to fall into it, and that
I confefs was fome Trouble to me.
But among
To many different Objects, which at the fame Time
ftruck my Sight, there was one which for fome
Moments took away my Fear, and touch'd me
with real Pleaſure: It is this, Madam; being de-
firous to look towards Piedmont, to fee what pafs'd
there, I faw you at Lyons, as you crofs'd the Saone
e;
at least, I faw a great Light upon the Water, and
abundance of Rays about the most charming Face
in the World. I could not well difcern who was
with you, becaufe at that Time my Head was
lowermoft; and I believe you did not fee me, for
-you look'd another Way. I made Signs to you as
well as I could; but as you began to look up, I fell
down again, and one of the Tops of the Mountain
Tarara hinder'd you from feeing me. As foon as
I came down, I told them, that I had feen you;
and, as I was going to tell them how you did, they
all fell a laughing, as if 'twere a Thing impoffible,
and immediately began to make me leap higher
than before. There happen'd to me a very ftrange
Accident, which will feem incredible to thofe who
have not feen it. One Time, when they had tofs'd
me to a very great Height, in coming down, I
found my felf in a Cloud, which being very thick,
and I extreamly Light, I was a great while in-
tangled in it, before I could fall down again; fo
that they stay'd a long Time below fpreading the
Blanket, and looking up without being able to
imagine what was become of me. By good Luck
there was no Wind ſtirring, for if there had, the
Cloud in marching would have carry'd me on one
Side or t'other, and fo I must have inevitably fal-
len to the Ground, which could not have happen'd
without hurting me very much. But a more dan-
gerous Accident fucceeded this; the last time
they threw me into the Air, I found my felf a-
mongft a Flock of Cranes, who at firft were migh-
tily
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
49
tily furpriz'd to fee me fo high; but when they
came near me, they took me for a Pigmy, with
whom you know, Madam, they have perpetual
War, and thought I came to them as a Spy into
the middle Region; immediately they fell upon
me with great Strokes of their Beaks, and with
fuch Violence, that I imagin'd my felf ftruck with
a hundred Daggers. And one of them that had
taken me by the Leg, purfu'd me fo furioufly,
that ſhe did not leave me 'til I was in the Blanket.
This made my Tormenters afraid to fend me back
to the Mercy of my Enemies, who were now got
together in great Numbers, and hover'd in the
Air, expecting me again. At last they carry'd me
Home again in the fame Blanket, but fo difpirited
as never was Man. To tell you the Truth, this
Exercife is a little too violent for one of my ten-
der Conftitution. I leave it to you, Madam, to
judge how cruelly I have been dealt with, and for
how many Reafons you are oblig'd to condemn
this Action; and to deal plainly with you, you
that are born with fo many commanding Quali-
ties, fhould think it of the highest Confequence to
begin betimes to hate Injustice, and to take thoſe
that are opprefs'd, into your Protection: I be-
feech you then, Madam, in the firft Place, to de-
clare this an Outrage you by no Means approve,
and, for Reparation of my Honour and myStrength,
to order a great Canopy of Gaufe to be fet up for
me in the blue Chamber of the Palace of Ram-
bouillet, where I fhall be waited on, and magnifi-
cently entertain'd for a whole Week by the two
Ladies who were the Caufe of this Misfortune;
that at one Corner of the Room they fhall be
continually making Sweet-meats; one of them
fhall blow the Fire, and t'other fhall do nothing
elfe but put Syrup upon Plates to cool, and bring
it me as often as I have Occafion. Thus, Madam,
you will do a Deed of Juftice, worthy of fo great
D
and
50
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
and beautiful a Princeſs, and I fhall be oblig'd to
> be with the utmost Sincerity and Refpect,
Yours, &c.
To my Lord Cardinal De la VALETTE.
LETTER XXII.
I
MY LORD,
Am fatisfy'd, that you old Cardinals take more
Authority upon you, than thofe of the laft Pro-
motion; becauſe having written many Letters to
you, without receiving one from you, yet you com-
plain of my Neglect. In the mean Time, feeing
To many well-bred Men, who affure me, that you
do me too much Honour to think of me at all,
and that I am bound to write to you, and to give
my Acknowledgments, I am refolv'd to take their
Counfel, and to pafs over all Sorts of Difficulties
and Confiderations of my own Intereft. This then
will give you to understand, that fix Days after
the Eclipfe, and a Fortnight after my Deceafe,
Madam the Princefs, Mademoifelle de Bourbon,
Madam du Vigean, Madam Aubry, Mademoiſelle
de Rambouillet, Mademoiſelle Paulet, Monfieur de
Chaudebonne, and my felf, left Paris about Six in
the Evening, and went to La Barre, where Madam
du Vigean was to give a Collation to the Princefs.
In our Way thither, we found nothing worth our
Obſervation, but only that at Ormelon, an Engli
Maftiffcame up to the Boot of the Coach to make
his Compliment to me. Be pleas'd to take this a-
long with you, my Lord, that as often as I expreſs
my felf in the plural Number, as for Example,
We went, we found, or we beheld, 'tis always to
be
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
51
be underſtood, that I fpeak in the Quality of a
Cardinal. From thence we happily arriv'd at La
Barre, and enter'd a Hall, where we trod upon
nothing but Rofes and Orange-flowers. Madam
the Princefs, after fhe had fufficiently admir'd
this Magnificence, had a Mind to fee the Walks
before Supper: The Sun was then just fitting in
a Cloud of Gold and Azure, and gave us no larger
a Share of his Beams, than to fupply a foft and
pleafing Light: The Air was not diſturb'd either
with Wind or Heat; and it feem'd that Heaven
and Earth were confpiring with Madam de Vigean
in her treating the fairest Princeſs upon Earth.
After fhe had pafs'd through a great Parterre,
and Gardens full of Orange-trees, fhe arriv'd at
the Entrance of an enchanted Wood, fo thick and
fhady, that Authors conclude the Sun, fince the
Day of his Birth never enter'd it, 'till now that
he waited on her Highneſs thither. At the End
of an Alley, which carry'd the Sight out of Di-
ftance, we found a Fountain, which alone caft up
a greater Quantity of Water, than all thofe of T-
soli together; about it were plac'd four and twen-
ty Violins, which had much ado to make them-
felves be heard, for the rumbling of the Streams
in falling. When we were got near enough, we dif
cover'd in a certain Nich, within a Pallifade, a
Diana of about eleven or twelve Years of Age, and
fairer than the Forefts of Greece and Theffaly had
ever feen: She bore her Bow and Arrows in her
Eyes, and was encompass'd with all the Glories
of her Brother. In another Nich, not far diftant,
was another Nymph, fair and gentle enough to
pafs for one of her Train: Thofe who are not
given to believe Fables, took them for Mademoi-
felles de Bourbon and la Priande; and, to confefs the
Truth, they refembled them exactly, All the
Company was in a profound Silence admiring To
many different Objects, which at once Wſtoniſh d
their
D 2
52
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
their Eyes and Ears, when on a fudden the God-
defs leap'd down from her Nich, and with a
Grace, impoffible to be defcrib'd, began a Ball,
which lafted for fome Time about the Fountain.
'Twas fomewhat ftrange, my Lord, that in the
midſt of ſo many Pleafures, which were fufficient
to engage the whole Attention of their Spirits.
who enjoy'd them, yet we could not forbear to
think of you; and it was generally concluded, that
fomething was wanting to our Happinefs, fince
neither you, nor Madam de Rambouillet were pre-
fent. Then I took up a Harp, and fung this
Spanish Stanza,
Pues quifo mi fuerte dura,
Que faltando mi fennor
圣
​Tambien faltaffe mi Dama.
and continu'd the rest of the Song fo very melo-
dioufly, and with fuch an Air of Sadness, that
there was not one of the Company, but the Tears
came into their Eyes, and they wept abundantly:
Their Sorrow had endur'd much longer, had not
the Violins ftruck up a Sarabrand, with great
Speed and Prefence of Mind; upon which the
Company got upon their Feet, with as much
Gayety, as if nothing in the World had happen'd,
and fell into the Dance, thus leaping, capering,
turning round, and hopping, we return'd to the
Houfe, where we found a Table ready ſpread, and
ferv'd as if it had been ferv'd by Fairies. This,
my Lord, is one Paffage of the Adventure, which
is fo ftupendious, that no Words are capable of
expreffing it, for there are neither Colours of
Speech, nor Figures in the Art of Rhetorick, which
can defcribe fix feveral Sorts of Potages, which
were at once prefented to the Sight. And what
was particularly remarkable, that there being
none but Goddeffes, and two Demi-Gods at the
Table, (viz.) Monfieur Chaudebonne and I, yet every
one
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
5.3
one eat as heartily, and with as good Appetites,
as if we had been neither more nor lefs than plain
Mortals. And, to confefs the Truth, a better
Treat could not have been provided. Amongſt
other Things, there were twelve Difhes, befides
other Eatables in Difguife, which were never feen
before on any human Table, and whofe very
Names have never been ſo much as mention'd in
any Hiftory. This Circumftance, my Lord, by
fome difaftrous Accident, has been related to Ma-
dam la Marefchalle
and though immediate-
ly upon it, she took twelve Drams of Opium be-
yond her ordinary Dofe, yet ſhe has never been
able to cloſe her Eyes from that fatal Moment.
During the firft Courfe, there was not fo much as
one fingle Cup went round to your Health; the
Company was fo intent upon the prefent Affair,
and at the Defert, we quite forgot it. I beg your
Permiffion, my Lord, to relate all Things as they
pafs'd, like a faithful Hiftorian as I am, and with
out Flattery; for I would not for the World, that
Pofterity fhould miſtake one Thing for another; and
that at the End of two thoufand Years hence, or
thereabouts, Pofterity fhould imagine your Health
was drank, when really there was no fuch Thing in
Nature. Yet I must give this Teftimony to Truth,
that it was not for want of Memory; for, during all
Supper-time, you were often mention'd; all the
Ladies wifh'd you there, and fome of them very
heartily, or I am much mistaken. As we rofe
from Table, the Sound of the Violins fummon'd
us up Stairs, where we found a Chamber fo glo-
rioufly lighted up, that it look'd as if the Day,
which was now below the Earth, had retir'd hi-
ther, and was affembled in one Body of Light.
Here the Ball began again in better Order, and
with more Grace than it had been danc'd about
the Fountain; and the most magnificent Part of
it, my Lord, was, that I footed it there in Perfow
Made-
D 3
54 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Mademoiſelle de Bourbon, I must confefs, was of
Opinion, that I danc'd aukwardly; but fhe con-
cluded, to my Advantage, that I must be allow'd
to fence well, becauſe that at the End of every
Cadence I put my felf upon my Guard: The Ball
continu'd with much Pleaſure, 'till all of a ſudden
a great Noife, which was heard without Doors,
caus'd the Company to look out at the Windows,
where from a great Wood, which was about three
hundred Paces from the Houfe, we beheld fo vaft
a Number of Fire-works iffuing out, that we ve-
rily believ'd all the Branches and Trunks of the
Trees had been metamorphos'd into Guns; that
all the Stars were falling from the Firmament,
and that the Element of Fire was defcending into
the middle Region of the Air. Here, my Lord,
are three Hyperboles tack'd together, which be-
ing valu'd at a moderate Price, are worth three
Dozen of Fufees at the leaſt. After we were re-
cover'd out of this great Fit of Extafy, into which
fo many Miracles had plung'd us, we refolv'd on
our Departure, and took the Way to Paris, by the
Light of twenty Flambeaus. We pafs'd through
all the Ormefonnois, and the wide Plains of Efpinay
without Refiftance, and went through the middle
of St. Dennis. Being plac'd in the Coach, by the
Side of Madam
I faid a whole Miferere to
her on your Behalf; to which fhe reply'd with
much Gallantry, and no les Civility. We fung
in our Journey a World of Songs, Roundeaux,
Roundelays, Lampoons, and Ballads, and were
now half a League beyond St. Dennis, it being two-
a Clock in the Morning precifely; the Fatigue of
the Journey, watching, walking, and the painful
Exercife of the Ball, having made me fomewhat
heavy, when there happen'd an Accident, which
I verily believ'd would have been my total Ruin.
There is a certain little Village, fituate, fay the
Geographers, betwixt Paris and St. Dennis, and
vulgarly
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 55
vulgarly call'd La Vilette: At our going out of this
Place, we overtook three Coaches, in which were
thofe numerical Violins which had been playing
to us. Hereupon, Satan entering into the Spirit
of Mademoiſelle, fhe commanded them to follow
us, and to give Serenades all Night long to the
poor innocent People of Paris, who were afleep,
and dream'd not of her Malice. This diabolical
Propofition made my Hair rife an End upon my
Head; yet all the Company pafs'd a Vote in Fa-
vour of it; and the Word was juſt ready to be
given, but, by a fignal Providence, they had left
their Violins behind them at la Barre for which
;
the Lord reward them. From hence, my Lord,
you may reaſonably conclude, that Mademoiſelle
is a dangerous Perfon in the Night, if ever there
was any in the World; and that I had great Rea-
fon at Madam's Houfe to fay, that the Vio-
lins ought to be turn'd out of Doors, when that
peftilent Lady was in Company. Well, we con-
tinu'd our Way happily enough, but only, that as
we enter'd the Fauxbourgh, we met fix lufty Plaif-
terers, as naked as ever they were born, who pafs'd
directly by the Coach, to the Terror of the La-
dies. In fine, we arriv'd at Paris; and what I am
now going to relate, is indeed prodigious: Could
you imagine it, my Lord? The Obfcurity was fo
great, that it cover'd all that vaft City; and in-
flead of what we left it, not full feven Hours be-
fore, fill'd with Noife, and with a Crowd of Men,
Women, Horfes, and Coaches, we now found no-
thing but a deep Silence, a difmal Defart, a fright-
ful Solitude, difpeopled Streets; not meeting with
any mortal Man, but only certain Animals, who
fled from the Luftre of our Torches. But the re-
maining Part of the Adventure, you fhall have,.
my Lord, another Time. As Boyardo tells you,
Qui e il fin del Canto; e torno ad Orlando,
Adio Signor, a voi me raccomando.
D 4
T
56 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Madam de VIGE AN; with fome
Verfes which he had made, and
which she had defir'd of him..
I
LETTER XXIII.
MADAM,
Have, at length, fent you the Verfes which you.
have fo often defir'd of me, and which hither-
to, tho' they have been repeated to a few, yet
have been read by none. Would to God they
would meet with the fame good Fortune which
has attended you, who after you had fo long con-
ceal'd the fineſt Thing in the World, fhew'd it of
a fudden, and dazzled all the Beholders. But 'tis
to be over-fond of Trifles, to wifh them fo much
Felicity. Can I heartily with that they had more
Merit, fince they were not made for you? Yet
the more wretched you find them, the greater
will your Obligation be to me, fince, tho I am
fenfible of their Demerit, in Obedience to your
Commands, I fend them to you. To oblige me
to which, it was neceffary for you to have as much
Influence over me, as that which you have lately
acquir'd; you may affure yourfelf, that the fe
Trifles owe their very Being to your Command,
and that otherwife they had exifted no where but
in my Memory. But it is now grown high Time
to difcharge it of them, and make room for a more
agreeable Object, fince that which Madam
fhew'd it fo lately, takes it up fo entirely, that
there is room for nothing elfe in it. But, Madam,
I begin to be fenfible, that instead of an Excufe
and a Complement, I fend you a Billet Doux ; yet,
would
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
57
would to God I could as eafily excufe the rest of
the Faults you will find in it. In the mean Time,
I proteft to you, that it is an Age fince my Heart
has been fo deeply engag'd; and there are feveral
Perfons to whom I would not fay half what I have
faid to you, tho' their Daggers were held to my
Throat. But, Madam, fince there is no Fear of
Scandal, you ought to cherifh this growing Paf-
fion, if it were but to fee at what Rate I fhould
behave my ſelf, if I came to be in Love in good
earneſt, and to what the Buſineſs would come, if
I were fuffer'd to go on. Iam,
1
*
Madam,
Your, &c.
XDC DCX Z
To Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET,
on the Death of her Brother, who
dy'd of the Plague, and whom he
attended during his Sickness.
LETTER XXIV..
MADAM
Having no lefs Admiration for your Courage:
and good Nature, than Sympathy with your
Grief, I am fo highly fenfible of the one and the
other, that if I were capable to render you thofe-
Commendations which are juftly due to you, and
that Comfort which you ftand fo much in need of,
I muft needs confefs I fhould be at a great ftand
where to begin for what Obligations can be of
more Force, than to render to eminent Virtue its
due Merits, and to fuch violent Afflictions the
Comfort they require? But I am much to blame,
D. 5
to
58 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
to put a Diſtance betwixt thefe two Things, fince
Charity has fo perfectly united them, that the
unexampled Affiftance you afforded your late
Brother, fhould now prove an extraordinary Com-
fort to you; and God beftows that on you out of
Juftice, which others obtain out of his pure In-
dulgence; his infinite Goodnefs being fuch as will
not fuffer unrewarded fo exemplary an Act of
Tenderneſs, as that which thro a Contempt of
your own Life, engag'd you in the Offices of the
beſt Siſter in the World, beyond the Bounds of all
manner of Obligations, and, by an admirable Con-
ftancy, made you affur'd in the midst of Danger
that terrifies the moft brave and daring. Upon
this Account, I am confident that he will preferve
you from it, and fhower on you the Reward of
your Virtue, and the Bleffings that are defir'd by,
À
Madam,
Your bumble Servant, &c.
I
To the Marchionefs of SABLE.
LETTER XXV.
MADAM,
Can't tell of any better Way to eafe you, as to
the bad News you have already receiv'd, than
to put you out of Fear as to yourſelf. Know then,
1, who write this to you, have been three Days to
gether in the very Houfe, out of which two Per-
fons dy'd of the Plague. The best Thing you e-
ver did in your Life, was your leaving of Paris
fince it was a Time when all the Virtuous were to
expect Perfecution. Madam de Rambouilles hath
loft
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
59
loft her Grandfon, who in three Days made a fhift
to die of the Plague; yet fhe could not be any
Ways perfwaded to leave the Houfe, as long as
there was any Life left in him. You may eafily
think, Madam, that nothing could divert me from
being continually with them, fince you are not
here: But I am much afraid I fhall frighten you,
and that the Remedy I apply to your Affliction is
too violent for the Diſeaſe. Know then, that I,
who write to you, am not the Writer hereof, but
have fent it at least a hundred Miles from this
Place, to be copy'd out by a Man I never faw. I
think my felf much concern'd, Madam, in the
Trouble that now lies on you, and apprehend that
this Misfortune could not happen in a more unlucky
Time; yet the Moderation that your Mind is fub- ·
ject to, and the little Value you have for the Things
of thisWorld, raife in me a Hope that you will bear
thefe Afflictions with lefs Concern, than the Lofs
of fifty thousand per Annum, now gone out of your
Family, would give fome other more interested
than yourſelf, while the Rule of Moderation that
governs your Mind, will not fuffer fo great a Lofs
to be an Affliction to you. But, Madam, I muſt
net, by a confolatory Letter, think to anſwer the
moft obliging and kind Love-Letter in the Uni-
verfe; for the latter Part of yours can't be term'd
otherwife. My humble Addrefs therefore, Ma-
dam, is, that you would not repent of your writ
ing fo obligingly to me as you have; for amongft
all my Difcontents, I have entertain'd that Joy as
fenfibly, as if I had known the greateft Serenity
in the World; and I cannot conceive myfelf un-
happy, while I have the Honour of your Affection.
Iam fo fortunate, and fo confident, that I am not
in the leaft Doubt of it; and my good Fortune is
great in this, that lefteem That the greatest Good
on Earth, which I conceive myfelf the moft af-
furedly poffeft'd of You are fo well fatisfy'd with
me,
60
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. .
me, Madam, that I know you will more favoura
bly receive thofe Affurances which exprefs of
your Affection, than thofe that I might give you
of mine; and tho' you wish my Happiness in all
Things, yet can you not defire any Thing more
advantagious for me, than that I fhould believe
you love me. And thoſe that have ſeen what an
Alteration your Abfence hath wrought in me, and
how great a Part of my Mind you have taken a
way with you, may one Day fatisfy you, that I, in
fome Meaſure, deferve that Honour. But, Madam,
I cannot forbear to tell you, that Monfieur le
Maifire, who faw with what Tenderness I bad you
farewel, will be better confirm'd in his former O
pinion, and hopes one Day to find our Characters
engrav'd together upon the Trees of Bourgon at:
leaft, it is no fmall Satisfaction to me, that he hath
obferv'd the Acknowledgment and Immutability
of our Affections. For my Part, Madam, I once
more tell you, what I fo much prefs'd upon your
Faith at our Departure, which is, That Ifhalline-
ver efteem or admire any Thing in this World ſo
much as I do you, and fhall ever, with all manner
of Reſpect, remained
3*
Your bumble Servant, &c..
To Mademoifelle de PAULE T.
LETTER XXVI.
MADAM,
T
Was the greateft Happinefs in the World
to me to receive your Letter, just before I
left Bruffels, and with it fo much Confolation on
the very Eve of my Departure. Since that bleffed
Moment I have known no Disturbance, tho' I have
fuffer'd
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters..
61
1
?
fuffer'd a great deal of Pain; for would not have
it faid, that a Man for whom you were pleas'd to
fhew fome Concern, can be unhappy; and I fhould
be aſham'd to fhew my Face again, ſhould I fuffer
Fortune to have a greater Influence over me than
your felf. have travell'd ten Days, without the
leaft Intermiffion, from Morning 'till Night. I
have pass'd through Countries, where Wheat is as
great a Curiofity as a Warming-Pan under the
Line, and where Applesare preferv'd with as much
Tenderness as Oranges in France. I have vifited
Places, where the most ancient Inhabitants cannot
remember they ever beheld a Bed; and, to my
unfpeakable Comfort, I am at this prefent writ-
ing in that School of Virtue and Induſtry, call'd
an Army, where the ftouteft are weary'd out and
founder'd; yet, Madam, I am ftill alive and lufty,
and don't believe there is a Man in all the Troops
in better Health than myſelf. I am at a loſs what
to aſcribe ſuch a miraculous Strength of Conftitu-
tion to, unleſs it be to fome divine Power in your
Letter; and methinks my Cafe refembles that of
thofe Men, who perform more than human Acti-
ops, after they have fortify'd themfelves with cer-
tain charming Characters. As foon as I came hi-
ther, by the Favour of Monfieur de Chandebonne, I
got myfelf lifted in a Troop of Cravates. I can af
fure you, Madam, without the leaft Vanity, that I
have behav'd myſelf as gallantly as any of my Com→
rades. The Truth on't, is, I have not as yet ra-
vifh'd either Matron, Wife, or Maid; becaufe, to
deal ingenuously with you, I have not as yet re-
cover'd my full Strength, nor made my Carcafs
amends for the Fatigue of my Journey. So all that
I could do, was, to fet two or three Houfes on
Fire; but I grow stronger and stronger every Day,
and within this little while you may expect to hear
Miracles of me. To be ferious with you, I am
another fort of a Man than when you laſt ſaw me z
and
62 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
and I find my Valour fo ftrangely improv'd, that:
Almanzar himſelf would have a hard Time to e-
feape me: And yet I believe, that how terrible
foever I reprefent my felf, you don't take me for
fuch a Sort of a Monſter; but conclude I am not
much to be fear'd, eſpecially by you, Madam,
fince you know you've an abfolute Afcendant over
me, and that I am, with the utmost Refpect,
Madam,
Your bumble Servant.
To the fame.
LETTER XXVII.
MADAM,
YOU
fhould hear from me oftener, were it in
my Power, as it is always in my Inclination..
But the Mifchief on't, is, that, generally fpeaking,
we are forc'd to take up our Quarters in a Hea
thenish barbarous Country, where we may as well
expect to meet all the Niceties of Paris, as Pén,
Ink, and Paper. Befides, it being expected I
fhould write with a World of Care and Circum-
fpection, kam fo ftrangely confounded, that I fall as
trembling when I take Pen in, Hand, for Fear of
exceeding my Bounds, which endeavour all that!
lies in my Power to avoid. Even at this prefent I am
almoft at my Wits Ends, far writing Things which
it were more convenient not to mention, and fuch,
perhaps, which you are far from approving. For
I remember, in your last Letter, you forbad me
to ſpeak of Love; and I am forc'd to obey you,
without diſputing your Orders, tho? commit ne
ver
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
63
ver fo great a Violence upon myfelf; and yet,
Madam, I cannot forbear to let you know, that
how great foever my Paffion for the War may be,
yet I have another that is much more prevalent
in me; and it will be allow'd on all Hands, I fup-
pofe, that our firft Inclinations are ever the ftrong
eft. Hitherto we have met with nothing to oppofe
us. We daily make nearer Approaches to the
+ Country of Melons, Figs, and Mufcadine Grapes;
and we are marching to fight in a Place, where is
will be impoffible for us to gather Palms, but fuch
as are mingled with Flowers of Oranges and Pome-
granates. But I affure you, Madam, that I fhould
willingly part with all the Advantages that I may
hope from a Victory, for the Honour of throwing
myfelf this Moment at your Feet; and that
fhan't fet fo great a Value on the Title of Con-
queror, as that of being,
Madam,
Your obedient Slave,
VOLTURE.
+ He means Italy or Spain, which are the Couns
tries for Figs, Peaches, Oranges, Grapes, and Me
lons. "Tis of thefe laft that Seignior Berni faid,
Ob frutto fopra ogni altro benedetto
Buono inanzi, nel mezzo & dietro pafto
Ma inanzi buono, & di dietro perfetto.
Oh thou beft of Fruit good before Meals, good
in the midſt of Meals, but, above all, most excel-
lent after Meals!
64 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Mademoifelle PAULET.
LETTER XXVIII.
MAD-AM,
You
7OU muft believe the Change of Air has not
chang'd my Inclinations at all; for I'll af
füre you nothing can alter me in any Thing that
relates to you. If you believe, my Affection is of
all Prices, you muſt alſo believe that thofe Prices
are juft and proportionable to the Value of the
Perfon; and as long as I fhall follow that Rule,
you may be certain of the grateful Efteem in my
Heart; if that be juftifiable to my Reafon, I'm
fure it is to my Inclination, and you may believe
I ne'er fhall endeavour to stifle the Paffion I have
for you. You that fay I can't conftrain myſelf, and
that. I have not Prudence in what regards my Hap-
pinefs; I have none greater than to honour you,
and to call often to my Memory the Goodneſs and
Beauty you are Miftrefs of: Tho' all the Prefents
you have made me be Poifon, I receiv'd them..
heartily, and will always do the fame by every
Thing that comes from you. I have been very
glad,, Madam, to find my Juftification in that
very Place you thought to convict me; the two
black Beaus, in the Stanza of the Boys, fhew, that
it was not defign'd for the Lady; fhe deferv'd that
Name, as well as Madam de Neufvic; and I affure
you that the Pocket Book came into her Hand
the fame Way; the Bufinefs of Madam le Mandate
is more innocent; and if you have open'd fome
of the Letters, it is Malice in the higheft Degree
to charge me with it. Fread with Confufion the
Stanza you fent me, and I find myſelf more guil
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
65
ty in making bad Verfes, than bad Gallantry;
which ſhow my Guilt fo plainly, that fince Mon
fieur de Chaudebonne has made my Peace with Ma-
dam de Rambouillet, I have learn'd more Wit; for
I must confefs, I was a great Sot at that Time
that Madam du Pleffis faid I was fo pretty: But,
Madam, pray, when they have a mind to affront
me, I defire you would have no Hand in't. They
write to your Husband to take care of me, and
wrap me up in Silk and Cotton, yet at the fame
Time endeavour to kill me. I find the Advice of
Madam de Bourbon excellent, which is to preferve
me in Sugar; but there must go a great deal to
fweeten fo much Bitternefs; and when they had
done all, I fhould tafte but like a little candy'd
Citron. I cannot find Words to acknowledge the
extraordinary Honour fhe does me, in remember-
ing me; I wish Aurora (for that Name becomes:
her well) be follow'd with as fine a Day as fhe-
deſerves, and that all the Days of her Life be ex-
empt from Clouds, and as clear and ferene as her
Face and her Wit. I humbly kifs the Hands of
Madam de Clermont, and her Daughters, with my
Thanks to Mr. Godeau for the Verfes he fent me;
I find them like the rest of his Works, which with
Pleaſure I read every Day, and which indeed is
the greatest Part of the Study of
Your bumble Servant, &c..
To
66 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Monfieur de CHAUDE BONNE.
I
SIR,
!
LETTER XXIX.
Writ to you ten or twelve Days ago, and re-
I have at length receiv'd from you. If you were
but fenfible of the Satisfaction they brought with
them, you would be forry for not having writ to-
me oftener, and for not frequently repeating the
Confolation of which I had To much need. Ma-
drid, which is the agreeableft Place in the World
for those who at once are lufty and Libertines, is
the moſt diſconfolate for thofe who are regular,
or thofe who are indifpos'd. And in Lent, which
is the Players Vacation, I do not know fo much
as one Pleafure that a Man can enjoy with Con-
fcience. My Melancholy here, and my want of
Company, have produc'd a good Effect in me;
for they have reconcil'd me to Books, which I had
for a Time forfaken; and being able to meet with
no other Pleafures, I have been forc'd to taste and
to relish that of Reading. Prepare then to fee
me a Philofopher as great as your felf; and confi-
der how faft à Man must come on, who for ſeven
whole Months has ftudy'd, or has been fick : For
if one of the chief Things that Philofophy aims
at, is a Contempt of Life, the Stone-Cholick is
certainly the beſt of Mafters; and Plato and So-
crates perfwade us lefs efficacioufly. It has lately
read me a Lecture, that lafted feventeen Days,
which I fhall not quickly forget; and which has
often made me confider how very feeble we are,
fince three Grains of Sand are fufficient to caft us
a
down.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
67
down. But if it determines me to any Sect, it fhall
not at least be that, which maintains that Pain is
not an Evil, and that he who is wife is at all
Times happy. But whatever befals me, I can
neither be happy nor wife without being near to
you, and nothing can make me one or the other,
fo much as your Prefence, or your Example. Yet
am I very uncertain when I fhall be able to leave
this Place; and expecting both Money and Men,
which are coming by Sea, and which are two
Things that do not always keep touch with us, I
apprehend my remaining here longer than I could
wifh; therefore I make it my humble Requeſt to
you, that you would not forget me fo long as you
have done, and that you would teftify, by doing
me the Honour of writing to me, that you are
convinc'd of the real Affection with which I am
Your, &c.
To Mademoifelle de PAULIT.
LETTER XXX.
MADAM,
.7
IF 'tis a Fault in me to have any Satisfaction out
of your Sight, at leaft 'tis fome Excufe that I
have none but what you give me. 'Tis you that
are the Caufe of all my Pleafure; and tho' I have
lately been to fee the Efcurial and Aranjuez, and
been at Bull-Feaſts, I fhould have ſeen nothing as
greeable in Spain, if I had not receiv'd your Let
ters here. Your Cares eafe me of the greatest
Part of mine; and I'm no longer unhappy, when
I confider that you have not forgot me. This
Obligation is fo great, that I don't think any be
fides
68
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
fides myfelf would ever be able to repay it. But
if you'll pleafe to remember, you'll find, I paid
for it before-hand; and fince the very firft Moment
that I had the Honour to know you, there has not
paſs'd a Day in which I have not deferv'd all the
Favour you can ever fhew me. I'm fure, Madam,
you won't afcribe this to Vanity, but to the great
Efteem I have for the Paffion with which I ho-
nour you, and to a Belief which I have, that a
perfect Affection deferves every Thing. That
which I have to ferve you, is in fo high a Degree,
that nothing befides yours is able to reward it;
and tho' you had given me Life an hundred Times,
and with that all the Riches in the World, you
would ftill be deep in my Debt, unless you gave
me your Love too. I own in one Thing you are
pretty confcientious; not being able to give me
what is my Due, you endeavour to content me o-
therwife, and to cover a Piece of Injuftice with at
great deal of Civility. But all the fine Words in
the World, are not to be compar'd with the fmal-
left Particle of good Will; tho' if any might, they'd
certainly be yours, neither would you have any
Occafion to borrow of any Body elfe. I'm always
furpriz'd to find, that tho' Ireceive a great Pac-
ket from you, there is but a little Letter in it;:
and that what is written with your own Hand, is
but the leaft Part of what
fend me. As I re-
you
member, I hardly ever had the Honour to fee
you at your Houfe, but there were five or fix Per-
fons in the Room with you; fo you take care to
put as many into your Letters, and never write to
me but in publick. But you must not imagine,
that this will make me fpeak to you with e'er the
lefs Boldness: I'll make thofe my Confidents,
whom you ſeem to have conftituted my Judges;
for 1 had rather let them know my Secret, than
let you not know it. But to fpeak ferioufly, (for
I know, Madam, you would not for the World
+
that
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
69
that I ſhould mean what I fay) inſtead of com-
plaining of this, I have Reafon to return you a
thouſand Thanks for the Honour you cauſe me to
receive from fo many deferving Perfons, and what
I could never have pretended to, but thro' you.
I own, tho' I can't even wiſh for more Pleaſure
than I take in ſeeing your Letters, yet I am ex-
treamly glad when you do furpafs my Wiſhes, and
procure me more Satisfaction than I could defire.
If I an't deceiv'd, there were in your laft fome
Lines of the beft Hand in the World, and I re-
ceiv'd them with the fame Veneration, as they
formerly gather'd together the Leaves wherein
the Sybil wrote her Oracles. I have a greater E-
Heem for thoſe four Verfes, than for all Matherbe's
Works; and tho' I have feen fome that were upon
Love, and in Praiſe of myſelf, yet I'll affure you
I never read any Poetry that was fo agreeable to
me. I can't tell how it is, but I can neither fee
nor hear any Thing that comes from that Perfon,
but what touches the very Bottom of my Soul;
and I can't conceive how it happens, that Efteem
and Respect should in me have the fame Effects
as a violent Paffion. Tho' you fay nothing to me
of Madam de Clermont, I'm fure fhe can't have for-
got me, and I moſt humbly beseech you, Madam,
to be fo kind as to tell her, that I endeavour to
grow better every Day, in order to deferve her
Affection. The Sermons you preach to me, and
the Books you fend me, are of no fmall Service to
me in this Defign. I thank you for the Pfalm; bur
pray, why in the Condition I am in fhould you
fend me Things fo mournful? What better Para-
phrafe can there be of the Miferere, than my felf?
I have, at length, got St. Paul's Epiftles. The
two Books you fent me, one in December, and
t'other fix Weeks ago, are come to me both the
fame Day; and, as far as I am able to judge, the
Man whom you reprefented to me to be fo little,
is
.*
70
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
is one of the greateſt Men in all France. Amongst
other Things, I thought the Preface perfectly fine,
and I took abundance of Pleaſure in reading it.
I would fay more of it, but I can't for one Hour
at leaft admire any Thing befides Mademoiſelle
de Rambouillet. I freely confefs, Madam, (whether
tis Stupidity or Prefumption I can't tell) I be-
held without Jealoufy all the fine Things you
tock care to ſay to me: But when I had read the
Anſwer of the fortunate Infanta to Launcelot of the
Lake, I was not able to guefs who could write it ;
15
and not to lye, was very uneafy to think that it
was not myſelf. I call'd to mind all the Perfons of
Wit I ever knew, to find out who could be the Au-
thor of it, and all would not do: But when your
Letter, which I always keep 'till the laft, had in-
form'd me who 'twas, I own I was tranfported
with the greatest Joy I have been fenfible of this
long Time. 'Twas a great Eafe and Comfort to
me, to fee that this Glory was due to one whom
I already honour'd fo much, and on whom I had
beſtow'd fo much of my Wit, that it may be doubt-
éd whether it was hers or mine that the employ'd
in writing fo pretty a Letter. Really the feems
to be Miftrefs of that of all the World, her Ge-
nius is fo turn'd to every Thing. Perhaps the may
take it ill, but if fhe does, I can't help telling you,
that I had like to have remain'd in the fame In-
credulity, wherein I was once with relation to ano-
ther Miracle of her Wit ; and I could not believe
twas poffible the could write fo well upon fuch a
Subject, having never read any Books of that Na-
ture. But this must be conceiv'd by Faith, and not
by Reafon; and as the writes Hiftories wherein
all the Paffions are reprefented, without ever hav
ing felt one of them as fhe deferibes Italy and
Spain, without having fo much
Sever feen the
Maps of them; and as fhe knows every Foot of
Ground in the whole World, without having ever
been
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
77
been beyond Chartres; fo, without being at all con-
verfant in the old Romances, fhe talks the Lan-
guage of Launcelot of the Lake better than Queen
Gene vora herſelf could have done; and I believe
ſhe could ſpeak Arabick too, if ſhe had a mind to
try. It must be confefs'd, fhe's a Perfon very hard
to be understood; and if Madam de Rambouillet is
the moſt perfect Thing in the World, her Daugh
ter is the moſt to be admir'd. But you are to
conftrue my Praiſes, Madam, with the Reſtriction
every one muſt make that knows you. Yet 'twas
well for me, that I had not this Teftimony of her
Wit 'till the fent me one of her Civility too; for
'twould have given me very great Uneafinefs, not
to love one for whom I was forc'd to have fo great
an Efteem. The five or fix Lines fhe did me the
Honour to write me, were receiv'd by me with all
the Refpect, Love, and Joy that fhe can imagine,
and wholly effac'd the Refentment I conceiv'd at
her t'other Letter. One of the Advantages which
ill-natur'd People have over thofe who are not fo,
is, that all the Favours they beflow are much bet-
ter receiv'd than ordinary, and the Rarity feems
in forme Meaſure to add to the Value of the Acti-
on. Tho' I am fenfible that fhe fhews me this
Kindneſs only, that I may be the more concern'd
at her future ill Ufage, yet I can't help fuffering
myfelf to be deceiv'd by it; and I love her now
as much as if she were the fweeteft temper'd Crea
ture upon Earth. As for the Reproaches which
fhe referves for me against fome other Day, this
Threat does not make me e'er the Jefs defirous
of having the Honour to fee her; and I fhall then
make fo good a Défence, that he will find I have
deferv'd Thanks, even in thofe very Things in
which the believes me guilty. Amidft an infinite
Number of Things in your Letter, which gave
me a great deal of Satisfaction and Pteafure, I read
with particular Joy what you tell me about that
$
worthy
72
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
worthy Gentleman. I have long wifh'd for fome
Proof of his doing me the Honour to remember
me. I fhan't be afraid to tell you, that there's not
a Man in the World I refpect fo much as him; but
1 durft not tell you how much I love him, for fear
the Intereft of your Husband fhould make you take
it ill, and upbraid me with miſplacing my Affec-
tion. You, who make it a certain Rule, that all
fuch People are incapable of loving, fhould how-
ever make fome Exception for him; and as I have
heard you fay more than once, that he had more
Generofity than any of the reft, you may alfo be-
lieve he has more Friendship. But even tho' he
had utterly forgot me, it would not have been in
my Power to retrench any thing of the Paffion I
have for him. I can no more refift this Inclination,
than I can that which I have for you; and I can't
imagine why you fhould wonder at my loving an
ungrateful Friend, when you know how long I
have lov'd an ungrateful Miftrefs. Without lying,
even when I thought he did not in the leaft think
of me, I could not walk in a fine Evening in the
*Prada, without wifhing him with me. If I had
him here at Madrid, I would carry him to Doors
which open more eafily than yours, and where we
might be better receiv'd than we were at your
Houſe. There are in this Place certain Animals,
call'd by the People of the Country Morenifts,
whofe Form of Body is very agreeable, and Skin
extreamly foft; who are good humour'd, briſk,
and pleafant, very eafily tam'd, and naturally
Friends to Mankind. The fresh Air of the Night,
which they love to breathe, makes them generally.
to be found in the Streets at that Time; and, as
he is curious in this Sort of Things, I know he'd
be very glad to ſee ſome of them. I humbly beg
you,
* The Prada at Madrid is a publick Place to
walk in, much the fame as our Park.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
73
you, Madam, to whom I am indebted for fo many
Obligations, to ufe all the Credit you have with-
him, to make him do me the Honour to remem-
ber me; and if you can get him to love me, I give
you a Refpite of fix Months in what you owe me.
I don't know whether or no your Servant has done
me the Honour to write to me; I am still his, with
as much Refpect and Eſteem as ever. At the
Bottom of your Letter are three different Hand-
writings; but I could not guefs whofe, and I don't
know whether I ever faw them before or no. I
had a Defign to get them anfwer'd by three Spa-
niards of my Acquaintance; but I had not Time,
being very near my Departure. I hope, I fhall
leave this Place in three or four Days, to begin
the Tour I inform'd you of, and go vifit Portugal
and Andalusia. Some of my Friends would fain dif-
fwade me from it, upon Account of the Heats which
reign there at this Time of the Year; but I am
refolv'd to fee a little of the World, to get Wit;
and in order to make myſelf amends for a Winter
which I have been here without warming myfelf.
I intend to go in the Dog-Days to Africa, and
fpend the Summer in a Country where the Swal-
lows fpend the Winter. The Hazards I muft run
in this Voyage, don't deter me, and perhaps I
might run yer greater, were I with you. All that
vexes me, is, that if I die in it, Mademoiſelle de
Rambouillet will have the Pleaſure to fay, it was
but three Years ago fhe foretold I fhould die in
four. But one whom you put into your Prayers,
Madam, may hope for better Succefs than that
comes to. I don't know whether I have a great
while to live; but I think I have a great many
Years Love in Stock for you; and my Affections.
being fo great and perfect, I can't conceive how
'tis poffible I ſhould fo foon ceafe to be,
Madam,
Loir, &c.
E
To
74 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Mademoiſelle PAULET,
LETTER XXXI.
MADAM,
T
"Here was only one Thing wanting to your
Adventures,
and that was to be a Prifoner of
State; I have given you here the happy Occafion
of being fuch: Fortune, who has omitted no Op-
portunity of bringing you into Play, will, in all
Probability, make her Advantage of this. I know
very well that I bring you into Danger by writing
to you, yet cannot even that Reflection reſtrain
mc. From whence you may conclude, that there
is no Riſk which I would refufe to run, to refreſh
your Remembrance of me, fince I can refolve to
endanger even you, who are dear and valuable a-
bove all the rest of the World to me. I tell you
this, Madam, at a Time when I would not lie, no,
not in a Compliment; for I would have you to
know, that I am much the better for the Diftem-
per which I have lately had; it has caus'd me to
affume fuch good Refolutions, that if I had them
not, I could be contented to purchaſe them with
all my Health. I plainly forefee, that this will
but divert you, you who are conſcious to ſo much
of my Weakness, and who will never believe that
I can keep fingle Refolutions, I who have broken
fo many
Vows; yet nothing is more certain, than
that I have hitherto beheld the Spani Beauties
with as much Indifference, as I did the Flemish at
Bruffels and I hope to grow a Convert in the very
Place of the World in which the Tempter is ftrong-
eft, and where the Devil refumes as glorious
Shapes as what he put off when he fell. The
Re-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
75
Reformation is fo great in me, that I have but
one Scruple remaining, which is, that I think too
often of you, and that I defire to ſee you again
with a little too much Impatience. I, who have
moderated the rest of my Paffions, have been un-
able to reduce that which I have for you, to the
* Meaſure with which we are permitted to love our
Neighbours, that is to fay, as much as we do our-
felves; and I fear you have a larger Share in my
Soul, than I ought to allow a Creature. Look out,
I beseech you, for a Remedy for this, or rather
for an Excufe for it; for as for a Remedy, I be-
lieve there is none, and that I must be always,
with the utmoft Paffion,
Madam,
Yours.
DDDDDDDDCC÷0D-✪✪✪✪RO
31
To the Jame.
LETTER XXXII
MADAM,
$%
O great a Misfortune as mine, wanted no leſs
Confolation than that which I lately receiv'd
from you; and I look'd on your Letter, as a Par-
don which Heaven granted me after my Sentence &
I can call by no other Name the News which o-
blig'd me to return to this Place ; and I can affure
you that Sentence of Death is oftentimes leſs ri-
gorous. But fince, in the midſt of all my Misfor-
tunes, I have the Honour to be remember'd by
you, to complain would be ill-becoming of me
for methinks he may difpenfe with the Favours of
Fortune, who is happy enough to obtain yours.
This is the Reafon that I fhall make Ufe of to
comfort myſelf, for the Neceffity of remaining
E
here s
76
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
}
here; and not that which you urg'd in yours,
That it is better to be an Exile in a foreign Land,
than to be a Prifoner in one's own Country: For,
alas! you know but one half of my Mifery, if you
are not convinc'd that I am both together; and if
you judge of the Matter rightly, you will find, that
two Things which feem very inconfiftent, are to
be found in me, viz. to be banish'd, and a Prifoner
at the fame Time. You will find it difficult to in-
terpret this Riddle, unleſs you call to Mind, that
I have always been us'd to mingle a Dram of Love
in my Letters: For if, as you fay, I am allow'd
fome Liberty here, of which I fhould be depriv'd
in France, I beseech you let it be that of affuring
you, that there is a great deal of Paffion mix'd
with the Affection which I exprefs for your Ser-
vice. I fhould indeed be ungrateful, if I fhould
diſcover but an ordinary Friendſhip for a Perfon
who does fuch extraordinary Things for me; and
I am oblig'd to fall in Love, at leaft, with your
Generofity. I have been acquainted what Care a
Gentleman and a Lady have taken to enquire of
my Welfare, which is an additional Obligation to
one whom they had extremely oblig'd before.
For all the reft, they have feem'd bury'd in fo
profound a Silence, that for fix Months together
have heard not the leaſt mention of them. Whe-
ther this comes from their Forgetfulneſs, or from
their Prudence, I am unable to determine; yet
Forgetfulneſs may be allow'd an Excufe for Silence,
but a dumb Remembrance is without Defence.
I leave you to conclude, Madam, how much Luftre
this reflects upon what you have done for me, and
how much I am oblig'd to you for a long Letter,
at a Time, when others have been afraid to fend
me their Service. Therefore let me affure you,
that tho' I am unable to make fuitable Returns
to fuch Goodneſs, I efteem it, at leaſt, and extol
it
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
77
it as it deferves; and that I am, as much as a Man
can poffibly be,
Madam,
Your, &c.
I
To Monfieur de PUY-LAUREN S.
SIR,
LETTER XXXIII.
Receiv'd the Letter you did me the Honour
to write me, with more Joy than I did expect
ever to have here; and I, who have fo many
Things to defire, and am fo far from all Places
where I wish to be, faw myſelf languiſhing in a
Labyrinth of Difquietudes, unable to get out
without great Difficulty, do now find my Thoughts
quiet and ferene from all anxious Fears, fince I
fee you remember me; and if 'tis true, that I have
fome Part in your Efteem, it will over-balance all
the Troubles of my Life; thofe to whom you gave
Wealth and Honour, were not fo well rewarded as
Fam. I have read your Letter over and over, with
the fame Tranfport as the moft paffionate Lover
could a Billet from his confenting Miftrefs; and
it is, I'll affure you, the greateſt Satisfaction I e'er
receiv'd in this Country. The little Health I have
had, would not permit me to have any Divertife-
ment; neither faw I any Woman, but in the Prada,
or on the Stage; and fo, without doing myſelf any
Violence, I agree with you in what you faid in
Prejudice of the Ladies of Madrid, in Favour of
thoſe of Bruſſels; and before their Prefence, or
yours, can oblige me to be compliant, I yield from
this Moment to whatever you can think or fay to
their Advantage; their Innocence, their Youth,
E 3
and
78
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
and Beauty, for which you fay you do eſteem
them, are Qualities we can never fee here in one
Perfon; neither are they common with you,
I am
perfwaded; but I can guefs the Reafon why you
take their Parts with fo much Paffion; and, if I
err not, if the Caufe be the fame which I imagine,
I fhould wrong both my Judgment and Inclination
to think otherwife than what you do ; for I muſt
own with you, that if Xarifa, Daraxa, and Galiana,
fhould return into the World again, yet would
Spain have nothing to oppoſe her. All the Artifice
they uſe here, and the Illufions by which they ap-
pear what they are not, cannot reprefent a Form
fo beautiful. The most celebrated Beauty we have
here, is no more comparable to her, than Braſs
and Ebony to Gold and Ivory; and the neareſt
Compariſon I can make, would reſemble her no
more, than a fine Night does a fine Day; and I
now repent of my rafh Declaration, in faying Spain
only furnish'd us with defirable Beauties; fince
only one of the Court, where you are, is fufficient
to convince the World to the contrary. The only
Advantage we have of you, is, our Ladies are more
amorous; yet I doubt the univerfal Truth on't
for if the fame Fortune you have had every where,
follows you in Flanders, you will teach fome of them
not to be excell'd, even in that. But I refer this
Difcourfe, 'till I have the Satisfaction of being
nigh you, and have the Honour of your Converfa
tion, the Hopes of which doubles my impatient
Wishes for my Return. I conjure you, remember
your Promife, and take Care that the Multitude
of your Adventures deface not the leaft Part of
me in your Breaft. And whereas thofe that are
near you, require Favours, Penfions, and Places, I
never fhall afk more than your Friendſhip, nor
do I think you can give me any Thing more va-
luable from the Number of your Acquaintance;
the very Fire you have choſe to ſtamp the Mark
;
of
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 79
of Friendſhip on, makes me admire the Solidity
of your Judgment, and the Prudence of your Con-
duct, in contradicting the bare Practice of the
World, in being more liberal of your Wealth than
of your Heart; and I am proud of nothing fo much,
as of being admitted into the Number of,
SIR,
YOU
榮
​Sir,
Your humble Servants, &c.
To the fame.
LETTER XXXIV.
OU have included in five or fix Lines every
Thing in the World that's moft agreeable to
me; and in promifing me the Prefence of my Ma-
fter, your Converſation and your Friendship, you
have anfwer'd all my Wifhes. To compleat thefe
Hopes, no Difficulties can feem infupportable to
me; the Sea will be crofs'd with Pleafure, to go
to enjoy fo much Happinefs; and all the greateſt
Men in the World formerly us'd to undertake
Voyages upon Accounts lefs valuable. But I muft
firft break the Enchantments of Madrid, and over-
come the Deſtiny of this Court, which will force
every Body to ftay ten or twelve Months longer
than they defign'd to do. This is fo true, Sir, that
having made an Endeavour this Winter to efcape
from it before that Term, the Strength of the
Charm fetch'd me back an hundred and twenty
Miles; and I am now as ftrongly engag'd to it as
ever. However, I have fome Hopes from what you
fay you have written in my Favour; and if this
Adven-
E 4
80 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
S
Adventure is to be finiſh'd by one of the worthieft
Men in the World, I believe Ifhall be indebted to
You for my Deliverance. I know, Sir, it won't be
one of the greateſt you ever put an End to, but I
am fure it will be one of the moſt difficult and
moft juft; for really you are in fome Meaſure o-
blig'd to take Care of one, who honours you for
fincerely as I do; and in the Place where you are,
nothing is fo hard to find as Affections fo pure as
mine. Thofe who poffefs fuch Pofts as yours, are
generally us'd like Gods; a great many fear them,
all facrifice to them, but few love them; and 'tis
eafier for them to find Adorers, than Friends.
For my Part, Sir, I have always look'd upon you,
in your naked Character, diftinét from every Thing
that's foreign to it: I behold Things in you, which
are greater and more glorious than your Fortune
and Qualities, with which 'tis impoffible for you
to be like the Generality of Mankind. You'll be
convinc'd, I fpeak this knowingly, if you remem-
ber the Difcourfe I had the Honour to have with
you in a certain Field, where having laid open
your Heart to me, I faw in it fo much Strength,
Reſolution, and Generofity, that you entirely won
mine. I then perceiv'd that you had fuch found
Notions of all thofe Things which generally de-
ceive the rest of the World, that thofe Things
which they beheld in you with greatest Admira-
tion, were what you efteem'd leaft, and that no
Body examines you with half fo little Love as you
do yourſelf. I own, Sir, at that Time, feeing you
walk upon Precipices, with a bold and chearful
Countenance, and not imagining that Conftancy
could reach fo far, I fancy'd you did not perceive
them all. But you taught me, that there was no-
thing in your Perfon, nor about it, but what you
knew to the Bottom; and that, tho' you faw but a
Step before you, Impriſonment and Death, and
fo many other Accidents which threaten'd' you,
and
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
81
and on the other Side, Honours, Glory, and the
greatest Rewards, you beheld all this without the
leaft Difcompofure, and faw Reaſons, not to wifh
too much for the one nor to fear the other. I was
amaz'd that a Man, brought up from his Youth in
the Arms of Fortune, fhould be acquainted with
all the Secrets of Philofophy; and that you ſhould
gain Wiſdom in a Place where every Body elfe
generally lofe it. From that Moment, Sir, I put
you into the Number of three or four Perfons,
whom I love and honour above all the rest of the
World, and added a great deal of Refpect and
Efteem to the Paffion I before had for you. Out
of this I form'd another Affection much greater-
ftill; this is that I have yet, and fhall preferve as
long as I live, to fuch a Degree, that indeed you
ought to acknowledge it by teftifying fome Satis
faction at my being fo much as Lam,
Sir,
Madrid, June 8.1638.
Your, &c..
SIR
To the Lord FARGI S..
LETTER XXXV..
As S far as I fee, you are as liberal of Praiſes as -
as you are of every Thing elfe; and not be-
ing able to affift me any otherwife, in the Necef-
fity I am in, you however fend me the fineft:
Words in the World. I can't employ them better,
than to return them to you again; and if I don't
make Ufe of thefe, I own I can think of none fuf
ficient to exprefs the Honour you do me.. And
indeed, Sir, I believe you writ them to me,
E5
fore-
feeing
३
82
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
feeing how much I fhould ftand in need of them;
and as you gave me fo much Caufe to praife you,
fo you took Care to give me alfo wherewithal to
do it. This Favour obliges me to receive with Pa-
tience the Reproaches you charge me with; and
as I am loaden with Honours which are not due to
me, 'tis but reafonable that I fhould endure Com-
plaints which I have not deferv'd. Were it not for
this, I fhould demand Satisfaction of you for ac-
cufing me of a mighty Defire to leave this Place ;
and why fhould you beftow the Title of Hatred
upon that which you ought to afcribe to Affecti-
on? I am as well acquainted with the Delights
and Charms of Spain as any Body; but I fancy,
Sir, you believe it has none I like fo well as being
with my Friends; and if Paris itſelf was irk fome
to me, becaufe of my Mafter's Abfence, you ought
not in the leaft to wonder at Madrid's being fo, or
at my being unable to receive any Satisfaction
from a Place where I can't enjoy my Health. But
were this Defire as unjust as you fay it is, you
ought not to upbraid me with a Piece of Injuftice
which I commit for your Sake, nor be offended at
my having too great a Defire to fee you. Tho' I
fhould meet with the fame Inconveniences in the
Place where you are, yet I ſhould not think them
the fame, if I bore them in your Company; and
I wonder you fhould talk as you do in the fame
Letter, where you inform me that there are Per-
fons with you with whom the greatest Afflictions
would feem pleaſant to you. I'll affure you, Sir,
I too am capable of that Sort of Confolation; and
whatever you are pleas'd to fay, 'tis impoffible for
me to be fenfible either of Sorrow or Neceffity in
the Place where you are. There are Treatures in
your Perfon, which I can enjoy in Spite of ill For-
tune, and with which I can never be poor nor fad.
This is what makes me fo impatient to be gone
from hence; and if all my Friends did not abfo-
lutely
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
83
lutely forbid me, I would take the nearest Road
to come to you; and by the Way, tear down with
my own Hands the Pictures of you, which you
fay are fix'd up upon the Frontiers. I dare fay,
Sir, your Soul is not fo weak as to need any Com-
fort upon this Head; and you, who have look'd
Death herſelf fo clofely in the Face without Ter-
ror, can never be mov'd with her Refemblance.
'Twon't be upon this, that Pofterity will make a
Judgment of you. Fortune, who is not always un-
juft, will give you a Defcription more to your Ad-
vantage, and for thefe Pictures beftow Statues
upon you. All the Changes fhe has made in your
Life, feem to me like that Sort of Icing-glafs,
which being put upon a Picture, alters all that is
round the Perfon; but ftill leaves the Face unal-
ter'd. Thus fhe makes Sport of great Men; fhe
takes Delight in feeing them in different Shapes,
and in less than a Moment fhe puts thofe under a
Canopy, whom she had before fhewn publickly.
upon a Scaffold. I wifh, Sir, I may find this AÍ--
teration at my Arrival, and, as for myſelf, I only
defire that I may fpeedily have the Honour of
feeing you, and that my Fortune may be fo cloſely
ty'd to yours, that I may never be happy nor uns
happy but with you. I am,
&
7
Sir,
Madrid, June 8, 1633.
Your, &c.
i
To
84 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
&
TO THE
Marchioness of RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER XXXVI.
MADAM,
TH
HO' my Liberality fhould, as you tell me,
furpaſs the Bounty of Alexander, it would ne-
vertheless be richly recompenc'd, by the Thanks
which you have return'd me for it. He himself, as
boundless as his Ambition was, would have con-
fin'd it to fo rare a Favour. He would have fet
more Value upon this Honour, than he did on the:
Perfian Diadem; and he would never have envy'd
Achilles the Praife which he receiv'd from Homer
if he could but himſelf have obtain'd yours. Thus,
Madam, on this Pinacle of Glory on which Iſtand,
if I bear any Envy to his, 'tis not fo much to that
which he acquir'd himself, as to that which you
have beftow'd upon him; and he has receiv'd no
Honours, which I do not hold inferior to mine,
unleſs it be that which you did him, when you
declar'd him your Gallant. Neither his Vanity,
nor the reft of his Flatterers, could ever perfuade
him to believe any thing that was fo advantage-
ous to him; and the Quality of Son of Jupiter
Hammon, was by much lefs glorious to him than.
this. But if any thing comforts me for the Jealoufy
which it has rais'd in me; 'tis this, Madam, that
knowing you as well as I know you, I am very well
affur'd, that if you have done him this Honour,
'tis not fo much upon the account of his having
been the Greateft of Mankind, as of his having
been now theſe two thouſand Years no more.
37
How-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 85
3
However, we here find Caufe to admire the Great-
nefs of his Fortune, which not being able yet to
forfake him, ſo many Years after his Death, has
added to his Conquefts a Perſon that gives them
more Luftre than the Daughters and Wife of Da-
rius ; and which has gain'd him a Mind more great
than the World he conquer'd. I ought here to be
afraid, after your Example, of Writing in too lofty
a Style: But how can the Writer be too fublime
who writes of you, and of Alexander? I humbly be-?
feech you, Madam, to believe, that I have equal
Paffion for You, with that which you fhew for
him; and that the Admiration of your Virtues will
oblige me to be always,
Madam, o
*
Four, &c.
To Monfieur de CHAUDE BONNE
SI R,
LETTER XXXVII.
7
bald
Hile you fo davifhly commend my Elo-
quence, you should have fome little Re-
gard to my Modefty, and take Care not to make
me forfeit a good Quality which I have, out of a
Defire to give me one which I have not. How-
ever, I received your Commendations with a great
deal of Pleaſure not that I think.I deferve what
you fay of me, but I look upon it as a particular
Mark of your Friendship; and am convinc'd you
muft needs have a very great Affection for me,
fince it could incline you to write fo favourably of
me, in Defiance to your Judgment, which knows
better Things. Thus, Sir, I find it more to my
Advantage, to think myſelf unworthy of the Ho
nour
86 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
nour you have done me; and I am more proud of
that which raiſes me to a good Opinion of your
Friendship, than that which would have rais'd me
to a good one of myſelf. Were I a Man of that
Eloquence as you reprefent me, I ſhould defire to
make no other Advantage of it, than to gain that
Room in your Affection, which you tell me I have
there; and to beg you to continue me fo ineftima-
ble a Bleffing. If I found you inclin'd to grant
me this, the next Favour I would beg of you, would--
be, to return my humble Thanks to thofe Ladies,
who, you fay, do condeſcend to think of me fome-
times, in all the choiceft Dreſs of Words, of which
you are fo perfect a Mafter. For one of 'em parti-
cularly I would be at the Expence of gathering all
the Flowers and Graces of Rhetorick, and would
immediately write her a Love-Letter, fo full of
Gallantry and Tenderness, that you ſhould tell me at
my Return Home, that it did not difpleaſe her.
Since there are three of 'em, methinks neither of
'em has any Reafon to be offended at this Free-
dom. It would fhew too much Cruelty in 'em,
to deprive me of the Liberty of my Withes, and
hinder me of entertaining myfelf with this imagi-
nary Happiness, fince it is the only Satisfaction I
have left me. I begin now to have ftronger Hopes
of my Return than hitherto I have had. The
Pleafure I fhall have in leaving this Place, will
make me fufficient Amends for the Vexations I
have found in it; and I feel by way of Advance,
Part of the Joy I fhall receive, when I am fo hap
py as to fee you. Thus, Sir, you may perceive
there is a Mixture in all Things. Good and Ill
are huddled and blended together; and when ei-
ther of them is not to be found in the Top, you
may certainly expect to find it at the Bottom. I
am as yet uncertain which Way to fteer my Courſe;
but I am inclined, upon fecond Thoughts, to take
Shipping at Lisbon. Had it been left to my own.
Choice,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
87
Choice, I would have ventur'd thro' France, let
the Event have been what it would: Not: that
have a Mind to be thought over-confident, or love:
to take, as you would infinuate, a dangerous Way,
when I may take another: But I was always of
Opinion, that the fhorteft is the fafeft. Befides,
to tell you the Truth, I could never fancy I was
born to be hang'd. However, I am commanded
to take another Way; and the Perfons to whom
you have given an abfolute Power over me, andi
who, in Juftice, ought to exercife it over the whole
World, have fo pofitively order'd it, that I dare
not fo much as to deliberate on the Matter. In
the mean time, while they command me not to:
hazard myſelf by Land, they make me rely upon
the Sea and Pirates: Yet I may fafely tell you,
fear neither; and am more afraid of the Calms,
which may delay my Happineſs of feeing you. As
for the reft, I shan't much trouble myfelf, provid-
ed I may foon arrive at my Journey's End, and
find an Opportunity to make it appear one Day, by
my Services, that you have beftow'd your Favours
upon one who has a grateful Senfe of 'em, and is,
with the utmoft Sincerity,
Madrid, Fune
8, 1633.
SIR
Xours, &c.
To Mademoiselle de PA ULET.
LETTER XXXVIII.
MADAM,
Have now one of the finest Subjects in the
World to furnish me with a Love-Letter; for,
without
88 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
without wronging my Confcience, I may fafely
tell you, that I pafs my Days without Light, and
my Nights without the leaft Sleep: At leaft this
has been my conftant Courſe of Life ever fince I
left Madrid. In ten Nights I have made a fhift to
perform ten Days Journey, and am arriv'd at Gra-
nada without feeing the Sun, unless it were just as
he was rifing in the Morning, or a little before he
went to Bed at Night. He is fo very dangerous
here, that the Comparifon which fome of our
Poets make between his Rays and their Miftref-
fes Eyes, will hold good no longer; for what they
perform only by Figure and Allegory, he actually.
effects in this Climate. In fhort, he burns every
thing that beholds him; and any living Creature
that can look upon him without Roafting for it,
may, for all I know, be able to live comfortably in.
a Furnace. However, I have had the good Luck
tó eſcape him, for which I am beholding to the
Night, for I always took care to keep the whole-
Earth between his Worſhip and me. At prefent
Ipafs my Time moft delicioufly in the Shade of a
Mountain of Snow, which does this City the Ho-
nour to cover it. Three Days ago in Sierra Morena
I faw the individual Place, where Don Quixote, of
bleffed Memory, and Cardenio, met upon the Road;
and the very fame Day I fupt at the Inn, where:
the famous Adventures of Dorothea were accom-
plifh'd. This Morning I took a Turn in the anci-
ent Alhambra, crofs'd the noted Square of Vivaram-
bla; and the Street where I lodge boafts a Name,
ten times longer than a Well Epedigree, for 'tis
call'd La Calle de Abenamer Muley Benand Moro de la
Morera. You can't imagine what a great Satisfac-
tion it was to me, to fee thefe Things which I'
had fo often thought of; but, Madam, it was in-
finitely more Pleaſure to me, to think on certain
Things which Lhad fometimes feen. Tho' I muß
own, that the Objects that daily prefent them
felves
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
89
felves to my Eyes, are extreamly beautiful and
fine, yet my Imagination perpetually obliges me
with fomething which is infinitely brighter; fo
that I would not change the Images my Memory
furniſhes me with, for all the richeſt Sights in the
Univerfe. Yefterday, cafting my Eyes on the
Walks and Fountains of Generalifa, and wifhing I
could be fo happy as to meet thofe celebrated
Beauties of the Romantick Age, Galiana, Zaida,
and Daxara, juft in the very Equipage and Habit
as they were when they liv'd in this finful World,
I could not forbear to wifh the good Company of
another Perfon, who, to do her Juftice, is a thou-
fand Times more charming and amiable, and
would eclipfe the greatest Beauties in the World,
fhould they prefume to appear in the fame Hemi-
fphere with her. By thefe Tokens, as I take it,
Madam, I have fufficiently defcrib'd her to you:
But is it not a moſt horrid and lamentable Thing,
that I fhould be forced to obſerve ſo much Artifice:
in my Language, and that I dare not fay for my
Life that it is your Lady ſhip I mean all this while?
For your Comfort, Madam, you may give me
Leave to difplay fome of my Compliments now,
being at the Fountain head of Gallantry, from
whence it has fpread itfelf all over the Earth.
From this Place I defign in four Days to reach
Gibraltar, and from thence to make a fmall Trip
to Ceuta, in order to vifit the Place of your Nati-.
vity, and pay my Refpects to your noble Parents,
the lawful and undoubted Monarchs of all the Fo-
refts and Defarts of that fpacious Country. Now,
Madam, as I fhall give them a full Account of
your Ladyfhip, fo I humbly defire you to do the
fame for me to all your Friends; and particularly
to affure three of them, that let Fortune difpofe
of me where the pleaſes, my better Part, mean-
ing my Soul, fhall be everlaftingly with them.
As for your felf, Madam, I need not at this Time
2
of
90
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
of Day give myſelf the Trouble to inform you,,
that no Man refpects and honours you more than
myfelf; for you cannot but know, that I am but
too much,
Madam,
Your bumble Servant, &c.
To Monfieur De CHAUDE BONNE.
SIR,
LETTER XXXIX.
Write to you in Sight of the Coaft of Barbary:
There is but a Channel between us of about
three Leagues over, tho' it is the Ocean, and the
Mediterranean Sea together You would be furpriz'd
to ſee a Man ſo far off, who takes fo little Plea-
fure in Rambling, and who was in fuch Hafte to
return to you: But the Advice I receiv'd, that
this Seafon was very improper for Navigation, by
Reaſon of the great Calms, and that I fhould find
it very difficult to embark before September, has
given me at once an Inclination and Leiſure to
purfue this Voyage; for I chofe rather to fuffer
the Fatigue of Travelling, than the Lazineſs of
Madrid. So that after having feen at Granada all
that remains of the Magnificence of the Moorish
Kings, El Alhambra*, the + Zaccatin, and that fa-
mous
* Aftrong Fortreſs in the City of Granada in
Spain, above all the other Buildings in the City, with
the Royal Palace, and a Monaftery of Francifcans
in it, built by the Moorish Kings. The Name, in
Arabick, fignifies Red Cafile.
+ A Quarter in the fame City, fignifying the
Brokery, an Arabick Word.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
mous Place the | Vivarambla, where I had formerly
imagin'd fo many Tilts and Tournaments. I am
just come to the Point of Gibraltar From whence,.
as foon as they fhall have equipp'd me a Frigat
I hope to pass the Streights, and vifit Ceuta; and
coming back from thence, to take the Road of
Cales, St. Lucar, and Sevil, and fo to Lisbon. Hither
to, Sir, I have not repented of this Enterprize,
which at this Time of the Year has feem'd rafh
to all the World. Andaloufia has reconcil'd me to
all the rest of Spain; and having pafs'd in it fo
many other Parts, I fhould be forry not to have
feen it in the only Place where it appears beauti-
ful. You'll think it ſtrange, that I praife a Coun-
try where it is never cold, and where the Sugar-
canes grow: But, in Recompence, I can affure
you, they have fuch Melons, that were worth
coming four hundred Leagues to tafte them; and
that Country, for which a whole People wander'd
fo long in the Wilderneſs, could not be, in my
Opinion, much more delicious than this is. I am
attended here by Slaves, who are handfome e-
nough to be my Miftreffes; and it is permitted
me every where to gather Palms without Danger.
This Tree, for which all ancient Greece has fought,
which is not to be found in France, but in our
Poets, is here no ſcarcer than the Ólive-Trees
and there is not an Inhabitant on this Coaft, who
has not more of them than all the Cafars. You may
behold, at one View, the Mountains charg'd with
Snow, and Vallies cover'd with Fruit. They have
Ice in Auguft, and Grapes in January: Summer and
Winter here are always mix'd together; and when
the Year grows cold in other Countries, and whi-
tens all the Earth, here it is ever green with Law-
rels, Orange-trees, and Mirtles. I confefs, Sir, F
endea-
|| A Gate of the fame City; in Arabick, the Sandy
Gate.
+
92 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
endeavour to make it feem as beautiful to you as
I can; and having complain'd to you formerly of
the Ill I have met with in Spain, if I do not re-
tract what I have faid, I think I am oblig'd, at
leaſt, to repreſent to the beſt Advantage, whate-
ver I find that's good in it: In the mean Time
you'll wonder that a Man, fo much a Libertine as
I am, fhould be in Hafte to quit all this, to go and
look a Maſter. But I'll fwear ours is fuch a one,
that there can be no Pleaſure that ought to be
preferr'd to the Honour and Satisfaction of ferving,
him. Liberty, which is eſteem'd the moſt charm-
ing Thing in Nature, is not fo defirable as his
Highness. You know how little I am inclin'd to
Flattery; and one of the moſt remarkable Quali-
ties which diftinguiſhes my Lord, is that he can-
not fuffer it. But it must be acknowledg'd, that
befides the eminent Virtues which are owing to
the Greatnefs of his Birth, his Affability, his
good Nature, the Beauty and Vivacity of his In-
genuity, the Pleafure he takes in hearing witty
Things, and the Grace with which he ſpeaks them
himfelf, are Qualities which can hardly be found
any where, to that Degree, as they appear in him;
and if it were only to fee fomething extraordinary,
that I ramble about the World, what need I give
myſelf the Trouble to go fo far, when I fhould do
much better to keep near his Perfon. I examine
every Thing I fee, with more Curiofity than I na-
turally have; that when the Time ferves I may
give a fatisfactory Account to his Highneſs; and I
am well affur'd, that when I fhall have once had
the Honour to diſcourſe with him about theſe Mat-
ters, he will know them ever after better than I
do. The prodigious Memory of this Prince has
been a mighty Comfort to me during my Ab-
fence; for having had the Honour to be in it fome
Time ago, I don't queftion but I have a Place
there ftill; becauſe I can hardly imagine, that I
am
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 93
am fo unfortunate, as to be the only Thing he e-
ver forgot. His Highnefs, who never forgot a
Tribune nor an Ædile, nor even a Legionary Sol-
dier who has once been nam'd in Hiftory, will not,
I believe, forget one of his humble Servants; and
the whole Globe being in his Imagination better
reprefented than in any Map of the World, let
me go never fo far, I need not fear for that, to go
out of the Honour of his Remembrance. Never-
theless, I humbly intreat you, Sir, (you, who with
fo much Goodnefs procure me all Sorts of Ho-
nours and Advantages) to find an Opportunity to
tell my Lord, how much I defire to have the Ho-
nour to kiss his Hand, and the Prayers I make con-
tinually for a Lie of fo great Confequence to all
Mankind. If after this I'defire any Thing more
of you, 'tis only that you would be pleas'd to take
Care, that Time fhall not diminish the Share
have fo liberally given me in your Affection: But
fee how far the Excefs of mine has carry'd me,
that it makes me doubt the moft generous Man
alive. You, who know, Sir, that in all thofe that
love much, there are always fome Motions that
are not conformable to Reafon: Pardon, I befeech
you, this Fear, and confider that I am excufable,
being with ſo much Paffion,
I
SIR,
POSTSCRIPT
you
Your, &c.
Should be very glad to have the Countess of
Barlemont and the Princefs of Barbancon made
acquainted, that I eternally think of them, at one
of the Extremities of Europe, and that I am now
going to cross the Sea, on Purpoſe to inform my
felf, whether Africa, which was always fam'd for
Rarities, can produce any Thing fo rare as them-
felves.
To
94 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Mademoiſelle PAULET.
MADAM,
LETTER XL.
T laft I am got out of Europe, and have pafs'd
the Strait which gives Limits to it; yet the
Sea that lies between us, can ftifle nothing of the
Paffion I have for you; and tho' the Slaves of
Christendom are free when they touch upon this
Coaſt, I am never the lefs yours for that. Do not
wonder to ſee me break forth into Gallantries fo
openly; the Air of the Country hath inſpir'd into
me fomething of impolite Affurance more than
ordinary and you may eafily perceive I am
grown more confident than ever; and when I
write again, expect to find me as a Turk does a
Moor. But for all that, you fhould not take it ill,
to be diverted with Love at this Distance; and if
it were but out of Curiofity, you fhould be glad
to fee the Love-Letters of Barbary. There wanted
in your Adventures that of having an humble Ser-
vant beyond the Seas; and as you have fome of
all Qualities, it were but reaſonable you should
have fome in all Quarters of the Globe. Yefter-
day I grav'd your Name upon a Mountain, not
very much lower than the Stars, from whence
may be difcover'd feven Kingdoms; and to Mor-
row I fend Challenges to the Emperors of Morocco
and Fez, wherein I offer to maintain, that Africa
never produc'd any Creature fo beautiful and fo
cruel as yourſelf. When that's done, Madam, my
Bufmefs here is at an end; but only to go and fee
your Friends, to whom I intend to propofe the
Marriage, which has made fuch a Noile fome
time
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 95
time fince, and endeavour to gain their Confent,
that there be no farther Delay in that Matter.
And for what I hear, they are People not very
eafy of Accefs, I fhall be much troubled to find
them; I have been told, they fhould be at the
Bottom of Lybia, and that the Lions of that Quar-
ter are lefs, both as to Nobility and Growth.
There are fome young ones fold here, which are
extreamly handfome; I am refolv'd to fend you
half a Dozen of them, instead of the Spanis
Gloves; for I know you will efteem them more,
and they are cheaper. You may have the pret-
tieft that can be here for three Crowns; it is but
Play with them to carry away a Man's Arm or
Hand at leaft; and, yourfeif excepted, I never
faw any Thing more agreeable. Pray be pleas'd
to prepare Mrs. Anne to converfe with them, and
to give them the Place of Dorinda. I fhall fend
them by the first Ship that fails from this Place
and I wifh to Heavens I could come along with
them, to throw myfelf at your Feet! There it is,
Madam, where they will have the Occafion to be
the cruelleft Creatures in the World, and think
themſelves to be Kings of all their Brethren;
but the greateſt Affurance I can give, that the Air
1
of Africa hath inftill'd fome Barbarity into me, is,
that I have written three Pages, and thought to
have finifh'd my Letter without fpeaking of M.
D.R. I affure you, where-ever I am, fhe is always
in my Heart and Remembrance; and even at this
Moment, Benche di tanta lontananza, li fo bumiliffima
riverenza ; and I am her moft humble and moſt
dutiful Servant Branbano. While I am out of Chri-
ftendom, I dare not fay any thing to Madam de
C; for Mademoiſelle de R, I believe the
will not with me the worfe for it I hope one Day
to be out of her Debt, for the great Pleaſure I
had in hearing the Adventures of Alcidalis, by en-
tertaining her with my own. I fhall acquaint her
with
96
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
with Things very ftrange and incredible, and for
her Fables I fhall give her Hiftory. Your Servant
hath ftill in my Mind, the Place his Merit, and
the Affection he honours me with, may juftly
claim. There is a Friend of yours, Madam, I
love fo paffionately, that I forgot my Duty, and
withal to tell you how much I honour and reſpect
him: The infinite Defire I have to continue in
his Remembrance, hath almoft put me upon an
Indifcretion; for without confidering the Motives
which might diffwade me, there wanted but lit-
tle that I had written to him, and had reſolv'd to
begin as follows,
MY LORD,
Could not forbear writing to you, were it only
I out of a fumar ridning my wetter
out of a Humour of dating my Letter from
Ceuta. After I had furvey'd the Palaces of the
Kings of Granada, and the Habitation of the Aben
cerrages, I was likewife defirous to fee the Country
of Rodomont and Agramant, and be acquainted with
the Soil that produc'd all thoſe great Men:
Che furo al tempo, che paſſaro I Mori,
D' Africa il Mar e'n Francia nequer tanto.
I believe this Beginning, Madam, would have
made his Mouth water for the reft, which I would
have continu'd after this Manner.
If your Inclinations are not chang'd, I am con-
fident, my Lord, you will not cenfure this Cu-
riofity; and that amongst the Felicities that fur-
rounds you, there are certain Moments when you
envy the Condition of a poor wretched Exile. If
I can get a Pafs, as I hope I fhall, from Tetuan,
and that the Alarbes, who rove about the Country,
do not hinder my Defign, I fhall have the Satis-
faction, in fome Days, to fee a whole City full of
Turbants, a People that fwear by no other Name
than Alba, and African Ladies, who have nothing
bar-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 97
barbarous about them, but the Name; and altho'
they are burnt by the Sun, are yet fairer, and caft
a greater Brightnefs than he. This Country, my
Lord, where Women are not Fools, neither cold
nor cruel; they are all amorous, full of Fire and
Spirit, and which fome will never think a Far-
thing the worſe, that they never go to Confeffion.
By the Pleaſure I take in feeing all thefe Things,
my Lord, you may very eafily guefs, that it is not
always Fortune that makes Men happy; and that
there is not any fo bad, wherein there may not be
good Occafions, if a Man can but happen on them.
While you are taken up with your good Fortune,
and are troubled to make your Advantages of it,
and to employ it well, I enjoy Leifure and Liber-
ty, wherein my Misfortune leaves me. Methinks
now I am depriv'd of France, I am in Poffeffion of
all the World befides; and that I ought no more
to quarrel at the Deſtiny which forc'd me thence,
than People, troubled with the Lethargy, fhould
with thoſe that ſtrike and pinch them, that they
might awake. Inftead offpending my Life amongít
ten or twelve Perfons, in five or fix Streets, in two
or three Houfes, I change Place now every Hour;
I fee Mountains, Defarts, Precipices, Flowers, and
Fruits, which I never had heard nam'd; different
Nations, Rivers, and Seas I was not acquainted
with. Every Day I change Cities, every Week
Kingdoms; I crofs in a Moment out of Europe into
Africk, and I could with more Eafe find out the
Source of Nile, than I could have done fome Time
ago that of Rongis. If this Condition, my Lord,
admits not the Enjoyment you find in the Con
verfation of the only moft admir'd Perfon the
Earth affords, I, at leaft, want thefe Hours of Di-
Atraction and Melancholy, which poifon even the
Soul, and can, in an Hour at leaft, break the ftrong-
eft Heart in the World, In this State of Inndéence
wherein I live, I folicit Heaven every Day to pre
*
Terre
98
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
ferve you from it, and that it would long continue
in your Perfon, the pureft Generofity of our Age,
and fo many other excellent Qualities it has be-
ftow'd on you. If after this, I may advance any
particular Wiſhes for myſelf, it is, That after fo
many Wanderings, I might have the Honour to
entertain you therewith; and affure you, my Lord,
that I refent, as I ought the effential Obligations
I have to be
But, Madam, of a Man which fhould have writ-
ten Love-Letters to you, methinks I introduce
many Things which could not have been admit-
red there. You ſee what it is to be vers'd in it,
and to have kept me fo long in Sufpence; if you
had given me Leave at the Beginning to have
fent you of that Kind, I could at this prefent have
written excellent ones, and fhould not end my Let
ter fo fimply as I do, by telling you, I am,
Your most humble Servant,
4
Aug. 7.1833.
Voiture, the African,
To the fame; with feveral Lions made
MADAM,
with red Wax.
LETTER XLI.
His Lion, with his whole Family, and fome
of his Friends, having been forc'd, for fome
Reafons of State, to depart Lybia, I could not think
of any Place, where he might retire with more
Safety, or more Honour, than near you, and he is
Something happy in his Misfortunes, if they pro- !
Cure
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
99
A
+
cure him the Acquaintance of fo excellent a Per-
fon. He is defcended, in a right Line, from an
illuftrious Lion, that about three or four hundred
Years fince reign'd in the Mountain Caucafus
from one of whofe Grand-children, it is affirm'd
here, came your great Grand-Father, who was
the first of all the Lions of Africa that came in-
to Europe, The Honour he finds in being a Re-
lation to you, puts me in Hopes you'll enter-
tain him with more Mildnefs and Compaffion
than you are wont to have; and I believe you will
think it no Manner of Difparagement to be a
Sanctuary to perfecuted Lions. This will ex-
treamly add to your Reputation through all Bar-
bary, where you are already eſteem'd beyond any
Thing on this Side the Seas; where not a Day
paffes but I hear of fome of your celebrated Acti-
ons. If you can help them, by any pretty Inven-
tion, to difguife them felves under a human Shape,
you will do them a tranfcendent Favour; for by
that Means they might do much more Mifchief
with more Impunity. But if this be the Secret
you will never communicate, you may yet fuffi-
ciently oblige them, by affording them Refuge,
and the Affiance of your Advice. I affure you,
Madam, they are accounted the cruelleft and moft
favage of all the Country, which I conceive you
will be extreamly pleas'd with. There are, amongst
the reft, fome Whelps, who, by Reafon of their
Age, can only kill Children, and worry Lambs;
but in Time, I am apt to think they will prove
good ones, and arrive to the Virtue and Courage
of their Fore-Fathers. At leaft, I am confident
they will find nothing about you that fhall make
them degenerate, or abate their Courage; and that
they fhall be as well brought up, as if they had
taken up their Lodgings in the fhady Forefts of
ica. In this Hope and Confidence, that you
cannot let them want any Thing which your Ge-
F2
nerofity
Coo
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
nerofity might oblige you to do for them, I de
now give you Thanks for the good Entertainment
you fhall afford them, and affure you, that I am,
Your humble Servant,
LEONARD,
Governor of the Emperor of
Morocco's Lions.
2
To the fame.
LETTER XLII.
MADAM,
Since
Ince I left Madrid, I have travell'd, before I
came hither, two hundred and fifty Spanish
Leagues, which are little lefs than five hundred
French: This is pretty good Difpatch for a Man,
whofe Legs were fo ftiff, and who us'd to be told
he could not walk. I thought all my Pains well
Ipent, when, at my coming to this Place, I found
the Letters you were pleas'd to fend me, dated
the third Day of July. And tho' at Sevil I met
with the whole Unlading of the Spanish Flota, and
was fhew'd fix Millions of Gold in one fingle Room;
yet, I may fay, I have ſeen no Treaſures fo great
as thofe you fent me. You may eafily imagine the
Satisfaction it gave me, to receive fo many Tefti-
monies of Friendship and Affection from all the
amiable Perfons in the World. And this Joy would
have been too great, to have been fupported by a
Man who is fo little accuftom'd to it, if it had not
been mitigated by the News you fend me of your
Indifpofition. Never 'till now could the Cholick
conquer
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
LOI
conquer my Patience; but it has now found a Way
to do it, by taking me there; and the Pain touches
me in my tendereft Part, when it attacks you. It
gives me great Affliction to fee that my Soul is
divided in two Bodies fo weak as yours and mine;
and that I must generally expect to be fick, either
with your Illness or my own. In fhort, Madam, I
find I must look out for Remedies more effectual
than the Ejade: We fhall be forc'd at laſt to ſub-
mit to the Prefcriptions of the Doctors; and 'tis
betterto lofe one Virtue than two. Charity, which
is the principal of all Virtues, obliges us to have
Compaffion upon ourfelves; and fince Sickness and
Diftempers are the Effects of Sin; and the Curfes
it brings upon us, we ought to do all we are able.
to eſcape them, and preferve our Health. You
are even more concern'd than me, to take this
Advice; for I am at prefent in a better State of
Health than ordinary; and the Trouble and Fa-
tigue of the Journey, have deliver'd me, for fome
Time at leaft, from all Apprehenfion of Illness.
If you'll follow the fame Regimen, I'll expect you
in England, and conduct you all about, according to
the Cuftom of the Kingdom of Logres. I parted
from Madrid, contrary to every Body's Advice,
with the little Prudence you know the Philofo
phers of your Husband's Sect have in every thing
that regards Pleafure'; and in a Seafon, when the
Spaniards Hardly dare peep out of their Houfes, I
undertook to travel over the greateſt Part of Spain,
and to pafs the Month of Auguft in the very hotteft
Part of all Europe: Yet, thank God, I have effect-
ed it; and now I am in Portugal, I laugh at thoſe
who told me I fhould certainly die in Andalafia,
Without lying, Madam, 'tis no fmall Glory to you,
to have been able to kindle a Flame in the Heart
of fo cold a Man as I am. The Sun, which parches
up the Earth, and burns the Rocks, has had much
ado even to warm me; and all the Inconveniency
F3
I have
02 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
?
I have met with in this Voyage, is lying a little
uncover'd one Night. Three Men that fet out with
me, were forc'd to be left behind. But neither the
Heat, nor Wearinefs, nor the Fatigue there is in
travelling in this Country, have been able to ſtop
me; and tho' I have met with a great many Beds
worſe furniſh'd than thoſe of Villeroy, and feveral
Chambers more inconvenient than thofe of Panfou;
nay, tho' I have hardly had a Wink of Sleep for
thefe three Months, which is worst of all; yet, I
am arriv❜d here more found and lufty than ever I
was. No longer imagine then, that I'm the weak
Creature you were formerly acquainted with;
I'm quite another Man; I am grown full fix Fin-
gers in this Journey; my Complection is excef-
fively burnt, my Vifage longer than it us❜d to be,
my fore-Teeth are clofer, my Eyes black, my
Beard black; and, according to the Notion I have
of the Baron de Villeneuve, I am now more like him
than Monfieur de Serifay. My Look, which was
before partly mild, and partly filly, is now quite
another Thing; only my Eye-brows ftill continue
to be join'd, which is the Sign of a very great
Knave. I hope in three or four Days, to try whe-
ther I can endure the Hardships of the Sea, as
well as I can the other; and when an English Ship,
which has already got two Thirds of its Lading.
has got it all, we fhall be gone, God willing, with
the firft Wind. It muſt be confefs'd, Madam, my
Fortune has fomething in it very whimfical; f,
who formerly could hardly endure to ftir out of
Town, tho' in the beft Company upon Earth, have
now been farther than Hercules, and pafs'd his Pil-
lars a Month ago; and whereas I could not bear
the leaft Wind in Madam de Rambouillet's Cham-
ber, I am now going to brave two and thirty
Winds, in the midft of the Ocean and of Winter.
Yet, even this is not the greateft Danger I muſt
go thro'; thirty Barbary Ships, which coaft it here.
abouts,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 103
༣
abouts, ftrike more Terror into thofe that fet Sail
from hence, than a Tempest it felf would. I'd
very fain know if e'er a Conjurer of 'em all could
have told him two Years ago, if he had feen me
in St. Dennis's Street, with my ftarch'd Band 'on,
that I ſhould in a fhort Time run the Rifque of
rowing in the Gallies of Algier, or being devour'd
by the Fishes of the Atalantic Ocean. But in cafe
it is decreed I must be taken Prifoner by Pyrates,
I wiſh, at leaſt, I may fall into the Hands of that
famous Corfair I have formerly heard Mademoi-
felle de Rambouillet ſpeak of, and whofe very Name
gives me an Inclination for him. If Mademoiſelle
de Rambouillet can guess it at four Times, and aftere
wards name it without laughing,. El give her a
little Comb, which was prefented to me Yefter
day, and was made for the Queen of China, How.
ever, I have no great need to trouble my felf a
bout paying a Ranfom, or purchafing my Free-
dom; for the Captain of the Ship has affur'd me,
that if it comes to that, he'll blow it up. A top-
ping Expedient this! One had as good embark
with an Anabaptift. But, which is most remark-
able, and falls out very comically, and upon my
Honefty, I don't tell a Word of a Lie, the Ship I
go in, has nothing in it but me and eight hundred
Hogfheads of Sugar; fo that if I come fafe to
Port, I fhall be preferv'd; and if I happen to be
fhipwreck'd, I am fure I fhall die in fweet Water.
I'll leave you to judge if 'twas poffible to have lit
upon a Véffel more fit for me. After, this, 'tis im-
poffible my Voyage fhould prove unhappy. I wish
the Zephyrs may be favourable to me, and before
this Letter comes to France, I may be in England.
I humbly beg you, Madam, to do me the Favour
to tell the firit of the two Ladies I have juft men
tion'd, that tho' I change Place for often, yet fhe is
fure to keep that which he always had in my Me-
mory. Every Object that offers it ſelf to my Sight,
F 4
puts
+
104 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
puts me in Mind of her, and every Time I fee a
magnificent Building, an agreeable Profpect, a
noble City, or any other curious Work, either of
Art or Nature, I wifh for her, and long to know
what Judgment fhe would make of it. That which
fhe has lately given in my Favour, makes me bet-
ter pleas'd with my felt, than ever I was in my
Life before; and the Prize fhe has given me, com-
ing from fo good Hands, makes me think it invalua-
ble. Nothing could have happen'd fo much to my
Advantage, as the receiving this Honour from one
who is fo good a Judge, and of whom it may be juft
ly faid, that no Lady ever underſtood Gallantry
fo much, and Gallants fo little. I could only wiſh,
that in doing me this Favour, I had been inform'd
of it in other Terms than that fhe gave, el precio
de mas galan al Re Chiquitto. I think it had been e-
nough to have ſaid, Chico; but in the Style of the
Lady who wrote it, I wonder fhe did not even fay
Chiquittico. Yet this might be done with a good
Defign; and the Glory I receiv'd, was fo great,
that it was not improper to put me in mind of my
Littleness. I do what I can to defend her Good-
nefs; for I own it would now be Ingratitude to
complain of her, when ſhe has done me ſo much
Honour as to write to me. At the very Time that
fhe upbraids me with my Littlenefs, fhe fets me
above all the World, and with a Sheet of Paper
makes me the greatéft Man in France. That which
I have receiv'd from her, is fo excellent, and fo
full of Politeneſs, that after it, I can't tell whether
I shall either have Time or Affurance enough e-
ver to write to her. I am never fo proud, as when
1 receive a Letter from her; and never fo hum-
ble, as when I go about to anfwer it, and confider
how much my Wit is inferior to hers. I would
willingly fay fomething, Madam, of that Lady,
who will be always prais'd, but never fo much as
fhe deferves; and I could wifh there were Words
as
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
105
4
as fine and good as fhe herſelf is, that I might
fpeak of her as I would do: But no Language in
the World can do it; and Thought itfelf, with its
utmoft Force, can but just arrive at Strength e
nough to conceive fomething worthy of her. I
thank Madam de Clermont for my not having been
kill'd by the extreme Heats of Andalusia, and for
having had fair Weather both Times I crofs'd the
Streights, I beg her to continue her Favours to me,
and to believe I can never forget fuch folid Obli-
gations. In my Paffage from hence to England, I
fhall be thoroughly inform'd how far the Affecti-
on the honours me with, does extend. They fay
there are People in Lapland that fell Wind, but I
believe ſhe can give it if the pleafes; and if it is
not always in my Poop in this Voyage, I fhall call
her to an Account about it. With her Permiffion,
I humbly kifs Mrs. Atalanta's Hands; and tho' her
Inconftancy is one of the chief Things I prais'd in
her, I muſt befeech her to let me have none on't,
I give her and her Siſter a thouſand Thanks for
the Honour they are pleas'd to do me, in remem-
bring me. But, Madam, here's the fifth Page 14
have writ, without writing a Word to you; and
when you read fo many Things fpoken of others,
without fpeaking to you, I think you might be
afk'd, Why don't you eat a Bit of the Cake your felf ?
You know 'tis not my Fault, but yours. If you
will eat, 'tis but faying the Word, and I'll fwear
you fhall have ail, and every Body's Share. fhall
be yours: Yet, for all this, I can't help telling you
the Tranfports of Joy it gave me to hear, that E
am every Inch of me in the Heart of the Man you
know is fo much according to mine. I know the
Place is no Place of Eafe; I don't believe there
a Spot of Ground in all Africa fo hot, or a Gulph
in the Sea more tofs'd about, than that; but all
this don't hinder me from rejoycing infinitely at
my being in it, and holding my felf extreamly bappy
FS
106 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
in having fo great a Place in the beft Heart in all
France. But fince he has been pleas'd to do me
To much Honour, I humbly beg that, in order to
make the Obligation compleat, he'll give you
leave to go into it no farther than any Body elfe,
and make Room in it for at least half your Body;
for, upon my Word, Madam, I can't be wholly any
where, if you an't with me. If he has ftill the
fame Inclination to do Good, as he us'd to have,
I'm fure he'll readily grant me this Favour, and
be very glad to put us there together in private.
I ftand very much in need of fuch an Opportunity,
that I may, without being heard by fo many Peo-
ple, to tell you what I feel for you, to what a De-
gree I love and honour you, how infupportable
your Abfence is to me, how delighted I am with
thinking of you, and with how much Zeal I am,
Madam,
OK
Your, &c.
I
To Monfieur de CHAUDEBONNE.
SIR,
LETTER XLIII.
Thought I fhould never have got out of this
Country, and my ill Fortune feem'd to have
block'd up the Mouth of the Ports of St. Ludas
and Lisbon I left Madrid upon Advice that an
Englife Ship was to fet Sail from Seol in fix Weeks;
and that I might not wait, but come thither juft at
the Time, I went round by the Way of Gibraltar
and Granada. Here fix more are paft, and I don't
believe 'twill go this Month yet. Impatience of
Raying fo long in one Place, made me come from
thence
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters. 10X
thence hither to Lisbon, only to fee this Town, and
with an Intent to go back thither again. And tho
I was inform'd there was no Ship here, yet I re-
folv'd to travel above three hundred and fifty
Miles, and pafs the Sierra Morena twice, only for
Diverfion. But as good Luck would have it,
whilft I was upon my Journey, there arriv'd an
English Ship, in which, God willing, I intend to
embark. I have waited three Weeks already, and
in two Days more 'tis to be quite laden, and then
'twill hoift Sail with the firſt fair Wind. Fortune
drives me about very whimfically; fhe made me
travel thro' Spain in August, and now fhe'll make
me go thro' a Sea-Voyage in November. The Vef
fel carries five and twenty Guns, is very ftout, and
well arm'd; I believe we fhall ftand in need of its
Stoutnefs, for there are a great many Turks about.
the Coaft, and in this Seafon I don't think I fhall
be fo unhappy as not to meet with fome Tempest,
of which I may one Day give you a Defcription
This Ship is certainly better than I could have
expected. The Voyage is much eaſier from hence,
than from Sevil, and I would not, for a good deal,
have ftay'd there, and not have come to fee Por
tugal. I'll affure you, Sir, Don Manuel and Signora
Oforia have a fine Eftate here; and if they might
come to it, they would live more comfortably
than they do at Bruffels. Lisbon is, in my Opinion,
one of the finest Cities in the World, and is as well
worth feeing. It confifts of three Hills, all co-
ver'd with Houfes and Gardens, which admire
themſelves in a River three Leagues broad; and
the City, which appears in the Tagur, is no lefs
beautiful than that which ftands on the Banks of
it, yet I can't help being uneasy init, for I have
not receiv'd one Letter fince I have been here,
and I know nothing of what paffes in the World.
They have hardly any Notion of any other France,
than New France. Most of the People I fee here,
}
are
108 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
are People of t'other World; and they have oftener
News from Cape-Vert and Brafel, than from Paris or
Flanders. So that tho' it ought to be fome Satisfac-
tion to me to be in the Marmalad Country, and to
have a Miftrefs who is fweeter even than that, yet
all this don't touch me; and I pray as much to be
out on't, as if I were in Greenland. What ftrange
Things, Sir, Spanish Adventures are! I have been
as chafte here, as a Lady whom I believe you
vifit every Evening; and yet, with all my Seve.
rity, 1 fhall one Day be able to fhew you fome
Love-Letters written in the Spanish, Portugueſe, and
Andalusian Languages; and if a Moori Dame, that
lives by me, could write, I might fhew you fome
too in the Guiny-Language; but I hope the Wind
will fhortly blow away all thefe Paffions, and fend
me to a Place where I have fome that are more
folid and better founded. You, who have great
Part of them, may imagine with how much Im-
patience I long for this Happiness. This I can
promife you, I fhall never leave a Miftrefs with fo
much Content, as when I go to fee you; and who
I
have defended myfelf all my Life-time from the
Afflictions, the Languifhings, and the Uneafineffes
of Love, do at prefent meet with them all in
Friendship. I believe, Sir, you'll believe, and
cafily be perfwaded, that a Man for whom you
have done fo many good Offices, and to whom
you have given fuch excellent Instructions, cannot
fail to be grateful. Conftancy and Gratitude are
the two Virtues you have taught me, and I can
never uſe them more defervedly, than towards
you; had I with the utmoft Generofity paid you
double what I owe you, I fhould not even then be
1
quit, I must fill be indebted to you for that very
Generofity, fince 'twas of you learn'd it. Nei-
ther indeed is it my Defign to try to acquit my
felf towards a Perfon, to whom I take fo much
Pleafure in being oblig'd; and befides that my
Reafon
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 109
Reafon and Inclination give me to you, I am glad
I am oblig'd to be always,
Lisbon, Ottob.
22.1633.
Sir,
Your, &c.
SIR,
To
To Monfieur -
LETTER XLIV.
O let you fee that I think your Excufe ex
tremely good, I'll make Uſe of it myſelf;
it will be much more neceffary to me, than to
you; and you need not wonder at my alledging
it in my Neceffity, fince I have always lefs Wit,
and at prefent lefs Time. You'll eafily believe
this, when I tell you I had Notice to Day, that we
fhould fet Sail in five Days; fo that I am to buy
a Bed, Matreffes, Bed-cloaths, a little Flock of
Sheep, twenty black Cattle, fifty Hens, and a
Coop to put them in ; for the Captain won't un-
dertake to feed the Paffengers. Befides this, I
muft write to Sevil, to Madrid, to Flanders, to France,
to my He-Friends, Tradefmen, and Minifters of
State, and to my She-Friends and Miftreffes; and,
which is moft troublefome of all, I have every
Day a Portugueſe Billet-doux to anſwer ; and, to tell
you the Truth, I can neither read nor understand
it. I'll leave you to judge, if ever any Body had
his Hands fo full of Bufinefs, and if 'tis poffible,
I ſhould fend you a Letter worth yours, when ĺ
could not do it in all my Leifure. It afforded me
all the Confolation you may imagine it would give
to a Man of good Tafte and fincere Friendship,
and has, I think, had a wonderful Effect in me 3
for
110 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
*
for it kept me from being melancholy at not hay-
ing heard from my Father and Friends in France.
I wonder I had no Letters by the Poft. Tho' I tell
you I fhall be gone in five Days, yet I beg you
would continue to write to me ; for you know the
Days in this Country are not four and twenty Hour
Days; the Spanish are hardly fhorter than thoſe of
Greenland. I wifh a Whim to fee this Country,
would take hold of the Knight-Errant ; for I don't
know how to give him a more magnificent Title;
no Body has fo good a Genius at inventing fine
Names, as you have, and I own you could not have
had a better Subject to employ it upon. Befides
that the Ships of St. Lucar are above fourfcore
Leagues off, I don't think they'll fet Sail this Fort-
night at least, then he might triumph over feve-
ral Nations and after having fet fo many Caftilian
Ladies on Fire, he might come and melt fome-
Portuguese ones. Really, if I were fo wife as to love
no Body that was out of Sight, I could never have
liv'd more happily than I might have done there
laft three Months, remote from Hurry and Bufi-
nefs, and without hearing any News, but thofe
which from Time to Time you were pleafed to
fend me. The true Way to get Wealth and Gay-
ety, is, to let the Body be haraf'd, and the Mind.
at Eafe, and this is obtain'd by travelling: Things
generally fall out cross; and when we think to
take our Eafe, we commonly have moft Bufineſs.
The hardest Trot of a refty Mule, the worst Wea-
ther, and the deepeſt Roads, are not half fo tor-
menting as an unlucky Affair. You may therefore
be fure I am wonderfully pleas'd with the Defign
you have form'd of putting it out of the Power
of Fortune to cheat you, and of quitting her as a
dangerous Miftrefs: Her Careffes and Averfion
are equally to be fear'd; with either of them fhe
kills her Lovers; and thofe who look upon her
Favours as real Goods, are much more deceiv'd
than
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you
than thoſe who take a Cat for a Pigeon. If I had not
concluded with this Piece of Drollery, I fhould
have been too ſerious for a Man who is fo little
us'd to be fo, and who is in fo much Hafte. When
have a Mind to retire from the World, I'll go
with you, and we'll
and we'll go into fome Place where we
may call every Thing how we pleafe: Like Adam
we'll give new Names to Things; and when we
run directly counter to all the reft of Mankind,
and call that Good which they call Bad, we fhall
then agree in the true Meaning. But 'till that hap
pens, and whilft I remain in the World, I defire
you would, with the utmoſt Care, preferve for me
the Friendship of the Gentlemen you name.
There is not one of the Count de Maure's Recom-
mendations, but what I prize at the Rate of a
Million If you knew the Wealth of the Flot,
you would know the Value of what you have fent
me. If Count Stufe has had the fame Luck with
you, as he had with me, he has ruin'd you by this
Time; for I am no Match for him, he has won
my very Soul. This Lofs you are concern'd in
for 'tis Part of your own proper Goods and Chat-
tels, being oblig'd to be entirely yours, and more
than any Body,
ནཱ་
Sir,
Lisbon, Offob. 15. 1633.
Year, &c.
*
To
112 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
SIR,
th
To Monfieur
LETTER XLV.
I
can come from
Am not fully affur'd who you are; but I am
mone but a very worthy Gentleman; and I may
expect a very great Support in you, if what you
tell me, be true, namely, that you are better able
to ferve me, than to write. If you are him I fancy
you to be, this Happineſs could come from No-
body who could make it more dear to me; and I
am very glad to find fo much Goodneſs in one in
whom I had before obfervid all other good Qua-
lities. As in this you have done me more Ho-
nour than I could have expected, fo, I'll affure
you, Sir, I acknowledge it with more Gratitude
than you can imagine; and am no lefs generous-in
my Thoughts of that Favour, than you were in
doing it. I believe you have a good Opinion e-
nough of me, to believe what I fay; and as for
your felf, who gain every Body's Heart, only by
fetting your felf be known, you cannot doubt your
being lov'd by thofe whom you fo particularly
oblige. But I'may affirm, Sir, that among all the
Reſpect you have gain'd, none can be more fine
cere than mine; and that I am, more than any
Body,
+
Sir,
Lisbon, O&tober 22, 1633.
Your, &c.
Fo
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 113
To the Marquifs of MONTAUSIER,
who was afterwards kill'd in the
Valteline.
SIR,
LETTER XLVL
I and Satisfad youth which one ought to read
Have read your Letter with all the Content
穿
​a Letter that comes from the moſt lazy and moſt.
deferving Man in the World. There's hardly any
thing I might not expect from your Friendship,
fince you have brought yourſelf to take a little
Pains for my Sake, and 'tis impoffible you fhould
give me a better Proof of what you
tell me, than
writing me Word of it. Yet it vexes me to think,
that notwithstanding all your Tenderness for me,
there fhould be one Occafion, upon which you did
not care if I were hang'd. Indeed, Sir, this is a
Fault in the Affection you bear me; and I believe
I may very well take it ill, without being thought:
at all over touchy. Tho', for all this, I am upon
other Accounts in fo much Danger of the Fate you
mention, and I fo earnestly defire you fhould have
what you deferve, that if you were to have a
Crown upon that Condition, I believe verily I
fhould confent to be hang'd'as foon as you could
wifh. I could more eafily forgive Fortune for
that Injuftice, than for not granting you your Due,
and refufing you a Title fhe has given Monfieur
de Bellay But fince the Bufinefs does not depend
upon this, and I may have a hundred Crowns of
Martyrdom, without getting you e'er a Royal one,
we muſt look out for it fome other Way; and
without
114
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
without lofing the Life of one of your Friends,
you must owe this Honour only to your felf. I
promiſe you, in my Courſe thro' fo many diffe-
rent Kingdoms, you are always in my Thoughts,
and I am continually endeavouring to hammer out
fome Project which you may live to execute.
Some Time ago I faw feven Kingdoms all at one
Profpect, of which four were in Africa, and I wiſh
you had them; for I thought 'twas a Pity you
fhould let them remain in the Hands of the
Moors. But if you ſhould not care to live in Bar-
bary, we have had Advice here, that the Ifland of
Madera is juft ready to revolt, and will throw itfelf
into the Power of the first that will undertake te
defend it against Spain. Pray do but imagine the
Pleaſure it must be, to have a Kingdom of Sugar;
and how ſweetly we might live in it. Let the
Charms and Engagements of Paris be never fo
great, if I know you, they would not be able to
withhold you upon fuch an Occafion; if any thing
could detain you, it would be only the Fatigue of
the Voyage, and the Trouble of rifing betimes:
But Conquerors, Sir, muft not always fleep 'till
Noon. Crowns are not acquir'd without Toil;
even thoſe which are only of Lawrel and Myrtle,
are bought with Labour; and Glory is refolv'd
her Eovers fhall ſuffer for her. I must confefs I
was fomething amaz'd to find, that Fame gave
me no News of you, 'till you writ yourſelf; and I
believe I am got farther than I thought it was
poffible to go, when I think that I am in a Coun
try where they do not know you. Don't let fo
juft a Reputation as yours is, be limited to the
Foot of the Pirenean Mountains, over which fo
many have pafs'd; come yourſelf to open its Paf-
fage, and if the Gazette don't fay any thing of you,
make Hiſtory it ſelf render you immortal. As for
the Affront fome People would make you believe
I give you, in calling you by a Lady's Title, I'll
affure
}
L4
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 115
affure you, Sir, you had not the leaft Reaſon to be
offended at it. I can prove to you, that Amadis de
Gaul put an End to his greateſt Adventures, when
he went by the Name of the Damfel of the Sea; and
Amadis de Greece, when he was call'd the Damfel of
the burning Sword, flew a great Eyon, and deliver'd
King Magadar; but this is one of the Artifices of a
certain Lady, who having fworn my Ruin, is vex'd
to fee me under the Protection of the braveft Man
upon Earth. However, I dare fay fhe'll find it
very hard to deprive me of yours; for I fwear,
Sir, and I fay this more ferioufly than all the reft,
I fhall always endeavour by all Sorts of Means and
Ways, to deferve the Honour of your Affection.
Tis my Opinion, that it would few a Want of
Wit, Generofity, and Virtue, not to have a per-
fect Love for a Man in whom all thefe Things are
vifible to fo high a Degree; and I, who have an
extraordinary Efteem for all thefe Qualifications,
wherever I meet with them, muft particularly re-
ſpect them in you, in whom they are join'd to fo
many other Graces, and accompany'd with fo
much good Nature. I therefore beg you to believe,
that as I know you better than any Body, fo alfo
I beft know how to honour you; and that whilft
I have any Thing Good in me, I can't fail to be,
4
Lisbon, Oftob, 22. 1633.
Sir,
Your, &c.
Te
116 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To the Marquifs of PISANI.
SIR,
IR
LETTER XLVII..
F in any Thing I efteem the two Letters which
you commended, 'tis for having procur'd me
the Honour of one of yours; the Sight of which
confirm'd me in the Judgment I had long before
made of you, namely, that you might come to
make your Sifter and me jealous, and deprive us
of the Glory of writing well, which, were it not
for you, we might pretend to. But fince you have
fo many other Ways of getting it, pray give us
leave to have this one, and don't aim at fo diffi
cult an Undertaking as imitating your Father in
every Thing, who, not fatisfy'd with the Repu
tation of being one of the braveft Men in France,
was refolv'd to gain that too of fpeaking and writ-
ing better than every Body elfe. Tis true, Sir,
you might hope to arrive at this, as well as him,
if you had a Mind to it; but then it would coft you
a great deal of Trouble, and you would befides
lofe a charming Opportunity of obliging us, and
giving us an undoubted Proof of your Affection,
by giving up for our Sakes your Pretenfions to a
Praife which you might have fo great a Share of
if you pleas'd. There are others more folid and
more worthy your Genius; afpire to them. Yet if
you think that there are none, tho' never fo incon-
fiderable, which a Man of Senſe ought to defpife,
and that 'tis the only Thing he ſhould not be libe-
ral of, I own I have nothing to urge againſt ſo juſt
an Argument, I know your Sifter has fo great a
Love for you, that ſhe'll readily forgive you the
Wrong
ๆ
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 117
Wrong you may do her in this Point; and as for
me, I fhall willingly fuffer myfelf to be vanquifh'd,
if you are to be my Conqueror; for in lieu of the
Glory you will fpoil me of, I fhall have a Share in
yours, and content myfelf with that of being,
Sir,
Lisbon, Octob. 22. 1633.
Your, &c.
To Mademoifelle De RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER XLVIII.
MADAM,
IS a thoufand Pities you don't take Plea-
fure in doing Good oftener, fince whenever
you undertake it, none can do it with fo obliging
an Air I receiv'd the late Compliment you made
me, with all. the Deference I ought; and you have
not only alleviated my Misfortune, but have put
me in fome Doubt whether I fhall call it fo: For
fince you have told me, that your Kindnefs for
me fhall laft no longer than my Unhappiness, you
have almoſt forc'd me to wish it may never end.
See, Madam, how much my Fate is at your Dif-
pofal; you have, by the bare inferting of three
Words, fo chang'd two Contraries, I mean your
Prefence and your Abfence, (one of which is cer-
tainly the greatest Good, and the other the great-
eft Ill in the World) that I know not which is the
Good, or which is the Ill, and confequently which
of them to chufe. However, fince I muſt ſuffer
one Way or other, I had rather do it in your Pre-
fence; and tho' you are never fo cruel, yet, in my
Opinion, you can fhew it no Way fo effectually, as by
refufing to fee me. I must confefs, Madam, I fear
you
418 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
you beyond what you can imagine, and more than
any Thing in Nature; but without forfeiting the
Refpect I owe you, I love you (if I may fo exprefs
myfelf) much more than I fear you, Tho' you
frighten me a little fometimes, yet I am infinitely
i
pleas'd to fee you in all your Shapes; nay, fhould
you be chang'd once a Week into a Dragon, I be-
lieve I fhould fall in Love with your Scales and
Claws. By what Alterations I have obferv'd in you,
I believe this Metamorphofis may one Day happens
and whereas you tell me, that three Days in a
Month you are not to be convers'd with, methinks
that ſeems fome Difpofition to fuch a Change. I
am of Monfieur de C's Opinion, that you will
come to fome ftrange End, and then we fhall know
what Judgment to pafs upon you. In the mean
Time, be what you will, all the World must own
you are a moft amiable Creature; and while you
continue under your prefent Shape, as your whole
Sex can fhew nothing fo divine and perfect, fo no
Man fhall be with more Zeal than I am,
Lisbon, OH. R2. 1833.
I
Madam,
Your, &c.
To Monfieur GOURDON at London.
SIR,
LETTER XLIX.
Have had more Leifure than I could have
wifh'd, to fend what you defir'd of me when I
left you. The Winds are fo far from carrying a-
way my Promife, that they have prefented me
with an Occafion to keep it. They have kept me
here already this eight Days, which I fhould have
thought
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 119
thought very long and tedious, had I not brought
from London Imaginations that laft longer than
that. I affure you, that you are much concern'd
therein, and that the beft I have had, have been
wholly employ'd on you, or thofe Rarities that I
have feen by your Means. You undoubtedly guefs,
that I fpeak not of the Tower, nor yet of the Lyons
which you favour'd me with the Sight of; in one
fingle Perfon you have fhewn me more Treafures
than are there, and withal more Lyons and more
Leopards. It will be no hard Matter for you to
guefs, that I fpeak of the Countefs of Carlife; for
there is not any one of which may be faid fo much
Good, and fo much Ill. How dangerous foever
it may be to think of her, yet for all that, 'I have
not been able to forbear, and, to be plain with
you, I would not part with that Reprefentation
which I have of her in my Mind, for any Thing,
tho' it were the most perfect that I have feen in
the Univerſe. She is, I must confefs, a Perfon full
of Enchantment, and there is not under the Hea-
vens one that can command fo much my Affection
as fhe, did fhe but know what it is, and carry a-
bout her the fenfitive Soul, as well as the rational.
But confidering her Temper, we can fay no more
of her, than that fhe is the most charming of all
thofe Things that are not good, and the moft de-
lightful Poifon that ever Nature produc'd. I ftand
fo much in Awe of her Wit, that it has almoſt
hinder'd me from fending you thefe Verfes; for
I know fhe can judge what is good, and what is ill
in any Thing; and that all the Goodness which
fhould have been in her Will, is diverted into her
Judgment. But it matters not much if the con-
demn them; I dare not wifh them better, fince
they were written before I had the Honour to be
acquainted with her; and I fhould be much trou-
bled to have prais'd or difprais'd any one to Per-
fection, for I referve that for her Pen. But for
your
120 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
your Part, Sir, I will not trouble you with Excuſes,
but thofe that are allowable; and, on the other
Side, I conceive you much in my Debt; fo you
ought to acknowledge yourſelf a little oblig'd to
me, that I fend you paultry ones. Whatever they
are, I can affure you they are the firft I ever tran-
fcrib'd of my own Writing If you knew how lazy
I am grown of late, you would acknowledge my
ready Compliance, none of the fmalleft Argu-
ments of the Power you have over me, and how
paffionately I defire to be,
Dover, Dec. 4.
1633.
A
Sir,
Your bumble Servant, &c.
To Madam de RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
How
LETTER L.
but
OW threatening foever your Letter be, I
could not chufe but admire its Beauty, and
wonder how you could join the obliging and the
terrible Stile with fo much Artifice together. You
make me think of the Gold and Azure we find on
the Skins of our Snakes; you do as it were enamel
the ſharpest Reflections, with the livelieft Colours
of Eloquence; and, in reading them, I cannot
forbear to be pleas'd with thofe very things which
moft affright me. You foon began to be as good
as your Word, when you told me, that you would
no longer fmile, than Fortune frown'd on me : In
the fame Minute fhe feems to have granted me a
little Repofe, you begin to difquiet me, and fhew
me, that tho' I have efcap'd the Dangers of the
Seas
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 121
Seas and Pyrates, I am not yet in Safety, and that
you are more dreadful than they. I could not have
thought, Madam, that for having declin'd a Quar-
rel with your Dwarf, I fhould have contracted one
with yourſelf, nor that I fhould be oblig'd to an-
fwer a Challenge, becauſe I did a Compliment: If
you think I fail'd in that, you ought rather to call
it Reſpect and Fear, than Contempt; and believe,
that the fame Creature, who difarm'd Monfieur
de M of his Sword, made my Pen fall from
my Hand. Altho' he might have fome Reafon to
complain, yet you had none to take his Part a-
gainst me; and if you wish me ill for his Sake, I
may justly fay you quarrel with me on the leaft
Occafion in the World.
If you are refolv'd to perfecute me, all the Ex-
cufes I can alledge, will fignify nothing, and I can
only wonder you take fo much Pains to find a Pre-
tence for it. It will be no Advantage to me, to
have come fo far, thro' fo many Dangers; I fhall
find Algiers where ever you are; and tho' I am in
Bruffels, yet I never was fo near Captivity, or be-
ing fhipwreck'd. However, don't perfwade your
felf, Madam, that the Flames of thofe Animals
wherewith you threaten me, can make me afraid.
I have long fince learnt to defend myſelf from
thofe Sorts of Miſchiefs; and whatever you can
fay, I am more apprehenfive of Death from your
Eyes, than your Hands. Among all the Paffages of
your Letter, which feems to me admirable in all
its Parts, I take particular Notice of what you fay,
how great a Pleaſure it would have been to you,
if I had been taken by the Pyrates: I can't but
attribute it to your extraordinary Goodness, that
you could wiſh I had been two or three Years
chain'd to an Oar in the Turkish Gallies, that fo
my Voyage might have been more diverfify'd.
Twas an ingenious Curiofity, to defire to know
how I could look after, and drefs the Camels of
G
Burbary,
422 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
A
Barbary and with what unfhaken Conftancy I could
bear Baftinado's 1 After the rate you talk, I fup-
poſe you would have been glad, if I had been em-
pal'd for half an Hour, to have fatisfy'd you how
it felt, and what I thought of it: But that which is
yet more confiderable, thefe kind Wiſhes, you fay,
you beftow'd upon me, after you had re-affum'd
the mild Form of Woman, and were fomewhat
appeas'd, and become more human ; neither can
I any more reconcile to Juftice the Quarrel you
would pick with me about Alcidalis. Judge, Ma-
dam, if being embark'd in the fame Seas with
him, and in the fame Dangers, I could forget thofe
Perils which I fuffer'd, to recount thofe he had
gone through? and while I lay under my own
Misfortunes, if I could amufe myſelf to write a
Hiftory of his? Notwithstanding which I did not
omit it in the midst of my Troubles: I writ above
a hundred Sheets of his Hiftory, and took a par-
ticular Care of his Life, at a Time when I can fwear
to you I had none of my own. But don't thence,
Madam, make an Eſtimate of the Care I take to
pleaſe my Friends. After I have render'd you all
the imaginable Services I can, thofe Shadows can
only fhew you the leaft Part of the Paffion I have
for your Concerns: If you would know that, con-
fider it rather in the Caufe, than in the Effects.
But your Imagination, how lively and wonderful
foever it is, falls fhort of that; and if there is any
Thing in the whole World greater than your Soul,
and which is beyond its Comprehenfion, it is the
Refpect, Affection, and Eſteem it has bred in
mine. Being no leſs fenfible to acknowledge the
Obligations I owe to other excellent Perfons, you'll
think that the Letter I receiv'd at the ſame Time
with yours, brought me an infinite Satisfaction, as
well as an extreme Honour. You knew better than
any other, the Inclination and Refpe&t I have al-
ways had for the Merits of the Perfon who writ it,
**
and
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
123
and you may remember in the Time of the Civil
Wars between you two, I have fometimes left
your Part, to take his. But this laft Goodneſs of
his has gain'd fomething afreſh in my Heart; and
fince I have receiv'd it, pardon me, if you pleaſe,
that I have efteem'd him for fome Moments a-
bove any other Perfon in the World. But that you
may not think, Madam, that it is you who have
procur'd me all the Favours I receive from him,
I affure you, that on another Occafion very lately
he has done me a Piece of Service, without your
being privy to it; altho' it is none of thoſe I take
the moſt Pleaſure in receiving, and it has given
me a new Subject of reflecting on my ill Fortune,
yet I efteem it a great Honour to owe Obligations
to him, which I ſhould be afham'd to do to any
other, and I am glad to receive any Marks of his
Generofity. He'll fwear, when you fpeak to him
of it, he knows not what you mean; and methinks
I now fee him telling you fo; but you know his
Humour and Temper never to forget to do a good
Action, and never to remember it when it is done.
Since the Honour of your Efteem for me, has been
the firft Motive to eftablifh me in his Favour, I
humbly beg, Madam, your Affiſtance to return
him thofe Thanks I owe him, and that Way to
pay him at leaft as far as I can at preſent. I &
thousand times kifs the Feet of that incomparable
Perfon, who was pleas'd to write with her own
Hand the Superfcription of the Letter you fent
me, and with four or five Words render that Pre-
fent inestimable, which was extraordinary preci-
ous before. You have a great deal of Reafon to
call her the most charming and agreeable Perfon
in the World, who can relieve the Diftrefs'd at
fuch a Diſtance. I wish that fhe, who fo well knows
how to manage it, may one Day have all the Hap-
pinefs due to fo much Goodneſs, Beauty, and Vir-
tue together, tho' I know this Wifh is very exten-
G 2
five.
24 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters..
five. I hear, that the Lady, which I us'd to call
the Morning-Star, is become greater and more ad-
mirable than ever, and that it at the fame Time
enlightens and burns all France. Although its
Beams fcarce reach the dark Shades where we
live, yet its Reputation does; and, as far as I can
underſtand, the Sun is not fo bright as it. I amı
glad the Intelligence that animates it, has loft no-
thing of its Force and Light, and that there is no-
thing but the Soul of Mademoiſelle de Bourbon
that can make us doubt whether her Beauty is
not the most perfect Thing in the World. The
Manner, as I have ſeen in one of your Letters,
The condoles me in, appears admirably fine; in-
deed fo many Croffes I have met with, ought to
ftir up Pity in her; in her, I fay, who is fo well
acquainted with my Weakneſs, and who knows that
from my Cradle I have not had one Day of Re-
poſe: It has been difturb'd at the Poftfcript of
your Letter addreſs'd to King Chiquito. In the Hell
of Anatarax I found mine; and there I wander'd
three Nights and Days, without feeing a Jot of
any Thing. I am very forry for it; for I defir'd,
above any Thing in the World, to have the Comb
of the King of Georgia; I have had a Mind to it a
bove theſe two Years. Do not believe that you
have got that which I have fail'd of: The Combs
which belong to the Queen of China, are not fo ea
fily obtain'd; you must first write me the Name
of the Pyrate, and do it without jefting; for in
that confifts the greateſt Difficulty. But fince you
pretend to fo much gueffing, imagine, if you pleafe,
Madam, all I would farther fay, if I durft make
any Letter longer. Guefs how much more I ho-
nour and efteem you, than I did two Years ago;
and think with how much Paffion I am,
*Mademoiſelle,
Bruſſels, Fan. 6. 1634.
Your, &c.
sto
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 115
I
榮​茶
​+
To the Cardinal de la VALETTE.
LETTER LI
MY LORD,
Am apt to believe, when you writ me the
Letter you were pleas'd to honour me with,
that you thought the Efteem I have always had
for you, has acquir'd you fome Reputation in the
World That on all Occafions I had given you in-
finite Teftimonies of the Honour of my Friend-
fhip, and had for that Reafon lent you two thou-
fand Crowns on an extraordinary Occafion; and
that at fuch a Time, when all your Credit fail'd
you elſewhere; at ſuch a Juncture too, that other-
wife your Reputation must have for ever funk.
At leaft, after the Rate you return your Thanks,
and ſpeak of yourſelf and me, I have Reafon to
believe, that in a Dream you have mistook the
one for the other, and put yourfelf in my Place.
Otherwife, my Lord, you would not write after
that Manner you do, unleſs perhaps you are of O-
pinion, that there is no greater Good in the World,
than to do it to others, and think thofe oblige you,
who give you an Opportunity of obliging them,
and imagine you receive the Pleafures you give.
Certainly, ifit be fo, there is no Man in the Workt
to whom you are more oblig'd, than to me
me; and
I deferve all the Thanks you give me, fince I have
given you more Occafions than any one elſe of ex-
crcifing your Generofity, and doing Actions of
Goodnefs, which, without doubt, are worth more
than all the Good you have done me, or all that
you have remaining. Among the great Number
of thoſe I have receiv'd from you, and among fo
G. 3
·
3
many
126 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
many Favours you have been pleas'd to beftow
upon me, I affure you, my Lord, there are none I
eiteem ſo much as the Letter you have done me
the Honour to write to me; and if among fo many.
Things which affected me with Joy, there is any
one Thing that did fo above the reft, I muft needs.
beg your leave to tell you it is that where you
mention the two Perfons who deferve all the Re-
ſpect we can pay them, and to whom, if we com-
pare them not one to the other, there is nothing
under the whole Heaven they can be compar'd to.
When I think that I am in their Memory, for
that Moment my Pains ceafe; and whenfoever I
repreſent to myſelf the Image of either the one or
the other, the very Face of my Fortune feems to
be chang'd, and that Imagination chaces from my
Spirit the Darknefs which oppreffes it, and fills it
with Light. But that which is ftill a greater Hap-
pineſs, is, tho' I am fo far from ever having de-
ferv'd the Honour of their Favour, yet I flatter
myſelf that I have ſome Share in it, and I am fo
happy as to believe what you tell me concerning
it. I know one, my Lord, who would not be fo
eafy to be perfwaded, if he were in my Place, and
who, after two Years Separation, could not live in
fo much Tranquility, nor with fo great Affurance.
In the Satisfaction which that Belief gives me, be
pleas'd to judge if I am much to be lamented, and
if there are not many whom the World calls happy,
that are not ſo much as I. Without this, I could
not defend myfelf from the general Sorrow which
is here on all Sides, nor refift the Melancholy of
Monfieur de C, whom I am forc'd every Day
to contend with, and who is in Truth much above
what is commonly imagin'd of him. Befides the
Fancy he has taken to let his Beard grow, which
already reaches down to his Middle, he affects a
Tone more fevere than ever, and which comes
very near the Sound of Aftolphus's Horn: Unleſs
་ ་
he
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
127.
he were to treat of the Immortality of the Soul,
or of the fupreme Good, and the most important
Queſtions of moral Philofophy, he could not bawl
louder. If Democritus fhould come again, though he
was never fo great a Philofopher, he would not
bear with him, becaufe he was addicted to laugh-
ing ; he has undertaken to reform the Doctrine of
Zeno, as too effeminate, and is going about to make
the Stoicks turn Capuchins. So that, my Lord, you
don't defire any Advantage to that People, whofe
Governor you wish him to be.
To Monfieur GODEAU, afterwards
Bishop of Graffe.
SIK,
نی
LETTER. LII.
You U ought to give us Time to recover our
Tongue, before you oblige me to write to
you; for it appears to me to be fomething abfurd,
that I, who have been now fo long a Foreigner,
and but just come from breathing the Air of Bar-
bary, fhould prefume to expofe my Letters to one
of the most eloquent Men in France. This Confide-
ration has kept me filent 'till now. But tho' I for-
bear to answer your Challenges, I cannot refufe to
return your Civilities: By thefe you have found a
Way to vanquish me, in Spight of all my Evafions.
In
my preſent Condition, it is more reputable for
you to conquer me this Way, than to overcome me
by Force: You would have acquir'd but ſmall
Glory by vigorously attacking a Man who is al-
ready driven to Extremity, and to whom Fortune
has given fo many Blows, that the leaft may be
G 4
fufficient
128 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
+
fufficient to crufh him down. Amidst the Dark-
neſs in which fhe hath plac'd us, we can have no
Defence; but here all our Art and our Skill in
Parrying, are ufelefs. The Cafe perhaps might
be otherwife, if you had fet before my Eyes the
Sun of which you make mention; and as dejected
as you fee me now, I fhould grow daring enough
to enter the Lifts againſt you, if the Light of that
were divided between us equally. 'Tis more to
have that alone on your Side, than all the rest of
Heaven. The Beauties which ſparkle in all that
you do, are only deriv'd from hers, and it is the
Influence of her Rays on you, which produces fo
many Flowers. Nothing can ever appear more
lively, than thoſe which you fcatter on every Thing
that comes from you. I have feen them upon the
Ocean's extreameft Shores, and in Places where
Nature cannot produce, no, not one Blade of Graſs.
I have receiv'd Nofegays of them, which made™
me meet in Defarts with the choiceft Delicacies.
of Greece, and of fruitful Italy: And tho' they had
been carry'd four hundred Leagues, neither the
Length of Way, nor of Time, had in the leaſt di-
minifh'd their Luftre. They are indeed immor-
tal, and cannot decay, and fo vaftly different from
all terreftrial Productions, that it is with a great
deal of Juftice that you have offer'd them up to
Heaven for Altars alone are worthy of them.
Believe me, Sir, in what I am faying, fpeak but
my real Sentiments; when my Curiofity, as you
fay, had oblig'd me to pafs the Bounds of the an
cient World, to find out rare and furprizing Ob-
jects, your Works were the wonderfulleft Things
that I faw, and Africa could fhew me nothing more
new, nor any more extraordinary Sight. Reading
them under the Shade of its Palms, I wifh'd you
crown'd with them all; and at the very Time
that I faw I had gone beyond Hercules, I found. I
came fhort of you. All this which was capable
;.
of
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
129
you
·
of producing Envy in any other Man's Soul, fill'd
mine with fo much Efteem and Affection, that
then took the Place there, which you are now
defiring, and perfectly finish'd what you think you
are ftill to begin. After the Knowledge which I
have had of you, how can I form fuch an Image
of you, as you are willing to give me? How can I
fancy you to be that little Creature you fay you
are? How could I comprehend that Heaven could
place fuch mighty Things in fo fmall a Space?
When I give my Imagination a Loofe, it allows
you four Yards at leaft, and reprefents you of the
Stature of Men engender'd by Angels; yet I fhall i
be very glad to find that it is as you would have
me believe. Amongst the reft of the Advantages,
which I expect to derive from you, I am in Hopes
that you will bring our Stature into fome Credit,
and that it is ours which henceforward will be ac-
counted the nobleft; and that by you we fhall be
exalted above thofe who believe themfelves higher
than we. As we pour the moft exquifite Effences-
into the fmalleft Bottles, Nature infufeth the di-
vineft Souls into the fmalleft Bodies, and mixes
more or lefs of Matter with them, as they have
more or lefs in them of their Almighty Original.
She feems to place the moft fhining Souls, as
Jewellers fet the moft fparkling Stones, who make
Ufe of as little Gold as they can with them, and 1
no more than juft fuffices to bind them. By you
the World will be undeceiv'd of that fottish Error:
of valuing Men by their Weight, and my Little-
nefs with which I have been fo often upbraided:
by Mademoiſelle de Rambouillet, for the future may
recommend me to her. To conclude, the Affection.
is very juft, which you tell me he has for you, and
not only fle, but fix more of the loveliest Crea-
tures that illuftrate the Light. But I wonder that
you ſhould think to get mine by fuch a Difcovery,
and to gain it by the very Means which were fuf
G. 5.
ficient.a
130 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
ficient to make you lofe it. You had need to have
a high Opinion of my Goodneſs, to believe that I
can love a Man who enjoys my Right, and who
has obtain'd the Confifcation of my most valu'd
Poffeffions: But yet I am ſo juft, that even this
fhall be no Impediment; and I believe you to have
fo much Juftice on your Side, that I do not de-
fpair but that we may accommodate even this
Matter between us. They may very well have
given you my Place, without your putting me out
of it; and my Room in their Hearts, was but very
fmall, if it cannot contain us both. As for my Part,
I ſhall do my utmoſt, that I may not incommode
you there, and fhall take Care to take up my Sta-
tion, fo that we may not clafh; fince fo powerful
an Intereft cannot make me ceafe to be yours, you
may believe that, in Spight of the worít of Acci-
dents, I fhall be eternally
Bruffels, Feb. 3. 1634.
Yours, &c.
To Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER LIII.
MADAM,
FOR, being of fo great Importance in our
Tongue as it is, I extreamly approve of the
Refentment you fhew for the Wrong they defign
to do it; and I must needs declare, that I expect
no Good from the Academy which you mention,
fince they are reſolv'd to eſtabliſh themſelves by
fo great an Oppreffion; even at a Time like this,
when Fortune is acting her Tragedies throughout
all Europe. I can behold nothing fo deferving of
Pity, as when I fee they are ready to arraign and
to
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 131
དྲོས
to baniſh a Word, which has fo faithfully ferv'd
this Monarchy; and which, amidſt all our Confu-
fions, has always been of the Side of thoſe who
were truly French. For my Part, I cannot, for my
Heart, comprehend what Reaſon they can alledge
against a Word, whofe only Bufinefs is to go before
Reafon, and which has no other Employment,
than to usher it in. I cannot imagine what Intereſt
can oblige them to take away that which belongs
to For, to give it to Because that; nor why they have
a Mind to fay with three Syllables, that which
they may fay with three Letters. That which I
am afraid of, Madam, is this, that after they have
been guilty of this one Injuftice, they will not fcru-
ple at more; perhaps they may have the Impu-
dence to attack But, and who knows if If may be
any longer fecure. So that after they have de-
priv'd us of all thofe Words, whofe Bufinefs it is
to bind others together, the Wits will reduce us
to the Language of Angels; or, if they cannot do
that, they will at leaft oblige us to fpeak only by
Signs: And here I must confefs, that your Obfer-
vation is true, viz. That no Example can more
clearly fhew us the Inftability of human Affairs.
He who had told me fome Years ago, that I fhould
have out-liv'd For, I had thought had promis'd me
a longer Life than the Patriarchs: And yet we
fee, that after he has maintain'd himſelf for ele-
ven hundred Years in full Force and Authority;
after he has been employ'd in the most important
Treaties, and has affifted in the Councils of our
Kings with Honour, he is all of a ſudden fallen
into Difgrace, and threaten'd with a violent End.
I now expect nothing lefs, than to be terrify'd with
lamentable Cries in the Air, declaring to the
World, that the Great For is dead; for the Death
of the Great Cam, or of the Great Pan, was, in my
Mind, lefs important. I know, if we confult one
of the finest Wits of the Age, and one whom I e-
fteem
+
132 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
fteem with Paffion, he will tell us, that 'tis our
Duty to condemn an Innovation like this; that we
ought to uſe the For of our Fathers, as well as their
Sun and their Soil, and that we fhould by no Means
baniſh a Word, which was in the Mouths of Charle
maigne and St. Louis. But you, Madam, are the
Perfon who are principally oblig'd to undertake
his Protection; for fince the fupream Grace, and
the fovereign Beauty of the French Tongue lies in
yours, you ought to command here with an abfo-
Jute Sway, and with a Smile or a Frown give Life-
or Death to Syllables, as uncontroul'd as you do to
Men. For this, I believe you have already fe-
cur'd it from the imminent Danger which threa-
ten'd it; and, by vouchfafing it a Place in your
Letter, have fix'd it in a Sanctuary and a Manfion
of Glory, which neither Envy nor Time can reach.
But here, Madam, I beg leave to affure you, that
I could not but be furpriz'd to fee how fantaſtick
your Favours are; I could not but think it ftrange,
that you, who, without Compaffion, could fee a
thouſand Lovers expire, fhould not have the Heart
to fee a Syllable die. If you had but had half the
Care of me, which you have fhewn of Fór, I ſhould
then have been happy in Spight of ill Fortune;
then Poverty, Exile, and Pain, would fcarce have
had Force, to come near me. If you had not de-
liver'd me from thefe Evils themſelves, you had
freed me at least from the Senfe of them. But at
a Time that I expected to receive Confolation
from yours, I found that your Kindnefs was only
defign'd to For, and that his Banifhment troubled
you more than mine. I must confefs, Madam, it
is but juft you fhould undertake his Defence; but
you ought to have taken fome Care of me too,
That People might not object to you, that you for
fake your Friends for a Word. You make no An-
fwer at all to that which I writ about; you take
not the leaſt Notice of Things which fo much con-
cern
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 133
cern me: In three or four Pages you fcarce re-
member me once; and the Reafon of this, is For.
Be pleas'd to confider me a little more for the fu-
ture; and when you undertake the Defence of the
Afflicted, remember that I am of the Number.
I fhall always make Uſe of him himſelf to oblige
you to grant me this Favour, and to convince you
that it is but my Due; For
I am, &c.
MADAM,
HA
To the fame.
LETTER LIV.
AD I prefented you with as many Pearls as
the Poets have made Aurora weep; and in-
ftead of giving you a Piece of Earth, had given
you all; you could not have return'd me Thanks
in a more magnificent Manner. The Vine of the
Great Mogul would have been fufficiently paid for
by the leaft Word from you, and all the Diamonds
and precious Stones with which it is laden, have
not fo much Luftre, nor caft fo great a Light as
any Thing that is written by you. I think I have
begun very brightly, Madam; and thoſe who are
fond of writing fine, would think this a good Exor-
dium for what they call a beautiful Letter: But the
Poft won't give me Time; and befides, having
carefully read yours, and your Mother's, I am re-
folv'd to meddle no more with Wit. May I be
hang'd, Madam, if any Thing can be more gal-
lant, or more charming, than that which I have
receiv'd from her; and 'tis a Wonder too, that one
who hardly writes above once in four Years, fhould
then do it ſo well, that one would think ſhe had
been
134 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
been perpetually ftudying at it, and thought of
nothing elſe all that Time. One would think, bý
this Time, I fhould be pretty much us'd to the
Miracles of your Family; but I own I can't help
wondering at them. But I particularly wonder,
Madam, how you, who can dance fo finely, can
write fo finely too, and bear away the Prize at
once for three Things which feldom go together,
being the beſt Dancer, the beft Sleeper, and the
moft eloquent young Lady in the World.
You can't imagine how you pleas'd me, in putting
Monfieur Maine into the Matachin Dance: 'I lik'd
this Thought as well as any of your others, and I
give you my Word we won't dance it 'till he dances
it with us. And, to tell you my Mind, Monfieur
de Chaudebonne is too melancholy at prefent to tinkle
Bells; and I believe I myſelf ſhall find it hard to
dance well in your Abfence, being fo much,
Madam,
Your, &c.
HT J# C & D * X X X
MADAM,
YOUR
To the fame.
LETTER LV.
OUR Letters being now more admirable
than ever they were, I ſhould be very much
griev'd to go without them. Having, fince the
Sight of the laft you wrote me, loft all Hopes of
ever writing good ones myfelf, I fhould be glad to
receive them from others. The high Opinion I
have fo long had of your Wit, had prepar'd me to
fee the most wonderful Productions from it with-
out Surprize ; and I thought it could bring forth
nothing
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
135
nothing that would amaze me, unless it were
Things ordinary or common. But really, I muft
needs own 'tis arriv'd at a Degree of Perfection
which I never apprehended, and I have not been
able to divine, that you could do any Thing you
do. Indeed, Madam, what I fay, is without Flat-
tery; and my Anger is not fo thoroughly gone off,
as to fuffer me to be in a Humour to fay any
Thing obliging to you more than I needs muff.
You have rais'd yourſelf as much above your felf,
as you were before above others ; and the fhorteft
Letter you write now, is more valuable than all
Alcidalis and Zelida, even tho' you reckon their two
Kingdoms into the Bargain. When my Rage was
at the Height, I did not make one Complaint a-
gainſt you but was accompany'd with a Praife;
and one of the Reaſons why I endeavour to be re-
concil'd to you, is, for fear that if I fhew myſelf
your Enemy, People will think my Hatred pro-
ceeds from Envy, rather than from a juſt Reſent-
ment: Yet you know in your Heart, how much
Caufe I have for it; and, without making any
more Words on't, 'tis there I expect you'll do me
Juftice. After having been fo long dumb, I fhould
not care to break my Silence by Complaints; I
only beg you to confider what Condition I muſt
be in, having at one and the fame Time loft both
the Hopes of coming into France, and the Comfort
of your Letters. One of thefe Misfortunes of it
felf might have been enough to kill me; but,
which is the ftrangeft Thing I ever heard in my
Life, their coming together, fav'd me, and the
one help'd me to fupport the other. When I con-
fider'd with myfelf, that after this Proof of your
ill Will to me, how many Mifchiefs Fortune pre-
ferv'd me from, by hindering me from falling in-
to your Hands, I began to think a perpetual Ba-
nifhment fupportable in Compariſon of that, and
that at the leaft I fhould not here die a Death fo
i
cruel.
136 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
cruel... Yet, Madam, this Confolation is not fo
effectual, but that I have need of another; for I
fwear Mr. himſelf is not fo uneafy as I am;
and thofe dark. Fits of Melancholy which you have
formerly feen me in, were but a Type of thofe I
I am now tormented with. Diffipare them, I be-
feech you, and think of fome Words, if you can, to
lay thefe Vapours. But who doubts that you can;
every Body knows nothing is impoffible to your
Wit, to which I recommend myfelf; and fince
thofe Things, which are leaft probable and moft
extraordinary to It are eafy, let it make me ca-
pable of being fenfible of Joy in this Place, and of
living 'till I can tell you with my own Mouth, how
much beyond what you can conceive, I am,
Madam,
1
Your, &c.
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER LVI.
Don't at all wonder you laugh'd fo heartily,
when you writ me Word of the ftrange unac-
countable Report whieh is fpread of me, namely,
that I have neither Goodnefs nor Friendship in
me
; for really nothing was ever faid more ridi-
culous, and you had good Reafon to hear it in the
fame Manner, as if you had been told, that Mon-
fieur de Chaudebonne robs upon the High-way, or
has marry'd the Daughter of Monfieur des's
Gentleman. For my Part, I can't help wonder-
ing, fo falfe an Opinion, and fo ungrounded a Ca-
lumny fhould have extended fo far, and infected
three
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 137
97
three Provinces; and whoever gave it Birth, he
that did it muſt be the most dangerous Perfon in
the World. I'll enquire diligently to find out who
it is; and if I difcover them, I fwear I'll be re-
veng'd, tho' fhe that did it be as lovely and terri
ble as yourſelf. Your Mother performs an A&t
worthy her ufual Goodnefs, in not fuffering fo
great a Slander to be fpread about her Eſtate
but let her only hinder it from being talk'd in her
own Chamber; for I know fome People, Madam,
that are bold and refolute enough to do it even
there. Poor Mademoiſelle de Chalais, whom, like
a Lamb, you expofe to my Wrath, has no Hand
in the Crime; he was faulty only thro' Simpli-
city; and if I had not refolv'd to blame none but
the Authors of this Impofture, I fhould rather
complain of her Miftrefs. Really I think it very
add, that fhe, who knows fo well the Charms of
Idlenefs, and the Pleaſure there is in doing no-
thing, fhould fay I am ungrateful, only becauſe I
let her be quiet, and don't write her Letters,
which, when the was to anfwer them, fhe'd hear
tily wiſh ſhe had never receiv'd. Tho' I don't give
myſelf the Trouble to tell her of it, fhe ftill keeps
the Place fhe fo well deferves in my Heart, with-
out taking any Pains to defend it. She is, as fhe
defires, at the Bottom of my Heart, that is, in the
moſt retir'd Part of it, and there lies at Reft, and
undisturb'd. Upon my Word, I honour and love
her as perfectly as ſhe deferves; and every Time
I read any Thing that's pretty, or eat any Thing
that's good, or have a good Digeſtion, I think of
her, and wifh her the fame. But well thought on;
you told us fometime ago, Madam, a Piece of
News, which I made no Anfwer to, becauſe I was
then in the Dumps; but now you inform me of
the Report that is fpread about me, I think that
t'other is as ftrange as ever I heard. Tho' I am as
well acquainted as any Body, with the Charms of
the
138 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
the Marchionefs of I fhall never have done
wondering, how, at a Time when ſhe had no Man
living in her Thoughts befides her Doctor and her
Cook, when he was drefs'd in the Rateen we faw
her in, with two or three Napkins about her Head;
how, I fay, fhe could then win the Heart of a Man
fo hard to pleaſe, as I take the Marquifs of
to be, and fend a Lover to figh for her in the De-
fartsofthe Thais. The Spark you mention, would
have done well to go after him; or, if he did not
care for travelling fo long a Journey, he fhould at
leaft turn Hermit upon the Valerian Mountain.
But in fober Sadness, inftead of putting the Quef-
tions you propofe to me from him, he had better
hold his Tongue, and not fpeak again theſe ſeven
Years. Neverthelefs, Madam, I'll answer them,
fince you defire it. The firft, Why being drefs'd
in blue, he always feems drefs'd in green? is one
of the most difficult Queftions I ever heard pro-
pos'd in any Science; and, for my Part, I can't
find what can be the Caufehunless the Gentleman,
inſtead of rifing at one a-Clock in the Afternoon,
and being dreſs'd by Three, as he us'd to be for-
merly, is now grown more lazy, and never appears
but by Candle-light. Be it as it will, I ſhould ad-
vife him to drefs in green, in order to fee, whe-
ther he won't then ſeem drefs'd in blue. As for
the fecond, which I would have him refolve up-
on, to take la Mote, or to deliver me out of the
Hands of the Saracens: Without a Bit of Self-In-
tereft, I think this laft Enterprize, befides its being
the jufter of the two, is alfo the moft difficult, and
confequently the most glorious. There are five
and twenty thousand Foot, and fix thoufand Horfe,
who are to take Care to guard me, with as much
Care as Geldres and Auvers; yet he has no need to
be frighten❜d at this; for Hector the Brown did a-
lone defy five and thirty thoufand Men in Nor
thumberland, and I don't think he was fo valiant as
he
+
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 139
he is. And then he has no need to apprehend that
he fhall have any want of Lawrels here; the fineſt
that grow in all Europe are in this Country. On
my Side, I promiſe him I'll take Care to fet them
in Order, and get Crowns made of them; but
befides Saracen Soldiers, he'll have Saracen Ladies
to fight with too; fome of whom wont quietly fee
me taken from them; and the Report which you
tell me is fpread all over three Provinces, is not
yet come to one of the Seventeen. I have not fo
ill a Character here, as I have in the Place where
you live, and 'tis believ'd, that even tho' I fhould
not be fo very much inclin'd to love, I fhould ne-
vertheleſs be worthy to be belov'd. But, Madam,
I own this is no Confolation to me; and I fhall
think myſelf very wretched, if among all the Per-
fons in France, whom I have fo great a Refpect
for, there is not one that has fo good an Opinion
of me, as to believe that my Heart is form'd as it
ought to be; that I can conftantly honour thofe
who deferve it, and infinitely love thofe who are
infinitely lovely. I can't tell what you,
for your
Part, think of it; but I'll affure you no Body has
lefs Caufe to doubt it; and I am as perfectly as I
ought, and you could wifh,
}
Madam,
Your, &c.
POSTSCRIPT
YOUR Mother
OUR Mother will always be the beft and
gallanteft Lady in the World; fhe could
have promis'd me nothing that would have pleas'd
me fo much as that Dance you fpeak of; but I
fancy you are miſtaken in the Name of it. This
puts me in Mind of Time paft, and makes me
confider how much Difference there is between
That and This. Thus when I lay upon Straw, I
fancy'd
140
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
fancy'd myſelf upon three Quilts; and now tho' I
had a Dozen of Quilts under me, I fhould fancy
myſelf upon Thorns. This, Madam, is a true
Reprefentation of the moft eafy and indolent Gal
lant in all Bruffels. But he who gave me this Name
in his Letter to you, did not know all my Miferies,
nor could conceive the Grief it gives me, to fee
myſelf fo far diftant from every Thing I love.
You know the Interpretation that ought to be put
upon this, and the Rank which thofe two adora-
ble Perfons hold in my Heart; a Rank which
none elſe muſt ever think to gain. All that
come hither from France, fpeak of them with
Admiration, and are contented with the Miracles
of their Vertue and Beauty. I most humbly be-
feech you, Madam, to ufe your Credit, in order to
keep for me fome Place in their Remembrance.
The Gentleman,, to whom you know I have al-
ready fome Obligations, is continually adding new
ones to the old ; and did me the Honour t'other
Day to fpeak of me in a. Letter to Count Brian.
I acknowledge this Favour as it deferves; and,
even tho' I had as little Goodnefs and Friendfhip
as they fay I have, I fhould always have a due
Senfe of the Kindneſs and Obligations he has been
pleas'd to load me with; but I am afraid he is
growing too ferious; pray don't let him.
G
1;
To the fame.
LETTER LVII.
MAD AM3
TH
HO' you affure me, that the Ifle of France
was not one of the three rebellious Provin-
ces, yet I have a fhrewd Sufpicion of fome Iflan-
deis;
't
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 141
•
ders; and I wish I had one of them in my Hands,
to do myſelf Juftice upon her. Tho' they had
committed no other Fault, than that of having too
readily affented, as you tell me, to believe ill of
I fhould think them fufficiently guilty, and
me,
fhould be very unwilling to have been fo much fo
with Regard to any of them. I had much ado to
underſtand what you fay of la Gorneille, and the Son
of the King of England; but if I have guefs'd right-
ly at the Meaning, 'tis the greateſt Piece of Malice
that ever was forg'd. You never faid any Thing
to me, that provok'd me fo much; and 'tis an
Affrom I fhall never forget, 'till I have had my
Revenge for it. But at what a Degree is Perfe-
cution arriv'd? And what may I not look for,
when even your Mother herfelf feems to have de-
clar'd against me. I was extreamly amaz'd when
I faw her Hand, and found ſhe made a Jeft of me
and my loyal She Friend: Yet I can't believe fhe
did this of her own free Will, but you certainly put
a Dagger to her Breaft, and forc'd her to write it.
All theſe Injuries, Madam, put me into a terrible
Fury; but the fweet Sauce you fent me, appeas'd
it. I found, in Monfieur de Chaudebonne's Letter,
the Sugar which you thought you had put into
mine; and I eat it with the utmoft Satisfaction.
I must needs own we have none fo good here;
and if you'd now and then fend me a Quantity of
it, I'd extract a very rare Juice from it, and, con-
trary to the Maxim of Phyfick, That all fweet Things
turn into Choler, I dare fay it would appeafe mine,
which is very much irritated. And indeed 'tis
very ill done, to muck a poor Child, who learnt
French only for my Sake ; and who, for all that,
had the Wit to chufe me from among all the Peo-
ple that are here. But I dare engage for her,
The'll ſhortly write quite another Thing, and in
two or three Months Time be in a Condition to
revenge herfelf. There was a Time when Ma-
dam
142 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
dam de
writ no better than fhe does now ;
yet at prefent every Body talks of her Wit, and
Copies of her Letters are fhewn about even here.
But to anſwer the Queſtion which you beg I
would give a Reply to with Truth and Sincerity
of Confcience, I fay, in Truth and Sincerity, Ma-
dam, I don't think there was any Body who
thought that Billet-doux a Glory to me; and I
had rather write another wretched Letter, than
make fo wretched a Judgment of any Thing. But
I fhould not give my Opinion fo boldly in any
Thing, without I knew who I fpeak of; efpecially
fince I have been once already caught trapping in
what I faid of thofe, who can remember every
Thing they have done from their very Cradle.
I own I believ'd it was meant as a Jeft; nay, 1
thought it ought to have been fo; but fince 'twas
you and the C. of V.
that faid it, I eat my
Words, and fhall take Care how I difoblige Peo-
ple who have fuch long Memories.
I am, &c.
I
To the fame.
LETTER LVIII.
MADAM,
you
F you were not the moſt amiable Perſon in the
World, you'd be the most deteftable; and
have a Pride which would be infufferable in any
but you. You fue for Peace in the fame Manner as
others grant it, and make Ufe of fuch Words to
put an End to a Quarrel, as might ſerve to begin
a War. I don't know how I come to condefcend fo low z
let's have no more of your Scolding, but write to me every
Week. This is wonderfully humble indeed, and a
mighty
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 143
1.
}
mighty fine Manner of exercifing the Chriftian
Vertues! Then you command me never to be
angry, but once every five and twenty Years, be-
caufe you won't forgive me any oftner; as if your
Favours were never beftow'd, but when thoſe of
Heaven are open, and that nothing but a Jubilee
can abfolve thofe who are in a Paffion against you.
This is the Condition I was in, Madam, when I
receiv'd your fecond Letter, which lenify'd me
mightily, by informing me, that you did not care
I fhould be hang'd, without you were here to fee
the Operation. Truly 'tis a very great Mark of
your good Will, and a Proof that you have ftill
fome Tenderness for me, not to be willing that
this Misfortune fhould befal me, unless you had
the Pleaſure to ſee it. After having fo long im-
plor'd the Affiftance of your Wit, to find out Words
that might make me lefs unhappy, it could fur-
nifh you with none but them. Indeed nothing can
make me more eafy to ftay at Bruſſels, than the
knowing that there's a Defign on foot at Paris, to
have me hang'd; and this Place, which before I
thought my Prifon, I now regard as an Aſylum
against your Perfecutions. I have much ado to
believe what you tell me of Madam de
-
!
or
to imagine that fhe fides with you against me. If
it be true, Fortune has been more just than either
you or fhe,in hindering her Letters from falling into
my Hands. 'Tis really a great Pity you fhould spoil
fo good a Lady; and I fhall be more forry at your
having corrupted her Innocence, than at your hav
ing pafs'd Sentence upon mine. Be it as 'twill, I
muft tell you, that neither of you can take any
Refolutions to my Difadvantage, but what muft
be unjuft; and if you fay any Thing against me, I
fhall live to make you eat your Words. This,
Madam, is not faid out of Pride, but out of the
Confidence Men of Vertue generally have, and
which is the natural Effects of a good Confcience.
If
1-44
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
If I had the leaft Thought that I have flipt, and
deferv'd your Menaces, I fhould not have thofe
good Intervals which you fee I fometimes enjoys
and instead of curing other People of the Spleen,
I ſhould die of it myſelf. If I have cur'd your Mo-
ther of this Biftemper, I fhall patiently fupport all
thofe I have left; and indeed the Affurance I
have receiv'd, that I have the Honour to be in her
Remembrance, and the Uneafinefs it gives me
not to fee her, make the greateft Part of my Joys
and Afflictions; and I don't wonder fhe wishes
more than any Body to fee me; for I believe no
Body will be fo pleafant as I fhall be, if ever I
have the Happinefs to be in her Prefence. The
Philofopher of our Acquaintance, whom you re-
member fo properly for drawing up his Eyes
fometimes like a Pig's, roll'd them about, when
I read to him that Paffage in your Letter; and,
in Truth, the Soul of Zeno might have been faken,
and Monf. Mignon's afflicted on fuch an Occafion.
Philofophy, which has Remedies againſt all other
Misfortunes, has none against the leaft Lofs of
Monfieur Rambouillet's Favour. Let that Science
be never ſo much an Enemy to the Paffions, it
cannot diſapprove one's having one for fo deferv-
ing a Perfon; nor wonder at one's doing for his
Sake, what it commands us to do for the Sake of
Virtue. I don't know, Madam, whether it can any
better teach us not to love you; but what Likeli-
hood is there of doing that, when 'twas Monfieur
de Chandebonne that taught it me? So that I muſt
needs own, I dare not hope it; and I am refolv'd,
let the worst come to the worst, to be always,
Bruffels, the laft of
Fune, 1634.
Madam,
Tours, &c.
T
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
145
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER LIX.
I am very forty you can
Am very forry you can give me no better
Signs of Peace than you do, and that your Wit
fhould be unfruitful in nothing but doing me Good.
I know it to be fo capable of doing every Thing,
that I must think the Fault is rather in your Will;
and fo long as it continues no more favourable to
me than it is now, I fhall have Reaſon to believe
you are not fo good-natur'd as you pretend to be.
I am afraid the Teftimony your Brother gives of
your Juftice, is rather a Proof of your Tyranny;
which being grown more exorbitant than ever,
won't now fo much as give People Leave to com-
plain of it. Perhaps, if he were as far from you
as I am, he'd talk as I do; and I fhould fpeak as
he does, if I were in his Place. Yet, Madam, whe-
ther it be a Truce or a Peace that you grant me,
I don't refuſe to enjoy the Benefit of it. I have
already executed one of the Conditions upon which
you granted it me, M. D. having offer'd me a-
nother Way to write to him, I could not help ac-
cepting it, tho' I could have wifh'd my Letter had
pafs'd thro' your Hands; for I hop'd it would have
been the better for it; and I did dengn to beg you
to correct it: It was fent away but four Days ago 3
and Monfieur Frotte, who is here, took the Charge
of it upon him, after having often defir'd it. As
for Alcidalis, Ifhan't leave him, 'till I have fet him
upon African Ground: I hope it won't be long be-
fore I do it, for we fee Land already. But, Ma-
dam, I can't make him happy, 'till I am fo my
felf:
H
146 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
felf: I can't let him fee Zelida, before I have feen
Monfieur Mandat; and to write his Joy and good
Fortune, will require quite another Man from
what I am at prefent. Really, after this Story, that
which you tell me of Martha, gave me as much
Pleaſure as any I ever heard ; but that is only the
Beginning of it; her Fortune can never stop there;
and I would not ſwear, that we fhan't in Time fee
her Queen of Mauritania, Yet, for all this, I don't
fo
defpair to fee her hang'd; but this won't b
foon. I am very glad of what he has procur'd for
you from the Dutchefs of Savoy; and am pleas'd
to fee, that Honours pour upon you from all Parts
of the World. I myself could alfo have gotten you
one of the King of Morocco's Mustachio's, and a
Handful of the Beard together with two of the
Cheek-Teeth of the King of Fex. But fince the
Death of him of Sweden, I thought you would not
care to place your Friendfhip any more upon fuch
Sort of People; and befides, I am now more re-
ferv'd than I us³d to be; for Iremember you have
often upbraided me with my engaging you always
with Lovers, when you defire none of them. If I
am prudent for you, Madam, I am no lefs fo for
what concerns myfelf: Whatever fair Opportu
nity Fortune prefents me with, I fhall take Care
not to fuffer myfelf to be caught; and I fhall live
longer than I thought I fhould, if the Prophecy of
the fage Enchantrefs be true. I most humbly be-
feech her to believe fhe cannot affume that Title
with any Body fo juftly as fhe may with me:
Really, every Thing fhe does inchants me, and I
fpent a whole Day in reading the four Lines the
wrote to me. I fhall take her Advice, and avoid
Gladafilea, as much as I would do Scylla or Charyb-
dis. Pray give me Leave to return my humble
Thanks to my Lord Cardinal de la Valette, for do-
ing me the Honour to fpeak of me in a Letter
which he wrote to Count Brian; and likewife per-
mit
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 147
mit me to tell you the Pain I am in for Mademoi-
felle Paulet's Illness. Her Fever, which you did
tot think would laft above four and twenty Hours,
will ſtick by me for feveral Days; and I fhall nës
ver be cur'd of it, 'till I hear fhe is well. M. d'A
would never forgive me the Liberty you pardon
in me, if fhe faw that I am ne'er a whit the bet-
ter for her Advice, and that I can't help talking
of others befides you in the Letters I write to you:
She'd lofe all Hopes of doing any Good upon me,
and fay, with more Reaſon than ever, that I have-
not a Bit of Gallantry in me : But tho' fhe fets
you above every Thing in the World, yet if fhe
knew my Thoughts of you, I'll affure you, Ma-
dam, fhe would think I am full enough,
The 3d of March.
Yours, &c.
To the Marquifs de SOURDIAC.
LETTER LX.
MY LORD,
TH
HO' the conftant Perfecution of my ill For
tune had render'd me infenfible to all Sorts
of Affliction, yet I could not digeft that of not
hearing fometimes from you; and methinks the
Want of your Letters is an Unhappiness able to
hake the Conftancy of the most refoly'd Philofophers!
I have, with much Impatience, long expected an
Anfwer to my laft, which I put into the Hands of
your noble Lady; but now my Stock is quite ex
haufted, and I can no longer adjourn my humble
Petition, that you would put me out of Pain, and
let me know what fatal Accident has depriv'd me
of that Happiness. You fee, my Lord, with what?
H 2
Affu-
148 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Affurance I challenge your Promife; and what an
Opinion I have of your Goodnefs, when I fo boldly
beg this Favour of you, which I importune you to
pay with as much Confidence as if it were a juſt
Debt, tho' it is only the mere Effect of your Indul-
gence and Liberality. And fince you have always
fo great an Inclination to that Vertue, I flatter my
felf, that you will not be difpleas'd with me, for
giving you an Opportunity to exercife it. All that
I can affure you, is, that it fhall be well employ'd,
and heartily acknowledg'd; and that you cannot
poffibly make a greater Demonftration of it, than
by condefcending to fhew it to,
I
My Lord,
Your very humble Servant,
To Mademoiſelle RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
LETTER LXI.
Have read at every Hour of the Day, the Let
ter which you writ at Midnight; and tho' I an't
us'd to be over much pleas'd with Favours done
me at that Hour, I receiv'd this with more Satis-
faction than I can exprefs. After having thorough-
ly examin'd it, I can find nothing in it that might
difcover it to be written by one who was half a-
ſleep; and I was thereby confirm'd in the Judg-
ment I formerly made of you, that at this Time
your Wit is generally moft lively, moſt bright, and
affumes new Additions of Strength. In itudying
for the Cauſe of this, I will by no Means fufpect
you for any Harm, nor obferve, that 'tis a Won-
der
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
149
der the Hour of Ghofts and Devils fhould be yours
too. I chufe rather to believe, 'tis becauſe there
can be no Night in your Soul; and that being a
Fountain of Light, the Darknefs of the Night,
which makes others heavy, cannot at all affect
that: When Shades cover every Thing elfe, that
fhines forth with greatest Splendor; and the Sha-
dow of the Earth can neither reach that, nor thie
Stars. Tho' I fpeak of it in Terms much more
magnificent, I humbly beg you to believe, I fhould
not fay fo much Good of it, as I have receiv'd from
it. The Choice it made for you of three or four
Words, which gave your laſt Letter a more oblig-
ing Air than any of your others, gave me an un-
hop'd for Satisfaction, and infpir'd me with a Joy
which I am fcrupulous of giving Way to, for fear I
ought not to be contented out of your Prefence.
But pray, Madam, do but obferve how far your
Power extends: The very Moment you had writ-
ten Word that you ſhould be glad to ſee an End to
our Misfortunes, the Heavens began to clear up,
and gave us a better Profpect than ever. Since
this is fo, and 'tis the fame Thing in you to defire
and to do Good, Fhumbly befeech you to continue
to have good Defires for us. I have a Notion, that
even this will produce fome happy Effect: Your
good Fortune will overcome the Malignity of ours,
and you may contribute more than any Body to
the Accommodation which fo many People labour
to bring about. But pray, Madam, let it be quick-
ly; for really I am impatient to fee the Wonders
which are at Paris. I don't think the Gentlewo-
man you mention to Monfieur de Chaudebonne, can
fhew the most extraordinary, even tho' the Mon-
key, which has learn'd to play on the Guitar, could
fing to it. I know where there are greater Miracles
to be feen than that; I myſelf am in Hopes too,
I fhall fhew you one in the Alteration of my Hu-
mour, which I can promiſe you is at least equal
*
H 3
to
150 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
to yours, tho' not fo enchanting. You have there
fore no Need, Madam, to fear that a Melancholy,
which you diffipate at fo great a Diftance, fhould
come quite to you; nor to be forry for your hav-
ing loft my Letters, when you fhall find me my
felf; I'll make you own, that I am better than
them; and you ſhall fee I have never written the
beft of my Thoughts. In fhort, you may take my
Word for it, that except a pretty many Hairs,
which are turn'd grey, there has happen'd no Al-
teration to me, but what is for the better; nay, I
hope, that even they will fall off with the Cares
which produc'd them; and I fhall certainly be
quite another Man, when I can tell you with my
own Mouth, how much I honour you, and with
what Reality I am,
Bruffels, Ottot er
15, 1634.
Madam,
Your, &c.
I
MADAM,
To the fame.
LETTER LXII.
Don't know who the Abencerrages are, whom
you prefer to me; but I fancy they were no
more born at Granada than I was. Perhaps, the on-
ly Advantage they have over me, is the being near
you, and all my Crime is my Abfence. You may
with Reafon believe I am guilty of fome mighty
Crime, fince Heaven inflicts fo great a Punifh-
ment on me; and I don't wonder you condemn
me, and refuſe to hear the Defence of a Man who
is fo far from you: All the Ladies in the World, as
well
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. :151
$
well Moors as Chriftians, do generally act thus.
only could wifh, that in depriving me of your
Friendfhip, you have not try'd to diſhonour me
too, nor taken the Pains to accufe me, in order to
defend yourſelf. You had much better have fol-
low'd the Example of Madam, and Made-
moifelle; the firft of whom, without alledg
ing any Caufe, breaks off all Correfpondence with
me abruptly, thinking that it must come to that
one Time or other; and the other deſerted me
without any Noife, and holding her Tongue, out
of meer Lazinefs, fays nothing at all of me, nei-
ther good nor bad. Yet, Madam, if you ftill have
fo much Remains of Juftice in you, as to believe
one fhould not leave his Friends, without ſome
Pretence, I wonder you fhould think of no better
than that you alledge, You, who have fo happy
an Invention, and always gave fo much Probability
to your Fables. Moreover, Madam, I think you
don't judge favourably enough of the Letters I
have written you, if you think thoſe I wrote to
Monfieur Mandat are better; I make a quite dif-
ferent Judgment of yours; and tho' I know no-
thing of the other Letters you have written,, I
would fwear you never writ better. None but one
who had fo much Goodneſs as me, could fpeak
thus of them and none elfe could prevail upon
himſelf, to praife the Satyrs which are made a-
gainst him. And, in Confcience, a Man, who en-
dures Injuries fo patiently, very well deferves Fa-
vour and you ought to be afham'd to be fo ri-
gorous with one who bears it with ſo much Calm-
nefs, and is fo conftantly,
Madam,
H
4
Your, &c.
To
152 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
I
*
To the fame.
LETTER LXIII.
MADAM,
Should have burnt this Letter after I had re-
ceiv'd yours, if I gave much Credit to what you
fay to me; but I am fo us'd to get nothing but
Hurt from you, that I don't know how to look for
any Thing elſe; and I fufpe&t Danger even from
Peace itself, when you offer it me. I could wifh
that there were fome Sign of Reconciliation be-
tween you and me, as there is between Heaven
and Mankind; and that you had a Way to make
ane as certain of your Promifes, as I am fearful of
your Threats. Yet I look upon it as a good Omen,
that Mademoifelle, who had for fome Days paſt
deferted me, has begun again to write to me;
fhe feems to me to be your Iris, and is the Rain-
bow which appears after a Storm. She did not
fhew herſelf, whilft. the Heavens were enrag'd a-
gainst me, and it thunder'd and lighten'd; and in-
deed, at fo tempeftuous a Time, nothing could
have done me any Good, and I gave myſelf for
gone. After this, Madam, I leave you to imagine,
how glad I was to open my Eyes at the Rays you
were pleas'd to fhoot upon me amidst fo much
Darkness; but I own I am not yet come thorough-
ly to myſelf. I know you often reconcile yourfelf
to People, that you may have the Pleafure of
breaking with them again. I am afraid the Light
you fhew me, is a falfe Light, and is only the
Glance of a Flafh of Lightning, which, may be,
will ſhortly strike me dead. If it be otherwife, and
the Peace you are willing to grant me be real, I
receive
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 153
receive it as you could wifh, and with any Condi-
tions you fhall pleaſe to annex to it. But, Madam,
when I have done this, I would fain have con-
you
fefs my Innocence, and own you never fufpected
me of the Crimes whereof you pretended to ac-
cufe me. 'Till this is done, and you have quite
recover'd me from my Fright, I can't make any
Anſwer to what you afk me about Chocolate, nor
talk of Comedies, when my Head is full of no-
thing but Tragedies. Yet I could not help laugh-
ing, when I read what you fay of Monfieur de R
namely, that he ſtrikes like Monfieur Amadis himſelf.
Let your Eloquence be arriv'd at never fo high a
Pitch, I don't at all wonder at it, for I forefaw it
long ago I am much more amaz'd at your being
grown pleafant. Whatever you tell me of Madam
de S, I don't know how to doubt her. Fide
lity. I own 'tis a great Recommendation to her
Lover, to be handfome, young, and a Gafcon; but,
for all this, you'll find fhe'll be Fool enough not
to leave me for him. I myſelf have known theſe
ten Years, how fhe ufes Men who are young and
handfome; and as for his being a Gascon, that's a
Qualification you would not reckon among thofe
which may gain her Efteem, if you remember'd
that I told you formerly, fhe faid, by way of Ridi
cule, that Fellow's either a Gafcon or a Picard, I dare
fay. I don't wonder you ſhould find admire in his s
Anagram; but I find admir'd in it too, and that's
worfe yet. But come what will, Madam, I may
have here, whenever I pleaſe, a Miftrefs as hand-
fome as the Infanta Briana, as amorous as Made-
moiſelle Arlanda, and as ftrong and large limb'd
as Madam Gradafilaa. To be ferious, one of the
moft powerful Laffes in all the feventeen Provin-
ces, has a Mind to ftrike up a Friendfhip with
me: But Monfieur de Chaudebonne adviſes me not
to venture. In the mean Time I run this Letter r
out into too great a Length, when I meant but to
*
H. 5
Lay
*
*54
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
fay one Word; and Mademoifelle d' A won't
think it at all gallant, fince I talk of fo many o-
ther Perfons befides you. But, Madam, how kind
will you be, if for this you write me a pretty Let-
ter? If you refufe me this Favour, at leaft grant
me the other which I beg of you, namely, to let
me know your Thoughts of me, and to inform me,
whether you have prolong'd the four Years which
you allow'd me to live. You may do as you pleaſe,
but really you ought to be more merciful to me,
for I am infinitely
Your, &c.
The poor Devil will foon be well, and is almoſt
cur'd already. I humbly thank the fage Enchan-
trefs for explaining the Adventure of Anaftarax to
me; I don't think any Thing was ever fo horrible
as his Hell muft be; and I fancy I fee Cerberus,
and the three Furies, with all their Adders about
them, in one fingle Perfon: But what a Character
does poor
Creatures!
act amongst all thofe wretched
榮
​To the fame.
LETTER LXIV.
MADAM,
3
Ying under fuch great Obligations to Madam
de C, fhould be very much to blame,
did I not fpeak of her, but in a Letter where-
in I never mention'd your Mother, I think I might
forget all the World befides. I believe 'twas he
Writ the four Spanif Lines about King Chiquito.
Jam not perfectly well acquainted with her Hand;
But I know the Air ſhe is us'd to write with, which
Yok
is
Monfieur VOITURE's Zeigeks. a195
is fo gallant, and fo particular to her, that 'tis im-
poffible to be deceiv'd in it, and no Body can imi-
fate it. As for your Letters, Madam, let me tell
you in private, and in a Style lefs lofty than the
Beginning of this Letter, and confequently more
credible, that all you fend me now, furprize me.
They are much better than thoſe for which I us'd
to admire you fo much formerly, and which F
thought the moſt beautiful in the World; and tho❜
I am not much addicted to Envy, I ſhould be very
uneafy, if 'twere a Man that writ fo well. Made-
moifelle Paulet has been pleas'd to do me the Ho-
nour to write to me. I find the long Letters I
wrote to her out of Spain, have tir'd her. I can foon
amend in this Point, and I can much more eafily:
forbear writing too much to her, than I can loving
her too much. I think the only Man I have never
fpoken of, is the only Man I never ought to ſpeak
of; and it was better to give him Proofs of my
Difcretion, than of my Friendſhip. As I ſo often
fpoke of thoſe about him, I thought he could never
imagine my leaving him out to be Forgetfulness,
nor believe that I could forget a Man, whom I am
for fo many Reaſons oblig'd to refpect and ſerve
more than any other in the World. But I don't
know why he fhould fay, we fhall have a great
many Difputes about the Spanish Tongue, unlefs
remembering he has always had the better of me
in every Argument we ever had with one another,
and knowing the Pleafure there is in difputing and
conquering, he is willing to prepare that Satisfac-
tion for me against my Return, by attacking me
upon a Subject in which I must needs have the
Advantage. believe, Madam, you will forgive
me all I have added in this Eetter, fince 'twas for
the Sake of Perfons whom you love no leſs thanma
you do yourſelf. Pray give me leave once more
to tell your Brother, that I love him as much as
when I bid him adicu, and that I am his mot
*
humble
*156 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
2
humble and moft obedient Servant. I again kife
your Hands, Madam, for the Honour you have
done me in writing to me. I was not fo glad at
feeing myſelf here, as I was at finding your Letter
here ; but if you are once more fo kind to me, I
had rather you would write lefs eloquently, and
more amicably; for really you frighten me; and
when I fee your Wit is fo great, I fancy I can ne-
ver come up to it, nor obtain any Place in a Heart
fo noble. Among fo many choice Expreffions, let
there be fome gracious ones. Difpel my Appre-
henfions, for really I, in fome Meaſure, deferve
your Care, being fo much,
Madam,
Your, &c..
To the Lord Cardinal de la VALETTE.
LETTER LXV.
MY LORD,
Ell Truth, how long is it fince you have had
a Thought whether the four laft Books of
the Aneid were Virgil's, or no, or whether Terence
writ Phormio? I fhould not catechife you thus free-
ly; but you know upon Triumphs, the Soldiers
were us'd to jeft with their Emperors; and the
Joy of Victory gives Liberties, which otherwife
would never be taken. Be frank therefore, and
confefs, how long 'tis fince you have thought of the
little Erminia, the Verfes of Catullus, or thofe of
Monfieur Godeau. Yet, my Lord, if you have for-
got every Thing elfe, you ought, at leaft, to re-
member your Benedicite ; for no Body had ever
more Cauſe to ſay it, than you, or was more o-
blig'd to return Thanks to the Lord of Hofts. And
indeed,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 157
indeed, the Conduct and good Fortune with which
you have fav'd our Army, is one of the greateſt
Miracles that was ever feen in War; and all the
Circumſtances of it are fo ftrange, that I fhould
put them into the Chapter of downright Falfities, if
we had not fuch good Witneffes of it, and if I did
not know that there are no Wonders, but what one
may believe of you. The Joy this has given to all
here whom you love, is a Thing that can never be
exprefs'd. But you may eafily imagine, my Lord,
that thoſe who were formerly ravish'd with hear-
ing you fing, or make Verfes, muft be infinitely
pleas'd now they hear that you raife Sieges, take
Towns, and beat Armies, and that our chief Hopes
in our Affairs, are fix'd upon your Perfon. I'll af-
fure you this is heard in this Place with all the
Satisfaction you could wifh for; and tho you know
nothing of it, your Arms make Conquefts here,
which are more defirable than any you can make
on t'other Side the Rhine. This ought to haften
your Return, be you never fo ambitious; for in-
deed, my Lord, a Battle is not now the most glo-
rious Thing that can be gain'd; and you yourſelf
fhall own, that there are fome Rofes of a ‡ Shoe
more worth than nine Imperial Standards. I am,
Paris, Octob. 12,
16:35.
My Lord,
Your, &c.
To
+ Some Rofes of a Shoe; that is to fay, fome Ladies;
for in Voiture's Time, the Ladies wore Rofes upon their
Shoes; fo that this is only a. gallant Way of expreffing
himſelf.
HOF
158 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
***
I
To the fame.
LETTER LXVI.
MY LORD,
St.
>
Shew'd to Monfieur de Si, H., to Monfieur
de S. R―, and to Monfieur S. Q- that
Part of your Letter where you fpeak of the Prince's
Servants: I can promife you they were not at all
pleas'd with it; and I know that Monfieur des
Ouches, to whom I have not yet mention'd it, won't
like it a bit better: So that if I had a Mind to
prepare myſelf againſt the Menaces you give më,
you may imagine I fhould not want Friends; and
if I write to you now, 'tis not fo much out of Fear,
as out of a fincere Affection, and the natural In-
elination I have to obey you. Besides thofe I have
nam'd, there are other braver Perfons here, with
whom it would be more dangerous to quarrel,
who don't at all approve of my taking Pains to
give you Pleaſure, and who don't think it juſt you
Thould receive any when they are not with you.
And really, my Lord, fince your Abfence croffes
all our Joys, it would be but equal if you defir'd
.no other than that of feeking them again, and
were capable of no Diverfion 'till that Time came.
This I can fay, all thoſe which we have here this
Seafon, do not hinder us from thinking of you, and
wifhing continually for your Return. The Cold
and Snows of the Alfatian Mountains, make us fhi-
ver every Day in the moft crowded Affemblies
and the Terror of the Ambuſcades of the .Croati
ans, gives us hourly Alarms in the Midft of Paris.
But, which is moft ftrange of all, and will, per-
haps, to you feem incredible, Monfieur de B-
and
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 159
and Monfieur de R, have, for your Sake, been
melancholy at a Ball, and figh'd when the Violins
have play'd. I don't know, my Lord, what you
may think of this, nor what Advantage you can
draw from it: But, for my Part, I am fure, that
let them do what they will for you after this, they
can never give you a greater Proof of their Affec-
tion. T'other Day, as I was fhewing the laft Let-
ter you did me the Honour to write to me, when
I came to that Part of it, where you inform us of
your being just going, inftead of into Alfatia, I read
into Thracia. Ironazin, who you know is not much
addicted to be mov'd at any Thing, turn'd as pale
as my Neckcloth, and cry'd in an Amaze, into
Thrace, Sir! and another who flood by, though
fomething better acquainted with the Map, was
nevertheleſs diſturb'd. I would willingly, my Lord,
tell you fomething of your Spouse; but I can't talk
of her, becauſe nothing can be faid of her but
Things incredible, and there's nothing in her now
that can poffibly be defcrib'd. Every Thing you
knew in her that was lovely, admirable, and charm-
ing, has increas'd hourly, and new Treafures of
Beauty, Generofity, and Wit, are cifcover'd in
her every Day. Befides, I can affure you, the has
had in your Abfence all the good Conduct you
could defire. There has indeed been ſpread a-
broad a certain Report, which has, without doubt,
given you fome Sufpicion of her, (for I know you
Africans) and there is, I must own, a Spark of a
good Family, and who, in Time, may poffefs a
hancfome Eftate, who takes fome little Pleaſure
in feeing her: But for all that, fhe has all the
Sentiments of a wife, prudent Woman, and is juft
as I could have wifh'd her. Really, my Lord, if
your Heart is not grown very hard among the
Swedes, the Remembrance of all thefe Perfons,
ought to make you impatient to return; and what-
ever Charms there may be in Glory, you must not
think
160
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
think it has as many as them. Haften your Jour-
ney hither therefore as much as poffible, and let
your Ambition, at leaft for fome Time, be turn'd
towards them; for if Victory fhould carry you to
the very Gates of Prague, I'don't think it would
be at all for your Advantage, fince it would re-
move you farther off. No Conquefts on t'other
Side the Rhine or Danube ought fully to fatisfy you,
and all Germany is not worth one Suburb that lies
more this Way. I am,
My Lord,
Your, &c.
1
To the fame.
LETTER LXVII.
MY LORD,
YOU
YOU fancy one has nothing else to do, but to
write, and you talk of it very much at your
Eafe: You have only twelve thouſand Men to
command, and thirty thoufand to refift: But if
you had two or three Perfons that are here, to
fee and admire, you would not think one had fo
much Time to fpare. If you were in my Place, I
dare fwear you would not be a Bit more at Lei-
fure than I'am: I fhould be heartily glad you
were in it, that we might fee how you would be-
have yourſelf, with that Conduct for which you
are fo much extoll'd, and that miraculous Pru-
dence which has already extricated you from fo
many Dangers. For I give you Notice, Sir, that
when you return from the War, which now takes
up all your Thoughts, you will have a more dan-
gerous one to carry on, in which you will meet
with Enemies much more brave and fierce than.
the
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
ror
the Germans; and you, who by your Wifdom, have
lately fav'd fo many Millions of Lives, will then
have much ado to efcape yourfelf. There's no re-
treating from them; and the very Sight is enough
to defeat you. There is, among the reft, one Iron-
Arm, who is the moſt terrible Creature now under
the Sun. No Armour can refift his Blows; he
breaks all he touches; and the greatest Barbarities
of the Croatians, are not to be compar'd to his.
Tis true, my Lord, you know thofe I talk of, and
have already met them upon fome Occafions;
but don't think to find them as you left them
Their Strength is lately increas'd, and their Power
arriv'd at fuch a Degree, that there is nothing now
able to refift them. There does not pafs a Day,
wherein they do not make Conquefts at the very
Gates of Paris: They take, they kill, they deſtroy
every Thing that comes in their Way; and whilft
you are taken up with defending the Frontiers,
they fet Fire to the Heart of the Kingdom. Yet
don't let this make you afraid of returning and
fince you have never had the leaft Apprehenfion
in fo many Dangers, wherein any but you would
have very much, don't begin to fear now; for
tho they fhew Mercy to no Body, yet I believe
they will grant Quarter to you; and if you fall
into their Hands, will treat you with all the Fa-
vour that ought to be fhew'd to a Priſoner of your
Merit. As far as I can find out, they hope to make
a Sight of you in that Condition; for I can't ima--
gine why they should rejoyce fo much as they do
at your Victories, unless they thought you would
one Day honour theirs ; and they will be extream-
ly proud to fee at their Feet the Conqueror of
Galas, and to let the World know, that he who
had been the Buckler of all France, could not fhield
himfelf
;
+ Galas was one of the Generals of Ferdinand the
Third's Army.
162 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
#
bimſelf from their Blows, This makes them
wifh for your Return with incredible Impatience;
and I dare confidently, affirm, there is no Man in
France whom they fo earneſtly defire to have, as
you. I tell you this, my Lord, that you may pre-
pare for your Defence, or at leaft that you may
not contract fuch a Fondnefs for the Title of Vie-
tor, as not to be able to bear the Lofs of it here.
For my Part, let what, will befal you at your Ar-
rival, Iown Hong till it comes, for I ſhall have
no Pleafure, 'till have the Happiness to fee you,
and to tell you in your Fire Corner, the Cares,
Uneafineffes, and Fears, into which you have pur
all your Friends. I am,
*
My Lord,
Your, &c.
To the fame.
LETTER LXVIII.
MY LORD,
Y
ZOU must have fome Mortification in your
Triumphs, and fince you may have the
Converfation of Men of the Sword, whenever you
pleafe, you must, with Patience, endure, for a
Moment, the Diſcourſe of a Man of the Pen. We
at Paris can't endure you ſhould be in fo much Joy
fat Metz and fince we can't hinder it, we are at
least refolv'd to interrupt it. Yet I ſhould not have
been fo bold as to undertake this Taſk, had I not
been commanded by a Lady who can be deny'd
nothing, and whom even those who are fubmitted
to by whole Armies with their Generals, would
not be at all afham'd to obey. I own, Sir, every
Time that I fancy I ſee you with nine or ten Mai-
MA d'altres
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 163
¦
tres de Camp about you, I pity Terence, Virgil, and
myſelf, and all thofe Perfons here who wish to be
in your Remembrance; for I dare fay there is not
a Baſtion in your Town, tho' never fo little, but
what you love a great
deal more than you do me.
Yet I was afraid to murmur at this; I confider'd
there were fome who had a better Right to com-
plain of it, and I was unwilling to be at Variance
with a Man who, they fay, has all the Troops of
Marefchal de la Force in his Power. But fince I am
fpirited up to ſpeak, and there are People here
who will ftand to all I write, I fhan't be afraid to
tell you, 'tis a miferable Thing to think of, that
your Affection, which was fo lately fhar'd among
the most amiable Perfons in the World, fhould
now be, as it were, given for Plunder to Soldiers.
I am no longer myfelf, when I confider that the
Place which the most adorable Creature upon
Earth had in your Heart, is perhaps now given to.
Colonel Ehren; that Madam de C, and Made-
moifelle de Rambouillet, have loft theirs to fome
Aid de Camp, or Serjeant Major, and that mine may
be beſtow'd upon a beggarly Corporal. This
Thought, my Lord, has thrown us all here into
an Affliction which 'tis impoffible to exprefs:There
is but one that remains conftant, and fhe main-
tains we wrong you in entertaining any fuch Suf-
picions of you The Lady I fpeak of, is fair and
fat, gayer and handſomer than the fineſt Days in
this Seafon, and fuch as you could hardly equal in
the whole Country of Melfina. She has Eyes, in
which one would think there were the light of
the whole World, a Complexion which makes d-
very Thing elſe look black, and a Mouth which
all the Mouths in the World can never ſufficiently
praife, full of Charms, and which never opens but
with Wit and Judgment. You may eafily judge,
by my Defcription of her, that she's a Beauty very
different from Queca Epirbaris; but tho' fhe is
not
164 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
not a Gypsy, as that Queen is, fhe is nevertheleſs
as great a Thief as if the were. In her very Infan-
cy, the robb'd the Snow and Ivory of their White-
nefs, and the Pearls of their Clearnefs and Luftre;
fhe robb'd the Stars of their Beauty and Fight;
and there does not pafs a Day, but fhe fteals fome
Ray from the Sun, and adorns herfelf with it in
the Face of the whole World. Laftly, in an Affem-
bly which was met at the Louvre, the robb'd all
the Ladies of their Gracefulneſs and Splendor,
and the Diamonds which they wore, of their
Brightness; nay, fhe did not fpare the very Jewels
of the Queen's Crown, but took away the choiceft
and moft brilliant of them. Yet tho' every Body
knows of her Violence, no Body oppofes it, fle
with Impunity does whatever the pleafes; and
tho' there are Fellows at Paris, who would not
fcruple to feize even a Duke the very next Day
after he was marry'd, yet there are none fo bold
as to undertake to interrupt her Courfe. She
commanded me to tell you, that fhe has not the
Sufpicions of you which others have ; and that, in
Return for this Favour, fhe expects you would
fend her fix of the triumphal Arches that were
left after your Entry, four Dozen of publick Ac-
clamations, and the poetical Works of the Landgrave
of Heffe. I would adviſe you to perform, to a Tit-
tle, whatever fhe defires of you; and, above all
Things, to avoid being at Variance with her; for
if fhe refolves to do you a Mifchief, all your
Guards can never keep you fafe from her. Metz
is not a Place ftrong enough to defend you againſt
her Power. But, my Lord, I forget that I detain
you too long from your numerous Affairs; and, if
Iftretch out my Letter any farther, I am afraid
you'll be forc'd to defer reading it 'till a Peace is
Goncluded. Yet I fhould be very forry, if you
did
not read the End of it, fince what moft nearly
concerns me, is, for you to read the ferious Pro-
teſtations
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 165.
teftations I make, that of all thofe who have re-
ceiv'd Favours of you, none is with more Zeal and
Reſpect,
My Lord,
Your, &c.
To Madam
****
LETTER LXIX.
MADAM,
o
Have forgot all that I fhould fay to, to
whom you would reconcile me, and I affure
you 'tis not becauſe I have flopt fince; I am forry
to have fo little Concern for a Perfon fo well re-
commended to me; and that not being able to
afford her any Room in my Affection, he had
no more in my Memory. It's that Part of my
Soul in which I may with moft Juftice allow her
a Place, being that which is moft oppofite to the
Judgment, and wherein Things paft are laid up.
But if I fay any Thing obliging to her after Din-
ner, fhe fhall not be able to complain that I talk
to her by Heart; for I find that I'm fo much a
Stranger to all that I have to fay to her, that if
you do not quickly relieve me, you fhall fee that
I know no more than you, either the Words or
Time. I wish you knew no better that of your
Departure: For without lying, I have not Cou-
rage to endure the bare Thought of it, which
ftifles in me all others. When I think that to Mor
row you will be no longer here, I am furpriz'd
that I am to Day in the World; and I am ready
to confefs to you, that there, is fome Fiction in
this Love which I teftify, when I confider that I
yet breathe, and that my Grief has not yet finish'd
my
166 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
my Days. Others have loft their Speech, and con-
fin'd themſelves to the Solitudes of Ægypt, for lefs
Misfortunes than mine. I own that I could not go
fo far from you, to vent my Grief; but I am, me-
thinks, to be excus'd for not feeking a Cell in the
Defarts of Ægypt, fince I hope for a Place in that
which you are making. It is this Hope only which
keeps me in the World, and my Life hangs only
on this Expectation. I know not whether all that
I here fay, be within the Bounds of a paffionate
Friendship; but you cannot accufe me of fpeak-
ing too intelligibly, fince all my Words will bear
a double Conſtruction; nor complain that I do not
write to you in fuch Terms as you defire, fince I
never met with the Perfon that ſhould inform me
what thofe are. So long as fome Allowance is
made for my Failings, and that I may tell you
fome Part of my Thoughts, I fwear to you, by the
fame Affection that I did Yeſterday, that the on-
ly Folly I fhall ever be guilty of, fhall be always
to love the most amiable Perfon that ever was,
and that I will be content to be hated by you,
whenever I offer you my Friendſhip.
My Lord,
Your, &c.
To. Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER LXX.
MADAM,!
Never thought I could poffibly have been af
ficted at receiving a Letter from you, or that
you could tell me any News fo bad, as not to be
able to comfort me for them at the fame Time.
I fan-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 167
1
1 fancy'd my Misfortunes were arriv'd at too high
a Pitch, ever to increafe and after you had fhewn
yourſelf able to make me fometimes endure with
Patience the Abfence of your Mother and your
felf, I believ'd there was nothing but what you
could teach me to endure. But forgive me, if I
tell you, that I found the contrary in the Affliction.
I was ftruck with for the Death of Madam Aubry,
which was really heavy enough to fink me with
its Weight, and had lik'd to deftroy the little Pa-
tience had left. You may very well judge, Ma-
dam, how exceffively it muft grieve me to lofe a
Friend fo good, fo eftimable, and perfect as fhe
was, and one who, after having given me fo many
Tokens of good Will, was pleas'd to give me more
in the very laft Hours of her Life. But even tho
I did not confider my own Interefts, I could not
help infinitely regretting a Perfon by whom you
were infinitely belov'd, and who, among a great
many other extraordinary Gifts, had that of know..
ing your Worth as much as it is poffible to do it,
and efteeming you above all Things in the World
befides. Yet I must confefs, if I can receive any
Comfort in this Misfortune, 'tis in confidering the
Fortitude fhe fhew'd, and the Firmnefs with which
The went thro' a Thing whofe very Name us d
always to make her tremble. It gives me very
great Confolation, to hear that he had at her
Death the only good Qualities that fhe wanted in
her Life-time, and could call up her Refolution
and Courage upon fo proper an Occafion. And
indeed, when I fedately reflect upon this, I make
it a Point of Conference to forbear bemoaning her.
and think 'tis loving her with too much Self-inte-
reftednefs, to be forry for
for her having left us in
order to be more happy, and for her being gone
into the other World to find that Repofe, which
here he could never obtain. I receive with all
Gratitude the Advice you give me to study fo
*
ufeful
168 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
uſeful and neceffary a Leffon as often as I am able,
and to prepare myfelf to do what he has done
already. The ill Fortune which has hitherto pur-
fu'd us, is no fmall Perfwafive to us to follow your
Counfel. Nothing fo much encourages one to die,
as the having no Pleaſure in this Life. But if the
Hopes which Fortune now gives us a View of
fhould happen to fucceed; if, after fo many Years
of Mifery, we are yet to have fome Days of Happi-
nefs; I muft befeech you, Madam, to let me have
fome Thoughts more gay than thofe of Death;
and if I fhall fhortly fee you again, as it is now
probable I may, you muſt pardon me if I have not
yer-a-while an Averfion for the World. When you
tell me, you believe I am deftin'd to fomething
great, you make me expect fomething better in
the future Part of my Life, than to defire to have
it end fo foon. For my part, I can affure you, that
if Destiny does promife me any thing good, I
Than't be wanting on my fide to promote it, but
fhall do all I can to co-operate with it, and to ren
der myſelf deferving of your Prophefies. In the
mean Time, I moft humbly beg you to believe,
that of all the Favours I can defire of Fortune, Í
with for nothing more earnestly, than that fhe
would do for you as fhe ought, and put it in my
Power to let you fee with how much Sincerty I
am.
Madam,
Yours, &c.
Pray, Madam, give me leave to thank my La-
dy, your Mother, for the Honour the does me in
remembering me; when The informs me by your
Hand, that he always admires in Silence, the in-
fructs me how I ought to refpect Her.
等
​To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 169
To the fame. To thank her for having
gotten him a Place.
LETTER
LXXI.
I
MADAM,
Think I ought at leaſt to give you a Letter
for the Patent you have fent me, and let the
Words I write be never fo proper, or well chofen,
they will not be fo rich as thofe you have obtain'd
for me, fince thefe latter are worth ten Thouſand
Crowns. Monfieur de Puy-Laurens difpatch'd this
Bufinefs for me with all the Gare and Expedition.
that could be defir'd. I thought, indeed, that hè,
who had done fo many Things for the Ladies,
would not fail to ferve the perfecteft of the whole
Sex, upon fuch an Occafion, and that the most
charming Mouth in the World, would not be o
pen'd in my Favour, in vain. Since this good For-
tune has happen'd to me, I fancy there is none I
can mifs of, and that of being wealthy is the leaſt
that can fall to me, fince you wiſh I may be happy.
Yet, tho' I am not much us'd to be concern'd a-
bout any-thing that regards my Etabliſhment, I
own I receiv'd this piece of good Fortune with
very great Joy, and fhould have thought myfelf
too much felf-interested upon this Occafion, did I
not know that your having procur'd me this Bene-
fit, was what made it moft dear to me. And in-
deed, thofe who count Wealth among the Things
that are indifferent, do not put your Favour upon
the fame Foot; and for my Part, I think I ought
not to reckon that among the Goods of Fortune,
which I became poffefs'd of thro' the Interceffion
of Virtue. I believe, Madam, I may call you by
I
that
170
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
that Name, without fpeaking improperly, and if
what I hear of you, be true, that Appellation
would fit you much more aptly, than the Name
you are call'd by at prefent. At leaſt, ſhe never
fhew'd herſelf to the World fo lovely as fhe ap-
pears in you; and thofe who were formerly ac-
quainted with her, and faid, that all Mankind
would be in Love with her, if the fuffer'd herſelf
to be ſeen naked, would have thought her much
more Charming, had she been cloath'd with your
Perfon. And really, when I reflect upon the Mi-
racles it is full of, and the many Graces Heaven
has adorn'd you with, I think that the Favour I
now thark you for, is the very leaft you ever did
me: I look upon the Place you fometimes give
me in your Clofet, to be more valuable than that
you have got for me; and you can never do me any
Kindness greater, than permitting me to fee and
talk with you. Yet, Madam, I don't know but
this laſt may be more eftimable than it ſeems to
be; and fince I am at prefent ignorant who you
have given me to, 'tis poffible the Service you
have done me, may be greater even than you ima⋅
gin'd; for perhaps you have given me to a Miſtreſs
who deferves to be Miſtreſs of the whole World,
whofe Soul may be noble, amiable, and liberal,
whofe Heart may be great and generous, whofe
Perfon may be accomplish'd and charming, and
who may have thofe fecret Charms for all Man-
kind in general, which every one of them in par-
ticular admires in the Perfon he loves. Perhaps
her Wit may be above every Thing that can be
imagin'd, full of Fire and Judgment, pleafing and
innocent as that of Angels, fhe may be learn'd in
feveral Sciences, underftand three or four Lan-
guages, know the Situation of the whole Earth,
as well as that of the petit Luxembourg, be acquaint-
ed with the Motions of the Heavens, and with the
Name and Place of all the Stars, and yet not know
one
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
11
one among them fo beautiful or fo bright as her
felf. Pray, Madam, give me Leave to wifh it may
happen thus; for I am,
Blois, the 5th
of January.
Madam,
Your, &c.
* [+€ 3
To Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER LXXII.
MADAM,
SI
Ince my Addreffes to you are all honourably
meant, I think there is no fort of Gallantry
which I may not fafely practife; and having trou
bled you formerly with my Verfes, I conclude
there can be no great Harm in fending you a Nofe-
gay. "Tis a Prefent which the Gods have fome-
times vouchfafed to receive from Men: And fince
Flowers are the pureft and nobleft_Productions of
the Earth, to whom can they be offer'd with more
Juftice, than to your felf? At leaft, you ought to
love 'em for this Confideration, that there is not
one Flower amongſt 'em all, whofe Beauty is not
accompany'd by fome efficacious Virtue; but tho'
they are the Daughters of Sol and Aurora, and out-
rival Pearls and Diamonds in their Luftre, I am
confident they will lofe all their Brightneſs as foon
as they come near you; you'll foon make it ap-
pear that the Beauties of the Earth are not to be
compar'd with thofe of Heaven. I prefume, Ma-
dam, that you'll give me leave to call yours fo;
and, fince you reprefent Heaven in every refpect,
that you'll not deny it the Honour of having pro-
duc'd fo excellent a Perfon. It were too great an
Advantage to the Things below to lift you in the
1.2
Number
172 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
Number: And fince we are commanded to de-
fpife "em, is it not reaſonable to believe you are
not to be reckon'd among them, fince you com-
mand the Efteem and Affection of all that fee
you, and make all fubmit to your Yoak, that pre-
tend to be rational? I fee what Confequence you
may draw from this, if you think me one of that
Clafs but, Madam, I conjure you to believe that
the higheſt Effect your Charms have produc'd in
me, is that of Admiration; and that I am with the
profoundeſt Reſpect,
Madam,
"Your, &c.
+
To Monfieur...... After Corbie was
retaken from the Spaniards, by the
King's Army; being a Character of
the Lord Cardinal Richelieu, and a
juſtification of his Conduct.
I
SIR,
LETTER LXXIII.
Own I love to be reveng'd; and after I had
endur'd, for two Months together, your laugh-
ing at me, upon account of the good Hopes I had
of our Affairs, had heard you condemn the Con-
duct of them, becauſe the Event happen'd to be
crofs, and feen you Triumph for the Victories of
our Enemies; it gives me very great Pleaſure
that I am now able to tell you we have retaken
Corbie. This News will certainly amaze you, as
well as all Europe; and you will wonder how it
happens that a People, whom you think fo wife,
and who have particularly the Quality of taking
great
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 173
great Care to keep what they have won, fhould
fuffer a Place to be retaken, upon which it might
eafily be imagin'd, the whole' Endeavours of the
War would fall, and the defending or taking of
which would, for that Campaign, give the Ho-
nour of the Arms to one Side or t'other; never-
theleſs we are Mafters of it. Thoſe who had been
thrown into it, were very glad the King would
give them Leave to march out; and quitted with
Joy thefe Fortifications which they had rais'd, and
under which they feem'd refolv'd to perifh. I de-
fire, therefore, you would confider what has been
the End of this Expedition, which hath made fo
much Noife. 'Tis three Years fince firſt the Ene-
mies form'd this Defign, and threaten'd us with
this Storm. Spain and Germany had us'd their ut-
moft Efforts in order to it; the Emperor had
fent his beft Commanders, and his beft Cavalry;
the Army of Flanders had furniſh'd all its beſt
Troops; from all thefe is form'd an Army of five
and twenty Thouſand Horfe, fifteen Thouſand
Foot, and forty Pieces of Cannon. This Cloud,
big with Lightning and Thunder, comes to break
over Picardy, which it finds unprepar'd, all our
Arms being employ'd elfewhere. They prefently
take Capelle and Caftelet; they attack and take
Corbie in nine Days Time. This makes them Ma-
fters of the River; they pafs it; they ravage all
they find between the Somme and the Oife; and
whilft no body refifts them, they valiantly keep
the Field, kill our Peafants, and burn our Villages.
But upon the very firft Advice that is brought
them, of the King's Brother's advancing with an
Army, and himſelf following, they retire, they in-
trench themſelves behind Corbie; and when they
hear that we don't ftop, but march against them
as fast as poffible, our Conquerors run away from
their Intrenchments: Thofe brave, thofe war-
like Nations, who you fay are born to command
1.3
the
174 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters
the whole World, fly from an Army which they
faid was made up of nothing but our Coach-men
and Foot-men: And thofe very Men who were fo
confident, that they talk'd of piercing thro' France
to the very Pyrenean Mountains, threaten'd to
plunder Paris, and to pull down from the very
Church of Notredame, the Standards taken from
them in the Battle of Avein, do permit us to make
Lines of Circumvallation round a Place of the
utmost Importance to them; give us Time to
build Forts there, and afterwards let us attack it
and take it by Force, before their Faces. This is
the End of the Bravadoes of Picolomini, who fent
to tell us by his Trumpets, at one Time, that he
wiſh'd we had Powder; and at another, that we
had Cavalry; and when we had them, he fairly
turns Tail and marches off. So that, befides Ca-
pelle and Caftelet, which are not worth fpeaking of,,
all the Fruit this mighty, this victorious Army.
has produc'd, is the taking Corbie, in order to re-
ftore it into the King's Hands with a Counter-
fcarp, three Baftions, and three Half-Moons more-
than it had before. If they had taken ten or a do-
zen more of our Towns with the fame Succefs
our Frontier would be in a much better Condition,
and they would have fortify'd it better, than thofe
have hitherto done to whofe Care it is commit-
ted. Do you think, Sir, that the retaking of Amiens
was a bit more important, or more glorious than.
this? Then the Power of the Kingdom was not
taken off elſewhere; all our Forces were joyn'd
together, and all France fat down before one Place..
Here, on the contrary, we had this Town to re-
take, in the Height of an infinite Number of other
Affairs, which prefs'd us on all Sides; at a Time
when the State feem'd to be exhauſted of every
Thing, and in a Seafon wherein, befides Men, we
had the Heavens to fight with. And whereas, be-
fore Amiens, the Spaniards had not an Army, 'till
,"
five
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
171
five Months after the Siege, to make us raife it;
they had one of forty Thoufand Men at Corbie, be-
fore the Siege of it was begun; fo that if this Event
does not make you a good French Man; at least, I
dare fay it will provoke you againſt the Spaniards,
and make you afham'd you fhould ever take a
liking to a People who have fo little Vigour, and
can turn their Advantages to no better Ufe.
Mean time, thofe who out of Hatred to them who
are at the Helm, grow to hate their Country;
and who, fo they could but ruin one Man, did not
care if they ruin'd all France, thofe, I fay, turn'd
to Ridicule all the Preparations we made in order
to apply a Remedy to this Surprize.. When the
Troops we had levy'd here march'd towards Pi-
cardy, they cry'd they were Victims intended to
be facrific'd to the Enemy; that our whole Army
would be broke at the firſt Shock; and that the
Soldiers, being unus'd to War, would run away the
Moment they faw the Spaniards. Then, when the
Troops we were fo much threaten'd with, were
retir'd, and we had taken a Refolution to block
up Corbie, this Defign too was condemn'd. People
faid, to be fure the Spaniards had provided it with
all Things neceffary, having had two Months Lei-
fure to do it in, and that we fhould fpend before
this one Place, the Lord knows how many Milli-
ons of Gold, and a great many flout and brave
Men, and not take it neither may be, in lefs than
three Years Time. But when it was refolv'd to
attack it by Force, tho' deep in the Month of No-
vember, then the whole Nation in general was in
an Uproar. Thoſe who meant well, confefs it to
be a mad Project; but the reft cry'd out, the Mi-
niftry were afraid our Soldiers would not die faft
enough with Mifery and Hunger, and therefore
they had a mind to drown them in their own
Trenches. For my Part, tho' I knew the Incon-
veniencies which neceffarily enfue upon Sieges,
14
that
15 76 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
that are begun at fuch a Seaſon of the Year, I fuf-
pended my Judgment. I believ'd that thoſe who
had been the Promoters of this Undertaking, had
feen the fame Things which I faw, and had be-
fides feen other Things which I did not fee; that
they would never, without Grounds, engage in the
Siege of a Place, upon which the Eyes of all Chri-
ftendom were bent; and the very firft Moment
that I was credibly inform'd of its being attack'd,
I no longer doubted but it would be taken. For
tho' we have indeed fometimes known the Lord
Cardinal to be deceiv'd in thofe Things which he
tranfacted by others; yet we never knew him
fail in thofe Enterprifes, which he put his own
Hand to execute, and which he ſupported with
his Prefence. For this Reafon I was of Opinion
that he would overcome all manner of Difficulties,
and that he who had taken Rockelle, in fpite of the
Ocean, could eafily take Corbie, in fpite of the
Rains and the Winter. But fince we have hap-
pen'd to fpeak of him, and I have not dar'd to do
it theſe three Months, pray give me Leave, in the
Dejection wherein this News has caft you, to tell
you my Thoughts of him.
I am none of thofe, who, having a Defign, as
you fay, to turn Elogiums into Places, makes Mi-
racles of all the Lord Cardinal's Actions, exalt
his Praiſes above what a mortal Man ought to
pretend to, and out of their Zeal for him, would
fain make the World believe Things which are
utterly incredible. Neither am I fo mean fpirited
as to hate a Man becauſe he is above others
do I fuffer my felf to be carry'd away with the
Tide of the Love or Hatred of the Publick, which
I know to be generally very unjuft. I look upon.
him without either Prejudice or Favour, and fee
him with the fame Eyes wherewith he will be
beheld by Pofterity. But when, two Hundred
Years hence, thofe who came after us, fhall read
; nor
in
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 177
in our Hiſtory, that Cardinal Richelieu demoliſh'd
Rochelle, fupprefs'd Herefy, and by one fingle
Treaty, as with a Net, gain'd Thirty or Forty of
its Towns at one fwoop; when they fhall hear that
in the time of his Miniftry, the Engliſh were beaten,
Pignerol conquer'd, Cazal fuccour'd, all Lorrain
joyn'd to this Crown, the greateſt Part of Alfatia
fubjected to our Power; the Spaniards defeated at
Veillane and Avein; when they fhall fee that, fo
long as he was at the Helm of Affairs, France had-
not one Neighbour which it did not win Places
from, or defeat in Battle; if they have any Drop ·
of French Blood in their Veins, or the leaft Love
for their Country's Glory, can they read thefe
Things without having an Efteem for him? And
do you think they will Value him e'er the leſs, ·
becauſe in his Time the City-Rents were paid a
little later, and a few new Officers were put into
the Eſtabliſhment? All great Things muft coft a
great deal; great Efforts difhearten, and ftrong
Medicines weaken; but if we may look upon States
as immortal, and confider future Conveniences as
if they were prefent, we fhall find that this Man,
who is accus'd of having ruin'd France, has fav'd is
a great many Millions, by the fole taking of Ro
thelle, which, for two
ནཱ་
wards, in all Minoritie, Doufand Years hencefor
contents of Great Men, and in all Occafions of Re
volt, would never have fail'd to rebel, and would
have oblig'd us to be at an everlafting Expence.
This Kingdom had but two Enemies which it
needed to fear, the Hugonots and the Spaniards. My
Lord Cardinal, upon his Entrance into Affairs,
took it in his Mind to ruin them both. Could he
have form'd a Defign more glorious and more
ufeful? One of them he has brought about, and
has not quite finifh'd the other; but if he had fail'd
in the firft, thofe who now cry that 'twas a Refo
lution out of Seafon, and above our Forces, as Ex
Is
perience:
>>
178 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Experience has prov'd, to attack Spain; would
they not in the fame manner have condemn'd the
Defign of rooting out the Hugonots? Would they
not have faid 'twas Madneſs, to renew an Under-
taking wherein three of our Kings had already
fail'd, and which the late King durft never think
of? And would they not have concluded, as falfly
as they do now in this Affair, that the Thing was
not feafible, only becauſe it had not yet been
done? But, pray, was it his Fault or Fortune's,
that this Defign was not effected? Let us confi-
der the Means he us'd to bring it about, and the
Engines he fet at work. Let us fee how narrowly
he mist rooting up that great Tree, the Houſe of
Auftria, and how he fhook the very Roots of that
Trunk, which, with two Branchés, over-fpread
the North and Weft, and gives Sufpicion to all the
reft of the Earth. He fetch'd from the very Pole
that Hero who ſeem'd born to fet it on fire, and
hew it down. This was he who fill'd Germany
with Lightning and Thunder, and was heard o-
ver the whole World. But when this Storm was
difpers'd, and Fortune had parry'd off the Blow,
was he at all the lefs vigorous ? And did not he
once more put the Empire in greater Danger
than ever it was in even by the Lofs of the Battle
of Lipfic and Lutzen? His Addreſs and Practices
all of a fudden brought an Army into the very
Heart of Germany, with a Leader who had all the
Qualities neceffary to make an Alteration in a
State. But if the King of Sweden run himſelf far-
ther into Danger, than a Man of his Defigns and
Condition ought to do, and if the Duke of Fridt-
land, deferring his Enterprize too long, fuffer'd it
to be diſcover'd; could he enchant the Bullet
which kill'd the former in the midft of his Vic-
tory, or make the latter Proof against the Blows
of a Pertuifan? If after all this, to conclude the
total Deſtruction of our Affairs, the Captains who
com™
就
​Monfieur VOITURE's Letters." 179
.:
commanded the Army of our Allies before Norling
ben, gave the Attack at a wrong Time; was it in
the Power of the Lord Cardinal, who was at two
Hundred Leagues Diſtance, to make them change
this Refolution, or to reſtrain the Precipitation of
thofe, who for an Empire, which was the Prize of
this Victory, would not ftay three Days? Thus
you fee that Fortune, in order to fave the Houfe
of Auftria, and fruftrate the Defigns of the Cardi-
nal, which are now call'd rafh, was forc'd to work
three Miracles, I mean, to bring about three great
Events, which were not at all likely to happen;
the Death of the King of Sweden; that of the Duke
of Fridtland, and the Lofs of the Battle of Norlings
hen. You will tell me that he can't juftly complain
of Fortune, for having crofs'd him in thefe few
Things, fince fhe had ferv'd him fo faithfully up-
on fo many other Occafions; that 'twas fhe who
fuffer'd him to take Towns, tho' he never befieg'd
any before; who made him command Armies
with Succefs, tho' he had no Experience; who
always led him, as it were, by the Hand, and fav'd:
him from the Precipices to which he had run hime
felf, and to conclude, who has often made him
feem bold, wife and prudent. Let us therefore
view him in ill Fortune, and examine whether he
has had lefs Boldneſs, Wiſdom and Prudence. Our
Affairs did not go over-well in Italy; and as 'tis -
the Fate of France to win Battles and lofe Armies,
ours was very much diminifh'd fince the laft Vic-
tory that it had gain'd over the Spaniards. We had
no better Succefs before Dole, where the Length of
the Siege made us fearful of an unfortunate Iffe
when, prefently we were inform'd, that the Ene
my was enter'd Picardy, and taken Capelle, Caftelet,
and Corbie, and that thofe three Places, which in
all Appearance would have detain'd them feveral
Months, did hardly take them up eight Days..
Every Thing is on Fire to the Banks of the River
Oife &
F
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
180
Oife; from our Suburbs we can fee the Smoke of
the Villages that are burnt; every body is alarm'd,
and the Capital of the Kingdom is in a panick
Terror. Upon this, Advice is brought from Bur-
gundy, that the Siege of Dole was rais'd; and from
Xaintonge, that there are fifteen Thoufand Pea-
fants revolted and in the Field, and that 'tis fear'd
Poitou and Guyenne will follow their Example. Ill
News pours in upon us ; the Heavens are cloud-
ed on all Sides; the Storm beats us on all Parts ;
and not the leaft Ray of good Fortune fhines up-
on us. Did this Gloominefs make my Lord Car-
dinal e'er the lefs clear fighted? Did he not hold
the Rudder in one Hand and Compaſs in t'other?
Did he throw himſelf into the Skiff to fave him-
felf? And if it were decreed that the great Ship
which he ſteer'd muſt perifh, did he not plainly
fhew, that he was refolv'd to die before the reft ?
Was it Fortune that conducted him out of this La-
byrinth, or was it his own Prudence, Conftancy,
and Magnanimity? Our common Enemies are
fifteen Leagues off of Paris, and his particular ones
are in it. We hear every Day of fome Practices
or other to destroy him. France and Spain feem to
confpire with each other against him. Amidit
all this, how did that very Man appear, who, as
People faid, was confounded at the leaft ill Suc-
cefs; and who had caus'd a Haven to be fortify'd,
to which he might run at the firft adverfe For-
tune? All this did not make him take one Step
backwards; his Thoughts ran upon the Dangers
of the State, and not upon his own; and all the
Alteration that was feen in him was that, where-
as before he us'd to go abroad accompany'd with
two Hundred Guards, he was never now attended
by above five or fix Gentlemen. Adverfity, when
fupported with fo good a Grace, and with fo much
Fortitude, is more engaging than the greateſt Pro-
fperities and Victories. In my Opinion he was not
Lo
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 188
fo great and triumphant the Day he made his
Entry into Rochelle, as he was then; and the Jour-
nies he took to the Arſenal, ſeem to me more glo-
rious for him, than thofe he took beyond the
Mountains, and from which he return'd with Pig-
nerol and Sufa. Open your Eyes then, I befecch
you, to fo much Brightnefs; no longer hate a Man
who is happy in revenging himſelf upon his Ene-
mies; and give over bearing Ill-will to one who
knows how to turn it to his Glory, and who en-
dures it with fo much Courage. Quit your Party
before that quits you; for a great many of thoſe
who us'd to hate the Lord Cardinal, are convert-
ed by the laft Miracle he wrought; and ifthe War
ends, as there is great Reafon to hope it will, he'll
foon find a Way to win over all the reft. He has
Wiſdom and Experience enough to teach him
what is beft, and will turn all his Defigns to the
making this Kingdom the moft flourishing of all,
after having made it the moft dreaded. He will
affume a fort of Ambition which is more noble.
than all others, and which none befides have
thought of, namely, to make himſelf the beſt and
moft belov'd Man in the Kingdom, and not the
greatest and moft fear'd, He knows that the most
noble and moſt lafting Conquefts are thofe of
Hearts; that Laurels are Plants which bear no
Fruit, and do only give a Shade at moft, but are
not to be compar'd to the Harvefts and Products
with which Peace is crown'd. He knows that ex-
tending the Bounds of a Kingdom a hundred Lea-
ques, is not half fo commendable as diminishing
the Taxes never fo little, and that there's lefs
true Glory and Greatnefs in defeating a Hundred
Thouſand Men, than in making Twenty Millions
eafy and fecure. This great Genius, therefore,
which has hitherto only been taken up with find-
ing out Means to defray the Expences of the
War, to raife Money and Soldiers, to take Towns,
and
7
182
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
and to win Battles, will for the future employ it
ſelf in nothing but eſtabliſhing Repofe, Wealth
and Plenty. This fame Head, which brought
forth Pallas all arm'd, will now give her to us with
her Olive, peaceable, mild and learn'd, and at-
tended by all the Arts and Sciences, which gene-
rally wait upon her. He will make no other E-
dicts now, but for the Regulation of Luxury and
Re-eſtabliſhment of Commerce. The bulky
Ships which were built to carry our Arms beyond
the Straits, will now ferve only to convoy our Mer-
chandizes, and clear the Sea; and we fhall have
no War with any but Pyrates. The Enemies of
the Lord Cardinal ſhall no more know what to
fay against him, than they have hitherto known
what to do against him. The Citizens of Paris
fhall then be his Guards; and he will experience
how much pleafanter it is to hear his Praifes in
the Mouths of the People, than in the Mouths of
the Poets. I beg you to be before-hand with them,
and not defer coming into the Number of his
Friends, 'till you are conftrain'd to do it. But if
you are refolv'd to flick to your Opinion, I won't
undertake to tear you from it by Force; but then
don't be fo unjuft, as to take it ill_that I fhould
defend mine; and I promiſe you I will willingly
read all you shall write to me, whenever the Spa-
niards retake Corbie, I am,
Paris, Dec. 24.
1636.
Sir,
Yours, &c.
*
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 183
To Mademoifelle
*
LETTER LXXIV..
MADAM,
N
Flowers in the World but Lillies deferve
to be preſented to you, and I ſend you theſe
only to be caft beneath your Feet. Nay, I envy
them very much, even in that Place, and think
'twill be more glorious for them, than it would be
upon the Heads of Queens themfelves. You will
wonder that a Man, who knows you fo well as I
do, durft take the Liberty to write to you; and
by this you may judge of the Violence of my Paf-
fion, fince at my Age, and with my Phiz, it has
infpir'd me with the Boldnefs to declare it to you,
nor could fo great a Hazard as that of difpleafing
you, deter me from it. I know indeed, Madam,
that there are no Faults fo unpardonable as thofe
which are committed againſt you, and that 'tis
decreed I fhall die by no other Hands than yours;
but I yield to my Destiny; and let the Confe-
quence be what it will, I can't help fuffering my
felf to be caught. At the Moment you read this,
you blush with Spite, and gnafh your Teeth; yet
you can't make me repent of what I do, for I am
now Proof to all extraordinary Accidents; and,
tho' it cost me my Life, I am refolv'd to be al-
ways,
:
Madam,
Tour, &c.
T
184 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Madam de SAINTOT..
LETTER LXXV.
MADAM,
You
*
OU thought only to have done a little Piece
of Gallantry, and you have written the moſt
gallant Letter in the World. As great a Scholar
as I am, I find it no very eafy Matter to anſwer
it, and I can't help owning that you out-do me.
I before knew that you had that fort of Wit which
I always admir'd; and that of every thing in the
World, you never forgot any thing befides my
felf; but I own I could not have imagin'd you had
learnt to write fince I have been abfent from you,
and that I fhould ever fee any Thing more beau-
tiful and engaging, than what I had formerly feen
of yours. After this you need not doubt my doing
all that lies in my Power to put off the Suit which
you mention; and tho' you once profecuted me
with a great deal of Warmth, I'll affure you I
won't try to be reveng'd for it, tho' I have the
Means in my Hand. But are not you a mifchie-
vous Creature to diſturb my Repofe in this man-
ner? I was before in the fweeteft Dofing in the
World, and I don't believe I fhall ever have ſo
good a Nap as long as I live again. I am very
forry you don't come to Day to the Academy;
for you may eaſily think for whofe Sake I go. I'll
ufe all the Credit I have to make them go in a
Body to petition you to come; but if you'll give
me Leave to fhew your Letter there, that alone
will be enough to make them impatient for your
Company. Adieu ; I fwear I am,
Madam, Entirely yours, &c.
Billet
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters 185
Billet from Madam de SAINTOT, to
Monfieur de VoITURE.
I
Have promis'd to bestow you, for a Gallant,
upon two fine Women, my Friends. I am cone
fident that you will not find the Exploit too many
for you, and do not doubt, but that you will con-
firm my Promife, as foon as you have but feen
them.
The Anfwer of Monfieur de VOITURE.
LETTER LXXVI.
MADAM,
L
ET me fee what I love as foon as you can;
for I die with Impatience 'till that happy
Moment. And fince, at your Command, I have
fall'n in Love, it behoves you to take fome Care
that I am belov'd too. I have thought all Night
upon the two Ladies that
you know of. I
write this Billet to one of them; deliver it, I be-
feech you, to her, whom you believe I love the
more paffionately of the two. In Acknowledg-
ment of the good Offices which I receive from
you, I affure you, that you fhall always difpofe of
my Affections; and that I will never love any
one fo much as your felf, 'till I am convinc'd that
you have in good earneft a Mind that I ſhould.
ير
To
186 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
To his unknown Miftrefs.
LETTER LXXVII.
MADAM,
W
4
:
AS there ever fo extraordinary a Paffion,
as that which I have for you? For my Part,.
I do not know any Thing of you; and, to my
Knowledge, I never fo much as heard of you;
and yet, I Gad, I am defperately in Love with
you; and it is now a whole Day, fince I have
figh'd, and look'd filly, and languiſh'd, and dy'd,
and all that for you.. Without having feen your
Face, I am taken with its Beauty; and am charm'd
with your Wit, tho' I never heard one Syllable of
it. I am ravifl'd with your every Action, and I
fancy in you a kind of I know not what, that makes
me paffionately in Love with I know not whom.
Sometimes I fancy you fair, and at other Times.
black; now you appear tall to me, by and by
fhort; now with a Nofe of the Roman Shape, and
anon with a Nofe turn'd up: But in whatever
Form I deſcribe you, you appear the lovelieft of
Creatures to me; and though I am ignorant what
Sort of Beauty yours is, kam ready to pawn my
Soul, that it is the most bewitching of all of them.
Ifit be your Luck to know me as little, and to
love me as much, then Thanks be to Love, and
the Stars. But left you ſhould a little impofe up-
on yourſelf, in fancying me a tall fair Fellow, and
fo be furprized at the Sight of me, I care not for
once if I venture to fend you my Picture: My
Stature is two or three Inches below the mid-
ኝ
dling
* Theſe four or five Lines are faid to contain a
real Deſcription of the Author. See the Hift, of the
Academ. Part 2.
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters. 187
dling one; my Head appears tolerable enough
and is decently fet off with a large grey Head of
Hair; then with Eyes that languifh a little, yet
are fomething wild and hagard; I have a Sort of
a cudden Caft of a Face: But in Requital, one of
your Friends will tell you, that I am the honeft-
eft Fellow in the World; and that for loving faith-
fully in* five or fix Places at a Time, there is no
Man alive comes near me. If you think that all
this will accommodate you, it fhall be at your
Service as foon as I fee you: "Tll that long long'd
for Time, I shall think of you; that is, of I know
not whom. But if any one fhould chance to aſk
me for whom I figh, don't be afraid, I warrant to
keep the Secret; I would fain fee any one catch
me at naming you to him.
5
Madam,
Your, &c.
+ He means Madam de Saintot, a Woman of Wit
and Merit, whom Voiture had the Honour to vifit
often.
* Voiture did not content himſelf with loving five
or fix Ladies at a Time. If we may believe the
Author of his Pampe funebre, he lov'd from the Sceps
ter to the Sheep-Hook, from the Coronet to the
round-ear'd Cap. He believ'd, and rightly too,
that a clean pretty Country Girl was as valuable
in Point of an Amour, as the greateft Ladies glit-
tering with Diamonds and precious Stones. One-
of his good Friends of Antiquity was of the fame
Mind with him on this Subject:
Nec magis huic inter niveos viridefq; lapillos,
Tenerum femur aut cras
Rectius, atq; etiam melius perfæpe togata.
Horace.
£88
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To Madam de SAINTOT,
LETTER LXXVIIL
MADAM,
You
OU can't imagine how much I am vex'd,
that I can't walk with you to Day: But her
Highnefs the Princeſs, and Madam de la Trimoüille,
have commanded me to go to Ruel with them.
But fince you walk every Day, grant me to Mör-
row, or next Day, the Honour which you now of
fer me; and, in Return, I'll give you leave to dif-
pofe of me to whom you pleafe. Sure you have
fomething very excellent for yourfelf, fince you
can make fuch Prefents to your Friends. But if
they are handfome, as you fay they are, let one of
them have me all, and don't ſplit me in two; tho'
if I were really in two, one half of me fhould go
to Ruël, and t’other half wait upon you; and I can
promiſe you fhould have the better half. You
have advis'd me to be cold to Madam
Ma-
dam
and Mademoiſellé
Pray be fo
kind as to make fome very paffionate Compli-
ment for me to the Ladies you have given me to.
I wish Madam·· were one of them; for really
t'other Day I lik'd her mightily. But pray behold
the abfolute Power you have over me; tho' I don't
know them, yet I have already an Inclination for
them; and tho' I never yet lov'd two Perſons at
one Time, yet I ſee I fhall do whatever you.com-
mand me, being as I am,
Madam,
Your, &c.
T
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. · 189
To Monfieur ARNAUD, directed for
SIA,
the SAGE ICAS.
LETTER LXXIX.
EVEN tho' I were utterly ignorant of your
being a great Magician, and having the Art
of commanding Spirits, the Power you have over
my Affections, and the Charms I find in all you
write to me, would be fufficient to inform me, that
there is fomething fupernatural in you. By the
Help of your Characters, I beheld, upon a little
Bit of Paper, both Temples and Goddeffes; and
you fhew'd me all the Perfons I love in your Let-
ter, as in a Conjurer's Glafs. But I obferv'd with
particular Pleafure the Picture, wherein among
the darkeft Shades you fhew the fineft Lights of
the Age, and inform me of the Care that is taken
of me by a Perfon who has no Equal at prefent;
neither can Time paft nor to come, as far as you
can fee into them, fhew you one that may com-
pare to her. But pray, Sir, fince you can difcover
the moſt hidden Secrets, by only giving yourſelf
the Trouble to fay, SPEAK DEMONS! caft a
Figure to find out what that Creature can be, and
do me the Favour to tell me what you diſcover a-
bout her. Every Body muft own this to be a
Thing very well worth knowing, and I give you
my Word I'll never reveal the Secret; for in this,
as in every Thing elfe, I fhall always obey your
Commands, and let you fee how much I am,
Sir, Tour, &c.
To
190 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
To the Marchiones de RAMBOUILLET,
LETTER LXXX.
MADAM,
Ithout borrowing any Citations either from
facred or prophane Hiftory, whatever you
write is admirable. I lay up the leaft Billets that
fall from your Hand, as I would the Leaves of a
Sybil; and out of them I ftudy that unaffected, but
majeſtick Eloquence, which all the World is am-
bitious to attain, and without which 'tis abfolutely
impoffible to ſpeak worthily of you. And if it be
true, as you would flatter me, that I have done it,
1
may prefume to have perform'd the moſt diffi-
cult Thing in the World, and which, as much as
lay in my Power, was eternally in my Withes. For
be affur'd, Madam, there is nothing I ever defir'd
more paffionately, than to acquaint the World
with the two greateſt Inftances that ever were
produc'd of an accomplish'd Virtue and a perfect
Affection, by letting it know how much you are
efteem'd by all that know you, and how much
I am,
Madam,
Your obedient Servant, &c.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 191
*CON
To my Lord Cardinal de la VALETTE
LETTER LXXXI.
MY LORD,
FOR
OR feveral Reafons I did not expect any
Letters from you fo foon; for it was natural
to conclude, that a Perfon who had fo much Bu-
finefs upon his Hands, could hardly find Time to
write much. I was content to hear your Name
and Victories cry'd up every Week in the Streets,
and to buy up all the News that I could learn of
you. The Honour you did me, came at a very
favourable Juncture; for fome infolent People
had maliciously given out, that my Kingdom
would be foon at an End, and that they fhould
fhortly fee me reduc'd to the obfcure Condition
of a private Perfon; nay, fome of them took this
Opportunity to tempt my Fidelity. You would
hardly believe, my Lord, what Advantages I have
been proffer'd to induce me to quit your Party
this Winter, and to declare open War againſt you
and though thefe Offers have been made by the
moft bewitching Lady in the World, yet I have
heroically flighted them, as I own I was oblig'd to
do, out of Refpect to the Perfon to whom I have
fo many Obligations, and whofe Humour is fo a-
greeable to mine, that tho' he had ever hated me,
I could not but eſteem and love him. So that al-
tho' I have abundance of pretty Intrigues to make
me fond of Paris, which People never want in
this good-natur'd Town, who trouble not them-
felves with the Conduct of Armies, and are not
capable of thoſe high Paffions which at prefent
take up the better Part of your Soul; yet I am
ready
192 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
•
and to wait
ready to facrifice all my Engagements here, when-
ever you think fit to command me;
on you, fhall quit a Mitrefs that is young and
fprightly as an Angel, and black as the Night. I
only want a handfome Pretence to put this in Exë-
cution; and if your Enemies, as I am perfwaded,
will needs have their Walls between you and them,
and oblige you to a Siege, I fhall not fail to be
with you. Befides, not to flatter your Lordship,
I had rather be a Sieger, than befieged; and the
Spaniards are gotten fo near Paris, that tho' I did
not leave it for your Sake, I fhould for my own.
All the Bridges near it are broken down, the Citi-
zens are ready every Moment to draw up their
Chains; and at the fame Time when we are for-
midable upon the Banks of the Rhine, we cannot
call ourſelves fafe upon thoſe of the Seine. Amidſt
the Uneafinefs that this Diforder gives me, 'tis
fome Confolation to me, my Lord, to fee that
when our Affairs decline on every Side, they prof
per on yours ; and while our Army in Picardy
Thrinks into Garrifons, that in Burgundy moulders
away in the Trenches: And the fame ill Succefs
attends us in Italy; you have baffled all the De-
figns of the Enemy, and taken Places from him,
while he contented himſelf with the humble Ho-
nour of being a Spectator. In a Word, not to mag-
nify Matters more than they deferve, all the Pro-
grefs we have made this Year, is entirely due to
your Conduct.
Te Copias, te Confilium, & tuos præbente Divos.
Command me, my Lord, to come and fhare in
your Profperity, and to pay my Respects to your
good Fortune, in that only Quarter where he is
to be feen at prefent. I am,
My Lord,
Your bumble Servant, &c
POST-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 193
POSTSCRIPT.
*
Since the writing of this Letter, a Meffenger is
arriv'd here, who brings us Advice of your being
at Colmar. This News, I affure you, has caus'd
greater Rejoycing at Court than all the Balls that
are now on Foot. The Abfence of Friends is fup-
portable, when they perform fuch glorious Ex-
ploits as you do: And as much as your Company
is defir'd here, there is not a Man that heartily
loves you, but rather than have you here, is con-
tent that you fhould tarry a little longer where
you are. To be free with you, my Lord, your re-
lieving the King's Allies in Spite of the Seafon and
Enemy, was a Performance that can never be fuffi-
ciently applauded; and it will be always menti-
on'd to your Commendation, that you fhould bear
no Part in the publick Joy, who is the only Perfon
to whom we are indebted for it.
To the fame.
LETTER LXXXII.
MY LORD,
Know no Reafon you have to fall out with
me, unleſs it be, that having fo numerous an
Army about you, you have a Mind to quarrel with
all the World; and fore-feeing that the Spaniards
won't employ you long, you feek out an Occafion
for fome new Difference. "Tis a hard Thing, L
fee, to be a Conqueror, and juft at the fame Time;
and by what Obfervations I have made in the
World, Fortitude and Juftice are two Virtues, that
if you'll pardon the Meannefs of the Expreffion,
feldom fet up their Horfes together. Not many
Days
194 Monfieur VoITURE's Letters.
Days ago, I writ you fo long a Letter, that I was
afraid you would not find Leifure enough to read
it; fince which Time I have not omitted any Oc-
cafion, that I know of, to diſcharge my Duty. Tho
Gratitude did not remind me of the infinite Ob-
ligations I have to your Lordfhip; yet my Intereft
would teach me to keep a punctual Commerce with
you, left I fhould difoblige the Man, who at pre-
fent is the moft to be fear'd of any in France. But,
my Lord, becauſe you have fo many different Af
fairs to imploy you becaufe you diſcharge at
once the Bufinefs of an Engineer, a General, and a
private Soldier; becauſe you are taken up in forti-
fying a Camp, and taking a City; in feeing Or-
der and Juftice obferv'd in your Army, and re-
ducing a Nation to Difcipline, which could never
endure it before, you imagine, Forfooth, that the
reft of the World fit down with their Arms fold-
ed together, like the People of Lubberland, and
that none but yourfelf takes any Pains. In the
mean Time, my Lord, I can affure you, that if I
had nothing elfe to do here, but barely to liften
to thofe that tell News of you, and retail it to o-
thers who enquire after the fame, I fhould not be
much leſs employ'd than you are, and fhould have
very little Time to write to you. Some Perfons,
who a few Years ago were content with two or
three Hours Difcourfe of you, can't now come off
under fix at leaſt. Thoſe who are zealous for the
Government, and thofe that are against it, are
equally inquifitive to know what you are a doing
and your Lordship is indifferent to none, but
thofe to whom France is fo. While I write this, I
hear that the Treaty of Landreci is concluded, and
that you are to march into it next Sunday. I con-
gratulate your good Succefs, my Lord, for con-
vincing our Neighbours that it is not impoffible
for us to take ſome of their Places, and for diffolv
ing that Magick Charin, whofe wicked Influence
we
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 195
we had felt fo long. Louvain, Valentia, and Dori,
had perfwaded our Enemies, that we fhould never
get any Thing but dry Blows of them; and that
the moſt we could pretend to, was only to recover
what we had loft. The weakest Towns feem'd to
become impregnable, as foon as we came before
them: Our Troops, that behav'd themſelves very
well upon all other Occafions, were ruin'd and
quite difpirited, as foon as they were engag'd in a
Siege. In fhort, there was no Ditch fo fhallow, no
Work fo contemptible, but gave a Check to our
Army, and ftopt their Career! But you, my Lord,
have deliver'd us from the Power of our old ill
Deſtiny; you have made your Cannon be heard
as far as the Gates of Bruffels; and the Noife of it
oblig'd the Cardinal Infanta to retreat as far as
Gaunt, inftead of advancing to the Relief of a
Place which you were going to take from him.
But what I principally admire in this Action, is,
the Order, Diligence, and Security with which it
was carry'd on. The very Day you open'd your
Trenches, one might have ventur'd to affirm, that
Landreci was as good as loft; and though Picolomint
and bis Forces, which ftruck fuch a Terror into us
the laft Campaign, had brought all the Power of
the Empire along with him, 'twas impoffible for
them to wreft it out of your Hands. But, my
Lord, our Anceftors did not afe to obferve this
Method, when they fate down before any Place
and it may be truly faid, that the firft Siege you
Jaid, was the first regular one that ever France be-
held. M has been very importunate with
me to go along with him; but I have excus'd my
felf, pretending an Affair of great Confequence
was to be difpatch'd before I could ftir from hence.
This Affair of fo very great Confequence, is a
Siege I have laid to a very pleaſant Place, and very
well fituated. I have drawn my Lines of Circum-
vallation about it, after your and the Dutch Way;
Ki
and
196 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
*
and Picolomini fhall not hinder me from taking it,
Having carry'd on Matters fo far, it would go pla-
guily against the Grain to raiſe the Siege; for fuch
a Difgrace amongſt Conquerors, fuch as you and I
are, is a Pill of very hard Digeftion. I am,
July 3. 1634.
My Lord,
Your most humble, &c.
COOO
I
To the Marquifs of PISANY.
LETTER LXXXIII.
MY LORD,
Rejoice to hear that you are become the hard-
eft Man in the World, that neither Labour,
Watching, Diſeaſes, or even the Steel nor Lead of
the Spaniard are able to do you the leaft Harm or
Injury; neither could I think it poffible, that a
Man nurs'd up with Tifan and Barley-water, could
have fuch a terrible hard Skin, nor indeed that
any Thing were poffible to produce fuch extraor-
dinary Effects. I don't know which Way this may
happen, but I am confident it can't be truly natu-
ral, and, for all that, I am not in the leaſt troubled
at it; but I had rather have you a Conjurer, than
in the Condition of Attichy or Grinville, tho you
were never fo well embalm'd. To deal freely with
you, whatever is the Occafion of one's Death, there
is fomething very low and mean in being dead.
For that Reafon avoid it as much as you can; and
I humbly intreat you to haften your Return, for I
can no longer be happy without your Company;
this is the chief Reafon why I believe you ufe
Charms, is, that I, that am fo indifferent as to thofe
who
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
197
who are abfent, have always a longing. Defire to
fee you; and I wish for you every Moment; how-
ever, the Occafions wherein I defire your Com
pany, are full as agreeable, and fomething lef
dangerous, than thofe wherein you are daily, nay
hourly engag'd; if then you'll be rul'd, take a
good Horfe between your Legs, and be as willing
to return to Paris, as you were to leave it. And
as foon as I can hear the happy News of your be--
ing there, I promife you to bid adieu to Tours
Blois, and Richlieu, and likewife to take my Leave
of Madam de Combalet, and the Lady your Sifter,
to come and wait on you, with the fincere Profef
fions of my being,
Richlieu, Octob. 7.1637.
My Lord,
Your Honour's humble Servant, &c.
To Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET
With this Superſcription,
To the Fortunate Infanta, at the
Palace of the Periskians.
LETTER LXXXIV.
MADAM,
W E are come thus far, without having met
with any Adventure worthy your Know-
ledge; and the Author of our Hiftory will have
nothing to fay hitherto, but that on the 5th Day
we arriv'd at Saumur. Yetterday, 'tis true, as we
were croffing a River, we faw four huge Bulls
making
K. 3
198 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
3
making directly towards us; my Fellow-Travel
lers would have it that they were inchanted; but,
for my Part, I can't think fo, becauſe they fuf-
fer'd us to pass by them without any Lett or Mo-
leftation whatſoever, and did not caft the leaft
Spark of Fire out of their Noftrils. The Day be-
fore, we had a Mind to feize the Horſe and Purſe
of one that was going that Way, according to the
ancient and laudable Cuftom of Knight-Errantry;
but we let it drop at laft; for as far as we could
find, the Man took it for an Outrage, and thought
it little better than mere Robbery. You can't
imagine how much the ancient Chivalry is fall'n
to Decay; we have pafs'd over half a Score Bridges,
that had not one fingle Knight to guard e'er a
one of them; and wherever we baited, the Inn-
keepers and Lords of the Caftles did not make
the leaft Scruple to bring in a Reckoning. Sir
Launcelot of the Lake and my felf are mightily con-
cern'd at it. We do all we can to revive the Cu-
ftoms of the Age of Uterpendragon; but we find the
reft of the World very little of our Mind; and you
can hardly conceive how fcarce Adventures are
grown. The two beft I have met with, is finding
the Letter of the refolute Infanta, which I did two
Days ago; and receiving another, which I think
the most charming I ever read in my Life: "Tis,
in my poor Judgment, the most compleat Work
that Fortune ever produc'd; and fince you difpofe
of the aforefaid Fortune juft as you pleafe in every
Thing, we fhall lay it at your Door if we are not
happy ere long; for, upon my Honesty, I believe
that 'tis wholly in your Power, and that if you did
but with it, 'twere done. We are refolv'd to be
your Knights in all this War, and to gain fo many
Achievements, as even to make Don Falanges de
Aftra jealous. Till that happens, we fhan't fail to
fend you all the Giants we overcome upon the
Way i
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 199
Way; and I will then take the Opportunity to
inform you by their Mouths how much I am,
Madam,
Your, &c.
I
To the fame.
LETTER LXXXV.
MADAM,
Have travell'd fo far, that at laft I came into a
Country, where there is not the leaft Talk of
War, or Plunder, free Quarter, or Taxes, or any
fuch Pagan Things; and where all the Converfa-
tion of the People, from the higheſt to the low-
eft, runs upon Love and Gallantry; Plays, Balls, Sere-
mades, and fo forth. And now I fancy you imagine
Iam got, the Lord knows where, into fome ftrange
Romantick Country beyond Popocampefche, or that
Fortune has brought me to the invifible Iland of
Alcidiana. To undeceive you then, the Place
where the aforefaid Wonders are to be heard and
feen, is at no very great Distance from you; "Tis
a City feated upon the Bank of the Loyre, where
the Cher difcharges its felf into that River. The
Inhabitants ſpeak a Sort of Tourain French; and as
for their Stature and Complexion, they fomewhat
refemble thofe of France. To be ferious with you,
Madam, I can affure you, that fince the Moors
were turn'd out of Granada, no Place in the World.
could boast of fo much Gallantry and Magnificence as
this. Tours, formerly call'd the Garden of France,
may now ftile it felf the Paradife of the Earth: There
paffes not a Day over our Heads, wherein we have
not Mufick, Balls and Entertainments. All that is
3
K 4
nice
200 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
nice and delicious, may be had here in Abundance
Oranges come tumbling in from all Parts; we have
whole Caravans loaded with Bon-ckreftien Pears; and
all the adjacent Countries are exhaufted to furnish
us. The High-Ways from Paris hither, are all frew'd
with Violins and Haut-boys, Muficians and Dancers,
Masks and Patches, Ribbonds and Top-knots, Cloth of
Silver and Embroidery, which come thronging into this
City. Laft Night, by Seven in the Evening, came
in by Torch-light fix Coaches full of Love and
Laughter, Allurements and Charms, Attractions
and Invitations, who came from all Parts of the
World to honour this Affembly with their Prefence.
Nay, 'tis confidently reported, that fome of them
are come from the remoteft Parts of Norway, as
indeed may be reaſonably concluded from the late
bluftering Weather we have had; and many grave
Folks here believe, that there is not a Man or a
Woman left in the World, but that they are all
come hither; and yet, Madam, I make no quef
tion, but the People you us'd to converfe with taid
Behind; for among the vaft Crouds I daily be-
hold, I have not feen one of them, nor indeed any
that refemble them. This prodigious Confluence
of Strangers has produc'd wonderful Effects all o-
ver the City. The Air is become infinitely more
mild and ferene; the Men are all up to the Ears
In Love, the Women are all become as beautiful
as Angels; and the Lady-Prefident, whom you
faw at Richelieu, is now one of the gayeft, bufieft
Women in all France. But, Madam, what is the
frangest of all, (by the fame Token perhaps you
will not think it credible) amidſt all this Mirth
and Jollity, all this Feafting and Entertaining, I
hardly know how to pafs away the Hours, they
move fo heavy and dull. Among fo many thou-
fand Ladies, the Devil of one is fallen to my
Share; reither dare I pretend to make my Ad-
dreffes to them; So that while all the reft of our
2
Gallants
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 201
Gallants have their Hands fo full of Love, that
they hardly know where to turn themſelves, and
are fo elevated with their good Fortune, that they
are refolv'd to live here eternally; I, for my Part,
heartily with myſelf at your Fire-fide with Made-
moifelle d' Intan, or to have a Glimpfe of you at
leaſt through a Glafs- Window with your Lady-
Mother. What I fhould afcribe this to, I can't
tell; but this is certain, that I never found myfélf
poffefs'd with fo ardent a Defire to fee you both
as now; and the philofophical Reafon for it is
plain; for I place my whole Felicity in it. This,
Madam, I humbly conjure you to believe, as like-
wife that I am
Tours, Jan. 8. 1638.
To the fame..
Your Servant.
LETTER LXXXVI.
MADAM,
*
THO' at prefent l'am not able to write you
any Letters, but what are dull and infipid,
yet I can't forbear writing to you. But forgive
me, if I do fomething to take my Time off my
Hands, and confider that this is the only Means I
have to do it; for in the Humour I am now in,
when I can take up even with Mademoiſelle des
Coudreaux, and Mademoiſelle Chefnedu, I am fure you
will believe, that there's nothing here to hinder
me from being the moft melancholy Man alive...
Among a great many other Uneafineffes, the Pain
I am in for your Health,torments me extreamly
this laft Misfortune has made me fo timerous, that
whereas I us'd to fear nothing, I now fear every
K5.
Things
202 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Thing; and I dread that I fhall never more behold
any Thing that I leave behind me. The dearer a
Perfon is to me, the more likely I fancy it is that
I fhall lofe her. This being fo, Madam, I leave
you to judge how much I must be afflicted upon
your Account: You cannot but know, that if For-
tune had a Mind to do fomething that might be
more heavy upon me than any Thing fhe has yet
done, it must be you fhe muft attack. I am very
impatient to fee my felf freed from thefe Fears,
and out of this Place, and to find in your Prefence
fome Joy after fo much Grief, or at leaſt ſome
Repofe after fo much Difturbance. I am,
Madam,
Your, &c.
***
I
To the Marchionefs de SABLE.
LETTER LXXXVII.
MADAM,
Could wish I had not feen the Letters you
fent to Mademoifelle de Rambouillet, and to -
yet a while; for by writing firft, and embarking
myfelf in this Correfpondence of my own free
Will, I was in Hcpes to have given you as certain
a Proof of my Affection, as that which I receiv'd
from you. But what you have written of me, is fo
obliging, that I own I can pretend to no Merit in
anfwering it; and the lazyeft Man upon Earth,
were he in my Place, would do as much as I do.
Really, Madam, thofe People who run you down
as to want of Terdernefs, muft own, that if you
are not the most loving Perfon in the World, you
are at least the most obliging. True Friendship
cannot have more Sweetnefs, than there is in your
Words;
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
203
Words; and all Appearances of Affection are in
you fo charming, that there is no Man of Honour
but what muſt be contented with it. For my Part,
I can fcarce help believing you have bewitch'd
me; for tho' I very well know, that you can coun
terfeit a Kindness, as well as Mr. can a
Ruby, and can give to a Bit of Pafte the Brilliancy
of a Diamond, yet I can't, for the Life of me, for-
bear believing that which you have given to me
as true and firm as ever any Thing was in the
World. As for my own Part, I may boldly fay,
that I always honour'd and lov'd you above all
Things, but never fo much as I do at this Mo-
ment and I dare not write all the Sentiments I
;
have for you, for fear this Letter fhould chance to
be loft, and fo be taken for a Love-Letter. I don't
think that Paffion itfelf has any Thing more ten-
der, than what I every Day feel for you. I can't
counterfeit the Agitations of Lovers, nor diftor
myfelf like a pretended Demoniack; but fince
left you, I have really had Fits of Melancholy,
which have quite chang'd me from what I was,
and amaze every Body; nay, a few Hours ago,
Father Tranquille, and the little Jefuit, had almoſt
a Mind to exorcife me; for if I took any Plea-
fure, 'twas in talking of you to every Body I could
come near. People knew that I had been at your
Houfe at Loudun, fo that every Body had a Curio-
fity to fee me; and I have been question'd and in-
terrogated, as if I had been a Man come either
from Heaven or Hell. Ftold them, Madam, that
you were full as handfome as you were forty Years
ago, and in this they did not much fcruple to be-
lieve me; but when I faid you had more Wit,
they prefently fancy'd I told them a Parcel of
Stories, and there they began to doubt my Truth':
And indeed, you have Miracles wrought in you,
that never were wrought in any Body elfe; and
none but you was ever made more handfome by
the
*
204 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
the Small Pox, or more genteel and witty by the
Country. Mademoifelle de Rambouillet was ravifl'd
with your Letter; I thought it one of the beft you
ever writ, and was glad to fee Things fo much to
my Advantage written in fo handfome a Manner.
I was very glad too at feeing the Affurances of
Love which you gave to fome other Perfons;
tho', to tell you the Truth, the Woman's Vanity,
you fay is in me, was a little mov'd at it. Adieu,
Madam; tho' I have written fo long a Letter, yet
I give over with Regret, as being
POSTSCRIPT.
Your, &c.
Pray, Madam, let me know whether you per-
ceiv'd at firft that the, as being your, &c. with
which I concluded my Letter, is one of thofe po-
lite Turns which you and I talk'd of together.
KNAB CB FC&D*C & C D E I B
To the Lord Cardinal de la VALETTE.
LETTER LXXXVIII.
MY LORD,
A
ND are you ftill uneafy upon the Miſcarriage
of Verceil? Surely you make no great Uſe of
your Reafor, if fuch a Trifle difturbs you; or
were you in Hopes to do Things impoffible, fince
you are not fatisfy'd with doing all that a Man
could do? Your Lordship will forgive me, if I
make fu familiar with you, but certainly it does
not become a Perfon of your Eminence's high Qua-
lity, to be fo diforder'd for a foolish Accident,
wherein he has committed no Over-fight; and
methinks it takes away much from the Merit of
Man's Duty, when he is not fatisfy'd that he has
diſcharg'd
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 205
difcharg'd it. You brought a Hand-full of People
to the Relief of a Place invested with a numerous
Army. You found the Lines already drawn about
it, and all the Works in fuch a Condition, that it
was thought impoffible to get one fingle Man into
the City; yet, contrary to the Hopes and Opinion
of the whole World, you forc'd a Paffage for eighteen
hundred. Could any Thing be better defign'd, more
refolutely carry'd on, or more fortunately execut-
ed? It was your own proper Conduct and Valour,
that brought Things to this Pafs. Fortune is ac-
countable for the reft; and if fhe has done any
Thing amifs, why fhould you torment yourſelf a-
bout it? Accuftom yourſelf, I beseech you, not to
be fo familiar with her, but as well in good Suc-
cefs, as in the contrary, diftinguifh what is of her
doing, and what of your own. If you carefully ob-
ferve this Method, you will neither have too
great, nor too mean an Opinion of yourſelf. If
you will needs anfwer for all Events, and cannot
be fatisfy'd at a cheaper Rate, than that of find-
ing every Thing come up to the Top of your Ex-
pectations, you muft certainly wage War upon
very hard Conditions, while you expect that For-
tune fhould do as much for you, as fhe did for
Alexander, and fomewhat more than fhe could find
in her Heart to do for Cafar. Befides, I muſt make
bold to tell you, that your Lordship is ungrateful
to her, if you quarrel with her upon the Score of
this laft Accident; for 'tis a Kind of Injuftice for
a Man to think himſelf unfortunate, merely be-
caufe his Hopes and Wifles are not always an-
fwer'd. In the mean Time, my Lord, you talk af-
ter fuch a Rate, as if, through your own Over-
fight, you had loft ten Battels, and an hundred
Towns; and you continue to be enrag'd at the
Lofs of a Place, which, in the Opinion of all the
World, was given for loft from the Beginning. I
must own to you, indeed, that the taking of Ver-
3
ceil
206 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
ceil, has much prejudiced the King's Affairs ; but
your Reputation fuffers not at all by it. If the
Relief you pour'd into it, did not prove effectual,
it deferves never the lefs Commendation. Nay,
give me Leave to tell you, that in the most prof-
perous Stream of your Victories, you never did
any Thing more heroic, or more refolute. Re-
concile yourself therefore to a more moderate
Temper, than you feem to be in at prefent; and
fince you are not in a Capacity to fright your Ene-
mies, don't attempt to do it on your Friends. You,
who have taught me all I know, are not to learn
at this Time of Day, that Prudence is an univer-
fal Virtue, which enters into the Compofition of
all the reft; and that where fhe is not, Fortitude
lofes its Name and Nature. I am,
My Lord,
Your humble Servant,
Paris, Aug. 7. 1638.
I
SIR,
To Monfieur CoSTART.
LETTER LXXXIX..
Shall this Time uſe that imperatoriam brevitatem,
which you mention in yours; for I muft im-
mediately fet out for St. Germains; and therefore I
fhall fay but one Word to you. Nevertheleſs,
fhall not be aer, according to your Theophras
Atus. In the Feafts you and I are at together, or
rather which you treat me with, I ought never to
ſpeak at all, except it be to fay Grace.
Tantum
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 207
Tantum laudare paratus.
To tell you, for certain, what Nation it was that
introduc'd Polygamy, I'll fwear is out of my Pow-
er; neither care la Pin who it was.
Tros, Rutulufve fuat, nullo difcrimine habebo: At
leaft, I'll believe you fooner than I would Herodo
tus, who fays, that in the Indies there are Ants
fomething lefs indeed than Dogs, but much bigger
than Foxes. This is the Text, according to my
Herodotus; but may be yours may differ.-
But, well thought on; you give me a Scruple
about Theocritus; and I was before fo much at Eaſe
upon that Head, that nothing could be more fo.
Pray tell me what he means, when he fays, that
Venus fent the Womens Difeafe among the Scythians,
for having violated her Temple of Afcalon.
Your Verfe of Atheneus, that Wine is the great
Horfe of the Poets, is very comical; but tell Truth,
did not you try to make an Alexandrine of it? That
piyas with pleafes me mightily; but the
great Horfe often throws his Rider.
As for Plautus's Vinum Edentulum, I am of your
i
Opinion, that he does not mean it would not bite;
for that would be a Fault: But I fuppofe 'tis a
Buffoon Way of ſpeaking, to ſay, that 'twas very
old which was a Perfection.
What fhall I do to Ulpian, who calls the Chri-
ftians Impoftors, idem Trebatio & Papiniano videbatur. 7
We fhould lofe our Caufe in the Digeſt, but the
Code is for us.
I think Pliny has a very good Saying, rerum na-
tura nufquam, &c. When I behold the Elephant, I
am inclinc'd to believe, that 'tis a Figure only
ſketch'd out by Nature, and that there is more
Form in a Fly.
I believe I fhall in a little Time go a very long
Journey: The King has appointed me to go to
Florence, to inform the Great Duke of the Queen's
Delivery. I believe this will not only be agreeable,
but
208
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
but alſo advantageous to me ; but I am forry it.
will for fome Time deprive me of your Letters,
and your Company; for I believe you will be at
Paris before I fhall return. I don't know, whether
Ifhall stay here or no, 'till you anfwer my Let-
ter ; but write to me, however, for a thouſand
Things may happen to retard, or may be prevent
my Departure. Be that as 'twill, I bid you fare-
wel, and beg you to believe that I love you en-
tirely, and that I never enjoy'd any Happiness,
which I efteem fo much as your Friendship.
But pray don't interfperfe fo many Sirs in your
Letters, ad pepulum phaleras; for if you do, I'll Sir
you up at every Line, and fay to you,
Vis te, Sexte, coli: volebam amare;
Sed fi te colo, Sexte, non amabo.
I mean, I ſhall not be fo much,,
·
Paris, Aug. 25. 1639.
Your, &t.·
SIR,
To the fame..
LETTER XC...
Malè eft Cornifici tuo Gatulle,
Malè eft me hercule & laboriose..
I Never in my Life, had my Mind fo tofs'd and
agitated, as it is now ; and yet you write to me
with as much Gaiety and Waggiſhneſs, as if we
had neither of us the leaft Caufe to be uneaſy.
Inſtead of writing to me upon the Subject of my
Vexation, and giving me your Thoughts of it, (for
there.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters: 20
there is as much Room for Conjectures in it, as
upon the obſcureft Paffage in all Tacitus) you talk
to me of Lampridius and Athenæus, quam ineptè! And
at a Time when I am difputing with myfelf whe
ther Madam
loves me or no, the Thing
being really problematic, you ding me o' th' Ears
with Pharaoh. If I had talk'd to you about the
Kings of Ægypt, when we return'd together from
Arucueil, how would you have heeded me, pray?
Yet I can't fay I did not like fome Things that
you fay to me. What you tell me about
made me laugh.
Tityofque vultu
Rifit invito
ई..
hip
I thought your patruiffimè very comical. "Tis
true, Plautus has now and then a bald Jeft or fo
but it muſt be own'd too he has often very good
ones; and thus I make Horace and Tully agree:
One of them fays, he is a filly Buffoon; and t'o-
ther fays, he is paffim refertus urbanis dictis. T'other
Day I read in him of an old Fellow, who having
furpriz'd Somebody near the Place where he had
hid his Treafure, fearch'd his Pockets, made him
fhew him firft his right Hand, and then his Left;
and finding nothing on him, he cries, ceda tertiam.
This is a very good Defcription of an old Hunks,
who imagines, that a Man has a third Hand to
rob him. I can't exprefs to you the Pleaſure you
give me in writing to me, as you do. I am more
inftructed by your Letters, than by all the Books
in the World, and meet with finer Things in them.
As for Quintus, Metellus, Celer's Gentlemen, I
know nothing of them. You tell me they were
taken for Indians; for my Part, I fancy they were
taken for Loggerheads. Then you talk of the
Winds, like Columbus himſelf. Ifhrewdly fufpect,
you pick'd this, Word for Word, out of a
that
Book ;
-
10
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
2
F
Book; for I dare fwear you never, till this Mo
ment, knew what a Rhomb is; and as for the Straits
of Vegas, I can't think you knew much more of
that, than you did of t'other.
As far as I fee, iar fignifies bacciare and amare,
becauſe kiffing and loving convertuntur. But I am
pretty confident Mr. would belye this Paf-
Tage of Ariftinatus.
Your Shepherd, his Sheep, and Hercules, pleas'd
me mightily; nay, the Afs himſelf, as you make
him fpeak, is very pretty. Pray tell me whether
you found him or no in fop's Fables. The Ap
plication of the Moral is, I think, a little danger-
ous; go preach it at Ruel, and fee how you'll be
receiv'd! But to return to our Sheep. They us'd
to go down mighty favourily with Hercules, and he
eat a great many of them at a Time. The Argo-
nauts, in their Paffage to Colchos, left him by him-
felf in an Ifland: The Learned give feveral weigh-
ty Reaſons for their fo doing; fome fay, that
when he row'd, he us'd to fnap all the Oars to
Bits; others, that he was too heavy for the Ship:
Some fay, the Argonauts were afraid he would run
away with all the Glory; and others; that he us'd
to eat more than they could conveniently fpare
him. I remember I read once in a Greek Poet,
(that is, Greek and Latin) that when he eat, he
wag'd his Ears; I thought it a very pleaſant Ob-
fervation, and have therefore remember'd the fol
lowing Verfes of it.
Illum fi edentem videris, ftrepunt gene,
Intus fonat guttur, fonat maxilla, dens
Stridet caninus, fibilant nares, movet
Aures, folent armenta ficut haud minus.
I am forry I did not mind you, when you were
eating the Cinnamon Bifcuit at Gentilly; for I dare
fay your Ears wagg'd.
1think
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
17
I think your Verfion from the Greek into French
Verfe, is very happy; but, tell Truth, how often
did you invoke Apollo before you could do it?
The Saying of Achilles Tatius, that the Tail of
a Peacock is a Meadow of Feathers, is pretty; but
perhaps a little too bold; and, in my Opinion,
Tertullian has out-done him, when, after having
faid feveral Things of the Peacock's Coat, he
adds, nunquam ipſa, ſemper alia, etfi femper ipfa quando,
alia, toties denique mutanda, quoties movenda.
Since you are defirous to chaftife Ulpian and Pa-
pinian, I give you my_Confent to do it; for they
engender nothing but Law-Suits; but if you would
take my Advice, you would pardon Trebatius, were
it only for this Saying of his, which you taught
me, confultus à quodam, an nux pinea pomum eſſet, re-
fpondit, fi in Vatinium miffurus es, pomum erit. Adieu,
Sir; I am fincerely,
Your, &c...
SIR,
WHEN
To the fame.
LETTER XCI
HEN I had a Flock of Sheep to buy, and
Love-Letters to write, both in the Caftilian
and Portuguese Languages, I had hardly more Bu-
finefs upon my Hands, than I have now. I muft
take my Leave of the King and the Duke of Or-
leans; I must follicit Monfieur de Bulion for fome
Bills, and get them paid me in Spain. I must wait
upon all my Friends; and all this must be done in
three Days. Yet, in the Midst of all this Hurry, I
fteal Time to write to you; for, in my Thoughts,
nothing is fo important; and my Voyage can ne-
ver
312
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
(
ver be fortunate, if I began it fo ill, as to go with-
but bidding you adieu. Whether my Voyage prove
fortunate or no, I never went out of France with fo
good a Will; and I now take Pleaſure in going to
defy, upon the Mediterranean, the two and thirty
Winds, which you know I formerly defy'd upon
the Ocean. But now I think on't, you reckon up
five and thirty, tho' you pretend to be fo great a
Mariner, with your Rhomb, and your Straits of
Vegas
?
Heu quidnam tanti turbarunt athera venti !
Thofe who have fail'd round the whole World,
know of but two and thirty; fo that the other
three must be in your own Head: I could never
have thought there had been fo many. But the
Wind which I think moft infupportable of all in
you, is, the Greek Wind, and the Sufficiency you
affume to yourſelf of knowing where to put a
Grave, and where a Circumflex, better than I my
felf, is intolerable. I own the Saying, That you fall
neither add nor diminiſh an Iota, is very juft; but it is
not meant with Relation to Accents
and yet,
becauſe I forgot but one, you hifs as if you had
gain'd a mighty Victory: Ventum horribilem! When
you made fuch wretched Work with poor Philo-
mela, fo that none but Tereus ever us'd her fo feur-
vily, I did not make half this Noife; and yet
'twas lefs pardonable in you than me.
+
But, good Heaven! how ingeniouſly you bring
in
your Duriter
and all the rest of that Paf
fage! Well, 'tis a Sign I have a true Love for you,
fince I can read without Envy the Things you
write to me, and take Pleafure in feeing that you
have more Wit than myfelf. Really, I am forry
for nothing in my Journey, fo much as my being
to lofe the Pleafure of hearing from you. All the
Figs, Raifins, and Melons in Italy, nay, nor the
Prefent
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 213
S
Prefent I fhall have from the Great Duke, will be
able to make me amends for the Lofs of your
Letters: But I believe you had rather I fhould
praiſe your Poetry, than your Profe for Ariftotle
fays, that of all Artificers, the Poet is moft fond of
his Workmanship. Your poetical Works are indeed
admirable; and may I be hang'd if I don't think
you write Verfes like Tully himſelf. I am,
+00
Sir,
Four, &c
To Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET.
LETTER XCII.
MADAM,
Cannot pofitively fay, that I am come to Turing
1 for I have brought but one half of my felf with
me. You imagine my Meaning is, that I have left
the other half with you; but give me Leave to
tell
you, you are mistaken. All that I mean by it,
is, that of an hundred and four Pounds that I
weigh'd at my coming out of Paris, I now weigh
but fifty two. In fhort, I am fallen away exceed-
ingly, and am fo much alter'd for the worfe, that
I believe my nearest Acquaintance would hardly
know me, fhould they fee me in this Condition.
An ill-natur'd Intruder, a Fever, ftaid me a Day
at Roan. Upon its first Attack, Tconcluded with
myfelf, that I fhould be laid up for a Month or
two; and therefore, with the humbleft Refigna-
tion of a good Chriftian, expected a Sicknefs of a
long Continuance. What vex'd me moſt of all, was,
that I imagin'd you would hardly believe it pro-
ceeded from my Grief of parting from you, but
afcribe
114 Monfieur VoITURE's Letters:
afcribe it to my riding Poft. And indeed, Madam,
had you made that Inference, I could not condemn
you: For to tell you the Truth, the three laft
Horfes I mounted, very much gall'd that Part of
my Body, which Hiftory tells us Brunello once upon a
Time fhew'd Marfifia. This I mention'd to a cer
tain Great Perfon in Roan, who being, as I was
afterwards ihform'd, an Apothecary by Trade, was
To complaifant and civil, as to bring me fome-
thing of his own compofing, which gave me pre-
Tent Relief. When you fee my Lady Dutchefs
next, pray inform her of this Matter and like-
wife tell her, that I have receiv'd no other Hurt
as yet, Tave only that which proceeds from my
not feeing you. But alas! there is no Remedy for
that: Neither Acids, nor Alcali's, nor Acrimony, nor
Chymical Salts, will help me. Within a few Days
I fhall purfue my Journey to Rome, whither, if you
pleafe to direct any of your Letters to me, I fhall
behold the Curiofities of that famous Place with
more Delight and Satisfaction, and pafs away my
Time more agreeably, who am,
;
Madam,
Zurin, Sept. 8. 1638.
Your obedient Servant, &è.
To the fame.
LETTER XCIII.
MADAM,
Wifh, with all my Heart, you could have feen
what a bleffed Pickle I was in this Day, in your
Glafs you then would have found me amongft
the most horrid Mountains in the World, in the
odiola
midft
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 15
midſt of a dozen or fifteen Men, the moſt dread-
ful to look on that might be ; the moſt innocent
of them has kill'd fifteen or twenty Meh to his
Share. They were all black as Devils, their Hair
grew down to their Waftes, each of them had two
or three Cuts cross the Face, and every one a
a Blunderbufs on his Shoulder, and two Piſtols,
and as many Daggers at his Girdle. Thefe are
the Banditti that live in the Mountains of Piedmont
and Genoa ; you would certainly have been afraid
to have feen me amongst thefe Scoundrels, and
would have believ'd they were a going to cut my
Throat. For fear of being robb'd, I entreated
their Company, having the Night before written
to their Captain to meet me here, which he hath
done; fo that I have got off for three Piftoles
But above all, I wish you had feen what Faces my
Nephew and my Man put on, on this Occafion,
who thought nothing lefs than that I had led them
to the Slaughter-houfe. Having difmifs'd them,
I came into two Places where there were Spanish
Garrifons, and there certainly I was in greater
Hazard than before. Being examin'd, I told 'em
I was a Savoyard; and to make me pafs for fuch,
Ifpoke as like as I could M. de; and upon
that I was permitted to pafs. Confider whether I
fhall make any excellent Difcourfes that will fand
me in fo much Stead; and if it had not been very
impertinent in me at that Time, if under Pre-
tence of being of the Academy, I fhould have
pump'd for the best French. From thence I came
to Savonne, where I found the Sea fomewhat more
tempestuous than was fuitable to fo fmall a Veffel
as I had taken, and yet, God be prais'd, I am
come fafe hither. Confider how many Hazards I
have pafs'd in one Day. In fhort, I have eſcap'd
the Banditti, the Spaniard, and the Sea, and they
have not all of them done me fo much Hurt as
you have sand it is for your Sake that I run the
greateſt
216 Monfieur VoITURE's Letters,
50
I
greateft Hazards I am like to meet with in this
Voyage. You think that I am in Jeft, but may
die, if I can any longer defend myfelf from the
Affliction it is to me, not to fee your Mother and
yourſelf. I muft needs confefs, that I was firft in
fome Doubt, whether it were you or the Poft-
Horſe that hurt me; but now it is fix Days fince
I have ridden, and yet feel no lefs Wearinefs. This
convinces me, that my Torment proceeds from
my Diſtance from you, and the greatest of my
Ailments, is that of not feeing you; and this is fo
certain, that had I no other Bufinefs here, than
what I have to do at Florence, I think I fhould.im-
mediately return to France, and not have the Heart
to go any farther, had I not an Affair of yours to
folicit at Rome. Be pleas'd then to think yourfelf
oblig'd to me for this; for I affure you, there's
much more in it than I tell you, and that I am
As much as I ought to be,
Madam,
Your humble Servant, &c.
To my Lady Marchionefs de RA m-
BOUILLET.
LETTER XCIV.
$ MADAM,
F OR your Sake I have given myſelf the Trou
ble to Teé la Valentin and that with much
more Curiofity than ever I faw any Thing in my
whole Life. Since you expect a Defcription of it,
Ifhall give
it you in as exact a Manner as I can.
But, Madam, be pleas'd to confider, that when I
have done this, and executed your other Commif
010010
fion
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters. 217
fion at Rome, I fhall have done for you two of the
hardeſt Things in the World, which is to talk of
Buildings and Bufinefs. To begin then, Madam,
with la Valentin, I muft inform you, that it is a
pleafant Houfe, within a quarter of a League of
Turin, fituated in a Meadow on the River Po.
As you come up to it, the firft Thing that pre-
fents its felf to your Sight, the Duce take me if I
know what it is; but, as I was faying before, the
first Thing you fee, is a Lodge. No, no, it is a
Portal. No, I am miſtaken, it is certainly a Lodge.
After all, I feriously profefs to you, I know not
whether it is a Portal or a Lodge. Not an Hour
Not an Hour
ago, I had every Thing as perfect as might be
but this wicked Memory of mine ufes now and then
to play a Jade's Trick, and leave me in the Lurch.
But at my Return, I fhall take better Notice, and
not fail to give you a punctual Account of all.
1 am,
Genoa, Oct. 7. 1638.
I
SIR,
Madam,
Your Servant
To Monfieur COSTART.
LETTER XCV.
จ
Was Yeſterday entertain'd in one of the moſt
magnificent Palaces in the World. For my
Lodgings, I had a fpacious Hall, two Anti-Cham-
bers, and a Chamber hang'd with Tapestry, 'all over
bedaub'd with Gold, and was attended by fome
20 or 30 tall Servants in Liveries; and to Day I
find myſelf in one of the wretched' Inns that e-
ver was feen, and have only one Boy to wait upon
me. To baniſh fo furprizing an Alteration of the
L
Scene
218
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Scene out of my Head, and raiſe myſelf to as
great a Degree of Happinefs, as I enjoy'd Yefter-
day, I call'd for Pen, Ink, and Paper, on purpoſe
to write to you; and may I be abandon'd by all
the World, if amidit the Honours I receiv'd fuit-
able to the Perfon that I then reprefented, and
amidst all the Dainties I was then regal'd with, I
found fo much Pleaſure as I do at this prefent.
Befides the Satisfaction I take in entertaining you,
I had a much ftronger Reafon to incline me to
write; and that was, that the Caufe of my main-
taining a conftant Correfpondence with you, does
not proceed from any Advantage I propofe to my
Telf by the Exchange, fince at this prefent Mo-
ment, when I cannot hope for any Anſwer from
you, I yet take an infinite Pleaſure to write to you,
and likewife to affure you of my Readiness to
ferve you, whenever any Occafion prefents itfelf.
Within three Weeks I hope to take my farewel of
Rome; and if I can meet with the Conveyance of a
Veffel, to fail directly for Marseilles, you that are fo
well acquainted with the Winds, if you have any
Command over them, be fo kind as to lock them
up all but one or two, that will fend me Home-
wards. As for them, there is no great Danger,
Should they ftorm and blufter a little. I don't care
a Farthing for a little toffing of the Sea, provided
I make the more Speed; for I long exceedingly to
be at Paris, and particularly to kiss your Hands
there. I am
Rome, Nov, 15.
1938.
Your most bumble Servant
xox
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 219
To Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET.
Ta va qabtel
LETTER XCVI.
MADAM,
MY
Y Lady, your Mother, muft excufe me,
but never any Thing was fo tirefome to me,
as Rome. Not a Day paffes, but I fee fomething that
is wonderful; Mafter-pieces of the greateſt Artiſts
that ever were; Gardens where there is an ever-
lafting Spring, Buildings that are not to be e-
quall'd in the World; and Ruins yet more beauti-
ful than they: But all this that I tell you, hath no
Power to divert me ; and at the fame Time that I
3
fee 'em, I wifh myfelf far from 'em. The most
excellent Paintings, Sculptures, and Portraitures
of Apelles, Praxiteles, and Papardelle, have no Charms
for me. I fhould be amaz'd at this, were I not
fenfible of the Caufe, and did not well know, that
a Perfon, who has been accuftom'd to the Sight of
you, could never be eafy when he did not enjoy
it: For to tell you the Truth, Madam, I have the
fame Senfe of you, as of Health; I never fo well
know your Value, as when I have loft you; and
although, when I am near you, I manage not al-
ways fo well as to maintain myfelf well with you
yet from the Moment that I behold you no more,
I ſeek you with a thouſand Wiſhes. I call to Mind
that you are the most precious of worldly Things
and I find, by Experience, that all the Delights
of the Earth are harfh and difagreeable without
you. I had more Pleaſure fome Time ago in two
or three Turns of the Ruel with you, than I have
had fince in feeing all the Country-Seats of Rome,
or that I ſhould have to fee the Capitol, tho' in all
La
ite
220 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
苄
​its ancient Splendor, with even Jupiter Capitolinus
there in Perfon: But that you may know that
this is no Raillery, and that I am really as ill as I
exprefs it, 'tis but eight Days fince, that walking
in the Morning with the Chevalier de Fars, I had
fallen all along, if he had not receiv'd me in his
Arms; and the next Evening I fwoon'd once more
in the Apartment of the Marfhal de Eftree's.. The
Phyficians fay, that thofe are melancholy Vapours,
and that theſe Accidents are not to be neglected.
As for me, fince this has taken me two Days fuc-
ceffively, and that I was threaten'd with fomething
worfe, I have neither been ſtupid nor infenfible,
but have taken fome Antimony which Monfieur
"Nerli gave me. This has done me fome Good,
and I'll bring four Dofes with me, which I'll per-
fwade the Dutchefs d'Aiguillon to take; for there
is no Volatile Salt which can have fo good Effect:
And this we must be contented with, 'till he that
hath given me it, fhall find the Receipt of the
Aurum Potabile; which Secret, as he fays, he fhall
attain to in a Year at leaſt. I hope to leave this
Place in a Week; you will be amaz'd that I can
continue fo long in a Place which I tell you I have
been fo tir'd with; but I have been kept here
'till now, by fome Things which I will acquaint
you with, and which I have not yet been able to
difpatch; but I affure you once more, that I never
in my Life was fo uneafy and fo impatient to fee
you. I humbly befeech you to do me the Honour
to believe me, and to be affur'd that I am much
more than I can here exprefs,
Rome, Nov. 25.1638.
Madam,
Yours.
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 221
I
To the Lord Bishop of LISIEUX.
LETTER XCVII.
MY LORD,
Would willingly myfelf have brought you the
Letter herein inclos'd, and return'd you my
Thanks by Word of Mouth, for the Favour you
were pleas'd to do me, in recommending me to
the Perfon who fends it you: And indeed, having
been but little amended at Rome, I had a mighty
Mind to fee whether I ſhould be more improv'd
at Lifieux, and whether you would teach me how
to make myſelf worthy of the Pardons I have re-
ceiv'd from the Pope. This Journey I believe
would be of more Ufe to me, than that which I
have lately finish'd; for really, my Lord, I never
fee you, without being the better for it fome Days
together; and every Time I come near you, I find
my good Angel affumes new Strength, and leads
me by the Hand with more Boldness. I have long
thought, that if ever God vouchfafes to convert
me, he will make Uſe of no other Means in order
to do it, than your Difcourfe and Example; and,
that if he fends a Voice from Heaven to reclaim
me, he will communicate it to me by your Mouth.
I can't help thinking, that the Defire I have to
ferve you, docs, in fome fort, fanctify me already;
and I cannot be very prophane, whilft I have fo
much Refpect and Affection for fo holy a Perfon:
At leaft, you caufe me to have one reafonable
Paffion among fo many other unreaſonable ones;
and let me be ever fo irregular, I am fure one
Part of my Heart is found; tho' I am us'd to be-
tow it with very little Confiderations, yet now I
believe
L 3
222
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
believe I have for ever fecur'd the Part you have
of it, from all Danger of being given or engag'd
elſewhere. Your Share in it, my Lord, is fo great,
that I hope it may one Day come to fave all the
reft; and I don't defpair of ſeeing it wholly yours.
e'er long. You are every Moment winning more
and more of it, and, within a very little while, you
will have as much Power in it, as all the rest of
the World befides, put together. I beg you would go
on and gain it all, and you may rejoyce in this Ac-
quifition, as a Conquest made in an Infidel Country,
from whence you are decreed to expel Idolatry.
I have fome Hopes that this will happen; for
when I confider that you, who can very hardly be
deceiv'd, have given me fo many Commendations,
I look upon all the Good you have faid of me,
as a Prophecy, and I believe, I ſhall come to be
the Man you affur'd Cardinal Barberini I was al
ready. 'Tis impoffible for me to exprefs the good
Reception he gave me upon your Recommenda-
tion, and the Affection he testify'd for every Thing
that related to you. Italy, my Lord, is not a bir
Jefs acquainted with your Merits than France; and
I faw nothing at Rome that edify'd me fo much, as
the Efteem they have there for you. But Cardinal
Barberini particularly feem'd to be an extraordi-
nary Friend of yours and I dare fay, he has that
Love and Refpect for your Virtue, which all, who
converfe with you, muſt feel in your behalf. He
has commanded me to tell you fome Things from
him, which I referve 'till I have the Honour to.
fee you, and to affure you my felf, that I am more
than any Body,
}
My LORD,
Your, &c.
=H
To
'Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 223
BIDDIDIDO✪✪✪✪✪‡÷DA-CNONOCEA
To Monfieur de LYONNE at ROME.
SIR,
T
LETTER XCVIII.
HO' you have caus'd me the moſt reſtleſs
Hours that I have had in all ‡ my Travels,
and have rreated me at Rome the worst of any
thing that I know of, yet affure yourſelf, I have
not feen any Man I fo much defire to fee again,
or have a greater Inclination to ferve. It feldom
happens, that he, who ruins a Man, gains his
Friendship by it; you have had that good For-
tune with me; and your Genius hath in all
Things fuch an Influence over mine, that I have
not been able to make my Party good any way;
but tho' you have gotten my Money, yet at the
fame Time you have won my Heart, and made
yourſelf Mafter of my Affections. And if I am
fo happy to have any Place in yours, that Gain
takes away the Senfe of all my Loffes, and makes
me think myſelf the Gainer in what hath paſt be
tween us. Your Acquaintance, tho' it has coft mo
extreamly dear, yet have I not paid the Worth
on't, and I fhould not ftick to give as much, to find
fuch a Companion at Paris. This granted, Sir, you
L 4
may
+ Voiture took a Journey to Rome: There he play'd
with Monfieur de Lyonne, and loft his Money. At
his Return to Paris, he wrote this Letter to Mon-
fieur de Lyonne, who was ftill at Rome. Voiture was
a paffionate Lover of Gaming, and play'd high;
had it not been for that Vice, he had dy'd as rich
as Chapelain, the beft provided for, and yet the
poorest of all the Wits of his Age.
224 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
may be affur'd I fhall do any Thing that may fe-
cure an Honour that I eſteem fo extreamly, and
that I shall not eafily lofe a Friend I have pur-
chas'd at fo dear a Rate. I have fulfill'd your De-
fires in the Bufinefs that you writ to me about,
and fhall be as obfervant to you in all your other
Commands, for I am with Sincerenes and Af-
fection,
Sir,
Your humble Servant, &c.
To the Lord Cardinal de la VALETTE.
LETTER XCIX.
MY LORD,
F you remember the Love I us'd to have for
Rinaldo and Rogero, you would not at all doubt
of my having as great a one now for you, fince in
only a Doublet you do all that they did in en-
chanted Armour: Had you been a Fairy, you
could not have run into Danger more boldly than
you have done: You have pufh'd Valour to its
fartheft Limits, and carry'd it to the greateſt
Height that it can poffibly be rais'd to, even by
thoſe who have no other Virtue befides their Bra-
very. I own, my Lord, if the War had been end-
ed by this laft Action, which you had the princi-
pal Hand in, and if nothing remain'd for you to
do now, but to come Home in Triumph, I fhould
take a vaft deal of Delight in the Praifes which
are here given you, and ſhould fit down to write
your Hiftory, with a great deal of Calmnefs and
Pleafure: But when I reflect that more Occafions
are likely to offer, wherein you may run the fame
Hazards,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 225
Hazards, and not being fure what may be the
End of the Story, I can't enjoy, without fome U
eafinefs, the Glory you have gain'd in the World
and the Fear of Futurity will not fuffer me to be
heartily joyful at what now requires it. For this
Reaſon, I leave the Office of loading you with E-
logiums, to thofe who have not fo much Affection
for
you as I have, and who do not ftand fo much
in need of you, as I do. For my part, all I can dó
at prefent, is most humbly to befeech you, my
Lord, to be more careful of the moft illuftrious
Perfon of the Age, and not to be fo fond of Va-
lour, as to do Wrong to Juftice, which forbids you
to be fo free in venturing the Happineſs of fo
many People, and commands you to be very cau-
tious how you rifque a Life, wherein fo many wor
thy Perfons have an Intereft, and which is of more
Concern to France, than all the Countries you de
fend. I am,.
My Lord,
Your, &cd
To the Lord
LETTER C..
MY LORD,
HAD you left Paris, even upon an agreeable:
Occafion, either for Pleafure or Glory, I be-
lieve I should have been forry even for that, and
in this one Point oppos'd your Intereft; but your
Abfence having fo unlucky a Caufe as it has, I
may fay, nothing could have happen'd to affli&t
me more, and Fortune could have done nothing
(in my Eyes) more unjuft and hard to be fupport-
ed. Since this Accident has difturb'd the Pleaſure
of
رد
Ꮭ 5 .
226 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
of every Body here, and given Uneafinefs to fo
many People, who are lefs oblig'd to you than I
am, I dare fay, my Lord, you would not in the
leaft have fcrupled to believe that I am inexpref-
fibly griev'd at it, tho' I had not writ to you, to
inform you of it. However, I thought it my Duty
to give you this Proof of it; and I fancy'd, I fhould
receive fome Confolation from affuring you, that
there is no Body on Earth, who is fo much con-
cern'd at every Thing that relates to you, or is
more fincerely than I,
My Lord,
Your, &c.
I
SIR,
To Monfieur
LETTER CI.
፡
With you had danc'd a Couranto the lefs, and
fent me a Letter, or employ'd the Time where-
in you may dance a Boutade in writing to me. We
are told here, that in one fingle Ball you danc'd
it thirty Times: This is heavy dancing for a
great Marefchal de Camp, who ought to give fome
Proof of his remembering thoſe whom he left be-
hind at Paris. If you go on at this Rate, I declare
I'll have no more to do with you, nor take any
more Care of your Affairs; for I think the Ladies
of Lorain will be more oblig'd to reward you,
eur Court Ladies. I don't know, Sir, what you
may fancy, nor what Advantage you may have
in't; but, for my Part, I think your Dancing
can't be much in Tune at Metz; and I dare fwear
you have no Ladies there, more handfome nor
lovely than three or four here, who talk of you
than
fome-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 227
fometimes, and who are a little affronted at your
being fo merry in their Abfence: But if you are
grown fuch a mighty Dancer, that you can't for
bear, at leaſt they defire you not to dance the
Boutade any more, but to chufe fome graver Dance,
fuch as the Brawls, or the Pavane. I thought my
felf oblig'd, Sir, to give you this Advice; you
may make what Ufe of it you pleafe; for my
Part, I fhall be always,
།
Your, &c.
To Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
LETTER CII.
THE raifing of the Siege of Turin, was the
moſt agreeable News I ever heard in my
Life. Yet I could not help being a little forry, that
it depriv'd me of an Opportunity to give my Lord
Cardinal de la Valette a Proof of the fincere Affec-
tion I have for him; for I had made a Refolution
to get into the City, and carry him fome Refresh
ments, together with your Meffage. Count Guicke,
to whom I boaſted of this Project, told me, that
they generally hang thoſe whom they catch in
fuch Defigns; but this did not at all deter me; for
having had fome Reafons from Madam de la Tris
moüille, with which might comfort myfelf up, in
Cafe I were broken upon the Wheel in Italy, I'did
not much mind fo fmall a Matter as being hang'd..
But it had been comical, if the Cardinal from the
Walls, fhould have happen'd to fpy me upon the
Ladder. In fober Sadnefs, when one is abfent
from you, a Man would be hang'd for a Groat,
and one feels fo great a Weight lying upon one's
Stomach
228 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters.
:
Stomach, that I don't know but 'twould be better
to be put out of one's Pain at once. 'Tis impofft-
ble for you, Madam, to conceive the Nature of
this Diftemper, becauſe you were never abfent
from your feif, nor ever knew the Affliction it
gives, to be feparated from the moſt amiable Per-
fon in the World. But, if you will, I'll tell you
how it is: The firft Day one is quite faft afleep;
the fecond, one is only in a Sort of a Dofe; the
third, one is as it were ftupify'd, and when one's
Senfes begin to return, one fighs, and fighs, fo pi-
tifully, that 'tis enough to cleave any Body's Heart
to hear it. Don't be afraid of this Letter's being
open'd, for the Pofts do now travel in Security:
But, in Cafe it is furpris'd, I declare to Prince
Thomas, to the Marquifs of Leganez, and to all thofe
to whom thefe Prefents fhall come, that there's
no Heed to be given to me, that I am in Jeft all
the while, in whatever I fay, and that I generally
do write thus, in an extravagant Manner. They
may believe as much of this as they pleaſe; but
this is undoubtedly true, that I am, beyond any
Thing I can fay,
Grenoble.
Madam,
Your, &c.
MADAM,
W
To the Princess.
LETTER CIII.
ERE I not nail'd to Paris ſo faft, that I
don't know how to ftir from it, nothing
fhould have hinder'd me to Day, from being at
Poilly; for whatever I may have faid of another
Princefs, there is none in the World I fee with fo
much
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 229
much Pleaſure, as I do your Highneſs. But as you
know, Madam, that one Pellet drives out another,
the Paffion I have for you, is forc'd to give Way
to a new one which is come upon me, and which,
if it is not ſtronger, is at leaſt more preffing at
prefent. I don't know whether you will under-
ftand this Enigmatical Way of Expreffion; but
I affure you, I have a fundamental Reafon not to
ftir from hence, but I dare not reft too much up-
on it, nor explain myſelf farther to you. I delibe-
rated a long Time with myfelf, whether I fhould
go or no, and there was a great Difpute between
my Heart and another Part which I'don't Name:
But, in fhort, Madam, I muft own to you, that
that which ought to have been undermoft, got
the upper Hand of it, and I preferr'd that before
every Thing elfe, which naturally ought to have
been behind. Yet Ifwear, in the Pofture my Affairs
are in, 'twas impoffible for me to do otherwife;
and you yourſelf, who are the most prudent Per-
fon in the World, and do nothing without Order,
must have done as I did, if you had been in my
Condition. I pray God, Madam, you never may ;
for in the Condition I am in, there is no Place at
all but what is irkfome to me; and be I where I
will, I am, as it were, upon Thorns: I can't walk;
I am very uneafy on Horfeback; a Coach is too
violent for me, and even Monfieur de Sous-carriere's
Chairs are troubleſome to me. I am,
Paris, August 5,
1639.
Madam,
Your, &c.
To
230 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
દે
SIB,
T
To Monfieur CHAPELAIN.
LETTER CIV.
HIS comes to tell you, that I fhall punc
tually put your Orders in Execution. Whe-
ther 'tis for your own, or M. de Balzac's Sake, that
I do it, the Duce take me if I know, nor, indeed,
do I think 1 fhall be able to refolve the Queſtion,
tho' I ftudy'd it twenty four Hours by the Clock..
The Authority that both of you have over me, is
fo equally divided, that if, at the fame Time, one
of you fhould command me to eat, and the other
to drink, in my Confcience I fhould be ſtarv'd, at
leaft, according to the nice Notion of our Philo-
fophers; for I fhould never find any Reaſon to
comply with the one more than the other: But
as my good Stars order it, you agree fo well in
your Sentiments, that you will never impofe any
contrary Commands upon me; and your Interefts
are fo mutually interwoven, that when ever I fa-
tisfy one of you, I cannot fail of fatisfying the o-
ther. I am,
'Aug. 10.
1639.
SIR,
Your bumble Servant,
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 231
榮榮
​To Mademoiſelle ****
LETTER CV.
MADAM,
ΤΗ
HE Letter which you defir'd' to fee, is not
worth the leaſt Line of that in which you
you
sommand it; but you, who were Yefterday fo de-
vout, do you make no Scruple to write fuch Things
in the Holy-week, and do you not apprehend the
Confequence of 'em, and what Effect they may
have? I had fer my Confcience at reft, and for
that Reaſon refolv'd never to fee you more.
But your Left has given me a new Diforder;
and, as well as another, I have fuffer'd myfelf to
be overcome by your Pearls, and your four thou
be overcome by
fand Livres. I could not have thought that you
would ever have made ufe of fuch Means to re-
gain a Lover, or that theſe Sort of Things could
have had any Power over me; and I affure you,
'tis the firſt Time that I have let myſelf be daz
zled with Riches: So, to tell you the Truth, the
Pearls were never fo well fet as they are in your
Letter; and your four thouſand Livres, as you
have manag'd 'em, are worth more than three
hundred thoufand. You are an incomprehenfible
Perfon, and I cannot fufficiently admire how, with-
out reading Herodotus, and making ufe of the Satur-
nalia, you can write fuch delicate Letters; as for
me, Madam, I begin to imagine that you have de-
ceiv'd us; I believe you are acquainted with the
Source of Nilus, and that Spring from whence you
draw all thefe fine Things, which you fay, is much
more fecret and unknown: In fine, whatfuever
your Steward fays, 'tis not the Marchionefs de Sable
who
232
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
who is the fineft Perfon in the World; you have
more Charms in a. Corner of an Eye, than there
is in all the rest of the Earth; nor have all the
Charms of Magick, a Power comparable to thoſe
you write.
To Madam ******
LETTER CVI..
MADAM,
You
U have good Reafon to make a Jeft of
me, and I own I am afhad to find, that
after having made fo much hg, I must at
laft be forced to fhew my Weak As far as I
fee, Madam, let me be where I will, I can never
be far from you; I carry you always about me in
my Heart; and you have me as fure when I am at
my own Lodgings, as when I am in your Coach.
But, if we confider this Matter thoroughly, you
neither ought to have any Glory upon its Ac-
count, nor I any Shame ; for fince 'tis all done by
Sorcery and Enchantment, there's no Room for
you to boast, nor me to be reproach'd and up-
braided. It must be done fo; for if there were
not fomething fuper-natural in it, how could it
happen, that, knowing your Artifices fo well as I
do, I fhould make no better a Defence againſt
them; and that the most unlucky, ungrateful
Creature upon Earth, fhould to me feem the moſt
amiable. Be fatisfy'd, I befeech you, Madam,
with the Mifchiefs you have done me; break the
Charm you have laid upon me; or, if you are not
willing I fhould be cur'd, at leaft, fince nothing is
impoffible to you, fo order it, that I may believe
you love me, and I fhall then endure with Chear-
fulneſs
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters: 233
f
fulneſs all the Misfortunes you fhall pleaſe to in-
flict upon me. I am,
Madam,
Tour, &c.
CCA Z
To the Marchioness de SABLE.
LETTER CVII..
MADAM,
THO
1
'HO' Monfieur Mefnardiere's Letters are very
gallant, yet Mademoiſelle de Chalais and my
felf don't know how to be fatisfy'd with receiving
only that one in this Journey, fince that too in-
form'd us of nothing but your having caught a
dreadful Cold. But 'tis a ftrange Thing, that I,
who have fo often been angry with you for being.
too tender and fearful in what concern'd your
Health, fhould now grow to be of the fame Tem-
per as to what regards you ; and that your having
a Cold, fhould be a greater Torment to me, than
if I myself had a continual Fever upon me. But
indeed I am now fo much interested in your
Health, that have good Reafon to be uneafy for
it, fince thereon depends your Journey, and upon
your Journey, all my Repofe and Satisfaction;
for I affure you, Madam, I am refolv'd to have
none, if you don't come; fo that I fhall this Win-
ter be the happiest or unhappiest of all Mankind,
according to the Refolution you take. Nay, you
yourfelf too would have your Share in the Plea-
fure you give us; for you would undoubtedly have
more Diverfion here, than where you are, and be
more gay, and confequently better in Health. But
*till
you can come, how kind I ſhould think you,
if you would but fend Mademoifelle
and
Made-
234 Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters:-
Mademoifelle before you, that in the mean
Time I might have fome Body to talk of you to,
and fo deceive my Impatience, by giving it that
Satisfaction!
This is a great Piece of Affurance,
Madam, to fcratch out four Lines together, when
one writes to a Marchionefs; but you know bet-
ter than any Body how neceffary a Thing it is in
human Society, to have the Liberty of fcratching
out. I don't write to for I am vex'd at her
not having written to me all the laft Journey. I
fend a Parcel of Top-knots, which I humbly beg
you to tranfmit into the Hands of her Confident,
She may make what Ufe of them fhe fhall think
moft proper, and keep them for herſelf, if the
believes the cannot prefent them to
with-
out being ſuſpected by the Mother. Yet I defire
fhe would pick out the handſomeft of them, and
prefent them to you as from herfelf;. I would fay
from me, if I durft, and if I did not know that
you never take the leaft Pleaſure in having any
Thing given to you. I fend them fome Images
too, becauſe I remember I promis'd I would. I tell
you nothing from your Friend; the poor Creature
is, I think, in a deplorable Condition; her Huf-
band never ftirs a Moment from her; he is every
Moment fcolding at her, and fo is her Mother.
In fhort, never was Woman marry'd fo little, nor
fo much. Pray, Madam, come quickly, and fee
this Wonder. Iam,
non
Your, &c..
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
335
To Madam ** ** **
LETTER CVIII.
MADAM,
TH
HO' I can never hope to acquit myſelf of
the Obligation I lie under to you for your
Civilities, yet I fhould be forry to be lefs oblig'd
to you; and tho' I know myfelf unworthy the Ho-
nours you heap upon me, they nevertheleſs give
me inexpreffible Pleafure; if I knew nothing more
of you than your Quality and Birth, I ſhould think
myſelf very much honour'd in having receiv'd
Letters from you, and been favour'd with your
Commands. But Fortune having ſo order'd it, I
can't tell by what Means, that being at a great
Distance from you, I nevertheleſs know you as
particularly as thofe who are moſt near you.
own, Madam, it gives me an inconceivable Satis-
faction, not to fay Vanity, to have receiv'd fo
much Kindness from one whom I long ago thought
the most accompliſh'd Lady this Age can boaft
of, and in whom all the Qualifications that can
create Affection and Eſteem, are affèmbled toge-
ther. But tho' I had known fo little of the World,
as never to have heard this talk'd of, yet I can
judge by your Letters, that there is nothing in France
that can equal your Affability and Wit; and the
beautiful and obliging Words which you do me the
Honour to write to me, would certainly make me
imagine fomething extraordinary of you. They
are really fuch Words, Madam, as would have
touch'd me extreamly, let them come from whom
they would; but the Perfon who fends them,
makes them much more confiderable in my Eyes
and
36 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
-
and the Hand that writ them, gives them a Force
and Virtue they could never have had elſewhere.
If after this, I ferve A with my utmoft Dili-
A-
gence and Intereft, 'twill be no great Wonder ;
your Perfwafions are fuch, that it would be im-
poffible not to do it, and you have left me no
Room to have any Merit in doing it. I could
wifh, Madam, that inſtead of recommending to
me a Perfon for whom I have already a very great
Efteem, you had commanded me to do fomething
very difficult, and for which I might have had
fome little Repugnance; that you might, in fome
Meaſure, have known the Power you have over
me, and been fenfible, that it is not either the Fa-
vours you have loaded me with, or the Manner of
writing, by which you fa eafily gain the Hearts of
all who read your Letters, that make me obey
you; but that 'tis the Refpect I have for the ma-
ny wonderful Qualities you poffefs, and Zeal with
which I am,
Madam,
Your, &c.
* X X X + X
To Mademoifelle de RAMBOUILLFT..
MADAM,
WER
LETTER CIX..
ERE it not for my Waggon, I ſhould be
wonderfully afflicted at the Lofs of your
Company, and fhould have thought of nothing
befides yourfelf; for, to tell you the Truth, I was
never in my Life fo unwilling to leave you. But
you can't imagine, Madam, what an excellent Re-
medy a Waggon is againſt an extraordinary Paf-
fion; ſometimes a Horſe founders, then a Wheel
breaks
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 237
breaks; fometimes we ftick faft all Night in the
midſt of a Bogg; and 'tis really as much as one
can do to think of one's best Friends twice or thrice
a Day, in thefe plaguy Vehicles. But now that we
fhall travel more gently, and are juſt going to take
Water upon the Rhofne, I fhall do my Dury better
in thinking of you; and I am miſtaken if I ſhan't
arrive at Avignon the moft paffionate Man in the
World. As for you, Madam, who travel no far-
ther than from your Houfe to Fauxbourg St. Germain,
and are not oblig'd to hobble thro' fuch ill Ways
as I am, you are not excufable, if you don't do
me the Honour to think of me fometimes; at
leaft, I know you are more oblig'd to do it than
ever; and if I don't think of you very often, when
I do, 'tis with fuch a good Will, and in fuch a
Manner, that I am fure, if you could conceive it,
you would be fatisfy'd with me; and befides, how
do you know but I do think of you very often, and
talk thus, only becauſe I dare not tell all my Sen-
timents? In this Doubt, I beg you, Madam, to be-
lieve what Monfieur Amand fhall tell you about me,
for I have appointed him to let you know my In-
tentions, and do me the Favour to think me,
Lyons, Feb. 23.1642.
Madam,
Tour, &c.
The Refolution which my Lord Cardinal had
form'd, to go by Water on the Rhofne, is alter'd;
becaufe, as he was walking upon the Port the Day
before Yeſterday, he faw a Boat full of Soldiers
like to perifh, and there were fome of them fo
mad as to fling themſelves into the Water, and fo
were drown'd: Now, his Eminence don't care for
drowning, becauſe it would retard the Defign he
has upon Rouffillon.
The End of the First Volume,
:
:
F
THE
WORKS
Of the Celebrated
Monfieur Voiture. Vincent
VOLUME II.
LONDON Printed,
And Re-printed in DUBLIN, by and for Samuel
Fairbrother Bookfeller, in Skinner-Row, oppofite
to the THOLSEL, Mbccxxxi.
(3)
Monfieur VOITURE's
WORK S.
EECES
VOLUME II.
To Mademoiſelle de RAMBOUILLET.
MADAM,
I
LETTER I
0038-302 Am the only Man, at least, as far as
can yet inform myfelf, that has dy'd
of a Diftemper which has not yet got
footing in our Weekly Bills, that is to
0033.300 fay, of your Abfence; neither do I
much fear to tell it you plainly, becauſe I am fatis-
fy'd you will not be much concern'd at it. I was,
you know, a very jocular Companion, and a Ba-
tchelor into the bargain; and, were it not that I
was fomewhat addicted in my Nature to wrang-
ling, and be as refractory and obftinate as your Lady-
hip, I would not care a Farthing if my other Im-
perfections were proclaim'd to all the World.
You are therefore to underſtand, Madam, that e-
ver fince laſt Wedneſday, the fatal Day of your De-
parture, I have not eaten a Bit of any Thing,
neither have I once open'd my Mouth or my Eyes
indeed, as to the Ceremony of my Funeral, there is
A
nothing
4
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
nothing done in it, and I am still above Ground;
that is to fay, unbury'd. I thought it convenient
to have this laft Ceremony deferr'd a while, for cer-
tain political Reafons: As, in the first Place, be-
cauſe I have ever from my Infancy had a strange
Averfion to Church-Yards; and fecondly, as my Af-
fairs ftand at prefent, it may be fomething preju-
dicial to them, if the Report of my Death fhould
be spread abroad fo foon: For which Confidera-
tion, I put the beſt Face I can upon the Matter,
to keep the World ſtill in Sufpence. For, Madam,
Should the malicious World 'remember that this
unlucky Accident befel me juſt in the very Nick of
your Departure, they would immediately whip
us both into a Ballad, from which may Heaven
deliver us. Were I again in the World, one of the
greateſt Plagues I fhould find there, would be, to
fee what a mighty deal of Pains abundance of
People daily take to advance and propagate all
manner of Stories, tho' they are never fo abfurd
and ridiculous. The Living, in my Opinion, are
not fo troubleſome in any Thing, as they are in
this; nay, they don't fuffer us that are dead, to
be quiet, but perfecute us even in our very Grave:
But, Madam, take heed that you don't laugh when
you read this; for I can affure you, it has been al-
ways reckon'd an impious and inhuman Thing,
to infult over the Dead; nay, were you in my
Condition, you would not take it well to be fo
ferv'd; I therefore conjure you to take Compaf-
fion on me; and fince it is not in your Power to
do any thing elfe for me, have a Care of my Soul,
for, upon my Word, it fuffers unfpeakable Tor-
ments. When we parted laft, it immediately took
the Road to Chartres, then it flew ftrait to la Mothe,
and now, while you are reading this Letter, 'tis
perch'd upon your Shoulder, and will be this Night
in your Bed-chamber; if I thought it would not
Spoil your Sleeping, it fhould give you five or fix
hand-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
5
fome Out-cries about one; for when fhe is in her
Fits, ſhe makes fuch a hellish Stir, that you would
fwear the Houſe was throwing out at the Windows.
It was once in my Thoughts to fend you my Body
down by the Carrier; but I foon confider'd that it
was fo bunglingly put together, that it would have
been jolted all to Pieces, before it could have come
down to you; and befides, I was afraid leaft the
Heat of the Weather would have ſpoil'd it. And
now, Madam, you will honour me exceedingly, if
you will tell the two excellent Princeffes with
whom you are, (and, if they pleaſe to confult their
Memories, I am fure they cannot but remember
it) that while I liv'd, I was their humble Servant,
and that I cannot ſhake off that Paffion even after
Death; for notwithstanding the Condition I am in
at prefent, I affure you I preferve that very fame
Efteem and Honour for them, as ever I had.
Therefore I fhall not only venture to affirm, that
there is not any one of the Dead ſo much their
Slave as I am, but will justify it to all the World,
that none of the Living is more at their Devoti-
on, or that can be more than I am,
Madam,
Your humble Servant,
SIR,
To Monfieur CHAPELAIN
WR
LETTER II
ERE it only for your own Honour, and
without Defign of doing me any, you ought
to write to me often; for your Wit, tho' always
A
won-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
wonderful, never, in my Opinion, fucceeds fo well
as in the Letters you fend me: If you would write
fuch a one to each of your Judges, as that which I
juft now receiv'd from you, you would need no o-
her Recommendation; and they would at leaſt
know, that in this Law-Suit, all they have to do,
is to give Juftice to the most deferving Man in
the World. I fhall do what you command me,
with the Zeal your Merit requires, and you need
not fear that I fhall forget it; my Will never trufts
to my Memory in Things of this Importance, and
it will be every Moment reprefenting to me, that
I have this to do, 'till I have done it. Whatever
other Bufinefs I may have, I put yours in the first
Rank of my Agenda, fed tu inter acta refer, & pro certo
babe, me in bac re, & in omnibus, omne officium, ftudium,
curam diligentiam tibi femper præftiturum. I am,
August 3, 1640.
Sir,
Your, &c.
Pray, Sir, be fo kind as to return my most hum-
ble Thanks to Monfieur de la Motte; but do it with
an Eloquence worthy of him and you.
To Monfieur le Marquifs de Montaufier.
SIR,
LETTER III.
L
Ince you are the Perfon decreed to teach our
Family their Duty, 'tis but reaſonable you
fhould teach it me, as well as the reft, and make
me a better-bred Man than I was, as you have
done my Nephew L. I am at prefent far from
being fo, in having fo long delay'd to return you
my
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
7
my Thanks for your Favours to them and me
but at length, Sir, without either putting me in
Prifon, or making me live upon Bread and Water,
you have forc'd me too to do what I ought; and
have perfifted fo obftinately in obliging me, tho
I was very unworthy of it, that, be I never fo ne-
gligent, 'tis impoffible for me to forbear letting
you know the Senſe I have of it, and giving you
the humble Thanks which are due to you. I hope
you will pardon my Fault, fince I acknowledge it
with fo much Franknefs: And really, Sir, you
have fo great a Character of Cruelty, that it con-
cerns you to do fo fignal a Piece of Clemency, as
pardoning a Man fo guilty as I am. I beg you to
do it in the Name of Mademoiſelle de Rambouillet
and if any Thing may be added after that, I con-
jure you by the Sincerity with which I am,
Paris, June 16,
Sir,
1639,
Tour, &c.
To the Marquefs of PISANY...
SIR,
LETTER IV..
Y this affue three
YOU affur'd me, that before I had been in
this Place three Weeks, I fhould paſs my
Time very agreeably; and I have been here a-
bove Six, without feeing any Likelihood of your
Predictions being fulfill'd. Imoft humbly befeech
you to keep your Word with me, by giving me
the Content you have promis'd me; and fince I
can find none here, fend me fome from the Place
where you are. I did you fuch good Service the
Moment:
A 3
8
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
Moment I came hither, that you are oblig'd in
Confcience not to refufe this one Requeft; for
you must know, I rais'd you to Life again in the
Opinion of every Body here, for you had not one
Relation nor Friend, but what fancy'd you dy'd
laft Autumn. If you think this Service is of any
Importance, and deferves any Return, it now lies.
in your Power to do as much for me, in reftoring
me to Life, which I can't fafely fay I enjoy here.
There requires no more to do this, than one Let-
ter from you, and an Affurance that I have ftill
the Honour of being belov'd by you. If the Affec-
tion you teftify'd for me at my Departure, is not
entirely loft, you will never refuſe me this Favour,
eſpecially when you have at your Command fo
good a Secretary, as him whom you generally
make uſe of. I am inform'd, that you have done
me the Honour to drink my Health; but 'tis in fo
bad a Condition, that it requires ftronger Reme-
dies than that to reftore it, tho' indeed it is in the
Power of none but you to do it; but you have
fuch a Love for all that belong to you, and to my
Knowledge have fo often protected your Subjects,
that I dare fay you will not abandon me, who am
as much yours, as if I had been born of one of
your Vaffals, and who profefs to be fo particularly,
Sir,
9.
筛
​14
Lour, &c.
To
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 9
$
To Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET
I
MADAM,
LETTER V.
I am
T must be own'd I am a wonderful Friend
where I take: I am as uneafy at not feeing
you, as if 'twere a mighty Matter; and I fancy, I
don't pafs my Time here fo pleafantly, as I did
when I was with you. Amiens, in your Abfence,
feems to me lefs amiable than Paris; and tho' I
may every Day have the Company of Ladies that
talk charming broad, yet I don't think that makes
me e'er the happier. The Converfation of the
Duke of C, Monfieur T, and Monfieur
N
whom I meet wherever I go, is not at
all agreeable in my Eyes, Nay, fometimes I am
uneafy at being but three Hours together in the
King's Chamber, and take no Pleafure in the
Company of Monfieur Litero, Monfieur Compeigne,
and twenty more honeft Gentlemen, whom I know
not, and who affure me, that I am a fine Wit, and
that they have read fome Things of my Writing.
I faw his Majefty play at Hoca all this Afternoon,
and am ne'er the gayer for it; and tho' I go con-
ftantly three times a Week a Fox-hunting, I am
not quite raviſh'd with it ; and yet there are al-
ways at it an hundred Dogs, and an hundred Horns
which make a frightful Noife, and quite fluns
you. In fhort, Madam, the Pleaſures of the great-
eft Prince in the World, do not divert me; and
when you are abfent, the Delights of the Court
have nothing in them, that I can be contented
with. You are pofitively the moft ungrateful
Creature alive, if you don't do the fame by me;
A 4
but
10
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
#
but I am fo diftruftful, that I fear you do fome
times take Pleafure in the Company of the Prin-
ccfs, and Mademoiſelle de Bourbon; and 'tis very
likely, that fince you have been at Grosbois, you
have not twice wifh'd yourfelf at Amiens. If this.
be fo, at leaſt, to make me amends, manage it fo,
that their Highneffes may do me the Honour to
think of me fometimes; and don't let me be the
lefs in their Efteem, becauſe I am in a Place
where I fee the King and the Lord Cardinal twice
a Day. I can affure you, Madam, I know ne'er
the more News; and that's the Reafon why I fend
you none. Monfieur Fabert arriv'd here Yefterday
Morning, and was gone again by Noon, with Or-
ders to our Generals what they fhould do. He
told me, that Monfieur Arnaut made terrible Ha-
vock among the Foot in a Battel that has been.
fought near Life; and Monfieur de Chavigny fays,
that Marfhal Breze has writ to the King about it.
The Report runs here, that our Armies are upon
the March Home, and that we fhan't return fo
foon as we expected. Pray be forry for this, and
do me the Honour to believe, that I am, with all
my Heart, and as much as I ought,
Amiens, Sept. 10. 1640,
Madam,
Your, &c.
To the Lord Cardinal MAZARIN.
I
LETTER VI.
MY LORD,
Have been inform'd, by a Letter from Mon-
fieur de V——————, of the Favour your Eminency
V-
has
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
I I
has been pleas'd to do me, and the Teftimonies
of good Will you have been pleas'd to give me.
Since I find by this, my Lord, that in the midst of
the most important Affairs, you can think of the
meanest of your Servants; and in performing the
greatest Things, can remember not to neglect the
leaft, I hope your Lordship will not be offended
at the Liberty I take to return you the humble
Thanks I owe you, and take the Pains to read the
Proteftation I here make you, that befides the
Refpect and Veneration due to one who has ac-
quir'd, and does daily acquire fo much Glory for
our Country, I fhall always have a very particular
Zeal and Defire to teftify, by all the Actions of
my Life, how much I am,
Tour Eminency's, &c.»
ปี
To her Royal Highness the Dutchefs
of SAVOY.
MADAM;
A
Fter fo
LETTER VII.
many confolatory Letters as there
has been but too great Occafion to write to
your Royal Highnefs, I fhould be very loth to let
flip an Occafion to write you one of Congratulati-
on. Thefe come to you fo feldom, that I think
they muſt certainly be very welcome when they
A 5
do;
* The Troubles that the Wars gave to the Dutchess of
Savoy, and the Death of her Husband, Vi&tor Ama-
dæus I. were good. Reafons for avriting confolatory Les.
ders to her.
12 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
do; and were there nothing elfe to recommend
them, without doubt the Novelty would make
them acceptable. It is long fince, Madam, that
I have expected what now begins to appear; and
thought the Misfortune of the moft + accomplish'd
and the most charming Princefs that ever was, is
far too great a Diſorder in the World to last long.
How great foever the Malice and Envy of For-
tune feem'd to be against you, and what Fate fo-
ever might croſs your Affairs, yet was I ftill guilty
of an Imagination, that fo much Goodneſs, Gene-
rofity, and Conftancy, and other divine Qualities,
as your Highnefs is furnifh'd with, could not be
long unfortunate; and that Heaven would be at
length forc'd to work fome Miracle, for a Perfon
on whom it has beſtow'd fo many. There is much
Reafon to believe, Madam, that the good News.
of the taking of Turin, will be feconded by many
others; and that the great Succefs which has hap-
pen'd in your Dominions, is a true politick Symp-
tom, that there will be a Change of all Things,
and fuch a general Settlement as naturally ought
to be. And that which fhould make you more re-
joice in this happy Revolution, is, that there's no-
thing
*
+ What Voiture fays of this Princefs, is true, or the
Hiftorians that mention her, deceive us. She was call'd'
Chriſtina of France, and was Daughter to Henry IV..
and to Mary de Medicis. She was marry'd in 1619 to
the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadæus I. and he was
left a Widow in 1637. She took the Government of the
State upon her, during the Minority of her Sons, and put
under the Protectien of Louis XIII, her Brother. Thus
ſhe fav'd herſelf from the Spaniard; and after having
glorioully refifted kim, dy'd at Turin in 1663.
*The Count de Harcourt reliev'd Cafal, which was
befieg'd by the Marquifs de Leganez for the King of
Spain; afterwards he laid Siege to Turin, which the
Spaniards bad made themſelves Mafters of, and took it.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 13
thing fo certain, as that your Concernment therein
multiplies the Joy of all here; and that your Royal
Highneſs is fo well belov'd, that the more gene-
rous Part of the Court, do as much rejoice for the
Intereft you have in this Profperity, as for the
great Advantages that may accrue to the Crown
of France, and the greatest Acquefts of Glory which
his Majefty's Armies made thereby. I doubt not,
Madam, but your Royal Highnefs is fatisfy'd,
that amidst the publick Joy, I have fome parti-
cular Matter of rejoicing, whereof no other can be
equally fenfible; if you but honour me fo much,
as to reflect on the extraordinary Paffion I have
for every Thing you are concern'd in, and the In-
clination and Obligation wherewith I am,
Paris, 08. 24. 1640. -
Madam,
Your humble Servant, &c.
To a young Lady, Maid of Honour
to one of the Dutchefs of Savoy's
Daughters.
LETTER VIII
MADAM,
H
Aving been ever fenfible of the Power of
your Eloquence, affift me, I beseech you, in
returning my Acknowledgments to the fairest,
and most generous Princefs of the World: For, I:
fwear, I have been oppreft with her Bounties, and
muft declare, that there is not any thing under
Heaven, fo lovely and fo charming, as the Miftrefs
whom you ferve; I had almoft faid whom we
ferves
14 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
ferve: And, indeed, what would I not give, that
I might thus exprefs it? From the firft Moment
that I heard her, I prefently concluded that there
was not in the World fo great a Genius as hers
but the Care ſhe has been pleas'd to take of me,
above all Things, amazes me, and I cannot fuffici-
ently admire, how, among fuch elevated Thoughts,
fhe can have Room for any fo trivial; and how a
Mind, in all Things elfe fo high, can defcend fo
low. The Paftils which were prefented me this
Morning, have had a wonderous Effect upon me,
and I cannot imagine from whence this Miracle
proceeds, unleſs from a Touch of her Royal High-
nefs's Hand; for I find myſelf infinitely better,
by having kiss'd the Paper only that inclos'd 'em:
This, as long as
as long as I live, fhall be my Antidote a-
gainst all forts of Ills; and there is but one, for
which fo pleafing a Remedy as this can afford no
Cure: But left you fhould too curioufly enquire,
what this is I mean, 'tis much better that I fhould
explain myfeif, and tell you, that 'tis the Trouble,
to have fo feldom the Sight of her, and to be de-
ftin'd to live far from the only Perfon who deferves
to be ador'd; if you reflect upon this, it will ap-
pear the greatest of Misfortunes; and 'tis very hard
to be a Man of Honour, and furvive it.
*
To the Count de GUICHE.
LETTER IX..
MY LORD,
TH
'HO' now it is become fo familiar to us, to
fee you perform the greatest Actions, that
we fcarce wonder at 'em; and for fifteen Years to-
gether, you have accuſtomed us to talk of you, as
we
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 15
we do at this prefent; yet I cannot forbear to be
extreamly furpriz'd, when I hear of any new Per-
formances of your Valour; and your Reputation is
fo dear to me, that I'm extreamly pleas'd to find
it each Day increafe. I dare engage, that the most
ambitious Perfon in the Univerfe, wou'd fit down
fatisfy'd with what you have fo lately acquir'd,
and content himſelf with that Efteem which all
the World confpires to pay to your Lordship.
But, my Lord, by all the Obfervations I can
make, you fet yourſelf no Limits as to this Point,
and, as if you were jealous of the Reputation you
have already acquir'd, and of the Actions you
have formerly perform'd, you feem every Year
refolv'd to furpafs yourfelf, and to do fomething
above your former Exploits. For my part, what-
ever Efteem I may have for your former Actions,
I fhall not be forry to fee 'em eclips'd by thoſe
you are yet to perform, and that your Exploits in
Flanders fhould darken all that you have done in
France, Germany, and Italy. All my Fear is, that
this immoderate Thirft of Glory, will carry you
beyond your due Bounds; and indeed your Beha-
viour in the laft Battel, wherein the Marfhal de
la Meilleray defeated the Enemy, as it gives me
juft Occafion of Joy, fo it alarms me with fome
Apprehenfions. The fignal Proofs you gave there,
of your Gallantry and Courage, furnifh'd Matter
of univerfal Admiration here: And indeed, my
Lord, if we confult the moft extravagant Rø-
mances, we ſhall hardly find any Thing more fur-
prizing, or more worthy to be celebrated. But,
my Lord, give me Leave for to reprefent to you,
that fince we have loft the Invention of inchanted
Armour, and it is no longer fafhionable for Heroes
to make themſelves invulnerable, a Man is not al-
low'd to perform fuch Actions as thefe, often in
his Life; neither ought he to trefpafs too much
upon his good Fortune, who, tho' fhe has deliver'd
him
16
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
him for this Time, gives him no Security to rely
always upon her. I beg you therefore to confider,
that Fortitude has its Extreams, as well as the
reft of the Virtues, and ought, like them, to be
always attended by Prudence. This, if you feri-
oufly confider it, will convince you, that a Marſhal
of the Field, and a Generaliffimo, ought by no
Means to expofe himſelf to the Chances of a pri-
vate Soldier and Volunteer; or to make bold
with a Life on which that of fo many Thouſands
depends. I can't tell how you will relifh this Free-
dom of mine; but certain I am, that you can't
accufe me of interpofing in a Bufinefs wherein I
have no manner of Concern: Nay, you must be
fenfible, that none can be more fo, if you reflect
with what Zeal and Paffion I have ever been, my
Lord,
Paris, O&ob. 6.
1640.
Your Servant,
To the Marquifs of PISANY.
SIR,
LETTER X..
WERE I fo
ERE I fo ungrateful as to be capable of
forgetting you, you make ſo much Noiſe in
the World, that it would be no eafy Thing to do
it; and my Senfes must be all ſtupify'd, if I did
not do my utmoft Endeavours to preferve the
good Graces of a Man, whom I daily hear fo
much prais'd and commended. You can't imagine
how much Joy it gives me, to hear, that you gain'd
fo much Glory at the laft Ren-counter before
Arras; and tho' I long fince knew the Greatnefs
of
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
17
↓
of your Courage, and always had that Opinion of
you, which now the whole World has; yet, to
confefs my Weakneſs, the general Efteem you are
in, makes me fomething more zealous to honour
you, than I was before. I find myſelf ſpurr'd on,
by a Sort of Vanity, to have a particular Love for
one, who has the Approbation and Elogiums of
all Europe. Upon my Word, Sir, the Satisfaction +
this gives me, would be compleat, if it was not di-
fturb'd by my Fear to lofe you: But I too well!
know, that Valour is a dangerous Virtue. Where-
ever I go, I hear that you are no better a Husband
of your Perfon, than you are of every Thing elfe.
This, Sir, gives me continual Alarms; and my ill
Luck in lofing the beft and worthieft of my Friends,
makes me ftill more timerous for you. Yet, for all
this, I have a Sort of fecret Confidence in your.
good Fortune: My Heart tells me, that fhe has
ftill a great many Things to do; and that the
Friendship you are pleas'd to honour me with,
will be more happy than fome others have been.
I wish it may, with all my Soul, both for your
Sake and my own; and I hope, I fhall one Day
be fo fortunate, as to be able to tell you how paf-
fionately I am,
Sir,
Xour, &c;
To
18 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
ODDDDDDDD0+00-03 DIODIDIC¤¤
To Monfieur de SERISANTES, Re-
fident for the King in the Court of
the Queen of Sweden.
SIR,
YOUR
LETTER XI.
k -
YOUR little Ode is, in my Opinion, a great
Work, and makes me believe, that however
you may accuſe your ſelf of Debauchery, you are
fometimes fober at Stockholm. The Productions of
Greece and Italy, are not more beautiful, than thofe
you bring forth in the North; and I wonder the
Mufes could follow you into fo cold a Climate,
You may boaſt, that you have carry'd them far-
ther than ever Ovid did; and that no Body ever
fhew'd them fo many Countries as you have done.
But if 'tis Wine that infpires you thus, I fhould
adviſe you to venture to be always drinking,
Dulce periculum eft,
◊ Lenae, fequi Deum
Cingentem viridi tempora pampino.
And you may ſay,
Bacchum in remotis carmina rupibus
Vidi docentem”.¨
I can't exprefs to you, Sir, what Delight it gave
me, to fee Jeffemin Oil, Frangipane Gloves, and
English Riban, in Latin Verfes. Really, from the
Beginning to the End, every Thing in it is fur-
prizingly agreeable,
- Infigne
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 19
Infigne recens, adhuc
Indictum ore alio.
But I am fuch a poor Scholar at Latin, that I must
beg you to tell me what's the Meaning of mentis
& acerbus dolor. I'll affure you this has coft me a
great deal of Pains. I won't defire a greater Share
in your Secrets, than you fhall pleafe to give me ;
but you must pardon me, if I take Part in your
Interefts, fince I am heartily,
Paris, Dec. 13.1640.
Z
Your, &c.
To Monfieur de MAISON-BLANCHE,
at Conftantinople.
LETTER XII.
You would
SIR,
OU would certainly do a very ill Thing to
Our work, for a
turn Turk, for I will affure you, you have a
World of Friends in Chriftendem; and your Repu-
tation is fo very great, that were your Condition
mine, I fhould rather come away, and enjoy the
Fruits of it here, than command forty thoufand
Janifaries, marry the Grand Seignior's Daughter,
and be ftrangled a little after. I know not what
kind of Beauties you have in Afia; but I can af-
fure you, five or fix of the handfomeft Ladies in
all Europe, are fallen up to the Ears in Love with
you, provided that you are not diminish'd; where-
as you meet Maids that intreat you to buy them,
you fhall fell yourfelf here for what Rate you
pleafe. To deal plainly with you, your Letters
never made fo much Noife in London, as they do
now in Paris; the general Difcourfe is of 'em
and
20 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
+
and if the Grand Seignior knew how very confi
derable you are amongst the Chriftians, he would
coop you up for Life in one of the Towers of the
Black Sea. Madam, the Princefs afk'd me the o-
ther Day, whether you were really and truly fo
great a Wit as was reported? And not above four
Days before that, Mademoifelle de Bourbon put the
fame Queſtion to me; and there's not any but are
aftonifh'd at the very Noife you make in the
World. For, to deal fincerely with you, your Phi-
fiognomy difcovers not all that is excellent in you;
and it is a Miracle, that by your Looks you were
once taken for an Ingineer. It would never be
guefs'd, by your Nofe, what you are worth ; and
to efteem you proportionable to your Merits, pre-
fuppofes a Converfation and Acquaintance with
you, fuch as I have, or never to have ſeen you, or
known you, but by your Letters. They are plea-
fant beyond all. Imagination; and I am never
thought fuch by thofe who have any Affection for
me, unleſs I bring along with me fome one of
them. But particularly Monfieur and Madam de
Rambouillet, the young Eady her Daughter, and
the Marquifs of Pifany, are quite ravifh'd with
them, and accordingly have great Efteem and a-
bundance of Refpects for you. Be it therefore
your Care to preferve them, by writing to me as
often, and as pleafantly as you can. This you will
find no hard Tafk to do; the Place where you
are, will furniſh you with new Things, tho' it were
for ten Years. I wish it were fo eaſy for me to en-
tertain you; and that by defcribing our Garments,
Actions, and Manner of Life, our Food, the Fa-
fhions and Beauties of our Ladies, I could write
fuch Letters as you would take any Delight to
read. But unless it be the Ceremonies of our Re-
ligion, I believe you have not forgotten any Thing
that's done here; fo that all that I have farther
to fay, is, that I honour you perfectly, and love
፡
you
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
2-1
you heartily, and that you know it as well as my
felf. For, fhould I relate to you in what Manner
we reliev'd Cafal, and how we took Arras and Turin,
it could find you no Manner of Entertainment,
who are accuſtom❜d to your Armies of three hun-
dred thouſand Men; and who have yet the taking
of Babylon fresh in your Memory! The Prince of
Orange is now beaten five or fix times every Year;
and Count Harcourt doth fuch Things now, which
the late valiant King of Sweden, were he living,
would envy him. Farewel, Sir; whatever may
chance to happen, continue your Friendſhip to
me, and honour me fo much, as to affure yourſelf,
that I am, as far as I ought, and with all manner
of Paffion,
Sir,
Your humble Servant, &c.
跟
​“
To Monfieur de CHAVIGNY.
SIR,
LETTER XIII.
to.
P
RAY obferve how far People have ſpread
the Report of the Credit I have in you.
Monfieur Efprit, who is going to Court with a
Letter of Recommendation from M
you, thought it would be better if I recommended
him to you, and I was fo vain, that I choſe rather
to be fo bold as to do it, than to tell him I durft
not. He is really, Sir, one of the most agreeable
Men in the World; his Mind is juft fuch a one as.
you love; he is very good, very wife, very learn-
ed, a very great Divine, and a very great Philo-
fopher; yet he is not one of thofe that defpife
Riches;
22 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
Riches; and as he is fure he ſhould know how to
make a right Uſe of them, he would not be ſorry
if he could get an Abby; for which Madam d'Ai-
guillon has writ to my Lord Cardinal for him. That
will depend upon his Eminence; but it will depend
upon you to give him a good Reception, and that's
all he defires. After the Character I have given
him, I believe 'tis uſeleſs to add the humble Sup-
lication I make you in his Favour; and I only do
it becauſe he defires I would, and I have been al-
ways us'd to do whatever he would have me. But,
Sir, having faid thus much for his Intereft, I hope
the Rules of Friendſhip do not forbid me to fay
fomething of my own, and to beg you to do me
the Honour to continue to love me, and to believe
that I am,
Paris, June 5.
1641.
*0000000000
Sir,
Your, &c.
To the Count de GUICHE.
LETTER XIV..
MY LORD,
A
FTER the difpatching of one great Siege,
and two fmall ones, and an Abode of fome
fifteen Days in Flanders, without Equipage, is it
not a moſt extraordinary Refreſhment, think you,
to go and befiege Bapaume, and fall freſh to work
in September, as if you had been doing nothing all
this Summer? The Knights of former Ages, as I
humbly conceive, had a much eafier Time on't
than thofe that are now living. Tother worthy
Gentlemen would break you, perhaps, four or five
Launces in a Week; and now and then pluck a
Giant
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
23
Giant by the Nofe or fo, or be engag'd in a Bat-
tle; and this was their main Buſineſs. All the reft
of their Time they ſpent in travelling thro' fine
Forefts, and flowery Meadows, and moſt common-
ly with a fair Lady or two to keep 'em Company:
But from Perion, King of the Gauls, down to the
laft of the Race of Amadis, I don't remember, that
one of 'em ever troubled his Head with drawing
Lines of Circumvallation, or gave Orders for a
Trench to be open'd. Fortune, my Lord, is one
of the greatest Jilts in Nature; when fhe loads a
Man with Honour and Employments, fhe fre-
quently makes him very unhappy Prefents, and,
generally fpeaking, fells us at Cent per Cent. Profit
what fhe feems to give us. Not to talk of thoſe
wicked Things call'd Iron and Lead, as Trifles that
don't deferve to be mention'd to you. Suppoſe
you could always fight in enchanted Armour, yet,
play your Cards never fo cunningly, this curfed
War takes up the beft Part of your beft Days. It
has robb'd you of fix Months this Year; and tho'
it has been pleas'd to preferve you alive, yet, I
dare engage, that for thefe fifteen Years laft paft,
fhe has civilly taken away one half of your Life.
I am fatisfy'd indeed, that you terrible Gentle-
men, who make War your Miftrefs, muft certainly
find fome fecret Charms in her; and certainly,
for a Man to be exalted by univerfal Confent a-
bove the reft, muft carry fuch an unconquerable
Pleaſure with it, as to make all Difficulties feem
eafy, and the greateft Hardfhips fupportable. For
my Part, my Lord, tho' (with Submiffion be it
faid) I pretend to know fome of the Inconvenien-
ces of War, as well as your Lordship; yet, I must
needs own, that your Reputation makes me fome
Amends for your Abfence; and whatever Plea-
fure I take to hear you fpeak, I take a much
greater to hear you fpoken of. However, I cannot
but with your fudden Arrival hither, that you may
enjoy
24
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
97
enjoy the Fruits of the Glory you have acquir'd
and after fo many tedious Marches, take the Plea-
fure all this Winter, let the Weather be what it
will, to go twice a Week from Paris to Ruel, and
from Ruel back again to Paris. Then I fhall have
Time enough to tell you what Agonies I have
been in for your Sake, and acquaint you with what
Zeal and Sincerity I am
Paris, Oct. 15,
1641.
Your Servant,
To the fame, upon his being promoted
to the Dignity of a Marshal of France.
1
LETTER XV.
MY LORD,
F I have faid any Thing diſreſpectful of War
in my laft, I now beg Pardon with all my
Heart; for fince your Lordship owes your late
Honour and Promotion to that fickle Miſtreſs, I
am perfectly reconcil'd to her, and will take Care
to ſpeak honourably of her in all Companies here-
after. I have, indeed, long ago been of Opinion,
that fo great Valour and Services in a Man of
your Quality, and a Perfon fo reſpected by all the
World, muft e'er long be rewarded; but as there
is a vaft Difference between what ought to be,
and what is actually done, I could not but be ex-
treamly tranſported to hear of your Lordship's
being promoted; and this News as much affected
and furpriz'd me, as if I had never expected it. I
make no Queſtion, my Lord, but that the princi-
al Recompence of your Actions, is the immortal
Glory
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
25
Glory you have acquir'd by them; and yet, me-
thinks it fhould be no little Satisfaction to you,
to arrive ſo early at that Honour, which is the
higheſt and greateft that the Fortune of War can
beftow upon her Favourites. But then, if you con-
fider, on the other Hand, how many Dangers you
run through to carry this Point, to how many Ha-
zards you have expos'd yourfelf, and how many
gallant Men you have feen fall by your Side, who
ftarted at the fame Time, and ran the fame Race
with you, you can't but think yourſelf fomething
indebted to Fortune, which has fo long preferv'ď
you, and at last rewarded your Labour. Among
the many Reafons I have to congratulate your
Happiness, I have one of which your Lordship
cannot be unfenfible; and which, in Reality, at
leaft in my Opinion, far exceeds all the reft; I
mean, the voluntary and hearty Acclamations of
all the World, to find that your Glory is free from
all Envy, and to fee that all People are as glad at
your Profperity, as if it concern'd themfelves.
This univerfal Joy at your good Fortune, is a cer-
tain Prefage to me, that it will be attended by
many more; and I doubt not but you will fhortly
crown that Honour you have receiv'd from the
King, with fome new Atchievements; which, as
it is wholly in your Power to effect, fo it is the
moſt real and folid. I flatter myfelf that you be-
lieve I heartily wifh it, fince I need not now in-
form you how many thoufand Obligations I have
upon me, to be with all manner of Reſpect and
Sincerity,
Your Lordship's humble Servant.
To
26 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
SIR,
To Monfieur COSTAR.
LETTER XVI
TOUR whole Letter pleas'd me extreamly;
YOUR
but I could not, without Jealoufy, read of the
Content you enjoy upon the Banks of the River
Charante; and tho' upon all other Occafions, I am
more glad of your Advantages, than I am of my
own, and do not envy you your Reputation, Learn-
ing, nor Wit; yet, I can't help envying you the
Happiness of having been eight Days with Mon-
fieur de Balfac. I know you have not been wanting
to make good Ufe of fuch a Bleffing; for, of all
the Men I am acquainted with, you are he that
beſt knows how to enjoy good Fortune;
E Deorum
Muneribus fapienter uti.
You may take this fapienter how you pleafe, either
in its proper or metaphorical Signification; for if
one has a great deal of fine Talk at Balfac, one
has alſo a great many good Meals, and I don't
doubt but you have had a very good Relifh for
both the one and the other. Monfieur de Balfac is
no less elegant in his Treats, than he is in his
Books. He is Magifter dicendi & cœnandi. He has a
certain Knack of toffing up a nice Difh, which is
no lefs eftimable than his Rhetorick; and, a-
mongst other Things, he has invented a fort of
Soup,
+ An Eſtate of Monfieur de Balfac's, where he
generally liv'd,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 47
Soup, which I like better than Pliny's Panegyric, or
the longeſt Oration of Ifocrates. All this is wonder-
fully well beftow'd upon you, for 'tis not enough,
to fay you are fapiens, you are fapienti potens, as En-
nius has it. I don't fay you are fo too in t'other
Thing, nec enim fequitur; cui cor fapiat, ei non fapiat
palatus. This, you must know, is from Cicero; for
I would not have you think that this Palatus is
mine. But really your Gout took you in as pro-
per a Time as you could have wifh'd; and I don't
think that even your Health can ever do you fo
much Service: This one Action ought to recon-
cile you to it, or, at leaſt, make you leave off cal-
ling it a Defluxion, and not fcruple to give it its
true Name. But tell Truth, did not you do like
Coelius, fanas liniendo, obligandoq; plautas, incedenfque
gradu laboriofo? For, to be free with you, I can't
help fufpecting a Gout that takes you fo feafona-
bly, and detains you for eight Days together to eat
Figs and Melons. Moreover, I don't like your hav-
ing contracted fo ftrict a Friendſhip with the Ma-
fter of the Houſe, nor his loving you fo much, that
he can't help telling it in all his Letters he writes
hither. "Twas as much as I could prevail upon my
felf to do, to give way to Monfieur Chapelain, and
bear to be but the fecond.
Non jam prima peto Mneftaus, neque vincere certo,
Quanquam O!
But I can never endure the Thoughts of being the
third. Look ye, Sir, this Quanquam O! is exprefs'd
by me with more Indignation and Bitternefs, than
it is in Virgil. Take care therefore, you, and he,
and t'other, and behave yourſelf nicely in this
Affair; for I don't know but I may elfe lofe all
Patience at last. And indeed, there is nothing I
would fo willingly preferve, as Monfieur de Balfac's.
Friendſhip: He is one of the two Men whom I
3
B
fhould
+8
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
hould chufe to pass the rest of my Life with in
Content; you may eafily gueſs who the t'other is.
Without mentioning his Wit, which is beyond all
that can be exprefs'd, there is not under the Sun
a better Friend, a better Man, more fociable, more
agreeable, nor more generous. Vir (for I believe
1 fhall fay it better in Latin) facillimis, jucundiffimis,
Suaviffimis moribus, fummæ integritatis, humanitatis,
fidei, liberaliffimus, eruditiffimus, urbaniffimus, in omni
genere officii ornatiffimus. The Friendship we pre-
ferve together, without ever writing to each other,
and the Confidence we repofe in one another, is a
very extraordinary Thing, and of very good Ex-
ample to the World, and ought to teach a great
many honeft Gentlemen, who rack their Brains
to write fcurvy Letters, to let it alone, and leave
that Province to others.
What you fay you intend to build about Balfac,
like Chilly, feems very pretty, and would be pro-
per enough; but we great Wits are no great Build-
ers, and we go upon this Verfe of Horace.
Edificare cafas, plauftèllo adjungere muròs,
Si quem delecta barbatum infania verfet.
At leaſt Monfieur de Gombaut, Monfieur de l'Eftote,
and myſelf, are refolv'd never to turn Builders,
till that Age comes again, when the Stones us'd
to range in order of themſelves, at the Sound of
the Lyre. I don't know whether it was becauſe
Apollo took a Difguft to that Trade, upon account
of his being fo ill rewarded for the Walls of Troy:
But I think his Favourites are not much inclin'd
to it, and their Genius leads him to otherguefs
Things than raifing great Edifices. I thank you
therefore for your Hill, and I fhould be a very
great Fool to build in a Place where there is fo
pleafant a Houſe ready to my Hands.
I fan
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 29
I fancy'd this Paffage, Nulli poteft facilius effe loquị
quam rerum natura pingere, &c. was out of Pliny, and
I thought it very comical that you durft not name
him any more to me. But even in your own Opi-
nion, had not he better have faid, Nulli poteft faci-
lius effe loqui, quàm rerum natura facere? For first
there is a better Contract between loqui and facere,
than between loqui and pingere, which is a Beauty;
and then 'tis fomething more noble to ſay, Nulli
facilius eft loqui, quàm rerum natura facere: It is not ſe
eafy for a Man to say, as it is for Nature to do; than,
It is not fo eafy for a Man to fay, as it is for Nature to
paint. Muft not you own, that it is the Mark of a
mean Soul, to reject a Word which offers itfelf
and is as good as can be, in order to look out for
one lefs proper, and more far-fetch'd? He is one
of thofe eloquent Writers, of whom Quintilian fays,
Illis fordent omnia, que natura dictavit; and in another
Place, Quidquod nihil jam proprium placet, dum parum
creditur difertum quod & alius dixiffet. He thought he
was mighty fublime with his pingere, and is quite
the contrary. But I fhould be finely caught all
this while, if this Paffage fhould prove to be out
of Pliny the Elder. If it is fo, at his Peril be it, I
fhan't eat my Words: What makes him talk like
his Nephew? Non fapit patruum in this Point, tho'
with regard to t'other, he us'd to be Patruus pa-
truiffimus, as Plautus or Terence, one or t'other, fays.
Which is it? I believe 'tis the firft fays it.
+
Pray tell me what Rofe-Bufh it was that bore
the Rofes you fend me. Neither Poeftum, nor E-
gypt, nor Greece, nor Italy, ever produc'd fuch fine
ones. 'Tis very likely 'twas you yourfelf, Tu Cinna-
mum, tu Rofa. I fuppofe you'll fancy this is out of
the Song of Songs, and 'tis out of Plantus. I can
hardly perfwade myfelf that thofe Verfes are
modern; but if they are, I fhould be forry to
hear that they were written by any but yourſelf,
or Monfieur de Balfac. Be it who it will, he may
B 2
be
30
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
be very proud of them, and thoſe Roſes deſerve a
great many Lawrels. But pray let me know whofe
they are, Dic, mi anime, mea Rofa, mea voluptas.
With your Rofes, you have fent me Thorns, in
propofing to me the two Paffages, which you de-
fire me to explain. Firf, for that of Saluft, we muſt
confider that Hunting was a laudable Exercife a-
mong the Scythians, the Numidians, the Greeks them-
felves, and particularly the Lacedemonians; but I
don't remember that I ever read of its being a
genteel Exerciſe among the Romans. As for Agri-
culture, we muft diftinguifh the Time. In ancient
Rome, Men of confular Dignity, and thofe who had
been Dictators, did, from conducting the Repub-
lick, return to driving the Plough, and this was
the Employment of the Papirius's, the Manlius's,
and the Decins's. But they left this Trade off, when
they had once had a Taſte of the Luxury of Afia
and Greece; and you may eafily imagine, that Peo-
ple who nipp'd the Hair off of their Arms and
Thighs, who curl'd their Locks, and perfum'd
themſelves, had no mighty Inclination to driving
the Plough. I think 'tis in the Lives of the Gracci,
that I have read, that one of the Reafons which
induc'd one of them to promote the Agrarian Law,
was, becauſe in his Travels thro' Italy, he faw no
People tilling the Land, but Slaves; whereas, be-
fore, the Citizens of Rome us'd to do it. Now, fince
this was fo even then, we may conclude that in
Saluft's Time, it was more common for the Vaffals
to be employ'd in Tillage; fo that Hunting and
Agriculture, which are quaftuofa artes, he calls,
fervilia officia, quia aut à fervis exercebantur aut exerceri
poterant.
As for the other, 'tis my Opinion, that where
'Aufonius fays, Arguetur rectius Seneca quàm prædica-
bitur, non erudiiſſe indolem Neronis, fed armaffe favitiam ;
he does not mean, that Seneca ever ftirr'd up Nero
to Cruelty, but, that inſtead of having taught his
Pupil
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
3 x
Pupil fo much Philofophy, as to make him mer-
ciful, he taught him Rhetorick and Subtilty e-
nough to defend his Barbarity; fo that here ar-
mare is not ſpoken of offenfive, but defenfive Arms.
And, if I am not mistaken, Tacitus fays too, that.
when this good-natur'd Soul had kill'd his Mother,
(who, by the way, was a termagant Jade) Seneca
help'd him to write to the Senate upon that Sub-
ject, and to find out Pretences in order to palliate
the horrid Crime he had committed. This Paf-
fage made me read all Aufonius's Harangue quite
through, which I fhould never have done, had it.
not been for this; for having almoft gotten all the
good Authors by Heart, I hardly know to relifh a
Line of the others. Heavens! what Jargon do
they talk! How they write! A Man that is us'd
to Cicero, does not know how to look upon fuch
Riffraff.
Of all the Letters I ever receiv'd from you,
none, in my Mind, was ever fo beautiful, nor fo
agreeable, as your laft; but the Part I was moft
pleas'd with, is that where you fpeak of the Abbot
de Lavardin. The Compliments he fends me by
you, make me believe that he is either extreamly
well-bred, or has a tolerable good Opinion of me
and be it what it will, I am extreamly pleas'd with
it, either for his Sake, or my own. I beg you
would be fo kind, Sir, as to let him know that I
rective the Honour he does me, with all the Re-
fpect and Acknowledgment due to a Perfon of his
Character and Merit; but that I am not fatisfy'd
with receiving only Compliments from him; that
I pretend to fomething farther, and have form'd
a great Defign of gaining the Honour of his
Friendſhip.
I was not more amaz'd, when I heard the Nuns
at Loudun talk Latin, than I was at feeing fo much
Italian in a Letter of yours. In good Truth, you
quote it as if you understood it ; but I hope to be
reveng❜d
B 3
32
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
reveng'd when I hear you pronounce it; for ge
nerally, Italian learnt in Poitou, has not much of the
Roman Accent in it, and tho' you do your utmoſt
to prevent it, Sapiet Poitavinitatem.
Your quod mirere, in the Paffage of Tacitus, where
he fpeaks of the German Game, is well remark'd,
and well understood; but let us fee what St. Am
brofe fays to it, (tho' I don't know how I came to
know what St. Ambrofe fays) Ferunt Hannos, fays he,
cùm finè legibus vivant, alea folius legibus obedire, in pro-
cinctu ludere, tefferas fimul & arma portare, in victoria
fua captivos fieri.
Ifhould much fooner forget a thoufand Miftref
fes, than I fhould Monfieur de Chives, and Monfieur
Girard, par nobile fratrum; nay, I fhould almoſt as
foon forget you yourfelf. If you have any Corref-
pondence with them, I beg you to affure them
that I continue to be their very humble Servant
with as much Sincerity as ever, and to defire them.
not to love you better than me, and not to be fo
inconftant to me as Monfieur de Balfac has been,
in deferting me for New comers. Adieu, Sir, pray
believe that I fhall never love and efteem any
Thing more than you. I am, with all my Heart,
Your, &c.
SIR,
To the fame.
LETTER XVII.
Had a Mind, for fome Time, to break off the
Correspondence I have with you; and I made
it a Scruple of Confcience, to be at the great
Treats you give me in a Time of Pennance: But,
after having deny'd myſelf a long While, I found
I could not do without them. I begg'd a Difpen-
fation
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 33
fation for receiving your Letters, and have obtain’d
it. As for your Part, you may, without the leaft
Scruple, receive that which I fend you; I have
hardly wherewithal to furniſh out a flight Colla-
tion. Instead of the mullos trilibres, which you pre-
fent me, I have none but Tyberinos Catillones, which
only lick the Banks of the Tyber, and feed upon
the Slime of the Latin Country.
Poftquam exhauftum eft noftrum mare.
Nay, I fhan't have more neither than will make
a poor Plate full, and must be forc'd to make up
the Meal with Roots.
Impune te pafcent olive,
Te cichorea, levefque malve.
You must take up with this; I can do no more;
I have not the great Parks and Lands which you
have, to hunt in, Hortulus hic, &c. unde epulum poffis
folis dare Pythagorais. You remember this, Cacilius
Atreus cucurbitarum; I fhall be forc'd to do fo, for
to tell you the Truth, my Stock is exhauſted. Ánd,
Mihi omne penu ex fundis amicorum hic affertur.
You Pifcinaries, (fo Cicero, writing to Atticus, calls
fome rich Men of his Time, Quantum Pifcinaris
mihi invideant alias ad te fcribam ;) you, I fay, can
eafily treat your Friends; it don't coft you ſo
much Trouble to do it, as it does us.
Nec feta longo querit in mari predam.
You have always Prefervatories that are full
flock'd.
Pifcina rhombum pafcit, and lupos veruas,
*
"Tis
64
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Tis done with a Whiſtle.
Natat ad magiftrum delicata murana.
You can never be taken unprovided; you cui eft
warius penus, or varia, if you will, or varium, or
penum, or penu. This is a comical odd fort of a
Word; 'tis of all Genders; it thruſts itſelf almoſt
into all Declenfions, and when it has a mind to it,
is of no Declenfion at all. Don't wonder that I,
who am one of thoſe that quibus funt verba fine peny
Epecunia, fhould be amaz'd at
SIR,
SE
[N. B. This Letter is imperfect.]
To the fame.
LETTER. XVIII.
EE what it is to give great Treats to your
Friends; it makes them unable to return them:
And to put me to more Trouble too, you bring
me Monfieur de Balfac, the moft delicate nice-
tafted Man in the World, qua munditiâ, quâ ele-
gantiâ hominem! I was us'd to yours, and ſo may
be, were you to my Table; but it does not know
how to receive fuch an unexpected Gueſt as that,
Ingentem non fuftinet umbram.
Finding you both together, put me in mind of fu
piter and Mercury, when they furpriz'd poor Phile
GAON ; but let this be faid without any Offence to
one or t'other, for all. Compariſons are odious, and
indeed, that good Man had no more Reafon to
be
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
35
be in a Hurry at fo unexpected a Vifitation, than
Iam. Really now, 'twas a Piece of Cruelty in
you, to engage me in this, and a Neronical Cruelty
too; Indicehat familiaribus cœnas quorum uni mellita
quadragies H. S. conftiterunt, alteri pluris aliquanto ro-
faria. To tell you the Truth, this is what has re-
tain'd me fo long. I have often ſaid to my ſelf,
Nunquam-ne reponam ?
But the Confideration of you and him retain❜d me,.
Cupido enim magnificè accipere fummos viros,
Ut mihi rem effe reantur.
At laft, after having ftudy'd a long while, without
hitting upon any Thing, I thought what was faid
to another, might be faid to me,
Nunquid adolefcens, melius dicere vis quam potes ?-
And again,
Quid mullum cupias, cùm fit tihi gobio tantum
In loculis?
I'am therefore refolv'd to do what I can, and you
muft e'en be fatisfy'd with that.
Rebufque veni non afper egenis..
You must take up with my poor Diet; I can give:
you no other; I have not thofe great Parks nor
Lands which you have to hunt in, nor thoſe vaft:
Seas out of which you fish all that you fay,
Hortulus bic puteufque brevis fine sefte movendus.
I own I am afham'd to diſcover my Poverty; and
tho' I am poor, Iam nevertheless yery ambitious.
BE
Hi
36 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Hic vivimus ambitiosa
Paupertate.
I would wifh with all my Heart,
Ad Palatinas acipenfera mittere menfas,
Or give you a Supper like that at which duo millia
letiffimorum pifcium, feptem avium oppofita traduntur.
But pray tell me, do you eat many* Acipensers at
Poitou? I fent for fome here, but our Market-
People know nothing of it. It was once mightily
valu'd at Rome; Huic tantus olim habebatur konos,
fays Macrobius, (did you think I had read Macrobius?)
ut à coronatis miniftris, & cum tibiis in convivium foleret
ferri. This was a noble Privilege for a Fifh. C. Dui-
lius had one much like it, Caium Duilium, qui primus
Panos claſs devicerat, redeuntem à cœna fenem fæpe vide-
bam puer, delectabatur cereo funali & tibicine, que fibi
nullo exemplo privatus fumpferat, tantum licentia dabat
gloria. I don't fay 'twas I that faw him fo; no, no,
I fay no fuch Thing; 'twas Cato the Cenfor; and I
believe Cicere, who tells us this Story, did alfo pay
great Refpect and Honour to that Fiſh, and could
cat of it with a very good Appetite; for he fpeaks
of him in his Tufculan Queſtions, and names him
above all others as a Titbit, Si quem igitur tuorum
afflictum mærore videris, huic acipen ferem, potiùs quam
aliquem Socraticum libellum, dabis. Yet, he is now
bury'd in Oblivion. By this we fee the Inftability
of Human Glory, and how little it is to be valu'd.
I demens, & favos curre per Alpes,
Ut pueris placeas, & declamatio fias.
Be it as it will (this, be it as it will, is a little far
fetch'd, for it relates to what I faid about my hav-
ing nothing to give you) I will treat you with what
I have, and, as the Man fays, vide audaciam, etiam
Hercio
* 4 Fiſh in very great Efteem among the ancient Ro-
mans, but it is not certainly known what Fif it was.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
37
Hercio cœnam dedi fine pavone: He fays, in another
Place, to fome Body that boafted he would give
him as forry a Meal as I fhall give you, Si perfeve-
ras me ad matris tuæ cœnam vocare, feram id quoque,
ue, volo
enim videre animum, qui mihi audeat ifta que fcribis ap-
ponere, aut etiam Polypum Miniani Jovis fimilem; crede.
mihi non audebis : ante meum adventum fama ad te de
mea luxuria veniet, eam extimefces. I beg you'd let
me know what fort of a Feaft this Polypus Miniani
Fovis is. Really I know nothing, now you have
done writing to me; yet this far will do pretty
well for a Whet; but you won't be fatisfy'd with a
Whet, Non enim vir es qui foleas promulfide confici, in-
Legram famem ad cuum affers.
Let us proceed to the reſt.
As for your complaining of thoſe who do not
defcribe the Graces big enough, I think they are
in the right; for true Graces, and thoſe which we
are moft touch'd with, confift chiefly in little.
Things, in fome petty Action, or Motion of the
Body and Face, wherein they have their Effectt
without being perceiv'd.
Componit furtim, fubfequiturque decor. -
That I think is the Meaning of furtim ; the Spa-
niards fay el no fe que; they are fo little, that one
can hardly tell what they are. And pray don't
trouble your Head neither about their Husbands:
What have you to do to diffolve Marriages of ſo
long standing? The Gods contract a vaft Number
of them, as you fay upon another Subject. The
World is full of thefe Marriages. Have they_not
wedded Pain to Pleaſure, Labour to Glory, Hea-
ven to Earth, and Mademoiſelle -
to her
Husband?
38
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters
Sic vifum Veneri cui placet impares
Formas atque animos fub juga abenea
Savo mittere cum joco.
I don't know whether I have told you, that this
laſt mention'd Lady and I don't write to one ano-
ther now, and, that as I am inform'd, fhe had a
great many Accufations to lay to my Charge. She.
is in this Town, and fo I went to fee her. Our
Interview was much like that between Dido and
Eneas, when they met in the Elysian Fields. I did
all I could to appeafe her; I faid to her, verus mihi
vantius ergo, & per fidera juro, & nec credere quivi.
Illa folo fixos oculos averfa tenere,
Nec magis incepto vultum fermone movere,
Quam fi dura filex, aut ftet Marpefia cautes.
But to return; Sleep is not fo bad a Husband as
you fay he is; and the Grace who has him, I don't
know her Name, could not have been better pro-
vided, if fhe loves her Eafe: He is as gentle as a
Lamb, and is the most quiet of all the Gods;
placidiffim: Somne Deorum,
Pax animi, quem cura fugit.
And, but that he has no Doors to his Houfe, he
was a very good Match. Look into Lucian, and
you may fee the Defcription of his City. If he
could do nothing elfe but revive the Complexion,
brighten he Eves, and foften the Skin, do you
think this would not be enough to get him the
Favour of the Ladies? He is a mighty Diftiller
of Poppies and Mandrakes, and can make red and
white paint that's more valuable than all the
Spanf; No ufuva afeytes Dorinda, y affi defperto con los
que el fueno le avia dado. Prithee learn a little Spanif,
if only to drive fome of this Italian out of thy Head.
Sleep
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
39
Sleep neither is not half fo burthenfome and heavy
as you imagine;
Tum levis athereis delapfus fomnus ab aftris,
And would not have had ſo many Children,. if he
were fo weak:
Tum pater è populo natorum mille fuorum.
And even if he were fo cold as you believe him to
be, do you think all thofe Dreams which he has
at his Beck, would be of ſmall uſe to him. Don't.
you remember,
Se non fegni quefti,
Ch' io dorma fempre, e mai non mi defti.
And this other :
Prob Venus & tenera volucer cum matre Cupido,
Gaudia quanta tuli, quàm me manifeſta libido
Contigit
Do you count this for nothing, and don't you then
think an honeft Woman may be contented with
him? As for what you fay, that the Graces ought
never to fleep, go but to fee fome of our Ladies,
the Morning after a Ball, when they fat up late
the Night before, and then give in your Opinion.
As for your fomno mollior herba, and your morbida,
Domine magifter nofter, I believe you neither under-
ftood Latin nor Italian; for the one means fit to fleep
upon, and morbida fignifies no more than polite, foft,
or rather effeminately delicate.
Your Emperor of Lampridius, is, in my Opinion,
a Man of very good Taffe; and if Heliogabalus had
made but one Score fuch Degrees as that, I would
put him next to Titus and Trajan. I wonder you
fhould have forgot this t'other of Tiberius; Afellio
Sabino, H. S. ducenta donavit pro dialogo, in quo, boleti,
40
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
&ficedula, & oftree, & turdi, certamen induxerat.
Theſe were Emperors! I am very forry this Dia-
logue is loft; for, fhould not you have been very
glad to hear an Oyfter converfe with a Muſhroom?
This Afellius was a gallant Fellow, I warrant him
I would have given him a good Bever Hat with
all my Heart.
;
You have very cleverly cut and polish'd the
Stones, which I fent you quite rough; they are
grown valuable by going thro' your Hands, and
you have made them one of the niceft Dishes on
your Table; fecifti ut lapides illi panes fierent. Tho' I
have neither the Stomach of Saturn, nor the Teeth
of the Moon, yet I feed very heartily upon them.
This is a Food quam nemo, coquus hactenus in jus vo-
caverat: But your Sauce is fo relifhing, that it
would almoft make Flint go down. I could not
have believ'd that fuch grave Authors had related
the Story you mention'd. After this, I can eafily
believe that Stones have heard the Sound of Harps;
and indeed, we believe at prefent, that Walls have
Ears,
I own, I have a better Opinion of Aufonius than
I had before; you give me a View of him to the
beft Advantage, when you fhew him me in his
Poetry. I find he's a very ingenious Man, and I
believe his Oration would have been mighty good,
if he had but tranflated it into Verfe. Thofe, of
his, which you communicate to me are very beau-
tiful. Thus, there are fome People who can do
nothing on Foot, but can perform Miracles on
Horfe-back; but I would fain have fuch People
do nothing but what they underſtand; and I could
wifh Cicero had never written any Verfe, nor Aufo-
nius any Profe.
If you ask me now to ſpeak of the other Feaft
which you treat me with,
+ Who fwallow'd a Stone, taking it for a Child
Ut
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 41
Ut Nafidieni juvit me cœna beati,
I mean, If you would have me give you my Thoughts
of Monfieur de Balzac's good Chear; I fhould an-
fwer, Ut nunquam in vita fuerit melius. Neither the
Apollo of Lucullus, nay, nor he of Delphos, could have
done any Thing fo magnificent; the leaft Bit de
ferves the higheſt Praiſes..
Cum primum iftorum conduxit menſa choragum;
Sexque Deos vidit Mallia, fexque Deas.
Tis of fuch a Feaft that one may fay,
I lauri di Permeſſo & di Parnafo,
Andorno à coronar la Gelatina.
That Man is really admirable in all he does. I am
now and then fhew'd Verfes of his Writing, which
I think far beyond any thing that our Age could
produce, and which might give Jealoufy, I don't
Tay, to Lucan or Claudian, but to Lucretius and Virgil.
But pray afk him what makes him believe that
'twas from him I ftole the Explication of that Paf-
fage of Aufonius, and why he fhould think me one
of thofe, qui plus ex jecore alieno fapiunt quàm ex fuo.
He therefore thinks that I know nothing but by
Recollection of the Things which I have formerly
learn'd from his Converfation.
I was as well pleas'd with his Plate of Wind, as
I was with your Plate of Stones, and it would have
been an excellent Difh in the Ifland of Ruac. I
can't tell, Sir, whether you know where it lyes.
"Twas an Ifland where the Inhabitants liv'd only
upon Wind, and all their Phyfick was a Blaft of
Wind through a Hole. Seriously, you are expert
Work-men; you feafon Things in fuch a Manner,
that there's nothing but what one might eat, if
'twere fo cook'd up. You know how to give,
Cuerpo
42 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
Cuerpo à los vientos y à las piedras alma.
This is a Verfe out of Louis de Gongora, whom you
know nothing of. I was very glad to hear of the
Alliance the Athenians had with Boreas, and that
there was a Norwegian who was Citizen of Athens.
That Man, I think, might call himfelf Citizen of
the World, with as much Right as their other
Fellow-Citizens, who boafted of being fo. But the
Athenians, in my Opinion, had a very turbulent Ci-
tizen of him. I own, I could never have Thought
that the Sea was only a Tear like that of him who
eat Stones even better than myfelf. I fuppofe he
wept it, when he was expell'd and imprifon'd by
his Son. But if this is true, don't you think one
may as well fay of Saturn, as of poor * Pallas's
Horfe.
guttis humectat grandibus ora.
I must confefs he was but fcurvily us'd by that
ungracious Son of his; but 'tis well for Mankind,
that, as he was very Melancholy, he was not a
great Weeper too; for, if he had but drop'd three
fuch Tears, Lord have Mercy upon us! where
fhould we have been? Omnia pontus erant; but,
pray, can you tell me whether he wept Fishes at
the fame Time as he did the Sea?
immania Cete,
Tritonefque citos, Phorcique exercitus omnes:
I had forgot to fpeak of your Paffage of Seneca,
Valde me torfit illa podagra, adeoque impliciti mihi viden-
tur hi pedes, ut ad illes utrofque dextros explicandos nul-
lum dextrum pedem habeam, may be he means, that
the
* This isnot meant of the Goddeſs, but of a Prince named.
Pallas, who went to the War with Eneas again Turnus,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 43
the Gout fometimes turns the left Foot inwards,
which ought to turn outwards, and that thus being
turn'd the fame Way as the right Foot, he fays,
utrofque dextros: But then, why might it not as well
turn the Right the fame way as the Left, which
would make it utrofque finiftros? Really, this is very
hard; if you can guefs at any Thing more probable,
Si quid dextro pede concipis,
Pray tell it me..
I was very much alarm'd at hearing of your Ill-
nefs, tho' I knew nothing of it 'till after 'twas over;
and I trembled to find that I had been in fo much
Danger without knowing any thing of it. I beg
you to believe, dear Sir, that there is nothing in.
the World that I love or eſteem more than I do
you. Let me die, if I enjoy any Pleafure fo great
as when I think (and I do often think it) that For-
tune may one Day furniſh us with the Means to
pafs our Lives in each other's Company, and put
it in my Power to have you in feriis jocifque amicum
omnium horarum. I'll fwear there is nothing I de-
fire fo much, and that I am, and always fhall be
yours, with as much Paffion as when we were to-
gether every Morning. This Proteftation I make
you, just as I am going on a Journey of fix Months;
for I fhall fet out with the King for Catalonia ;
therefore you need not write to me, 'till you hear
that his Majefty is return'd. I fhall be the more
impatient to be at Home, if I think I fhall find
you here this Summer. Pray do all you can to or-
der it fo. Qui bene latuit, bene vixit, is not a Precept
that in the leaft regards you: I'd have you leave
Panaque, Sylvanumque fenem, Nymphafque forores.
You owe yourſelf to the Publick; for fuch Men as
you
44 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
you ought to be known to the whole World, omnis
autem peregrinatio, you know eft obfcura. Once more,
therefore, I conjure you to haften your Return,
and when your Term is expir'd, come hither to
fee me, or M-, or fome, and take Care,
me quid temporis addatur ad hanc provincialem moleftiam.
Ifend you a Book of Mademoiſelle de Gournay's,
which he gave me for you. Adieu, Sir. Pray
continue to love me; think often of me, and be
affur'd that I ſhall always be heartily,
Your, &c.
P.S. I think your Infelix Thefeus is very happy,
and Hercules himſelf could not have fetch'd him
from Hell more gloriously than you have done.
Paris, Jan. 24, 1642.
To my Lord Marquifs de St. MAIGRIN.
LETTER XIX.
MY LORD,
Have been three whole Days in Sufpence, whe
ther you were in the Land of the Living or no ;
with what Uneafinefs you may eafily imagine.
While I labour'd under this Uncertainty, I receiv'd
the joyful News of your Imprifonment; and in-
deed it was impoffible for me to be much con-
cern'd at the Lofs of your Liberty, when I had been
fo long in Doubt about that of your Life. What
is more, my Lord, had your Destiny been in my
Hands, you fhou'd have come off no otherwife
than you have done. As it would have afflicted
me to the laft Degree, to have found you among
the Dead, ſo I ſhou'd not have been well pleas'd,
had
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 4
had you clearly escap'd. Fortune has chofe the very
Medium I defir'd; and I believe your Thoughts
and mine are the fame on this Occafion; for I
fancy you wou'd have enjoy'd yourfelf but very fur
vily, in a Liberty which you must have purchas'd
by a Retreat. When I am got to Paris, if you pleafe
to fend to me by a Drum, one of your domeftick
Servants, I fhall not difown the Relation, but fly
to wait on you. I am impatient to hear the Hiftory.
of your Adventures, and at this very Moment I
am thinking you are at Leifure to entertain me
with it: And now, my Lord, if having fix or feven
Miftreffes to grieve for, you can find any fpare
Time to think of me, I only befeech you to họ-
nour me fo far, as to remember that I am, my
Lord,
Your, &c.
To the Duke of ANGUIEN, (after
wards the Great Prince of Conde)
upon his gaining the Battel of Ro
croy, 1643.
LETTER XX..
My LORD,
A
Ta Time that I am fo far remov'd from
your Highness, that you cannot poffibly lay
your Commands upon me, I am fully refoly'd to.
Ipeak freely my Mind to you, which I have fo
long been oblig❜d to diſguiſe, left it fhould bring
me into the fame Inconveniency with thofe who,
before
46
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
before me, I have taken the like Liberties with
you. But let me tell you, my Lord, you have done
too much to paſs without being taken Notice of
and you are unreafonable, if you think to behave
yourſelf as you do, without being loudly told of
it. If you did but know how ftrangely all Paris
talks of you, I am very confident you would be a-
fham'd of it; and you could not without Confu-
fion hear, with how little Refpect, and how little
Fear of Difpleafing you, all the World prefumes
to difcourfe of what you have done. I must con-
fefs, my Lord, I wonder what you could mean :
You have fhewn yourfelf Bold with a Vengeance,
and Violent to the laft Degree, in putting fuch an
Affront upon * two or three old Captains, whom
you ought to have refpected, if it had been only
for their + Antiquity: In killing the poor Count
de Fontaines, who was the very beſt Man in the
Low-
|| The Duke of Anguien was of the fame Humour, as
Horace Says Auguftus was of : This latter could never
endure to be prais'd, unless the Elogiums that were given
bim were very ingenious. M. the Duke of Anguien bad
the fame Delicacy, and especially when any one went about
to praise him before his Face,
*Thofe Captains were, Don Francifco de Meloz,
the Duke de Albuquerque, and the Count de Fontai-
nes, Meftre de Camp to the Infantry. This laft, having
perform'd all that a brave Captain could do, was found a-
mongst the dead, at the Head of his Troops. Don Fran-
cifco de Meloz, General of the Spanish Army, and the
Duke de Albuquerque, who commanded 8000 Horfe,
thought the Count de Fontaines paid too dear for his Glory,
and that they might not do fo too, they vigorously took to
Flight.
The Word Antiquity, is feldom fpoken of Perfons but in
jeft; and it ſeems here, that Voiture, who had the Ho-
nour to be familiar with the Duke, made use of it only to
divert bim.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 47
Low-Countries, and whom the Prince of Aurange
never durft come in Sight of; in taking fixteen
Pieces of Cannon, the proper Goods of the King's
* Unkle, and the Queen's own Brother; and in
confounding the Spanish Troops, after they had
fhewn fo much Kindnefs in letting you pafs. I
don't know what Father Mufnier may fay to this,
but 'cis certainly contra bonos mores, and can't but
afford ample Matter for Confeffion. I heard, in-
deed, you are as obftinate as a Devil, and that it
was not to much Purpoſe to difpute about any
thing with you: But yet I never thought, that
your Heat would have tranfported you fo far. If
you go on at the rate you have begun, you will
fhortly grow intolerable, I affure you, to all Europe;
and neither the Emperor nor the King of Spain,
will either of them be able to endure you. But
now, my Lord, laying the Man of Confcience a-
fide, and refuming the Man of State, I felicitate
your Highnefs for the Victory I hear you have
gain'd, the most compleat, and the most impor-
tant, which has happen'd in our Age. France, which
you have fhelter'd from † all the Storms that it
dreaded,
He means Frederic Henry Prince of Aurange,
illuftrious for his auguft Qualities, and for the Greatness
of his Actions.
*He fpeaks of Philip IV. King of Spain, who mar-
ry'd Elizabeth of France, Sifter to Lewis XIII. and
who, in that Quality, was Unkle to Lewis XIV. quho is
the King Voiture mentions.
Rocroy is surrounded with Woods and Marbes, and
there was no approaching it without paffing near the Ene
my's Camp; the Duke of Anguien, who went to its Re-
lief, might eafily have been beaten, had Meloz charg'd
bim vigorously. Yet he did not do it, tho' he had it in his
Power; and Voiture, in Raillery, calls this a Kindness.
If the Spaniards had taken Rocroy, and beaten the
French, they might eaſily have poſſeſs'd themſelves of
48
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
dreaded, is amaz'd to fee, that you have begun
your Life with an Action, with which Cafar would
gladly have crown'd his own, and which, alone re-
flects more Luftre upon the * Kings your Proge.
nitors, than all theirs have transfer'd to you. Well,
my Lord, you have verify'd what has been for-
merly faid, That Virtue comes to the Cafars before
Maturity of Years: For you are a true Cafar, both
in Wit and in Knowledge; Cafar in Diligence and
Vigilance; in Courage Cafar and per omnes Cafus
Cafar; you have out-run the Hopes, and furpafs'd
the Expectation of Men; you have clearly fhewn
that Experience is neceffary to none but ordinary
Souls, that the Virtue of Heroes comes by a more
compendious Way, and that the Works of Heaven
are finiſh'd when but begun. After this I leave
you to judge, how you are like to be receiv'd and
carefs'd by the Lords of the Court; and with what
Pleaſures the Ladies heard, that he, whom they
had feen triumphant in Balls, had been victori-
キ
​ous in Armies; and that || the fineſt Head of all
France,
Champaign, and perhaps of the Iſle of France. Their
Army was numerous, and confifted of very good Troops :
Their Infantry alone was 18000 Men, above 8000 of
which fell on the Spot, and almoft 7000 were taken Pri
foners.
* The Duke de Anguien is of the Royal Family of
Bourbon. Some fetch his Defcent from a Son of Lewis
IX. others, with more Probability, from Anthony de
Bourbon Duke of Vendome, and afterwards King of
Navarre, by his Wife Jeanne d'Albert, fole Heiress of
Henry d'Albert her Father, and King of Navarre.
キ ​‡ The Duke danc'd finely, and Dancing began to improve
in his Days. Yet, 'twas nothing then to what it is now.
|| The Duke, when he was young, had, indeed, very fine
Hair, 'twas long, curl'd naturally, and was of an admira-
ble Chestnut. In a Word, 'twas charming. It grew out of
Gurl ſome Years before his Death, ſo that he was oblig'd to
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 49
France, was likewife the beft and the ftrongeſt.
There is not a Man, even to Monfieur Beaumont,
who does not declaim in your Praife. They who
had revolted against you, are now reduc'd'; and
they who complain'd that you were always laugh-
ing, have been forc'd to confefs, that you have
fhown yourſelf now in good Earneft; and ev'ry
one's afraid of being of the Number of your Ene-
mies, fince you have defeated fuch Multitudes of
them. Pardon, O Cafar, the Liberty which I have
taken; receive the Praiſe that is due to you; and
permit us to render to Caſar that which is due to
Cafar.
have a Peruke, but it did not come up to his own Hair,
when he was 20, 30, 40, and 45 Years old.
B A C B C CNI
To Marquefs de MONTAUSIER
a Prifoner in Germany.
LETTER XXI.
My LORD,
YOU
would not be troubl'd that you were ta
ken, did you know how much you are la-
mented here. Certainly, there is lefs Pleaſure in
being at Paris, than to be fo much wifh'd for, as
you are; the Affliction which all of the higheſt
Quality are in for you, ought to be prefer'd before
all the Liberty on Earth. If you cannot at prefent
be convinc'd of the Truth of this (for in the Con-
dition you are in, you look as if you could not un-
derſtand Reaſon) I fhall one Day make it plain
to you, and make you acknowledge, that you ought
not to number among your Misfortunes, an Acci-
dent
50
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
dent that raiſes you in the Efteem and Reſpect of
the moſt eminent Perfons in France. In this gene-
ral Sentiment of the whole World, I do not, my
Lord, think it to much Purpoſe to trouble you at
prefent, with that of my own; for what Probabi-
lity can there be, that you fhould afford me the
leaft of your Thoughts amongst Princeffes, Prin-
ces, Minifters of State, and great Ladies, but more
particularly amongst the young Ladies, who are
much to be preferr'd before others: When you
have beftow'd your Thoughts fome confiderable
Time on all thofe Perfons, I humbly befeech you.
to believe, that the World affords not another,
who concerns himſelf more in your good and bad
Fortunes, than I do, or can be, with greater Paffion,
My Lord,
Your humble Servant, &c.
:.
To the fame.
LETTER XXII.
MY LORD,
THE
'HO' I am the moſt confident Man in the
World of your Friendship, and that the
Freedom that fhines through all your Actions, re-
moves all manner of Diftruft of your Affection to
them to whom you have profefs'd it; yet can I not
but be extreamly fatisfy'd, when ever you affure
me of your Love, as thinking all the Security can
be given me, of a Thing from whence I derive fo
much Pleaſure and Advantage, little enough. The
Satisfaction I took in the reading of your Letter,
is the greateft I can boaſt of fince I left Paris
and,
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 50
and, unless it be the Acknowledgments you there-
in make me, there is not any thing I am not
fenfible of. I am therefore to affure your Lord-
fhip, that I receive daily new Satisfaction, that I
have fuffer'd myſelf, at length, to be overcome
with your Favour, and have loft that Hardneſs of
Heart, that made too long a Separation between
us. Tho' I make fome Difficulty to reflect on that
Time; yet I muſt needs acknowledge, it is fome
Pleaſure to me to remember it, and thereby in-
creaſe my Joy by comparing it with this, (I hope
I am not too open in what I fay) there are Inter-
vals, wherein "I could not with it fhould fall out
any otherwife. For, befides that the Enjoyment
of a Good is greater, by Reafon there was fo much
much Fear of lofing it, and that the Friendships,
which after fome Time are renew'd, have fome-
thing of an Eagerneſs, which thofe that are con-
Atant and of a long ftanding have not, this Mifan-
derſtanding hath given me Occafion to receive a
fignal Expreffion of your Goodnefs, by letting me
know, with what a Mildness and Tenderneſs of
Affection you entertain'd me, as foon as I came
near you. At leaſt, this Advantage I am like to
make on't, that having now once difcover'd what
Fault I have committed in the ill Management of
the Honour of your Acquaintance, and found by
Experience, what a hard Matter it is to be with-
out it. I fhall, for the Future, guard myfelf againſt
all Failings of this Kind, and fhall not fuffer any
Thing whatever to divert me from being,
My Lord your Honour's,
Humble Servant, &c.
to
52
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
To the Marquis of PISANI, who
had loft all his Money and his Bag-
gage at Play, during the Siege of
Thionville.
SIR,
T¹
LETTER XXIII.
HE Man would be to blame, or I have been
very much misinform'd, who fhould upbraid
you with having had the Mules to keep, at your
Camp of Thionville: The Devil a Mule have you
kept there, Sir. They tell me, that upon the
weighty Confideration, that feveral Armies have
been formerly loft by their Baggage, you have
made all poffible Hafte to be difincumber'd of
yours. And that having often read in the Roman
Hiftories, (this it is to be fuch a Man of Reading,
look you) that the greatest Exploits that were
done by their Cavalry, were done on Foot, after
having voluntarily difmounted in the Heat of the
moſt doubtful Battels, you took a Refolution to
diſpatch away all your Horfes, and have manag'd
Matters fo fwingingly, that you have not fo much
as one left. And now, the important Perfon ftands on
bis own Legs.
Perhaps you may receive fome fmall Inconveni-
ence from this: But let me die, if it be not much
for your Honour, that you, as well as Bias, honeft
old Bias, I warran you know him wonderous well,
fhould
* N. To keep the Mules, is a proverbial Expreſſion,
and fignifies to wait a long while in Expectation of fome-
thaing.
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 33
fhould be able to fay, that you carry all that is
yours about you. No great Quantity, I muft con-
fefs, of foppifh Accoutrements, nor a long Train
of led Horfes, nor abundance of that which they
call the Ready; but Probity, Generofity, Magna-
nimity, Conftancy in Dangers, Obftinacy in Dif-
putes, a Contempt of foreign Languages, Igno-
rance of falfe Dice, and a furprizing Tranquility
upon the Lofs of tranfitory Things: Qualities,
Sir, that are properly and effentially yours, of
which neither Time nor Fortune can ever deprive
you. Now, as Euripides, who was, as you know, or
as you know not, one of the greatest Authors of
Greece, writes in one of his Tragedies, that Money
was one of the Evils, and one of the moft perni
cious ones, that flew from Pandora's Box : I ad-
mire, as a divine Quality in you, the Incompati-
bility which there is between you and it, and look
upon it to be a diftinguiſhing Mark of a great and
extraordinary Soul, that you are uneafy 'till you
are rid of this Corrupter of Reafon, this Poifoner
of Souls, this Author of fo much Diſorder, of fo
much Injuftice, and of fo many Violences. Yet, I
could heartily with, that your Virtue were not ar-
riv'd at ſuch an extraordinary Pitch, and that you
could be brought to fome Accommodation with
this Enemy of human Kind, and that you might
be perfwaded to make Peace with it, as we do
with the Great Turk, for politick Reafons, and
the Advantage of Commerce. Now, upon Con-
fideration that it is a difficult Matter to be much
at one's Eafe without it, and fancying, that as I
play'd for you at Narbonne, you threw for me at
Thionville; and that it is perhaps in my Name,
that you have pack'd off your Baggage, I here
fend you an hundred Piſtoles at prefent, in part of
Payment; and, that thefe may not meet with the
fame Fate which befel their Predeceffors, I defire
you not to defile your Hands with them, but to
C 2 Ą
deliver
54 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
deliver them to the French Gentlemen who are
with you, for whoſe fake I chiefly remit them.
K
I
am, &c.
To my Lady Abbess, to thank her for
the Cat which she fent him.
I
LETTER XXIV.
MADAM,
Was fo perfectly yours before, that I imagin'd
you ought to have believ'd there was no need
of Prefents to fecure me to you, nor that you
fhould have contriv'd to catch me like a Rat, with
a Cat. However, I must needs own, that your Li-
berality has created in me fome new Affection for
you; and if there had been yet any Thing in my
Soul, that was ftragling from your Service, the Cat
you fent me, has caught it, and now it is intirely
your own. 'Tis certainly the moſt beautiful and
jollieft Cat that e'er was feen: The greateſt
Beau-Cat of Spain, is but a dirty Pufs compar'd to
him; and Rominagrobis himſelf, who you know,
Madam, is Prince of the Cats, has no better a
Mein, nor can better ſmell out his Intereft. I can
only fay, that 'tis very hard to keep him in; and
that of a Cat brought up in Religion, he is the
moft uneasy to be confin'd to a Cloyfter. He can
never fee a Window open, but immediately he is
for jumping out of it; he had e'er this leap'd
twenty times over the Walls, had he not been pre-
vented; and there is no fecular Cat in Chriften-
dom, that is more a Libertine, or more head-
ftrong than he. I am in hopes, however, that I
fhall perfwade him to ftay, by the kind Enter-
tainment
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
$5
tainment I give him; for I treat him with nothing
but good Cheeſe and Naples Bifkets; and perhaps
(Madam) he was not fo well treated by you: For,
I fancy the Ladies of
don't fuffer their
Cats to go in to their Cheeſes, and that the Aufte-
rity of a Convent wont afford 'em fuch good Chear.
He begins to grow tame already; Yeſterday, L
thought verily he had torn off one of my Hands
in his wanton Addreffes. 'Tis doubtless one of the
moft playful Creatures in the World; there's nei-
ther Man, Woman, nor Child, in my Lodging,
that wears not fome Mark of his Favour. But,
however lovely he is in his own Perſon, it ſhall al-
ways be for your fake that I efteem him; and L
fhall love him fo well, for the Love I have for
you, that I hope to give Occafion to alter the Pro-
verb, and that hereafter it fhall be faid, Love me,
and love my Cat. If, befides this Prefent, you will
give me the Raven that you promis'd me, and if
you will fend me an Elephant in a Handbaſket
one of thefe Days, you may proudly fay, that you
have given me all the Sorts of Beafts that Flove,
and every way oblig'd me to be, all the Days of
my Life,
Yours, &c.
To Monfieur the Duke d'ANGUIEN,
I
LETTER XXV.
MY LORD,
F I have feem'd behind-hand in Congratulating
a Succefs which has coft fo dear as the Death
of our Friend the Marquifs of Pifani, you will not,
I hope, think it strange, and I make no great doubt
of your Highneſs's Forgiveneſs, if upon this Occa-
C3
hion
56
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters:
fion I have been more taken up with Grief than:
Joy. It is no Article of my Belief, my Lord, I who
would with all Chearfulneſs facrifice my Life to
ferve you, that thofe that have loft theirs in this
Victory, have mifpent them, but could with all
my Heart wish myſelf in their Condition, rather
than be fo unfortunate to weep, or feem to be af-
flicted in one of your Victories: In the mean
Time, my Lord, fince I am to undergo one of the
greatest Afflictions that could poffibly fall on me,
it is no fmall Joy to me, that you have fo fortu-
nately and glorioufly overcome fo many Dangers,
and that the Heavens have been pleas'd to guard
a Perfon to whom I ought to addrefs all the Zeal
and Reſpect which I have vow'd to all thoſe I
may or fhall ever lofe. My Prayers to Heaven are,
that it would be more careful of your Life, than
you are of it yourfelf. And I beg of you to find me
out fome Occafion to convince your Highness how
ready and how paffionately I am
Your Highness's
Dutiful Servant, &c.
To the fame, upon his taking of Dunkirk.
I
LETTER XXVI.
My LORD,
Am fo far from wondering that you have taken
Dunkirk, that I believe you could take the Moon
by the Teeth, if you did but once attempt it. No-
thing can be impoffible to you: I am only uneafy
about what I fhall fay to your Highnefs on this Oc-
cafion, and am thinking by what extraordinary
Terms
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters
37
Terms I may bring you to reach my Conceptions
of you. Indeed, my Lord, in that Height of Glory
to which you have now attain'd, the Honour of
your Favour is a fingular Happinefs; but it is a
troubleſome Thing to us Writers, who are oblig'd
to Congratulate you upon every good Succefs, to
be perpetually upon the Hunt for Words, whofe
Force may anſwer your Actions, and to be every
Day inventing new Panegyricks. If you would but
have the Goodnefs to fuffer your felf to be beat
fometimes, or to rife from before fome Town, the
Variety of the Matter might help to fupport us,
and we ſhould find out fome fine Thing or other
to fay to you upon the Inconftancy of Fortune,
and the Glory that is gotten by bearing her Ma-
lice bravely: But having, from the very firft of
your Actions, rank'd you equal with Alexander,
and finding you rifing upon us continually; upon
my Word, my Lord, we are at a Lofs what to do,
either with you or ourfelves. Nothing that we can
fay, can come up to that which you do; and the
very Flights of our Fancy flag below you. Elo-
quence, which magnifies the fmalleft Things, can-
not reach the Height of thofe which you do, no,
not by its boldeſt Figures. And that which is call'd
Hyperbole on other Occafions, is but a cold way
of fpeaking when it comes to be apply'd to you.
Indeed it is difficult to comprehend how your
Highneſs each Summer has ftill found out Means
to augment that Glory which every Winter feem'd
at its full Perfection; and that having begun fo
greatly, and gone on more greatly, ftill your laft
Actions fhould crown the reft, and be found the
moſt amazing. For my own part, my Lord, I
*
**
C4
con-
* When Voiture ſays, that this last Conquest of Dun-
kirk is more glorious than any the Duke of Anguien ever
gain'd, he speaks by way of gallanting, and only to cajole
that Prince, who at that Time had perform'd nothing more
illuftrious than the Battle of Rocroy.
58
Monfieur VOITURE'S Letters:
congratulate your Succefs, as I am in Duty oblig'd;
but I plainly foreſee the very Thing that aug-
ments your Reputation with us, may prejudice
that which you expect from after Ages; and that
fo many great and important Actions done in fo
fhort a Space, may render your Life incredible to
future Times, and make your Hiftory be thought
a Romance by Pofterity. Be pleas'd then, my
Lord, to fet fome Bounds to your Victories, if it
be only to accommodate yourſelf to the Capacity
of Human Reaſon, and not to go farther than com-
mon Belief can follow you. Be contented to be
quiet and fecure, at leaft for a Time, and fuffer
France, which is eternally alarm'd for your Safety,.
to enjoy ferenely, for a few Months, the Glory
which you have acquir'd for her. In the mean
Time, befeech you to believe, that among fo
many Millions of Men who admire you, and who
continually pray for you, there is not one who does,
it with fo much Joy, with fo much Zeal and Ve-
neration, as I, who am,
My Lord,
Your Highness's, &c.
G D C D G I
To the fame, when he had pass'd the
Rhine with the Troops which were
to join thofe of the Marshal de Gue-
briant, 1643.
IN
LETTER XXVII.
N order to understand this Letter rightly, it is neceffary
to know that a little before the Duke fet out from Paris,
being in Company with fome Ladies of his particular
Ac-
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 59
'Acquaintance, he play'd with them at feveral little Games,
and particularly at that of the Fifb, which, as I am credibly
inform'd, is play'd after the following Manner. Thers ·
ought to be in Company about feven or eight Perfons, and
every one is to think of fome Fib, but not to tell it; then
one of the Company takes his Handkerchief, and making as ·
if he was Angling, crys, I fifb in my Master's Pond, and I
catch a Fife, which he is to name, a Pike for Example ;;
if any one there has chofen a Pike, he is to answer, That's
my Fiſh; if no Body has chofen, he is to forfeit ; and when
it has gone round in this manner, the Forfeits are to be dif-·
pos'd of, as in feveral of our Engliſh Games. The Duke
was the Pike in this Play, which gave Occafion to Voi-
ture, who was the Carp, to fend him the following Piece
of Railery, which is esteem'd one of the most ingenious of i
all his Works.
1
Good Morrow, Brother Pike, Good Morrows.
Brother Pike! I always believ'd, indeed, that the
Waters of the Rhine would never ftop you, and be
ing acquainted with your Strength, and knowing "
how much you love to fwim in wide Water, I ea-
fily imagin'd you would not be at all terrify'd at
them, but pafs them with as much Glory, as you
have perform'd fo many other Exploits; but it
gives me particular Joy to hear, that it was done
more fortunately, even than we could wifh, and
that without you or yours having loft a fingle Fin,
your fole Name diffipated all the Oppofition you
expected to meet with. Tho' you were always de-
licious Food in any Sauce whatever, yet it must be
own'd the German Sauce gives you an excellent
Relifh, and the Bays which are mixt in it, adds:
ftill more to your Lafhioufnefs. The Emperor's
Folks, who hop'd to have roafted you, and
made a Meal of you, were horribly baulk'd, and it
would
#
1
Cis
*The ufual Sauce for a Pike, is sal'd, Sauffe de
Allemagne.
60 Monfieur VOITURE's Letters.
would make any Body laugh to think that they,
who boafted how well they would defend the
Banks of the Rhine, fhould not now be ſafe, even
upon thofe of the Danube. Ods Fifh, how you lay
about you! There's no Water, tho' ever fo deep,
ever fo rough, or ever fo rapid, but you fowfe into
it headlong, without minding where you go. Real-
ly, Brother, you contradict the Proverb, which
fays, Young Fleb, and old Fifb: For being no more
than a young tender Pike, you have a Firmneſs
which is not to be found in the oldeſt Sturgeons,
and you finifh Things which they durft never have
begun. And indeed you can't imagine how far your
Reputation is extended already; there is not a
Pond, not a Fountain, not a Brook, not a River,
not a Sea, where your Victories are not wonder'd
at; no ftanding Water where you are not talk'd
of; no roaring Torrent that you do not make a
Noife in; your Name penetrates to the very Cen-
tre of the Sea, and flies over the Surface of the
Deeps and the Ocean, which fets Bounds to the
World, does not do the fame to your Glory.
T'other Day, when Brother Turbot, Brother Shad,
and fome fresh-water Fish of us, fupp'd together
at Brother Smelts, there was brought in, at the fe-
cond Courſe an old Salmon, who had fwam twice.
round the World; and being just then come from
the Weft Indies, was taken up in France, for a Spy,
as he was following a Salt Smack. He told us there
was not an Abyfs in the Water, tho' ever fo deep,
where you were not known and dreaded; and that
the Whales of the Atlantic Ocean, were all in a
muck Sweat, if they did but hear you nam'd. He
would have given us more Information, but being
boil'd, he did not know how to fpeak without a
great
deal of Pain, We had much the fame News
from a Shoal of freß Herrings, that were just come
from the Coast of Norway; thefe affur'd us that
the Sea of that Country was frozen two Months
fooner
Monfieur VOITURE's Letters. 61
f
fooner than ordinary, through the Terror they
were in, upon their being told by fome Mackrel
that you were directing your March towards the
North; and they added farther, that the great Fiſh
too, who you know generally devour the little ones,
were afraid you would ferve them as they ferv'd
others, and were moſt of them retir'd quite under
the Bear, imagining_they_fhould then be out of
the Reach of you: That both Strong and Weak
were all in Alarm and Confufion, and particularly
fome Sea Eels, who make an Outcry already, as
if you were fkinning of them. Indeed, Brother,
you are a terrible Pike; and the biggest Fifles in
the Ocean, not excepting Sea Horfes, Sea Wolves,
nor the Dolphins themſelves, are but Craw-fish in
Compariſon of you; and if you go on at the Rate
you have begun, you'll fwallow up Sea, and Fiſh,
and all. Yet, your Glory being already arriv'd at
fuch a Degree, that it is impoffible for it to be
greater, I think, after fo many Fatigues, you ought
to come and refresh yourſelf in the Water of the
Seine, and divert your felf a little with a great ma
ny pretty Tench, charming Perch, and humble Trouts
that impatiently long for your Company. But,
however great their Love may be for you, it can
never equal mine, nor the Defire I have to let
you know how much I am..
Your most humble,
Moft obedient Servant,
And Brother,
Carp
(62)
Monfieur VOITURE's
METAMOR. P HOSIS.
✪-XXXX☹DDDDDDRD✪✪‡ÐDA✪✪
METAMORPHOSIS of Lucina into a
Rofe. For the Marchionefs of RAM-
BOUILLET,
WITHIN the Circuit of the feven Hills, which
WITHIN the
have fo long ftruck Terror into the Whole
芦
​Earth, was born a Nymph with whom the Sun
fell in Love, and for whom both Gods and. Men
had an equal Paffion.. She was weak of Body,
but perfectly beautiful, divinely prudent, and of
wonderful good Conduct. Venus, out of Envy to
her Beauty, and becaufe fhe thought herfelf lefs
honour'd by her, than any of the other Goddeffes,
attempted to destroy her; but Phoebus fav'd her,
turning her into a Flower, which is ftill, like her,
the most charming, and moft delicate of all the
Things that were created. Heaven and Earth re-
joyce to behold her. She is now the Sun of Flow-
ers, as fhe was formerly of Beauty. She wears the
Livery of Modefty and Virtue, and ſtill preferves
the Properity of giving a fine Scent to every Thing
that is in her Company. She no more defires now
to
Monfieur Voiture's Metamorphofis. 63
to be meddled with, than fhe did formerly. She
arms herſelf with Thorns, to preferve herſelf from
being touch'd and handled. She fhuts herſelf up
for three Parts of the Year. Exceffive Heat and
exceffive Cold are equally baneful to her, and ſhe
appears only in Spring.
METAMORPHOSIS of Julia into a
Diamond. For the Marchioness of
Montaufier..
N that Part of the World where the Sun rifes,
and where Heaven engenders precious Stones,
was born, by a Miracle, a Nayade, the most accom-
plifh'd the Gods had ever created; and the old
Ocean never beheld any Thing fo beautiful, no not
even on that Day when Venus was born in his Do-
minions. Neptune, for her Sake, made Thetis, and
all the Nymphs of the Ocean, pine with Jealoufy.
But at laft, growing weary of her Difdain, he
turn'd her into the Stone which is call'd a Dia-
mond. As fhe was incomparably beautiful, of a
Divine Wit, but infenfible, obftinate, and imperi-
ous; fo this Stone has a Beauty which darkens
all others, a Brightnefs which feems defcended
from Heaven; it can by no Force be broke; it re-
fifts Iron and Fire, and it ftands upon the Heads of
Kings themſelves. As fhe was belov'd by all who
knew her, fo fhe is ftill belov'd both by great and
fmall, and defir'd by all the World. In fhort, Hea-
ven nor Earth have made nothing fo perfect, and
Mankind knows nothing ſo valuable.
META-
IN
64 Monfieur Voiture's Metamorphofis.
888888
METAMORPHOSIS of Leonida into a
Pearl. For Mademoiselle Paulet.
N the Foreft of Erimanthus was formerly a Fairy,
who, in her Infancy, was expos'd to the wild
Beafts, who gave her Suck, and brought her up.
She had a human Countenance, a divine Wit, but
a very cruel Soul. Love never ferv'd any Body fo
well as he did her, and yet had never a greater
Enemy. She kill'd all that fhe look'd upon, and,
in a little Space of Time, committed more Mur-
thers than the Bears and Lyoneffes who had fav'd
her from perifhing. But the Gods at laft grew of-
fended with her Cruelties; and refolving to fave
Mankind, which fhe went the ready way to de-
ftroy, chang'd her into a Pearl, which ſtill retains
the Clearnefs of her Skin, which made every Thing
elfe look black. All other Jewels unite themſelves
with Gold; but this does without it, and only allies
itſelf to thofe of its own Species. But he has, to
this Moment, fome Remains of her firft Fierce-
nefs; for we fee that, even to this Day, Pearls fly
at the Throats of thofe who would make Ufe of
them, and can be diffolv'd in nothing but Vine-
gar, to denote the Sympathy there was formerly
between them.
Jor
>
The
(65)
The ELOGIUM of the Conde Duke
d'Olivares, prime Minifter of Spain.
This Fragment wants both the Beginning and the End.
1
- Upon this Occafion, he fhew'd that no
Reaſons of State had fo great an Influence over
him, as thofe of Religion; and that he had rather
be an ill Politician, than an ill Chriftian. His Inte-
grity is acknowledg'd by his very Enemies. He
was always liberal of his own Wealth, and ſparing
of the King's; and, which is hardly credible, tho
he has had the Management of above an hundred
and fifty Millions, he is five hundred thoufand
Crowns in Debt. His Train, and his Way of living,
are like thoſe of a private Perfon, as well as his
Affability, and the Readinefs with which he fees
any body. Others who are in Places like his, do
generally avoid, with equal Induſtry, both Friends
and Enemies, and are no lefs afraid of thofe who
ask Favours, than of thofe that would do them
Miſchief: Ás for him, of the one he is not afraid,
and he hears the others; and if he can't fatisfy e-
very Body in their Requefts, he thinks he ought
at leaft to give them the Hearing. As for his Ca-
pacity and Wit, there is hardly any Body, I be-
lieve, that doubts it. We need fay no more, in or-
der to give fome Notion of it, than that it extends
to the two Ends of the World; that it governs both
in the Eaft and in the Weft; and that alone it ma-
nages all the most important Affairs of Europe. It
is wonderfully quick, active, penetrating, fubtle,
and agreeable; full of Fire and Knowledge He
talks his own Language perfectly well; to exprefs
which,
66
A Character of the
which, it is fufficient to fay, that his Name is Guf-
man, and that he is defcended from the Stock
which was famous in Spain before there were Kings
in Caftile, and which has furniſh'd that Nation with
its greateſt Examples of Virtue and Loyalty. His
Father, Don Pedro de Gufman, had in his Time few
Equals either for Wit or Merit; and this Com-
mendation was then of greater Weight than it
would be now. He was Embaffador to the Pope,
Vice-Roy of Sicily, and afterwards of Naples; and
upon his Return to Madrid, he was made one of
the Privy Councillors, which in that Kingdom is
the higheſt Degree of Honour and Dignity. Being
at Rome, his Son de Gufman was born, who
being the youngeft, was defign'd for a Clergy-
man; and the first Years of his Youth were ſpent
in Study: But fome Time afterwards he became
the eldeft, by the Death of his Brother; and bỳ -
that of his Father, Heir to an Eftate of fixty thou-
fand Ducats per Annum. In his Youth he was ex-
treamly well made, tall, handſome, and finely
fhap'd, the moft graceful Rider in all Spain, valf-
ant, liberal, and magnificent; and he was certainly
the finest Gentleman at Court, 'till he grew to be
the most potent there. He enter'd into Bufinefs at
a Time when the Genius of Spain feem'd to flag
and grow weary, and when that Monarchy, which
had been rais'd to its higheſt Degree of Greatnefs,
by Charles the Fifth, and with much ado preferv'd
in it by Philip the fecond, look'd as if it meant to
decline under all other Kings. Thoſe who can ne-
ver be fatisfy'd with the Things that are prefent,
and who always look out for Caufe of Complaint,
either in the Forefight of Futurity, or Compariſon
of Things paft, look back with Regret upon the
Grandeur and Richneſs wherein the Court floù-
rifh'd under Philip the third; and becaufe they find
that it has lefs Splendor and good Fortune now,
than it had in thofe Times, they conclude it is oc-
cafion'd wi
1
Duke d'OLIVARES.
67
cafion'd by want of Conduct. But we ought to
confider, that thofe who were in his Place before
he came to it, always govern'd in calm and ferene
Weather, when, if the Sails were but hoifted,
Things went on of themſelves, and when the
Winds never blow'd, but in order to bring Gold
from the Indies, Germany, which ftill remember'd
the Battle of the Elbe, and which having feen the
Eagle of the Empire, with the Thunder of Charles
V. in her Claws, could at moft form only Defigns
of Miſchief. The Dutch as yet thought of no Pro-
fperity beyond that of enjoying Peace and Quiet.
England was rul'd by a King who was in the De-
cline of Age, and a mere Philofopher; and France
by an Infant. All Europe flept in profound Peace
and Silence; and the then Minifters were employ'd
in nothing but diftributing the Treafures of Peru,
and in giving or refufing of Favours. This Gentle-
man, on the contrary, always fail'd with the Wind
in his Teeth. When the Heavens were on all Sides
cover'd with thick lowring Clouds, he kept on his
Courfe amidst Rocks and Quick-fands; and in
the greatest Violence of the Storm, was forc'd to
manage that mighty Ship, whofe Prow is in the
Atlantic Ocean, and whofe Stern lies in the Indian
Sea. In France he was to countermine the Defigns
of an able Minifter, who had a particular Averfion
to the Spaniards, and who could do what he would
with a young warlike King, whofe Enterprizes
were generally blefs'd with Succefs. On the Side
of the North, Fortune rais'd up againſt the Houſe
of Auftria, the most dangerous Enemy fhe ever
had to deal with; a Conqueror, whofe leaft Qua-
lification was that of being a King both valiant
and wife, prudent and bold, of great Experience,
and great Defigns; and who had all Alexander's
Virtues, without having one of his Vices, befides
his Ambition. Thus this Monarchy, either for it
felf, or its Allies, had for Enemies, all at the fame
Time,
68
A Character of the
Time, the French and the Duke of Savoy, the Eng-
life, the Dutch, the Proteftants of Germany, and the
King of Sweden, and that too in an Age wherein
Spain was barren of Great Men, and wherein For-
tune was more its Enemy, than all the reft. This
Man went every Day from the Efcurial to Madrid,
with only two Secretaries in his Coach; and he
who gave Directions to fo many Armies, how they
fhould move, and what they fhould do, and who
guided the Actions of fo many Millions of Men,
had generally but three or four in his Attendance.
No Train, tho' ever fo numerous, can be fo glori-
ous as this Solitude. The beft Proof of not having
been guilty, is not being afraid. As for his Con-
fcience, we are particularly oblig'd to acknowledge
it after the Affiftance he gave us to ruin the Pro-
teftants, and deftroy Rochelle. If the Winds dafh'd
upon the Coaſts of Guyenne the Carracks which were
to have been unladen in Lisbon, if the Admirals of
the Flotas fuffer'd fome of them to be taken, and
if the Sea fwallow'd up others; if the Marquifs
de Spinola dy'd before he could take Cazal; if the
Germans, tho' the more numerous, let themſelves
be routed at Veillane; if the Chiefs of the Armies,
tho' they had great Advantages, accepted of dif
advantagious Conditions; and if the good For-
tune or good Conduct of the King of Sweden, won
the Battle of Leipfwick: Theſe are Accidents which
the Conde d'Olivares could not poffibly prevent, and
which he could only endeavour to repair. One of
the Misfortunes incident to thoſe who govern, is,
that when Things fucceed, every Body endea-
yours to get the Glory of it for himfelf; but when
they prove unlucky, the Fault falls all upon one
Man's Shoulders. His good Conduct apply'd a
Remedy to every Thing that was capable of re-
ceiving it; and if, indeed, he could not recover
every Thing, it was a great deal to hinder all from
running quite to Ruin and Deftruction. When-
ever
Duke d'OLIVARES.
bg
aver Fortune did not oppofe his Councils, but fuf-
fer'd his Prudence to have its free Courfe; good
Succefs pour'd in upon him from all Parts. In one
and the fame Year he conquer'd Breda, not only
in Deſpite of the Dutch, but alfo, of all the Poten-
tates in Europe. He fav'd Genoa, which was half
French, and which had 20000 French at its Gates..
He forc'd the English to abandon Cadiz with fo much
Hafte, that they feem'd to have been fuffer'd to
enter into Spain, only for the Pleafure of driving
them out again: And at the fame Time, at the
other End of the World, with 12000 Men he con-
quer'd Brazil. Thus he triumph'd over all the
Earth at once, and won Victories enough, to have
render'd his whole Life happy and glorious, if
they had been but divided to different Times. Ill
Fortune indeed, might fometimes overthrow his
Defigns, but never his Conftancy. I have feen him
receive the News of the taking of Maeftricht, and
the Death of the King of Sweden, with the fame
Countenance; and the very Day when Fate, by
robbing him of his Daughter, depriv'd him of his
deareft Hopes, he had the Fortitude to give Audi-
ence, and apply himſelf to Bufinefs, the Senti-
ments of a Father giving Way to the Duty of a
Statefman. He thought it would not become him
to abandon to Tears. the Eyes, that ought to be
continually watching for the Good of his Coun-
try; and that a Mind which was charg'd with the
Care of half the Globe, ought not to be ruffled by
a Family-Misfortune. His Adminiſtration had the
particular good Luck not to be ftain'd with Blood,
nor crowded with Profcriptions; his Sighs and
Tears, did not unpeople the Court to fill the Pri-
fon. He did not make Ufe of the Crime of High
Treaſon, for a Pretence to gratify his private Re-
venge: And let any Body fay, or do what they.
would against him, he never look'd upon any as
his Enemies, but thoſe who were the Enemies of
the
70
A Character of the, &c.
the State. But fince this fingle Man is the moſt
confiderable Part of that Court; fince his Name is
known to all Europe, and his Perfon but to few, and
that every one has different Notions of it, accord-
ing to the Love, Hatred, or Envy, of thofe who
may have given him a Defcription of it, it will not
be improper to break off the Thread of this Dif-
courſe, in order to fay fomething more particular
of him..
Fortune has been generally us'd to fetch thofe
whom fhe meant to raiſe to the highest Honours,
from the loweft Condition of Mankind; and the
Better to fhew her Power, fhe takes Delight in
forming her Creatures out of Nothing. She did
not obferve this Rule in the Choice fhe made of
Duke of Olivares, whom fhe found at firft in fo high
a Station, that fhe hardly knew how to place him
in a higher; and all her Favour was not able to
give him one Title which was not to be found in
his Family already, Genealogifts, who have the
the Secret of deducing from Kings the Original of
Favourites, and of adopting any Body into what-
ever Rank they pleafe to chufe, need not give
themſelves much Trouble to prove the Nobility
of his Race.
The End of the Letters, &c.
Alcidalis and Zelida,
OR, THE
Undaunted Lady;
A
ROMANCE.
Written for the Entertainment of
Mademoiselle de RAMBOUILLET,
By Monfieur VOITURE,
LONDON Printed,
And Re-printed in DUBLIN, by and for Samuel
Fairbrother Bookfeller, in Skinner-Row, oppoſite
to the THoLSEL, Mbccxxxi.
Alcidalis and Zelida,
OR, THE
Undaunted Lady.
A 60
88-8-38 T what Time Spain was divided, not
only among feveral Kings, but alfo
among feveral Nations; the Goths, the
Moors and the Spaniards, having each
08-8300 of them a Part of it, Arragon was go-
vern'd by a King, who, amidst all the Wars his
Neighbours were difquieted with, had ftill pre-
ferv'd his Subjects in Peace; and who was memo-
rable for nothing but the being Father to him
whofe Hiftory we are going to relate. His Wife,
having brought him an only Son, left him a Wi-
dower much about the fame Time that the Coun
tefs of Barcelona, a young and prudent Princefs,
had loft her Husband. Tho' he was already pretty
well advanc'd in Years, his Council and his Sub-
jects thought, that for the Security of his Perfon
and Dominions, it were to be with'd he might
leave
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
leave more than one Heir, and begg'd him to
chufe for that Purpofe, either in his own King.
dom, or among his Neighbours, fome Lady upon
whom he could fix his Affections. The Fame of
the Counteſs's Beauty and Virtue, was not confin'd
to Arragon alone's end not only good Policy advis'd
him to take hold of this Opportunity of joining to
his Territories, fo important a City as Barcelona,
but the King's Inclination too lay entirely that
way. Rofalva (for that was her Name) was hand-
fome enough, but much more crafty than fhe was
handfome; and being already a fovereign Princefs,
nothing less than a Scepter could make her enter-
tain Thoughts of a ſecond Marriage. She having
but one Daughter, and the King of Arragon one
Son, fhe confider'd, that fhe fhould not only make
herſelf a Queen, but might, as it were, leave an
hereditary Kingdom to her Daughter; and being
in the midft of Neighbours, who were continually
upon the Watch for an Opportunity to fall upon
her Dominions, fhe fhould not be at all blam'd for
providing for her Safety, by fetting a Crown upon
her own Head. She therefore foon confented to
lofe the Title of Countess of Barcelona, for that of
Queen of Arragon, where fhe was receiv'd with all
poffible Joy and Magnificence. Being young,
handfome, and artful fhe preſently gain'd an ab-
folute Government over the King, and foon after-
wards over the whole Kingdom. The most im-
portant Affairs were not concluded, 'till her Qpi-
nion was confulted, and the King foon renounc'd
all other Care, befides that of ftudying how to
pleaſe her. But in the midft of this great Power,
her chief Concern was to bring about the Mar-
riage of her Daughter with the Prince; and the
more fhe grew acquainted with the Perfections of
her Son-in-Law, the more was fhe defirous to
compleat that Union. Alcidalis, which was the
Prince's Name, was Born with fo many Advan-
rages
The Undaunted LADY.
tages of Nature, that his being the Son of a King,
was the leaft of his good Qualities. He had Beau-
ty, which gain'd him the Hearts of all that faw
him; Wit, which, even in his Childhood, was
without a Rival; and Greatnefs of Soul and Cou-
rage, which ftruck every Body with Reſpect and
Fear. The Infancy of Alexander, was neither more.
grand, nor more wonderful, than was his. There
pafs'd not a Day, in which he did not fay or do
fomething that furpriz'd the whole Court. Thofe
who had the Art of judging of the Fortune of Men,
by their Features, faw in his, a Promife of feveral
great and wonderful Events; and thofe, who con-
fider'd his Actions, and the good Qualities which
were in him, faid, That the Crown of Arragon was
too narrow for fuch a Head. They forefaw that
the Moors, who were his Father's Borderers, would
one Day be forc'd to fet the Sea between him and
them; and that Spain would no longer be under
the Dominion of more than one, when that young
Prince could but get Strength enough to draw his
Sword.
All theſe Perfections won him more and more
the Affection of the Queen, who knew them bet-
ter than any Body. She was impatient for an Op-
portunity to compleat a Match fhe had from the
very Beginning projected; and was of Opinion,
that it would be a lefs Advantage to her Daugh-
ter to be Queen of Arragon, than to be Wife of Al-
cidalis. But let us fay what we will of Fortune, it
muſt be confefs'd there's no Prudence like hers.
She lays her Deſigns fo deep, and leads them
through fuch hidden Mazes, that it is impoffible
for our Forefight to hinder them; and in fpite of
all we can do, fhe ſtill brings about whatever fhe
undertakes. This fame Fortune, having taken a
Refolution to oppofe the Forecast of Rofalua, fhalt
fetch from beyond Sea, a young Girl, who, tho' a
6
Alcidalis and Żelida; or,
Stranger and an Orphan, fhall overthrow the De-
figns of a politick and powerful Queen.
The Prince of Tenara, defcended from one of
the most illuftrious Families in the Kingdom of
Calabria, and which had formerly given Kings to
Naples and Sicily, had a very confiderable Eftate
fallen to him in Arragon, which he refolv'd to go
and take Poffeffion of in Perfon, becauſe it was
difputed with him. But being extreamly fond of
his Wife, and both he and fhe having a very great
Love for an only Daughter they had, about five
or fix Years old, they could not bear the Thoughts
of parting; and fo they refolv'd to carry their
whole Family into Arragon. They were there re-
ceiv'd by the King and Queen, with all the Kind-
nefs and Civility due to Strangers of their Rank
and Merit. But fhortly after their Arrival, the
Prince was feiz'd with an Illnefs, which carry'd
him off in a few Days, and left his Wife in a De-
fpair wherein it was impoffible fhe could long live.
The Queen, whofe Love fhe had gain'd to the
higheſt Degree, gave her all the Comfort and AF
fiffance fhe could wifh for, in her Affliction, and
in her Affairs. Rofalva had, from the firſt Moment
fhe faw her, taken a Liking to the Princefs; but
when this Misfortune had befallen her, Pity fo
much increas'd the Affection fhe had for her, that
fhe began to love her as herſelf. She gave her
Apartments in the Palace, and was fo careful of
having her always in her Company, that fhe
feem'd to want part of herſelf, when Camilla was
from her: (That was the Name of the afflicted
Princeſs.) Yet all this extraordinary Kindneſs,
which might perhaps have cur'd any Misfortune
befides hers, had no other Effect upon Her, than
just to give her a little Eafe, and to make her en-
dure her Grief with lefs Impatience. And indeed,
the Death of her Husband, in fo unfortunate a
Conjuncture, was a Blow fo fudden, and fo hard
to
The Undaunted LADY.
1
to be fupported, that the Goodneſs and Confola-
tions of the Queen, could not hinder her being
taken, for want of Food and Sleep, with a Sick-
nefs, which he foon conceiv'd was to be the laft
of all her Miferies. This was an extream Grief to
the Queen, who earneftly wifh'd for her Reco-
very, and was very forry that two fuch illuftrious
Perfons fhould die in her Dominions, in fo fhort a
Time. She conjur'd all the moft fkilful Phyfici-
ans that came near her, to put in Practice the
greateſt Secrets of their Art, for her Cure. But
tho', at the Sollicitation of the Queen, they did
the utmost of their Power, and fpar'd for no Pains,
the Diſeaſe of the Princefs Camilla was ftrenger
than all their Remedies. She herfelf well per-
ceiving, and knowing with as much Judgment,
and fettled Senfe, as her Phyficians, that her Hour
was come, refolv'd to follow the Prince her Hus-
band, with all the Tranquility it was poffible for
one to do, who confider'd, that fhe was to leave
her Daughter an Orphan, in an Age fo little capa-
ble of Reaſon, and in a ftrange Country, where
fhe could expect no Affiftance from any thing,
but the Goodneſs of the Queen, in whofe Court
fhe was on the Point of dying.
3:
>
During theſe different Thoughts, with which
The was tormented in the Height of her Diftem-
per, the Queen, who was with her as much as pof-
fible, having afk'd her how the found herſelf, Ca-
milla turn'd her Eyes languifhingly upon her, took
her by the Hand, which fhe kifs'd feveral times,
without being able to ſpeak; then all of a ſudden
addreffing herfelf to her, fhe faid, That fhe was
infinitely oblig'd to the best Queen in the World,
for the Concern fhe fhew'd about her Health:
That fince he did her the Honour to defire to
know from her own Mouth, the true State of it,
he would give her Leave to tell her, that fhe
found herself very near her End; but that her
greatest
B &
8
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
}
i
greatest Grief, in the Condition fhe was in, was.
not about her Death; for that loving her Daugh-
ter much more than Life, fhe was more uneasy to
leave her, than to leave the World: She therefore
begg'd her to permit her to make the beſt Uſe
fhe could of the few Hours fhe had left, and to
employ them in pouring into her Bofom the laft
and moft tender Sentiments of her Soul; which
were, that fhe fhould blefs Heaven for fo foon
putting her in a Condition to follow her Husband,
if, before her Death, he would pleafe to accept
from her Hand, the Prefent fhe meant to make
her of all which, after that Husband, fhe eſteem'd
moft dear and precious. At thefe Words fhe
gufh'd into Tears, which after having wip'd a-
way, fhe continu'd, and faid, That in all her Dif
treffes, fhe could not believe Fortune was abfo-
lutely her Enemy, fince fhe had granted her the
Honour of being known to her Majefty; and that
were it not for the Mifchance which befel her
Husband, fhe fhould reckon her Journey to Arra-
gon happy, tho' fhe well faw it would cost her her
Life, as it had done him: That nevertheleſs, ſhe
thought fhe had not at all paid dear for the Hap-
pinefs of being belov'd by her, for whom he had
fo great Refpect, that if the World had any Thing
in it which the loft with Regret, it was only her
Friendship: But that ſhe ſhould comfort herſelf
as well as fhe was able, in hopes her Daughter
would fucceed her in the Honour of her good
Graces That ſhe would have the Goodneſs to be
a Mother to her, and take Care of her, as of a
Perfon, whom ſhe bequeath'd her upon her Death-
bed. She earneftly entreated her to accept of that
Gift, adding, that in leaving her Child the addi-
tional Quality of the Queen's Daughter, fhe
thought the left her richer than in the twoDutchies
fhe was Heirefs to: That fhe fhould die in
Peace, and think her Death in fome fort happy
:
for
The Undaunted LADY.
9
for Zelida, fince it would procure her the Honour
of being Educated by the wifeft Queen in the
World.
When ſhe had faid this, fhe took from her Bed's-
Head, a little Casket full of her richeft Jewels,
which fhe depofited with her, and defir'd her to
keep them, to ferve her Daughter Zelida, as fhe
meant they ſhould herſelf, when ſhe brought them
with her in her Journey.
In the Condition the Dutchefs was in, and in
the Manner ſhe ſpoke, tho' fhe had begg'd even
the Kingdom of Arragon of Rofalva, or could this
latter have known the Importance of the Favour
fhe was ask'd, fhe could not have refus'd her. She
embrac'd her, and faid, fhe joyfully receiv'd the
Preſent ſhe had made her, on Condition fhe never
revok'd it. That from that Moment, fhe fhould
think he had two Daughters, and there fhould
never be any Difference between them, except
that Zelida ſhould be always the Eldeft: But fhe
would have her take Heart, and the hop'd fhe
would live long enough to be herfelf Witnefs of
the Effect of her Promiſes.
This was a great Comfort to Camilla's Mind,
but did not in the leaft diminish the Illness of her
Body; fhe liv'd two Days longer, and then went
out of the World with as much Joy as any one
would go out of a Priſon, and left the whole Court
in Grief, and the Queen under an Affliction which ·
cannot be defcrib'd. Thus Zelida, in lefs than three
Months, faw her Father and Mother bury'd in the
Tomb of thofe whofe Eſtate they came to enjoy.
And now behold her at fix Years of Age, three
hundred Leagues diftant from the Place of her
Birth, in a ſtrange Country, and, which he ought
moft to have fear'd in the Power of one, through
whom the Stars threaten'd her with all the Un-
happineſs of her Life. But Fortune is the best
Mother in the World; no Harm can happen to
thofe
B. 3
10
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
thoſe whom she adopts. She took this Orphan un
der her Protection, and, by fuch unfortunate Be-
ginnings, refolv'd to fet two Crowns upon her
Head. Zelida was one of the most compleat Ma-
fter pieces of Heaven: As her Life was defign'd
to be full of Miracles, her Perfon was fo too; and
this Hiftory, which in every thing elfe is probable,
is incredible only in what it relates of her Perfon.
Ever fince the Sun has been us’d to take his Courſe
round the Earth, he never faw a Beauty fo ac-
complish'd as hers; and in the charmingft Body
in the World, fhe had a Mind which cannot by
ours be conceiv'd, and which feem'd to be one of
thofe which ought not to inform any other Bodies.
than the Supernal, and which were made to rule
the Stars. At an Age when others can fcarce ftam-
mer their Words, fhe faid Things which might
have been admii'd in the Mouths of the wifeft.
Never was any one born under Influences fo happy
as hers; all the Stars had agreed together, to
beftow on her their beft Gifts; and Heaven had
put fo many Things into her, that what fhe ow'd
to Earth was the leaft Part of her; and ſhe ſeem'd
to be a Cœleftial Perfor, dropp'd from Heaven
by Miracle. Her Inclinations were ſo powerfully
turn'd to Good, that fhe feem'd not to have Free-
will, or Power to do amifs: And all the Virtues.
were fo natural to her, that had there been any
one of them which fhe did not put in practice,
She must have committed a Violence upon her
Nature. Never was there any Disturbance in her
Soul: Never did fhe hefitate between Good and
Evil; and when fhe follow'd what was just, and
what was decent, fhe only follow'd her own Incli-
nations. Befides all thefe apparent Perfections, fhe
had in fo high a Degree thofe hidden Qualities
and thofe fecret Graces which make us love fome
People without knowing for what Reaſon, that ſhe
was the Delight of all who faw her. There was [
know
The Undaunted LADY:
know not what Charm in all her Actions, that in-
fus'd a Gladneſs and a Love into the Hearts of all
who were in her Prefence; and the very Sound
of her Voice, had fomething in it that enchanted
the Souls of the Hearers. She had an infinite
Number of other Perfections which never can be
exprefs'd, and the leaft Part of them are thofe
which can.
This Defcription of her, Madam, is fo like your
felf in every refpect, that there is no Body but
what would take you for her Sifter. As for my
Part, tho' I view'd her very carefully, when you
fhew'd her to me, yet there were fo many Things
in her, which deferv'd Obfervation, that, I muft
confefs, I could never have drawn her by Memory,
nor have repreſented her fo well as I have done,
had I not taken the Copy after You.
With thefe Arms was Zelida to conquer the
Kingdom of Arragon; nor did fhe ftand in Need
of any other, fince all fhe had to do, was, to gain
the Heart of Alcidal's, which all the Forces in the
World could never have fubdu'd. She was receiv'd
in the Palace, with an Affection and Joy fo gene-
ral, that even from thence it might have been
forefeen, fhe came into it as Miftrefs, and would
in Time command there. The Queen, who once
thought the could never have been comforted for
the Death of her Mother, could not be ſad when
fhe faw her; and the King hardly found any Dif-
ference between the Love he had for her, and that
he had for his Son. Alcidalis and Z‹lida were of the
Age wherein it is cuftomary to paint the Loves;
and both of them were adorn'd with all the Charms
and Graces which the most excellent Painters can
bestow upon Them. Their Beauty was fo equal,
tho' extreamly different, and fuch extraordinary
Qualities fhone in both, that there was no Body
but what preſently conceiv'd they were born for
each other; and neither of them had ever found
B 4
an
12
'Alcidalis and Zelida ; or;
an Equal, had they not come into the World in
the fame Age: Nor indeed, tho' they had the
Hearts of all that faw them, had they ever been
lov'd as they deferv'd, had they not lov'd each o-
ther; nor could any other Souls, befides theirs,
have been capable of fo great a Paffion, as each of
them deferv'd. And Cupid, who had then a mind
to give fignal Proofs of his Power, took up his Re-
fidence in them fo early, that they felt him long
before they were able to tell what he was; nor did
he fuffer them to be at Eafe, even in that firſt
Part of Life, which Nature feems to have exempt-
ed from Paffions. Zelida did not fail, at the very
first Interview, to work in the Heart of Alidalis,
the fame Effects which fhe had always produc'd
in all others; and he too ftirr'd up in the Soul of
Zelida, an Emotion which fhe had never before
felt for any Body befides.
The Queen, according to the Defign fhe had
form'd in Arragon, had brought up the Prince with
all the Cunning that could induce him to love her
Daughter. So foon as ever they could fpeak, he
was accustomed to call her his Miſtreſs: He was
carry'd every Day to vifit her; and all who were
about him, let flip no Opportunity of praifing to
him her Beauty, or her Genteelnefs. But the In-
clination of Alcidalis did not at all fall in with the
Queen's Intentions; and he, who was good hu-
mour'd, and complaifant to all, feem'd to be other-
wife only to the young Countefs, and was never
under fo much Uneafinefs, as when he was with
her; either becaufe his generous Soul difdain'd
to be deftin'd to any Thing, without afking his
Confent, or that the Stars, which had fent him
into the World for Zelida, gave him a ſecret Aver-
fion for all that ſhould try to ufurp her Place: So
that as ſoon as ever fhe was brought to Court, and
the Queen had given her for a Companion to her
Daughter, his Mind ſeem'd to be fuddenly alter❜d.
He
The Undaunted LADY.
13
+
He then never ſtirr'd from the Countefs's Apart-
ment, and spent none of his Time fo agreeably,
as that which he pafs'd in her Company. Love,
to gain an Entrance into our Souls, generally comes
accompany'd with Joy and Pleafure; and never
does us the leaft Violence or Harm, 'till he thinks.
himſelf ſo much Maſter of the Place, and grown
fo powerful in it, as need no longer to fear being
driven out of it.
}
371
At first theſe two Children felt nothing extra-
ordinary, but an extream Pleafure in being in each
other's Company; they were touch'd at the Sight
of each other, with a certain Gladness and good
Humour, which they were not us'd to feel; and
every Body faw that they were an Embellishment
to each other, every Time they were together.
Zelida, who 'till then had been us'd to Melancholy,
grew more gay than uſual; and Alcidalis was fo
good humour'd, and agreeable, when ever he was
in her Company, that one would have thought he
referv'd a particular Pleafantnefs and Grace to ap-
pear before her with. In this Innocence, they for
fome Months quietly enjoy'd this Pleafure, which
was certainly the happieft Condition they tafted
for a long while afterwards. But their Mind daily
affuming new Strength, their Paffion did the fame;
and Love grew fo powerful in them, that at length
he was perceptible, and began to fhew himſelf.
Alcidalis grew more thoughtful than ordinary, and
every Time he was abfent from Zelida, dearly paid
for the Satisfaction of her Prefence, by an extra-
ordinary Sadnefs. He now was delighted with no
Sports nor Paftimes, but what he fhar'd with her;
nor with any Pleaſure but that of her Sight; and
if any thing was able to touch him in her Abfence,
it was fpeaking, or being ſpoke to, concerning
her. He, who from his Infancy, had propos'd to
himfelf to fubdue the whole World, now thinks of
nothing but conquering Zelida; and if he does en-
tertaine
BAS
14
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
tertain any ſmall Remembrance of his former Am-
bition, 'tis only with Intent to make himſelf more
worthy of her, and to lay at her Feet as many
Crowns as the deferves. Every Time he left her,
it feem'd to him as if he was fallen from Heaven
to Earth; and when he went from her Company,
Solitude was the only Thing he could endure.
There he exactly call'd to Mind all her Words
and Actions; and weighing each of them in every
Senfe that could be put upon them, he from thence
drew Conjectures either favourable or difadvanta-
geous. Afterwards, remembering every thing he
himfelf had faid or done, he always repented of
fomething; at one Time he blam'd himfelf for
being too timerous, and at another Time for being
too bold; and always remain'd as much diffatis-
fy'd with himfelf, as he was fatisfy'd with her.
He began, by Degrees, to lay afide all the Diver-
fions he before took Delight in. Hunting, which
he was extreamly fond of, no longer pleas'd him,
unlefs fhe were prefent; and if he had any Care
of his Exercifes, it was only in order to appear
more agreeable in her Eyes. In fhort, he had an
Efteen for Zelida, as if fhe were the only Woman
in the World, and all his Thoughts and Defigns
began and center'd in her.
On the other Hand, Love had not been idle in
the Heart of Zelida; but he had not yet made fo
great a Progrefs in it, nor extended his Power fo
far, either becaufe he knew her Greatnefs of Soul,
and therefore durft not difcover himfelf to her;
or elfe, being by two Years the younger, fhe was
lefs capable of that Paffion. Yet he was not with-
out fome Emotion every Time fhe faw the young
Prince. She took more Pains than ordinary about
her Beauty and Drefs. She was lefs fond of the
young Countefs, becaufe fhe was defign'd for him;
and the Civilities which he was forc'd to pay her,
tho' he did it with the greateſt Coldnefs, did,
however,
The Undaunted LADY.
IS
however, diſturb her; yet, being Miſtreſs of a
noble and heroick Soul, and which was confe-
quently capable of a Paffion adorn'd with thofe
Qualities; the Merit of Alcidalis, and the Stars
which inclin'd her to him, did, with the Help of
Time, make in her Heart an Impreffion which
nothing could ever efface; and produc'd in it an
Affection as compleat and charming as herſelf.
Love, between Perfons of eminent Quality, is
like a Fire upon a high Tower, which cannot be
hid, but is vifible at a great Diftance. The mutual
Love of Alcidalis and Zelida was foon perceiv'd by
every Body; nay, feveral had obferv'd they were
in Love with each other, before they themselves
knew as much. At first, when Childhood made
their Actions lefs confiderable; whatever Pleaſure
they might take in being together, none ever
thought there was any other Love between them,
than that of playing with one another; but when
with Time, Zelida became more ſerious, and Alci-
dalis in all his Actions fhew'd a Judgment capable
even of governing his Father's Kingdom; it was
then by the whole Court believ'd thofe two Souls
were link'd together by a fincere Affection, and
that it would be found very difficult to divide
them. The Queen (who was very quick, and to
whom nothing was of fo much Importance as the
young Prince) foon fufpected the Charms of Zelida,
and was one of the firft that had an Inkling of
their Affection: But confiding in her own Wit and
Authority, he thought the Difficulty would lie
wholly upon them; and did not imagine fhe fhould
meet with any Refiftance in two Children, over
whom he had Power; fhe who had out witted
the greatest and cunningeft in the whole King-
dom.
}
Mean Time, Zelida's Beauty increas'd daily;
and whereas, 'till then, it had only began to break
forth, (ifI may be permitted to ufe the Expreffion).
16
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
it now fhone out with fo much Luftre, that fhe
feem'd to declare openly againſt the Queen, that,
in fpite of all her Power, he meant to gain the
Hearts of her whole Kingdom. On the other
hand, the young Prince growing ſenſible of his
Birth and Strength, began to be weary of living
under the Tuition of Governors, and beneath the
Direction of a Woman. His Heart, naturally
great and royal, was fwell'd too and increas'd by
the Paffion it was full of, and could now no longer
own the Sovereignty of any but Zelida. He began
publickly to make known the Affection he bore
her, and granted no Favour but by her Recom-
mendation. He never drefs'd in any but her Co-
lours, at Tilts, or at Balls; all his Devices turn'd
upon her, and he could not endure to have it ima-
gin'd, that any but ſhe had the leaft fhare in his
Soul.
يم
There was no Body but what, in their Hearts,
favour'd their Affection: Every one made fecret
Vows for them. Their Paffion was that of the
whole Kingdom; and their Defires were attend-
ed by thoſe of every Body elfe. The Queen then
began to fear, and to perceive, that fhe had too
long deferr'd oppofing fo great a Flame; and that
fhe fhould at laft be obliged to make uſe of violent
Means to extinguifh it. However, fhe was firft
willing to try all other Methods. She endeavour'd
every Way to regain the Mind of Alcidalis, which
to her feem'd to be grown more untractable. No
Artifice could be thought of, but what the us'd,
to diminish the Beauty of Zelida, and increaſe that
of her own Daughter. She herfelf inftructed her
in every Thing fhe was to fay or do: She never
appear'd without the utmoft Pomp: She was al-
ways loaded with Jewels. But Zelida, in her Ne-
gligence and Plainnefs, out-fhun the others Magni-
ficerce; her Eyes, and her Complexion robb'd the
Diamonds of their Luftre, and the Pearls of their
White-
The Undaunted LADY.
17
Whiteness; and the Riches which Heaven had be-
flow'd upon her, effac'd all thoſe the Earth was
able to produce.
The Queen, therefore, finding how much her
Prefence was ruinous to her Defigns, and that with
one fingle Glance fhe overthrew all her Counfels,
refolv'd to feparate them, and remove Zelida;
hoping Abfence might wipe out the Impreffions
which Love had made in two Souls, as yet but
young and tender; and that thofe whom he had
plac'd about Alcidalis, to perfuade him, might find
him more eaſy to be prevail'd upon, when he was
far from the Sight of the Object of this growing
Paffion. She therefore pretended, that, for her
Daughter's Health, fhe would go ſpend three or
four Months at a Houſe fhe had in Catalonia; and
having communicated her Defign to the King,
fhe commanded all Things to be got ready for
her Departure; and faid he would be attended
by none but her Women. 'Tis impoffible to ex-
prefs how our Lovers were Thunder-ftruck at
this News: Hitherto they had never tafted any
of the Bitter of Love, but had only had the Sweets
and the Rofes of it. They had quietly enjoy'd
the Preſence of each other; and, but for fome
Apprehenfions of Futurity, which cannot be very
ftrong in two young Souls, which are full of Con-
fidence, their Joy had been undiſturb'd, and with-
out the leaft Cloud over it. Alcidalis was the moft
touch'd with this Accident, or at leaft, was the
moſt ignorant how to diffemble his Concern. There
was nothing but what he would have attempted,
to break off the Journey; and all Expedients, tho'
never fo extravagant, came into his Thoughts.
But feeing the Difeafe was without a Remedy,
and that the Time drew near when Zelida was to be
torn from him, he refolv'd, at leaft, not to let her
go, without having firft made an open Declaration
of his Paffion to her, and let her fee how great it
was.
18
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
was. 'Till then he had liv'd with her, without
ever having ſpoken the leaft Word concerning his
Affection; and tho' all his Actions inform'd her
of it every Moment, his Tongue had never done
it; either becauſe the Bafhfulnefs which is com-
mon at that Age, hinder'd him from doing it; or,
that, being entirely fatisfy'd with the Pleafure of
feeing her, he minded nothing elſe. At length,
the laft Night before their fetting out, he went to
vifit the Queen; where, having ftay'd fome Time,
he found a Way to be with Zelida alone. This was
the firſt Time Alcidalis knew what it was to fear.
He try'd three or four Times to tell her what he
had refolv'd to fay; but having open'd his Mouth,
he talk'd of fomething elfe, not having Refolution
enough to execute his Defign: Whereas formerly
he us'd to be all Fire in Zelida's Prefence, he was
now all Ice. But at laft, after fome indifferent Dif-
courſe, with great Palpitation of Heart, and with
a low and trembling Voice, he ſaid to her: I doubt
not, Zelida, but you very well know I love you;
but I am fully affur'd, you do not know how much;
and fince this Abfence of a few Days, will in my
Eyes feem feveral Years, and I know not whether
I fhall live fo long; I will tell you my Affection,
that if, at your Return, you find me dead, you
may at leaſt know how much you ought to pity
me. If you look upon your felf, Zelida, and then
look upon me, you will foon judge, that you are
not capable of infpiring moderate Affections; and
you will believe of me, that I am not capable of
receiving little ones; and if there is any Thing
in my Perfon above the Vulgar, you muſt prefent-
ly think 'tis chiefly the Affection I bear to you.
By the Knowledge you have both of your ſelf and
me, you may well imagine how great is its Since-
rity, Faithfulneſs, and Refpect, but its Greatneſs
you never can; that exceeds all Imagination; and,
even my ſelf who feel it, am ſo far from being able
to
The Undaunted LADY.
19
ing
to exprefs it, that fometimes I cannot even con-
ceive it. From the very firft Moment I faw you,
the Paffion I have for you, was at the Height,
whereat, after much Time, it is common for the
greatest to arrive; and ever fince then, there has
not pafs'd one fingle Moment, in which it has not
been encreas'd. So long as I continu'd a Child, I
could not tell it you; and fince then, I durft not;
even now I tremble when I tell you I adore you;
and unleſs you confirm me by a favourable Look,
I fhall not have Strength enough to conclude what
I have ftill left to fay. Here fhe, who had 'till
then kept her Eyes on the Ground, look'd upon
him with a Smile. Alcidalis thought he faw all
Heaven open in the Eyes of Zelida, and refuming
Courage, he continu'd thus: 'Tis true, Zelida, I
know my Paffion to be the greateſt and moſt per-
fect that ever was; but how do I know 'tis lawful
for Men to have any for you. I own, Humility is
a Virtue you only have taught me; I always
thought the whole Earth too little for me, but I
now think my felf am too little for you; and as
much as I look upon all Things to be beneath me,
fo much I look upon my felf to be beneath what
you deferve. I know my Forture is the laft Thing
you mind in me; and that I'm not fo unfortunate,
but you find fome Qualities in me, which you e-
fteem more than that which my Birth entitles
me to. But if there is any Thing in me worthy
of you, 'tis this Soul, which I make you a Prefent
of, and which, I may fay, is great and noble e-
nough to be accepted of by yours. I fhould not be
fo bold in praifing it, if it were ftill mine; I ſpeak
advantageoufly of it, as I do of every Thing that
belongs to you. Ever fince it has had the leaft
Reafon, it never form'd but two Defigns: The
firſt, and that which took up its Infancy, was the
Conqueft of the World; and ever fince it has been
grown more preſumptuous, and more fenfible, it
has
20
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
has defir'd Zelida. If the adorable Zelida be not ad-
verfe, the firſt Defign will be eaſily executed; and
the Crown of Arragon, which, from this Moment,
I promife her, and which all our Enemies cannot
hinder me from giving her, will be but a fmall
Part of thoſe which I fhall in Time come to lay
at her Feet. Alcidalis then was filent, expecting the
Anfwer of Zelida, who, in the Confufion fhe was
in, had much ado to bring out thefe few Words:
Sir, I am fo amaz'd to hear you talk fo feriouſly
of a Matter of this Nature, and to fee what a Con-
Atruction the World puts upon our Familiarity,
that I now know not what to fay; and I beg you
to give me leave to defer anfwering you 'till our
Return; yet, I defire you would believe that I
fhould be very glad if I had but very little Time
allow'd me for it.
During all this Difcourfe, every Body's Eyes
were fix'd upon Alcidalis and Zelida; and all ob-
ferv'd, that they convers'd more feriouſly than they
us'd to do. The Queen, who was the firft that
made this Obſervation, and who was very uneafy
at it, 'rofe from her Seat, and going to them, faid
fmilingly to Alcidalis, Sir, you talk to Zelida with
fo much Action, and with fo ferious a Counte-
nance, that you feem to have fome Difpute with
her; if it be fo, make your Complaint to me, for
1 fhall be of your Side, and make her give you
Satisfaction before fhe goes. Alcidalis, having bro-
ken the Ice, and been fo bold as to tell of his Love
to Zelida, would have been very glad to have con-
tinu'd his Converfation with her; this Interruption
therefore was very difpleafing to him; and hardly
fo much as looking upon the Queen, he proudly
anfwer'd, Madam, I take Zelida to be fo juft, that
even tho' fhe had wrong'd me, I need not apply
to any other Judge than herfelf. There is no Oc-
cafion for any Body to meddle in our Difputes
and whatever Quarrel we may have together,
fhall
The Undaunted LADY:
21
fhall not hold my felf at all oblig'd to thofe who
fhall go about to part us. This warm Reply was
taken Notice of by every Body; tho' the Queen,
who faw the Meaning of it better than any, was
ſhe that leaft feem'd to underſtand it, and ſhe
prefently chang'd the Difcourfe.
The next Day, Zelida fet out upon her Journey
very early in the Morning, neither could Alcidalis
get to the Speech of her: Tho' fhe left the Prince
involv'd in Grief, yet fhe was in one Thing more
unhappy than him; for befides that fhe was as
much dejected as he, fhe had the further Trou-
ble of concealing her Sorrow, and of being oblig'd
to laugh before the World, when in her Soul fhe
wept Tears of Blood.
Of all the Uneafineffes with which Love is at-
tended, Abfence is one of the most afflicting.
There are indeed fome fharp Torments in it,
fuch as Jealoufy, which are more ſtabbing; but
there is none fo heavy and infupportable, nor that
fo much ruins the Strength and Vigour, as Ab
fence. The firft Thing Alcidalis did, after having
feen Zelida in her Coach, and follow'd her with his
Eyes as far as he was able, was to retire by him-
felf into his Chamber, and there, having fhut
himſelf in, he threw himſelf on the Bed, where
gufhing into Tears and Sighs, he made the fame
Complaints as if Zelida had been dead, inſtead of
abfent. What is it you complain of, Atcidalis?
You have all your Life-time peaceably enjoy'd
the-Sight of Zelida, and cannot you once endure
eight Days Abfence! Love lends out his Pleafures
at great Ufury. He always expects to be paid pre-
cifely to his Time, and he is but feldom us'd to
let his Debtors alone fo long as he has done you;
you are one that he has us'd favourably; referve
your Tears therefore for another Occafion, where-
* Author Loquitur.
14
in
22
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
in there may be a greater Call for them. The
Time will foon come, when you fhall have more
Reaſon to grieve, and the Day approaches, when
Zelida and you fhall be much more cruelly feparat-
ed, and that too without the leaft Hopes of feeing
each other again for ever. He fpent that whole.
Day alone in his Chamber, and all the following,
without fpeaking to any Body whatfoever, unless
when he went to the King, whom he could not
avoid anfwering; even then he fpoke fo faintly,
and his Words came out with fo much Difficulty,
that 'twas eafily perceptible his Soul was divided
from him. At length, having pafs'd eight Days in
all the Grief and Impatience in the World, he
thought his Life was at an end, and that it was a
thousand Years fince he had feen Zelida: Where-
fore, one Night, being alone in his Apartment,
difcourfing with his Thoughts; without taking Ad-
vice of any Thing but his Defires and Uneafinefs,
he refolv'd to go where Zelda was; and fince, if
he did not fee her, he found his Death muft be
infallible, he thought worſe could not happen to
him; if he went to fee her...
When the Heber, which is one of the most famous
Rivers in Spain, has pafs'd by the Walls of Sara-
goffa, as if there were nothing more in Arragon that
deferv'd its Prefence, it takes the Way to Catalo-
nia; where having, in its Paffage, receiv'd ſeveral
little Streams, in order to make its Entry into the
Sea more magnificent, it falls into it about half a
League from Tortofa. All the Land which it wa-
ters, is extreamly fruitful and woody; and fo
much the more agreeable, becauſe the reſt of the
Country confifts in dry, naked Plains, or in Moun-
tains blacken'd and fcorch'd up by the Heat of
the Sun. Fifteen Leagues from its Mouth, it goes
thro' a Valley, which may be about two Leagues
long, and two broad, and which is enclos'd on both
Sides with Mountains. In this Place the River
*
runs
The Undaunted LADY.
23
Buns very gently, occafion'd by its meeting with
fome Rocks four Leagues lower, which oppofe its
Courſe, and makes feveral Windings in the Plain,
turning first one Way, and then t'other, as if it
were doubtful which Way it fhould take to get
thro' the Mountains. Its Banks are very much.
fhaded with Trees and enamell'd with Flowers
and its Stream ſo clear, that there is not a Tree
on the Bank, nor hardly fo much as a Flower, but
what may be ſeen in two Places, and appears in
the Water, as beautiful and diftinguishable as on
the Ground. The ordinary Plants of this Country
are green Oaks, Olive-Trees, and Pines; and be-
fides, there being never any Winter there, the
Country produces no Trees, but thofe we have.
nam'd, that fear it. The Mountains of Catalonia are
a Defence to the whole Valley against the North-
Winds; fo that 'tis always cover'd with Grafs, and
no Winter is ever perceptible, but what is ſeen up-
on the neighbouring Hills.
9
In this Paradice it was, that Zelida thought her ·
felf in Hell; and here was feated the Palace to
which the Queen brought her. One would have
thought the Water, the Flowers, and the Trees,
were embellish'd by her Prefence. She alone was
fad among fo many agreeable Objects, and daily
loft the Luftre and Beauty which the feem'd to
impart to all Things about her. The Abfence of
Alcidalis extreamly afflicted her, but efpecially the
Queen's Defign gave her great Disturbance; and
her Imagination made her fo lively a Reprefenta-
tion of all the Misfortunes fhe was to undergo,
that the Fear of thofe which were to come, often
depriv'd her of the Senſe of thoſe ſhe ſuffer'd at
prefent. She faw her Fortune, her Well-being,
and herſelf in the Hands of the Queen; and what
ſhe was moft fenfible of, was, that Alcidalis too was
in her Power; he who was more dear to her, than
either herſelf, her Fortune, or her Well-being.
She
V
24
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
She confider'd that the Prince's Affection was not
fmall; that his Courage was very great; but that
his Authority was yet but weak: That he would
never be fuffer'd to defpife the Earldom of Barce
lona, which Fortune made him fo fair an Offer of,
together with the Queen's Daughter, in order to
take an Orphan and a Stranger, who had neither
Wealth, Relations, nor Support, but what was be-
yond the Seas. That he would never be able a-
lone to refift the King and the Kingdom: That
the Queen abfolutely govern'd both That while
they were Children, all the World had approv❜d
of their Love for each other; but that no Body
would approve of their Marriage; and that fome,
even already, began to look upon her as an Enemy
to the State, and the Torch that was in Time to
fet the Royal Family in a Flame. Thefe Thoughts,
and others of the like Nature, tofs'd her Mind
with a thouſand Troubles. However far fhe car-
ry'd her Views into the Time to come; fhe could
fee no Likelihood of fulfilling her Hopes; and
without knowing in this Labyrinth, what End
there would be to her Adventures, fhe immedi-
ately judg'd it could never be Fortunate.
One Day among the reſt, when fhe accom-
pany'd the Queen, who was walking in a Wood
extreamly thick, and whofe Allees reach'd quite
to the Meadows, which ferv'd for a Border to
the River; fhe found a Way to drop the rest of
the Company, with only one of her Maids; and,
which was no fmall Confolation to her, fhe was
free to be griev'd, and to appear fo. Reprefent-
ing to herſelf the Accidents of her Life, and rumi-
nating upon her Difgraces pafs'd, upon thoſe pre-
fent, and upon thoſe which threaten'd her, fhe
found herſelf upon the Banks of the Heher, and in
a Place fo agreeable, that it might have diverted
any Sorrow but hers. The Sun, which fets in the
Ocean towards that Country, and fhews himſelf
مجھے
there
The Undaunted LADY.
25
there with more Beauty than in any Place in the
World, was then juft ready to cover himfelf with
thofe Clouds of Gold and Azure, in which he
wraps himſelf when he goes to vifit the Nymphs
of the Sea. But not having feen any Thing ſo
charming as Zelida fince his Rifing, he feem'd to
be lefs quick in falling into the Water, that he
might the longer enjoy her Sight; and he caft fo
much Gold on all the Leaves of the Trees, and
the Waves of the River, that his Rays feem'd to
reſume their Light, that they might continue the
Day in favour of that Princefs, furrounding her in
ſuch a manner, and fo well fuiting with the rest of
her Beauty, that it was doubtful whether thefe
Rays proceeded from the Sun, or from Zelida,
The Charms of this delicious Place, the Sweet-
nefs of the Air, and the Pleafure fhe took in be-
ing alone, invited her to continue her Walk along
the Meadow. Having ftay'd fome Time in it, fhe
was just going to walk back to the Queen, when
the Noife of a Horn, which feem'd to be at no
great Diſtance, made her turn her Face to the
next Mountain; on which, having for fome Time
fix'd her Sight, fhe thought fhe faw two Men in
each other's Arms, rowling from the Top of a
Rock; but being ftopp'd by fome Shrubs, in a
Place where it was lefs feep, fhe perceiv'd that
what she took to be two Men, was a Man and a
Bear, the biggeſt that was ever feen, grapling to-
gether, but with the Difadvantage which every
Body must imagine in fo unequal a Combat. At
the fame Time The faw, almoft in the fame Part
of the Hill from whence the other was fallen, a
young Gentleman well mounted, carrying a Horn
in a Scarf and a Javelin in his Hand; who feeing
the Danger of him who feem'd to belong to his
Company, fpurr'd his Horſe towards him, or, to
fpeak more properly, precipitated himself from
the Top of the Hill. Yet fuch was the Strength of
the
26
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
the Horfe, or the Skill of the Rider, or the good
Fortune of both, that, as if he had rid on an open
Field, he got without any Hurt to the Bear, and
puſh'd the Javelin he held in his Hand, fo deep
into his Bowels, that he made him quit at once
his Life and his Hold. And all this, his defcend-
ing from the Top of the Hill, his killing the Bear,
and delivering his Friend, was done fo in an In-
ſtant, that Lightning hardly falls with more quick-
nefs, or works is Effect more fpeedily.
Zelida was vex'd that any but Alcidalis fhould
perform fo gallant an Action; and uneafy that
any befides himſelf, fhould do a Thing which
could fo highly pleafe her. But the Gentleman
riding towards her, and pufhing his Horfe into
the River, which he forded over, fhe began to
doubt whether it was not really he; and when he
came nearer, being entirely convinc'd it was, tho'
the fcarce knew how to believe it, fhe turn'd to-
wards her Woman, and afk'd her, if the knew that
Gentleman? Madam, fays fhe, when he was fur-
ther of, we might have known him by what he
did; but now we fee plainly 'tis the Prince. He
was then about twenty Paces off. Aftonishment,
Fear, and Joy, crowded all together fo thick upon
Zelida's Mind, that fhe could fcarce find Words
for the first Compliments, upon fo fudden an Inter-
view. The Prince, who was prepar'd for this Meet-
ing, tho' he was very much confounded, was yet
more compos'd than fhe, and faid to her, Tho' I
had not known, Madam, that this was the Place
you were in, yet by the Greenefs of thefe Mea-
dows, and the Beauty and Shadinefs of theſe Banks,
I might eafily have guefs'd Zelida was not far off.
You alone, are able to produce fo many Flowers
in fo defart a Country, and to work fuch a Miracle
among the Mountains of Catalonia. Sir, reply'd
Zelida, who now had had Time to compofe her
felf a little, you are ungrateful to the Heber, upon
whofe
The Undaunted LADY.
27
whofe Banks you ftand, and who feems to have
lower'd his Waters, on purpoſe to favour your Paf-
fage, when you give me the Glory which is due
to the Fertility of his Stream, which waters and
furrounds this Valley with fo much Care, that,
when you have throughly confider'd the_Beauty
of thefe Meadows, thefe Woods, and this Park, in
which we are entring, you will own the Palaces
of Saragoffa, and the Magnificence of the Moorish
Kings, may fometimes be left for this Solitude.
But yet I'll affure you, Sir, fays the fmiling, we
have not yet feen any Thing in this Valley, com-
parable to what you have fhewn us upon that
Mountain. And I, replies the Prince, who was
willing to change the Difcourfe, will fwear, that
tho' from that Mountain the whole Earth might
be view'd at once, yet nothing could be feen
thence comparable to what you fhew us in this
Valley.
In the mean Time, they walk'd towards the
Wood, where the Queen was, and the Maid who
follow'd them, being a little way behind, Želida
lowering her Voice, faid to him, Sir, you have
committed two great Pieces of Rafhnefs; one is,
in precipitating yourſelf from the Rock to fight
fo lavage a Creature; and the other is, in coming
to ſee the Queen at a Time when fhe fo little ex-
pected you. Madam, anſwer'd Alcidalis, 1 fhould
have been much more rafh, had I ftay'd at Sara-
gofa I had then unmov'd waited for Death,
which it was impoffible for me to avoid had Í
been longer out of your Prefence. So that what
you term Rafhnefs, is rather want of Courage;
fince I come hither to avoid a Danger, much
greater than the two in which you fay I involv'd
my felf. I don't think fo, reply'd fhe; for my
part, I own, I fhould not have dar'd to fight the
Bear, and as little to difpleafe the Queen; but I
believe I fhould have had Courage enough to
have
28
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or
have born a little Abfence. To know the Pain of
Abfence, faid Alcidalis, 'tis neceffary to know what
Love is you can never feel that Pain; you, Ma-
dam, who never can love any befides your felf,
and who carry along with you all that is amiable
in the World. Alcidalis anfwer'd Zelida, you do
not believe what you fay; if you thought me fo
ungrateful and vain, as to be capable of loving
none but myſelf, you would not have been fo im-
patient to fee me. But that you may be better
inform'd, hear me, and let me give you the An-
fwer I promis'd you, when I left Saragoffa. And
becaufe at faying this, fhe found the blufh'd very
much, and that he obferv'd it, fhe began thus.
The Colour which flufhes into my Face, rather
proceeds from my being about to fay a Thing I
am unaccustomed to fay, than from a Thought of
my acting againft my Duty in faying it. I know
not whether or no it be always fhameful for a
Woman to confefs fhe loves; but I well know that
if any can be excufable in doing it, 'tis me more
than any one elfe. I will not fay my Stars force
me, or that your good Qualities oblige me to it,
let others make uſe of fuch Pretences; I fhall on-
ly alledge what may make for my Defence in par-
ticular. Before I knew I ought not to Love, I
knew you were amiable, Alcidalis; and I receiv'd
your Affection at an Age, whereat it was impoffi-
ble for me to be acquainted with thofe Laws
which forbid our Sex to receive it. None can
blame me for having given admittance to a Paf
fion, which I may fay I found implanted in my
Soul and did not receive it into it and which is
3
of fo long ſtanding in it, that I can no more re-
member it's Birth, than I can my own. The first
Sentiment I ever had, was that which touch'd me
for you; and Self-love, which we fo foon feel
and is fo natural to all Mankind, took Place in me
later than the Friendship I bear you. Reafon,
which
The Undaunted LADY.
29
which did not appear 'till long time afterwards,
found it fo firmly rooted in me, that it took it to
be part of myfelf; nay more, it look'd upon it to
be fo innocent and juft, that it employ'd its felf
in ſtrengthening, rather than deſtroying it. I fay
all this to excufe me towards you, and towards
my felf, and to let you fee, that the wifeft and
ftrongest Soul in the World would have been fur-
priz'd as mine is. If you are glad I love you, 'tis
not me you are to be oblig'd to for it, but thank
the Gods that decreed it; and if you are to be
bound to me for any thing, let it be for having
inform'd you of it. Tho' I had not Strength e-
nough to extinguiſh the Affection I have for you,
at least I had enough to have conceal'd it; and it
was in my Power to have diffembled all my Life-
time; or, at leaft, like the rest of my Sex, to have
difcover'd it to you little by little, after having
made you ſpend a tedious Courtship to get it out
of me. But if it had been unreaſonable, and un-
worthy of you and me, it would never have been
time to have own'd it; and if on the contrary,
'tis fuch as it ought to be, to be worthy Alcidalis
and Zelida, why fhould I not, as ſoon as poffible,
give you the Pleaſure of knowing and being af
fur'd of it. Once more then I fay it, Alcidalis, I
love you; and tho' I bluſh when I fpeak it, yet I
am not at all afham'd of it; I gladly accept the
Soul you fay you have given me; as for the Crown
you promife me with it, Fortune will difpofe of
that. I much more efteem what you have given
me, than all That can offers and your Heart is
much more valuable in my Eyes, than your King-
dom. I am indeed glad to fee there is no one Qua-
lity in you but what is Royal; but I could wifh
your Birth was not fo. The Crown which you
promife as the height of my Felicity, will be the
Gaufe of all my Misfortunes; and, in order to de-
prive me of what I leaft efteem in you, they will
C
do
30
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
do all they can to rob me of the reft. I from this
Moment fee, and that too with Firmnefs, all the
Mifery which threatens me. I know your Love
will bring upon me the Hatred of all others; and
by willing me a great deal of Happineſs, you will
pull upon me a great deal of Wretchednefs. But
one, who with the Heart of Zelida, has likewife
that of Alcidalis, ought to fear nothing. I will refift
all with a Refolution that fhall amaze you; and
fince Heaven has been pleas'd to decree I fhould
Love, that Love_fhall be accompany'd with fo
much Conftancy, Strength, and Virtue, that what
is generally blam'd in others of our Sex, fhall in
me be Matter of Esteem and Commendation.
Alcidalis, who from Zelida's first beginning to
Speak, was benumb'd with Fear, like a Man who
was just ready to receive his Sentence of Life or
Death, hearing in what Manner fhe fpoke, and
finding it much more favourable than he 'durft
have expected, could hardly believe his Ears. But
at length having taken Heart, and feeing he was
not deceiv'd, he was in fuch an Exftacy, that he
remain'd for fome Time filent, and could not find
Words to thank her. Indeed no Words could de-
fervingly do it; and his putting himſelf to the
trouble of fearching for them, was an Effect of the
Diſorder he was in. He made her a much better
Anfwer by his Silence, and by the Tears of Joy
he fhed, with his Eyes fix'd upon her Face. But
turning down another Walk, and feeing himſelf
out of the fight of her who follow'd them, he put
one Knee to the Earth, and juſt as he was going to
fpeak, he faw the Queen at the other End; who
being inform'd of Alcidalis's Arrival, was come to
receive him. The Walk was not fo long, but that
any one might diftinctly fee all that pafs'd in it,
from one End to the other. Alcidalis roſe as haftily
as he could, and Zelida very much diſturb'd at this
Interruption, ſaid to him, Sir, you will pay dear
for
The Undaunted LADY.
31
for this Humility, which you do not at all owe;
and this is the Beginning of my Prophecy. Ma-
dam, reply'd Alcidalis, I can fear nothing, fince you
are on my Side; and while we joyn our Forces,
and are together, we fhall be ftronger than all the
reft of the Word. For that Reafon, Sir, anfwer'd
fhe, they'll foon find a Way to feparate us. All
this they faid with the Action with which we are
us'd to fay Things indifferent, and with their
Eyes fix'd upon the Company that came to meet
them. The Queen was now almoft come up
to them, and as Alcidalis was near her, fhe re-
ceiv'd him with a Countenance fo open, and fo
pleaſant, that Želida herſelf could not have put on
a better to him. After the firſt Compliments were
over, and the Prince had faid, that Hunting hav-
ing brought him within feven or eight Leagues of
her Palace, he thought himfelf oblig'd to come
and pay her his Refpects; the Queen faid, fhe
was very much oblig'd to Fortune, for having
given her his Company at her Houfe: But Sir,
fays fhe, I believe you are already rewarded for
the Pains you have taken in this Vifit. 'Tis to be
believ'd, the Favour Zelida has granted you, is not
fmall; fince you were oblig'd to thank her upon
your Knees, as we faw you do. At first fuch a
Pofture made me think it was one of your At-
tendants; but I'm very glad to find 'tis you, and
not another who had that Satisfaction. Pray tell
us what it was, and what he has promis'd or given
you, that I may fhare in it, or thank her with
you. Żelida did not blufh now, becaufe fhe had
done nothing elfe ever fince her Converfation with
Alcidalis; and fearing he would not get handſome-
ly off of this Difcourfe, (as in Surprizes, a Wo-
man's Wit is always moft ready) fhe advanc'd to
anfwer for him, and faid, Madam, I afk'd Alcidalis
the News at Saragoffa, but he, I fuppofe, his
Thoughts being wholly employ'd upon his Hunt-
C 2
ing™
32
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
ing, made me no answer. Having reproach'd him
with his being fo as it were in a Dream, he put
one Knee to the Earth to fatisfy me, and thought
by that unbounded Civility, to make amends for
the little Attention he gave to me before. He was
mighty civil indeed, anfwer'd the Queen coldly;
and fo becauſe you were afraid he might be in a
Dream again, you took upon you to anfwer for
him. Zelida began to be confounded, finding the
Queen prefs'd her fo home, and believing fhe
could not any longer conceal her Hatred of her,
fhe thought the would have difcover'd it publick-
ly. But Alcidalis feeing the Diforder fhe was in,
came to her Affiftance, as fhe had come to his,
and turn'd the Converfation upon Hunting. The
extream Joy Zelida's Words had given him, made
him entertain the Queen all that Day with won-
derful Complaifance, and talk to her Daughter
more engagingly than he had ever done before.
But two fuch young Perfons were not cunning e-
nough to deceive Her. She prefently obferv'd this
Alteration, and the extraordinary Affiduity he paid
her Daughter made her conclude, he muſt be fa-
tisfy'd and fecure of Zelida. By this fhe faw fhe
had no more Time to lofe, and from that Day fhe
took the Refolution, which afterwards coft thofe
two Lovers fo many Tears, and fo much Diftur
bance. Prepare yourſelf, Alcidalis, for the Misfor
tunes you are threaten'd with; and look upon the
Satisfaction you to Day receiv'd, as the laf Trick
Fortune will let you win. Expect no farther
Friendship from Her, but be contented with that
of Zelida.
The next Day the Prince went for Saragoffa, and
the Queen, without whofe Prefence nothing could
be done, was oblig'd to go thither too eight Days
afterwards. Alcidalis had endur'd this Abfence
more patiently than the other, having this Time
had Thoughts fo fweet and agreeable, that with
them
The Undaunted LADY.
3.3
them he could not but be happy. But as a fine
Day is always more pleafant than the fineft Night,
and as there is no perfect Satisfaction to be had
in Darkneſs, the Prefence of Zelida brought a new
Joy into his Soul, and added a freſh Strength to
his Pleafures, for which, without her, he had not a
perfect Relifh. Thus they ſpent fome Months in
To much Repofe and Contentment, that from
thence only they might have imagin'd it was not
to laft long, and that this great Calm would bə
follow'd by an extraordinary Tempeft. The Satis-
faction and Affurance Alcidalis had, made him be-
have himſelf more difcreetly than he had done
before, and in more Fear of difpleafing the Queen.
He attended her Daughter with much more Care:
He talk'd with Zelida lefs often than he had been
us'd to do, and contented himſelf with the Liberty
of feeing her. She too, who from her Infancy had
been ferious, began to be more fo: She fpoke to
the Prince with more Refpect, gave him lefs Op-
portunity to be with her, and was more apprehen-
five of having any thing diſcover'd of their Affec
tion. But this Difcretion came too late, as that of
Lovers generally does. All this could not blind
the Queen, who, with a great deal of Caution,
Secrecy, and Difpatch, gave Orders for executing
the Defign fhe had projected. As thoſe who are
in a Town which the Enemy is fecretly under-
mining, generally fear all other Dangers fooner
than that which is just upon the Point of deftroy-
ing them, and enjoy Repoſe while their Tomb is
dug, and the Mine prepar'd which is to overwhelm
them in a Moment; fo theſe two Lovers, not in
the leaft fufpecting the Treafon which was hatch'd
against them, were in a profound Tranquility;
and if the ill Difpofition of the Queen did give
them any Apprehenfions, yet they were far from
imagining that the Misfortune which hung over
their Heads, was either fo great, fo near, or of the
Nature
C 3
34
Alcidalis and Zelida ;
; or,
Nature of that which really threaten'd them. From
this Hour will appear the Misfortunes of Zelida
and Alcidalis: Here will begin Miferies which.
feem as if they were to have no End, and Adven
tures fo ftrange and fo confus'd, that if it is hardly
Credible they ever happen'd, 'tis much lefs ſo,
that they were invented, and were the Fruit of
the Imagination.
Fortune thought Arragon and Catalonia too small
a Stage for the finest Play fhe ever acted in the
World to be perform'd upon; fhe was refolv'd to
take a more fpacious one. And fuddenly changing
the Face of what has appear'd, (whereas hitherto
fhe has only fhew'd us Saragoffa and Barcelona,
Mountains, Meadows, Hunting Matches, and
Gardens) fhe will, for the Future, fet before our
Eyes, the Sea, Europe, and Africa, Perfons, un-
known, Nations whofe very Names we fcarce ever
heard, Ships plunder'd and burnt, Duels, and
Battels fought; and, which is yet more ftrange,
ſhe will fhew us at one and the fame Time, and
upon one and the fame Subject, Chains and
Crowns.
Four Months after the Queen was return'd from
Catalonia, fhe took Occafion, about the Beginning
of Spring, to return thither again; and having
made it known but a Day before-hand, Alcidalis.
and Zelida were fo furpris'd, that they had ſcarce
Time to bid each other farewel. And as the
Prince testify'd to her the Grief he conceiv'd at
her Departure, fhe faid to him, Sir, remember
what you told me in Catalonia, that there was no-
thing in the World you fhould fear, fo long as I
was for you: We fhall have greater Misfortunes
to undergo than this; but in all of them remem-
ber, you cannot be unhappy, whilft you are af
fur'd of my Love. You cannot doubt your having
it, fince I tell you, you have, with my own Mouth;
and if that is not enough, receive this Ring, which
in
The Undaunted LADY.
35
in the Preſence of the Gods I give you, together
with my Heart. Alcidalis took it, and having given
her another with the fame Words, they parted,
not daring to ſtay together any longer. The Queen
fet out the next Day; and having ftay'd at her
own Palace but one Day, pretended to have re-
ceiv'd News from Barcelona, which oblig'd her to
take a Journey thither. She therefore left behind
her Part of her Train, and taking Zelida with her,
they arriv'd in that noble City, which, no lefs for
the Beauty of its Situation, than for the Fruitful-
nefs of its Coaſt, is one of the moſt famous in Spain.
Zelida was amaz'd why, fince the Queen did not
take her Daughter with her, fhe did not leave
her to keep her Company; and imagin'd this new
Management was not for nothing: But on whatfo-
ever Side fhe caft her Sight, fhe could make no
Diſcovery, and not feeing what Danger ſhe had in
particular to fear, fhe fear'd all. The Queen hav-
ing ſpent the remaining Part of the Day wherein
fhe arriv'd, in feeing the Magnificencies that were
prepar'd for her Reception, gave the following
Day to the Affairs which, it was believ'd, had
brought her thither.
The next Day, having Word brought her at her
Levée, that a Ship, which was call'd by her Name,
and which he had caus'd to be built about fix.
Months before, came into the Port that very
Night, fhe faid fhe would inftantly go fee it.
There are generally a hundred Ships in the Port
of Barcelona, which all, as foon as ever the Queen
appear'd, diſcharg'd their Artillery; fo that, at
firft, nothing was to be feen but Fire and Smoke,
with which the Ships were encompaf'd, as with a
Thick Cloud, fo that they could not be feen; but
they foon made themſelves heard, not only by the
Roaring of the feveral Cannon, but alſo by great
Numbers of Trumpets, and Haut-bois ; and the
Smoke diffipating by Degrees, there appear'd an
infinite
C4
36
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
infinite Number of Mafts, Sails, Ropes, Streamers,
and all that Pomp of the Sea, which it is fo agree-
able to behold, when a Man ftands upon dry
Ground. Thefe Feafts and Entertainments, and
the Sight of that Element, which at firft ftrikes
the Eye and Mind of thofe who fee it with fome
Admiration, could not divert Zelida. Her Heart
told her, that the Misfortunes fhe had fo long fore-
feen began to lay hold of her, and fhe, on all Sides,
found Surpriſes. The Queen being come to the
Sea-Shore, went into a Skiff, to fee the Ship,
which fhe faid fhe would go on Board of; and
having bid Zelida follow her, fhe would not fuffer
any more than three others to go with her. She
found in the Ship the Captain and his Wife, who
were in fome fort prepar'd to receive her; and
having flightly view'd the Veffel, fhe fhut herſelf
up alone with them in one of the Cabins. This
increas'd Zelda's Sufpicion ; and with Tears in her
Eyes, the turn'd them towards Spain, and began
to doubt whether fhe fhould ever return to it a
gain. About an Hour afterwards, the Captain and
his Wife came out, and told Zelida the Queen want-
ed her. All her Blood congeal'd at that Moment;
and fhe went to her fo trembling, fo pale, and ſo
difhearten'd, that he would have mov'd any o-
ther with Compaffion. The Queen, having bid
her ſhut the Door, fpake to her as follows.
Zelida, tho' it is a great while ago fince we to-
gether loft, you the best Mother in the World, and
I the best Friend; yet the Affection I had for her
will never be loft in me, nor the Remembrance
of her laft Words, with which ſhe begg'd me al-
ways to take great Care of you. Tho' this Confi-
deration did not engage me to do fo, yer your
Beauty, your Wit, and your Wiſdom would have
done it; and having nurs'd you fo long, and found
in you, and that too in a greater Degree, all the
good Qualities which gain'd her my Efteem; I
fhould
The Undaunted LADY:
37-
fhould be unjust, had I not as much Love for you,
as I had for her. And I may fay, in this I have
done even more than ſhe defir'd of me; fhe pray'd
me to love you as her Daughter, and I have al-
ways lov'd you as my own. That only one which
Heaven has given me, loft the Title of Only, the
Moment you came to me. I have had the fame
Affection and Tenderness for you as for her, and
have look'd upon you both as equally mine. This
being fo, and not one of your Actions, nor any
Thing that regarded you, having ever been in-
different to me, you may believe it must be im-
poffible but that I muſt have been acquainted
with the Paffion, which your Beauty, without
your Confent, has breath'd into the Mind of Alci-
dalis; and that I, as well as you, muſt have often ·
been in Pain for the Difhonour it might bring up-
on you. You know what Truft is to be repos'd in
Perfons of his Age and Quality, who are licens'd
to deceive and break their Words; and I make
you yourſelf Judge, whether it is poffible the Love"
he has for you can ever be for your Advantage.
You fee, as well as I, all the Reafons which make
against it. You are wife enough not to have ever
expected it; and even tho' it were both in his
Power and yours, yet you have fo much Juftice
and Gratitude as not to defire it. I know your
Virtue, Zelida, and am perfuaded nothing in the
World can endanger it; but let it be ever fo great,
you cannot hinder the Prince from feeing you,
nor others from talking of you: All your Virtue is
able to do in this Cafe, is to hinder the Evil,, but
it can never hinder the Report; and I know how
prejudicial tha Report is to Perfons of your Sex,
and particularly how Tormenting to one who is fo
prudent, and has fo much Value for Honour as
you have. I therefore thought it lay on me to con-
duct you out of this Labyrinth, and that it was
Time to perform the Promifes I had made your
Mother.
C 5
38
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
*
Mother. The Duke of Tarentum is a Prince wife,
vertuous, honour'd by his Neighbours, and one of
the greateſt Lords in Italy. This Prince has long
Time, by his Letters and Ambaffadors, teftify'd to
me a great Paffion for you; and I did not care to
let you know it, 'till the Affair was agreed upon,
and in a Readineſs to be executed. I now under-
ftand, Zelida, that he waits for you, to put you in
Poffeffion of his Dominions and of his Perfon.
"Tis but a Fortnight ago, fince he, who commands
this Ship, left him, and promis'd him from me to
bring you to him in a fhort Time, to a Place
where he is to receive you. Difpatch and Secrecy,
for Reaſons which yet I must not tell you, are fo
neceffary in this Bufinefs, that you muſt abfolute-
ly depart this, Moment; and I could not give you.
Information fooner, nor fend you with a greater
Train. I do not doubt but your good Humour
makes you forry to leave us; but tho' we be fe-
parated by the Sea, yet our Affections may be
ne'er the lefs united; and I hope you will, in Time,
come to fee us in Spain, with more Magnificence
and Gaiety than you leave us. To conclude; you
ought to be extreamly glad of returning into a
Country, where you will find your Wealth, your
Relations, and the Place of your Birth; but tho
it were not your Pleafure, it is mine.. Befides the
Power my Quality gives me over you, I have
likewife that of a Mother,, which gives me yet
more Authority. Therefore confent, and willingly
agree to a Thing, which, befides its being juft, is
alfo neceffary; and in voluntarily obeying what I
adviſe you to, and what I command, give a Proof
of the Modefty you owe to yourfelf, and the Re-
fpect you owe to me. Concluding with thefe
Words, fhe embrac'd her; and pretending the
would not take a longer Adieu, for fear of being
too much touch'd, fhe left the Room.
Grief,
The Undaunted LADY.
39
1
Grief, Vexation, Shame, Rage, and the Excefs
of her Misfortune, rufh'd fo altogether upon the
Soul of Zelida, that without being able to ſpeak a
Word or move a Step, fhe remain'd juft in the
Condition the Queen had left her in, and that was
certainly the best fhe was in for a great while after-
wards, fince, at the first Shock, fhe was fenfible of
nothing. All our Powers are fo weak and limited,
that we are capable only of moderate Things
and as a great Light blinds us, and a great Noife
deafens us, fo, great Grief is no more felt than
great Joy. After having been motionleſs for the
Space of a Quarter of an Hour, when her Spirits,
which were at firft overwhelm'd under fo fudden
a Ruin of all Things, began to return, fhe judg'a
that there could never be any Remedy for her
Unhappiness, unleſs fhe found one inftantly; and
therefore the immediately went out of the Cabin,-
with Deſign to throw herſelf at the Queen's Feet,,
and try if there were no Hopes of moving her ::
But when ſhe was told, that ſhe had been gone a
great while, and fhe faw that the Ship was alrea-
dy fo far at Sea, that fhe could fcarce perceive
even the Spires of Barcelona; then fhe caft her
Eyes towards the Shore, and her Thoughts upon
what he had left there; and having ſtudy' a
little while, fhe immediately took a Refolution,
which feem'd to have given her fome Eafe. After-
wards, turning herſelf with a more fettled Coun-
tenance towards thofe who accompany'd her, fhe
faid fomething to them, and pretending to be com
forted by their Perfuafions, fhe went to lie down-
on the Bed, and defired they would let her take
fome Repofe. Miferable Alcidalis, you are now?
counting every Moment that paffes, and when you
confider 'twill be eight Days e'er you fee Zelida,
that Space of Time feems infinite to you. In the
mean while, fhe is hurry'd away from you for fe--
veral Years. In a few Days the Sea will be between
you?
40
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
you and her. The Wind bears away all your Joy
and all your Hopes; and is going to put in ano-
ther's Hands, the only Happineſs you defire in
the World, and the only one too that is worthy
your defiring.
Fear and Hope are two Winds in our Soul, which
hardly ever ceaſe to blow; and there are never
any Tempeſts in it, but what one of thofe two is
the Caufe of. The Time prefent being only as a
Point, would hardly be worth our Notice, if one
or other of thofe two Paffions did not give us a
Profpect of the Future. Zelida thought Fortune
had put her in a Condition, wherein it was no
longer in her Power either to do her good or hurt.
Thus fhe was in that fatal Unconcernednefs, which
thoſe are in, who have no further Hopes nor no
further Fears, and who long for the End of their
Life, as the End, of their Miferies; tho' this yet
gave her one Advantage, I mean, he had not the
Trouble to feek for Remedies, which is generally
one of the greateſt Pains of the Unhappy. Being
fully refolv'd on what fhe had to do, and knowing
within a very little how long her Misfortunes were
to endure; the fpent that Night on ruminating
upon what Alcidalis would think, and how he
would live after he had loft her; and tho' fhe was
extreamly griev'd to feparate herfelf from him,
yet in the midst of all her Unhappineſs, fhe had
the Pleaſure of thinking what a fignal Proof fhe
was about to give him of her Affection and Cou-
rage. The Captain of the Ship and his Wife, be-
fides that they refpected and honour'd Zelida, hav
ing feen her at Court; were ftill more careful of
her, becauſe ſhe was under their Conduct. As foon
as they believ'd fhe was awake, they went into
her Apartment; and having afk'd her if fhe
would not eat fomething; She reply'd, fhe would
not only not eat then, but that he would never
eat more. They were very much furpris'd at this
Anfwer,
The Undaunted LADY.
4.1
Anfwer, and imagin'd fhe was fall'n into the Sor-
row fhe was in the Day before, and that they must
allow fome Time for it to pafs off. But fome
Hours afterwards finding fhe call'd for no Body,
they return'd, and us'd all their Perfuafions to get
her to eat. To all this fhe anfwer'd with a perfift-
ing Silence, and an Air fo cold and fo refolute,
that he did not fo much as feem to hear them.
They left her a fecond Time very much con-
cern'd, and began to apprehend that this ftrange
Refolution would have fome fatal End. At Night
they went to her again, and with a Neice of theirs,
about the Age of Zelida, fell upon their Knees
round her Bed, conjur'd her by all Things, and
pray'd her to take Care of her Life, with as many
Tears as if they had been begging for their own.
Yet they could get no Anſwer, and at laft they
retir'd, that they might not rob her of her Reft,
which feem'd to be the only Thing fhe had left.
Three Days paſs'd, in all which Time they were
not able, either by Prayers, Tears, or Remon-
ftrances, to move the Heart of Zelida, nor get her
to ſpeak one Word. The fourth Day, the good
People went to her again, with their Neice, to
try their laft Perfuafions with her; and placing
themſelves upon their Knees about her, diffolv-
ing in Tears, and offering her any thing fhe would
afk, they conjur'd her to take Compaffion upon
herſelf, and upon them too. Zelda having heard
their Complaints for fome Time, figh'd, and with
a great deal of Trouble rais'd herfelf in her Beď.
When they had thus a plain fight of her, they bet-
ter knew the Extremity fhe was in. In the charm-
ingft Face in the World, they faw a frightful
Image of Despair and of approaching Death, and
fomething which at once mov'd Compaffion and
Fear. After having look'd upon them for fome
Time, fhe at laft broke the Silence which fhe had
fo long kept, and ſpoke to them as follows.
My
42
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
::
My Friends, you afk that of me which it is in
your Power only to give me. You defire me to
live I beg the fame thing of you. And this is in
your Power, not in mine. I am refolv'd never to
Land alive in Italy: And I again fwear it to the
Gods above, by Fire and by Light, and to the
Gods below, by the Ghofts of my Anceſtors. It
therefore no longer lies in me to difpofe of my
felf otherwife; and fince it is you can carry me
thither, or can forbear to do it, it is you that muſt
refolve either to let me die, or to let me live.
Will you now refuſe me what you before implor'd
of me with fo many Tears? And will you be my
Murtherers, you who were chofen to be my Con-
ductors? The Duke of Tarentum expects me, but
never faw me. Here is your Neice, who is juft
of my Age, my Shape, and almoft my Face: You
may put her in my Place, and procure her a great
good. Fortune, and at the fame time fave me from
the greatest Wretchednefs in the World. It is true,
you paum upon the Duke another than he was
promis'd: But tho' you could bring me to him,
in the Condition I am in, would it be Zelida you
brought him? And has not fhe, Ladviſe you to give
him, more Refemblance of what I was, than I
my ſelf have now? Will not the Duke be more
happy in having a Wife who will be fatisfy'd with
him, and defires him, than one who long delibe-
rated whether to chufe Death or him ; and who
in the End gave Death the Preference? But it is
not my Perfon he loves, fince that is entirely un-
known to him. 'Tis the Dutchy of Otranto, and the
Earldom of Suza and Tenara he defires: And from
this Moment I give them to your Neice, together
with the Name of Zelida; and I take to Witnefs-
thofe fame Gods, by whom I just now Swore, that
for me it fhall be for ever a Secret, and I will ne
ver repent me of this Gift. Fown the Queen has
commanded you to carry me where he expects
me
The Undaunted LADY.
#3
me; but are you not oblig'd to obey her Intention
more than her Words? And do you not believe if
fhe were now here, and faw the Danger I am in,
fhe would rather chufe to fee me fav'd in any
Place whatfoever, than to fend me Dead into Italy?
Did fhe command you to carry me to the Duke
of Tarentum alive or dead? Do you not believe
'tris for my Good and Advancement, that fhe made
this Match? And that fhe, who takes fo much
Care of my Fortune, would do the fame of my
Life? When the whole World ſhall come to re-
proach her for this Cruelty, may fhe not juftly
fay fhe is in no wife guilty? That not having told
her my Refolution, he did not think it would be
any Force upon my Inclinations, nor that I fhould
drive my felf to fuch an Extremity? Will fhe not
have juft Reaſon to throw the whole Blame upon
you? But what obliges you to return to Barcelona,
and give her an Account of what you have done,
without you will your felf? Having this Ship at
your Command, you may go wherever the Winds
will carry you, and you have the whole Earth to
chufe. Then taking from her Bed's-Head a little
Coffer, which the Queen had left her, wherein
were all her Mother's Jewels, and fome others
which she had made her a Prefent of, fhe con-
tinu'd thus The Diamonds in this Coffer, of an
infinite Value, are more worth than all I have in
Italy, and the Queen herfelf cannot make you a
greater Prefent, unleſs fhe gives you all Barcelona.
I give you them all for the Ranfom of my Life
and Liberty; and as thofe two things are much
more to be eſteem'd than what I prefent you, and
Liberty alone is more than all the Riches in the
World, you will give me much more than I give
you; and I fhall think my ſelf ſtill in your Debt.
With this you may any where find Friends, Rela-
tions, and a Country. A great many People would
be tempted to take away Zelida's Life, for what E
:
offer
44
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
offer you to fave it; and I excite you to do a good
Action, with a Price enough to buy others to do
an ill one. If you are fcrupulous of diſobeying the
Queen, will it not ftrike you with more Horror to
be the Caufe of an innocent Perfon's Death? Would
you fooner chufe to kill one of her Friends, than
break one of her Commandments? Are you not
more afraid of irritating the Gods, than offending
Man in the Perſon of a Woman ? And if the Fear
of her Hatred and Vengeance deters you, ought
you not to confider, there will foon be in Arragon
one more powerful than her, who will purſue you
all over the World, and make you give an Ac-
count where I am? But after all, tho' none of thefe
Reaſons fhould ftand, I conjure you by the Friend-
fhip you always bore me, by the Pity I just now
mov'd in you, and by the Tears you then fled, to
difinvolve me from the Trouble I am in, and by
fpeedily refolving to do it, to fhew me 'tis more
for my fake than your own, that you do it. But
if my Arguments, my Prayers, and my Offers,
will not prevail upon you, and if I cannot perfuade
you to do an Action which is juft, fafe and ufeful
altogether; I fhall immediately fhut my Mouth
never more to open it. Death, do all you can,
fhall foon give me the Freedom you had deny'd
me. Ending thefe Words, Zelida open'd her Cof-
fer, in which was all her Treaſure, and made it
fhine in his Eyes. This was none of the leaft per-
fuafive of her Arguments: They were indeed
touch'd with what they heard, but more with
what they faw; and it was almoft impoffible for
them to refift fo-many Attacks made upon them
at one and the fame Time.
D
The Captain was very much of a Soldier, and
very Couragious: He had ſpent half his Life-
time upon the Sea; and had run through feveral
different Accidents, without being able to raife
his Fortune. He now thought Fortune meant to
pay
The Undaunted LADY.
45
pay him all at once, and was amaz'd to ſee in fo
fhort a ſpace of Time, more Riches than he had
ever feen in the whole Indies. Immediately he
computed how many Ships might be built and
arm'd, with but part of what he beheld. After
this, all Zelida's Reaſons feem'd good: He thought
Generofity oblig'd him to fuccour a Princefs fo a-
miable, and fo wrongfully afflicted; and befides,
he reckon'd, that if he plac'd her where he might
in Time reſtore her to Alcidalis, he fhould return
in Spain with more Favour than ever, and might
hope for as great a Reward then, as he had now.
Having attentively hearken'd to Zelida, he was a
good while filent; and being refolv'd what to do,
he now only ſtudy'd what to fay, and what Anſwer
he fhould make. She believing he was uncertain.
what Refolution to take, added fo many Prayers
and Promiſes to what he had faid before, and
us'd fuch perfuafive Reafons, that at length feem-
ing to yield to her Arguments, and to Pity, he
fwore by the moft folemn Oaths, to do all fhe had
defir'd of him. And the reciprocally fwore, to re-
tire into whatever Temple of Virgins he fhould
think fit to put her, and never to go out of it, but
with his Conſent.
Zelida, who, 'till then, in the height of her Mis-
fortunes, had not fhed a Tear, found her felf
touch'd with Joy, and with Pity of her felf, when
fhe reflected upon the Condition fhe had been in,
and began to weep abundantly, as the Miferable
generally do, when in their Grief they fee any
Ray of Comfort. She did not ſo much mind her
having been as it were fnatcht out of the Arms of
Alcidalis, as fhe did her having fav'd herſelf from
falling into thofe of the Duke of Tarentum. With
this Joy fhe foon regain'd her Strength, and re-
cover'd her Health in as few Days as fhe had loft
it. However, they agreed fhe fhould not fhew her
felf, for fear her Beauty, fhould diſcover her, and
in
46
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
in the mean Time they ſhould give out fhe was
Sick. During all that Time Erminia was fhut up
in her Chamber, and was daily inftructed how to
perfonate Zelida. At length, when ſhe was well
taught, and they approach'd the Coast of Italy,
fhe was fhewn to the Chief of thoſe who were on
Board the Gallies, and rehears'd before them the
Part fhe was afterwards to act on a higher Stage.
Tho' Zelida faw every thing fo well fettled, and
found how extreamly defirous her Conductors
were, to have her Defign fucceed, yet fhe felt her
Heart freeze within her, when the came within
fight of Land; and was very impatient to have
Erminia in the Arms of the Duke, that fhe might
fee herſelf far enough out of Danger. Yet that
they might not expofe the falfe Zelida, to the Eyes
of fo many People as waited for her on the Sea-
fide, when they fet her on Shore, under Colour of
her Illneſs they put her in a clofe Chair, in which
She was carry'd to the Palace: And under the fame
Pretence, they advis'd her to avoid being feen at
first by too many, and to keep her Bed, till fhe
was fure of acting her Part perfectly, and had ac
cuſtomed herſelf to play the Dutchefs. There-
fore he hardly fuffer'd herſelf to be feen by any
but the Duke; who, tho' he did not find in her
that great Beauty fhe was reported to have, was
nevertheleſs very well contented, and imputed
that to her Illneſs, and to the Fatigue of the Sea,
or even to the Fallacioufnefs of Fame. The Cap-
tain and his Wife having had great Preſents made
them, took their Leave of the Duke, and put to
Sea; excufing themſelves, upon their being oblig'd
to hafte back, to give an Account of the Dutchess's
profperous Voyage.
+
Zelida remain'd alone in the Ship, while fhe was
marry'd, and while all the Court thought they
were paying her their Addreffes. But when fhe
once faw the Captain and his Wife return'd, and
the
The Undaunted LADY.
47
the Sails hoifted, and when fhe found herfelf go-
ing from that fatal Coaft, of which fhe had been
fo apprehenfive; fhe was fo overjoy'd, that the
Pleaſure of leaving Italy, almoft made Amends for
the Grief fhe had had at leaving Spain. But what
boots it to a Perfon doom'd to Unhappineſs, to
eſcape one Misfortune? And where can They be
fecure who are purfu'd by Fortune? The Whole
Earth certainly belongs to her Empire; but the
Sea feems to be particularly her Birth-right.
There fhe is moft to be fear'd, and fhe does there
her greateft Miracles, and her greateft Pieces of
Injustice. Yet, as if there were no more Misfortunes.
to be fear'd, Zelida returns Thanks to the Gods,
and upon the most faithlefs Element of all, in a
weak Ship, and with People from whom fle can
expect nothing, having nothing more to give
them, fhe thinks herfelf as fecure, as if fhe had
been at Land in a Palace, and among her Friends.
They kept on their Courfe for Sardinia, whither
the Captain defign'd to carry the young Princefs
Zelida, and to put her under the Care of a Sifter
of his, 'till he could find a Way to reftore her to
Alcidalis; and they had fail'd three whole Days.
with a favourable Wind, when towards the Even-
ing, two Hours before Sun-fet, he, who was on the
Watch, at the top of the Maft, cry'd out he faw
three Sail at Sea. We no where live with fo much
Diffidence, as on this Element. Water, Earth, Air,
and Fire, are the Enemy of thoſe who truft It ;.
but Men are the greatest Enemies of all there;
and in fo many Dangers, there is nothing one Ship.
fears fo much as meeting with another. This No-
tice awak'd every Body: The Captain and Sailors
ran upon Deck, and look'd out on that Side where
they were told the Ships appear'd, and in a little.
while they faw the Tops of them, which feem'd
to be about fix Leagues off. An Hour afterwards.
they ſaw them more diftinctly, and perceiv'd they
were
48
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or
were three baſtard Sails, which try'd to get the
Wind of them. Our Ship had then but two Sails
fpread, becauſe there was a little too much Wind,
but they were all hoifted in a Moment, and no-
thing now was heard of, but making all the hafte
that was poffible.
Mean Time Night came, which, tho' very dark,
and the Sea very high, they did not ftrike a fingle
Sail. A Wind then blew, which carry'd the Ship
with an incredible Swiftnefs, fo that they fail'd
above ten Miles an Hour. But the Misfortune
was, thoſe they fled from, had the fame Advan-
tage. They ſpent all that Night in great Fear and
Caution, being environ'd with fo many Dangers :
But when the Day broke, they faw that thofe who
were behind them the Night before, were now
one Side of them, being hardly above five or fix
Miles off. Then, according to the Way they had
got of them in the Night, they found that before
Noon, they should be within the Reach of their
Cannon. Amazement now feiz'd the whole Ship;
The Fearful betake themſelves to Cries and
Tears; the Refolute ftand to their Arms; and
the Wife judge that both Tears and Boldness
would be equally ufelefs.
Tho' the Captain had fo much Experience as
to ſee he could not defend himſelf, yet regretting
to loſe ſo much Wealth, and to find Fortune was
going to deprive him of all ſhe had but juſt before
given him, he refolv'd to die fooner than yield.
In the midft of this Alarm, and this general Con-
fufion, Zelida alone was unmov'd; and while the
other were apprehenfive for their Wealth, their
Lives, and their Liberty, fhe, to whom thoſe
Things were indifferent, was contriving how to
fave that which fhe eſteem'd more than every
thing elfe. After having with a firm and fedate
Mird, confider'd the Danger fhe was in, and the
Remedies which might be apply'd to it, fhe fhut
A
herfelf
The Undaunted LADY:
49
herfelf up in her Cabin, with the Captain's Wife.
The first thing fhe did, was to take from her the
Coffer, in which were her Rings and Jewels, and
throw it into the Sea; knowing if that were found,
it would infallibly difcover her. After that, fhe
defir'd her to cut off her Hair, and then with
Tears in her Eyes, at feeing what Fortune drove
her to, fhe made her fetch a Suit of Cloaths of
her Husband's, which fhe put on.
In the mean time, the three Ships, which they
had fpy'd to be of the Coaft of Africa, came up
to them with wonderful Swiftnefs, and being with-
in Canon-fhot, difcharg'd one of their Pieces, to
fee if thofe of our Ship would ftrike Sail: But
finding they would not, and judging they intend-
ed to defend themfelves, they came nearer; and
when they were within two hundred Paces, dif-
charg'd all their Cannon at once. Our Men im-
mediately did the fame, but with quite different
Succefs; for without doing any Harm to the Ene-
my, their Maft, with two of their Sails, were torn
to pieces, and a great many of their Men carry'd
off. At this Noife Zelida went out of the Cabin,
and taking the first Arms fhe could find, went a
mong the boldeft, where there was moſt Danger;
thinking by this Means, either to be the fooner
kill'd, or to conceal herſelf the better. The Battle
was fo unequal, it was impoffible for it to laſt
long: Notwithstanding the Refiftance our Men
made, they could not hinder the Corfairs from
boarding the Ship; where having kill'd ten or
twelve of the boldeft, and among the reft the
Captain, all the reft threw down their Arms, and
begg'd for Quarter. The Captain of thoſe Ships,
was of the Kingdom of Barca, a Part of Africa,
which borders on one Side upon Egypt, and on the
other upon Nubia. Thofe Nations being very Sa-
vage, know nothing of Commerce, and have no
other Communication with Strangers, than van-
quifhing
55
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or;
*
quifhing them, and carrying away at once, the
Merchants and the Merchandizes. What we call
Stealing, they call winning from their Enemies ;
and that which among us is term'd Robbery, is
among them call'd Valour. Any thing that is to
be had at the Price of their Blood, they would be
afham'd to get otherwife, and taking a Thing by
Force, and with Danger, is with them the honeft-
eft Way of acquiring it. This Man being one of
the Nobleft, and moft Powerful of his Nation,
was for a long Time the Terror of the Coafts of
Greece and Italy; cunning, and extreamly valiant 3
す
​compaffionate, and humane more than his Coun-
try and Profeffion allow'd of; good and generous,
without knowing what Goodnefs or Generofity
was. As in the very coldest Part of the North,
there are fome Veins of Gold and Silver, as fine
as that of the Indies, tho' not in fuch great Quan-
tities fo in all Climates, Nature fometimes is
pleas'd to bring forth rich Minds, which fhe her
felfinftructs and cultivates, and to which fhe gives
all neceffary Knowledge, without Study.
As Orcant, (that was the Pirate's Name) was
over-looking his Captives, and the Prize he had
taken; the Beauty and Majefty which fhone in
the Countenance of Zelida, attracted his Regard;
and having afk'd her who fhe was, the faid, fhe
was a Spaniard by Nation, and was call'd Zelidan,
Nephew to the Captain of the Ship he had just
taken; that he was forry fhe had not been able
to follow him, and efteem'd him happy in having
loft his Life, fooner than his Liberty. She faid
this with an Air quite oppofite to that of a Cap-
tive, without the Tears, Entreaties, and Submif-
fions which the others us'd. But her Face and
Mien interceeded for her, and her Conftancy and
Courage were a fufficient Recommendation. Thus
Oreant had a Value for her Pride, and what would
have provok'd the Wrath of another, did with
him
The Undaunted LADY:
3r
him gain Admiration. He bid him not be afraid,
and told him the Slavery into which he was fallen
fhould be fo eafy, that there are a great many
forts of Freedom not more fo: That perhaps it
might not be long, fince he had a Mafter, who
made Servants of thofe only who defir'd to be ſo:
That, for his Part, it was not as a Merchant he
fail'd the Seas, but that he fought Glory more
than Profit, and took more Delight in fetting
Men free, than in making them Slaves: That he
defir'd only Zelidan for his Share of the Booty, and
the reft fhould be divided among his Men: That
it fhould be in his Power to ranfom himſelf when
he would, which he might do by one fingle good
Action; and if the rest of his Perſon was anfwer-
able to what he faw in his Face, he believ'd he
would be much longer his Friend, than his Cap-
tive. Zelida, who expected nothing like this from
a Barbarian and a Pirate, was amaz'd and over-
joy'd both together; and thought her Captivity
much more fupportable. Yet, after having with
fo much Trouble avoided being Wife to a Prince
who lov'd her, behold her now a Slave to a Pirate!
And nevertheleſs ſhe look'd upon this Accident to
be much lefs grievous, becauſe it was much more
eafily remedy'd. She had no Happineſs but in be-
ing Alcidalis's, nor no Misfortune but being ano-
ther's; except this, fhe knew neither Good nor
Evil in the World, and all Things were indifferent
to her. Thus fhe, who deferv'd to govern the
whole World, was contented to Serve; and that
Heart which was fo great and fo lofty, that the
Heavens themſelves were not more fo, fubmitted
it felf to the meaneft of Conditions; and that too.
with more Patience, than did even the Sailors,
who were taken with her. But it was impoffible
for Zelida to be long a Servant; that Diſorder and
Violence could not laft long in Nature. It had
been more eaſy to have fubjected the Sphere of
Fire
5.2
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
Fire to that of the Elements ; and it was impof-
fible for the Divine Qualities which were in her,
not to be foon known and admir'd. Not only
Heaven had given her in Perfection all the Charms
and Beauties of Body and Mind, and all the Gra-
ces that ftrike us with Love and Refpect, but fhe
was likewife born under fo ftrong a Conftellation
of Empire and Command, that fhe could have
gain'd the Obedience of the wildeft Beafts; and
The at first Sight took Authority over reaſonable
Souls. So that Zelidan, for we muft ufe ourselves.
to call her by that Name, foon became his Ma-
fter's Mafter. The Slaves, the Sea-Men, and the
Soldiers, lov'd him equally, and honour'd him as
they did their Captain himſelf, and he abfolutely
govern'd in the Ship to which he was carry'd Pri-
foner. Knowing the Paffion Orcant had for him,
he judg'd how eafily that Friendſhip might change
into Love, if he fhould happen to find him out;
and that then his Affection, which otherwife
might be of Service to him, would be the inevita-
ble Caufe of his Deftruction. He therefore was
more cautious than ever in concealing what he
was ; and the better to do it, he refolv'd to har-
den his Courage against all forts of Dangers, and
to inure himſelf to all thofe Things, which that
Sex feems uncapable of.
They spent the reft of that Summer without
touching Land, except once or twice to take in
Water, often changing their Courſe and Defign,
according to the Winds that blew and the Way
they reckon'd Ships would take. During all that
Time, Zelidan fignaliz'd himſelf on all the Occa-
fions that offer'd. No Ship. was taken, but he
was the first that boarded it in his Doublet and
without Armour ; for as yet he was not ftrong e-
nough to wear any. He always threw himfelf
where the Danger was moft apparent, and the
moft Couragious were ever far behind him. There
is
The Undaunted LADY.
53
is no Spell fo ftrong as that of good Fortune, nor
no Buckler which keeps off Danger fo infallibly.
Thofe fhe guards, might go naked through the
midft of Swords; but for thofe fhe oppofes, there
is no Armour but what he will find a Hole in.
Thus, in a fhort Time, he was in feveral Fights,
in which he carry'd all the Glory; and the Expec-
ration Orcant had of him became a confirm'd Õpi-
nion and an Efteem deeply establifh'd. He be-
gan to honour him as much as he had given him
his Word he would; and Winter being come, and
having taken Harbour at the firft Maritime City
in Barca, they there left their Ships. There he in
a folemn Manner, gave Zelidan his Liberty, and
again confirm'd his Friendſhip to him. He carry'd
him with him too to Court, faying he would fhew
the King his Conqueft, which was the richest
Booty that in all his Voyages, Fortune had ever
thrown into his Hands,
It was neceffary to forbear fpeaking of Alcidalis
all this while, for his firft Grief could not be de-
fcrib'd, and it would have been impoffible to have
reprefented fo many Sighs, Cries, Tranſports, and
fo much Fury. Seeing the Queen return without
Zelida, and having been eight Days without being
able to difcover what was become of her, he spent
that Time in the greateſt Grief and Perplexity.
But when he came to know the whole Story of
his Misfortune, and found it was without Reme-
dy; when he thought fhe was in the Arms of ano-
ther, and his Imagination had in that repreſented
to him all that could torment him; then Tears
ceas'd, and Defpair took their Place then he loſt
all Refpect and Fear; he loudly threaten'd the
Queen, and fhew'd the greatest Refentment that
the highest Offence could poffibly raife in the
moft paffionate Heart in the World. Two Days
he deliberated whether firft to revenge himſelf
upon the Queen, or to go force Zelida out of the
D
S
Hands
54
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Hands of him who poffefs'd her, or rather to de-
liver himſelf from his Miferies by a voluntary
Death. But at last his Body, which for fome
Time had fubfifted wholly upon Poifon, was quite
opprefs'd by ſo many Misfortunes, and allay'd the
Violence of his Mind. A Fever took him, which
from the very first Day being accompany'd with a
Light-headednefs, made every Body very appre-
henfive for him; and thoſe who knew the Cauſe
of his Diftemper, concluded it would be his End.
In a few Days he loft all his Strength, and, which
was the better for him, was without Senſe or
Judgment. Thus all the Thoughts, which fo ma-
ny different Paffions had put in his Head, werc
topt; and he, who was for paffing the Sea in an
Inftant, and running over the whole World, was
confin'd four Months to a Bed. Love, Jealouſy,
and a Fever, that is to fay, the greatest Difeafes
of the Body and the Mind, equally confum'd Alci-
dalis, and each of 'em reign'd in him to fuch a
Degree, and with fo many Circumftances, that
there was no Likelihood of any one of them being
curable. But Nature did not intend to fuffer one
of the most compleat of her Works to be fo foon
deſtroy'd, and ſhe had fo much Strength and Vi-
gour in him, that contrary to all Hopes and all
Reaſon, and even to his own Defire, the reftor'd
him to his Health. Then, tho' he had fewer
Distempers, he had many more Afflictions; and
not being able to endure them any longer, with-
out ftaying 'till his Strength was wholly renew'd,
or communicating his Defign to any Body, he went
one Night from Saragoffa, and getting into the
Kingdom of Valencia by private Roads, he em-
bark'd at the firft Port he could come to, and
went over to Italy, with fome fhadow of Joy, in
thinking he had efcap'd from the Hands of his
Enemies, and was going the Way Zelida had fo
lately gone before him.
The
The Undaunted LADY.
55
The falfe Zelida had much better Fortune than
the true; and her Defigns had much happier Suc-
cefs. She had, as we have already obferv'd, a mo-
derate Beauty, and that fort of Wit which is ne-
ceffary to make a Perfon prudent and cunning.
Seeing how much Danger there was in the En-
terprize fhe had undertaken, fhe endeavour'd by
all Artifices to gain the Heart of her Husband,
and to fortify herfelf in it, againſt whatever Acci-
dents might happen to her. He was juft at thofe
Years, wherein the Approaches of old Age begin
to give Men a Diftruft of themſelves, and where-
in thoſe, who are wife, must not expect to be be-
lov'd by Women, unlefs by thofe that are oblig'd
to love them. So that the Beauty, the good Con-
duct, and the Careffes of his Wife, foon gain'd
him. As Flowers are never fo agreeable as at the
Beginning of Spring or towards the End of Au-
tumn, the first for their Novelty, and the fecond
becauſe we think we fhall fhortly lofe them; ſo
the Pleaſures of Love are never fo delightful to
us as in our Youth, or upon the Decline of Life.
"Tis fo great a Satisfaction, and fo uncommon à
Pleafure for an old Man to be belov'd, that there
is none but what upon that Opinion grows young,
and rekindles his Afhes. But in the fame manner
as the Sun when it fhines at a distance from us,
makes the Shadows larger, fo when Love lightens
that Age from which it is naturally diftant, it pro-
duces in it great Sufpicions. The Duke no fooner
found himſelf in Love, than he became jealous.
That Paffion, which is otherwife a fortuitous Ef-
fect of Love, is an infeparable Accident of it in
all Men of this Climate. They do not believe
great Defire can fubfift without great Fear; and
Love and Jealoufy are there two Twins, which
are always brought forth at one Birth. Whether
then the Excefs of his Paffion produc'd this Ef-.
fect, or the Air of the Country, or the fufpicious
D 2
Humour
56
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Humour old Age brings along with it, or whether
he had heard fomething of Alcidalis's Paffion, his
Diftruft rofe to fuch a Degree, that he was never
fafe but when the Dutchefs was in his Prefence:
And even then, he was uneafy if any but himſelf
look'd upon her. She, who for another Reaſon
fear'd nothing fo much as being feen, eafily yield-
ed to his Humour, and feigning Complaifance to
his Defires, pretended that the equally lov'd all
the Effects of his Paffion; that his Caution was
agreeable to her, fince 'twas a Proof of his Love;
and that he would have him take whatever Mea-
Tures he thought fit for his Security, and not have
any regard to any thing befides his own Eafe:
For her part, fhe fhould be always fatisfy'd if he
were but fo; and fince he was to her all Things
in the World, fhe fhould think ſhe had them all,
if fhe had but him. He receiv'd thefe Offers with
abundance of Joy, and made ufe of the Liberty
The gave Him, by depriving her of all hers. So
that daily retrenching her of fome part of a great
Palace he had at firft, and of an infinite Number
of Perfons that ferv'd her, fhe faw herſelf confin'd
to one Chamber, a few Clofets, and a Gallery,
and reduc'd to fee none but five or fix Women,
who were abfolutely neceffary to her. As the
Duke gave her Proofs of his Jealoufy, he alfo gave
her fome Proofs of his Love; and in fatisfying
himſelf, he endeavour'd to pleaſe her too. There
was nothing in Europe nor in the Indies, but what
he brought her. The Earth nor the Sea produc'd
nothing extraordinary, but what fhe had. All that
is precious in the World, the richeft Works of
Nature, the compleateft Mafter-pieces of Art,
were to be feen in her Cabinets. In fhort, fhe had
the fineſt Prifon that can be imagin'd, if any Pri-
fon may be call'd fine; and fhe faw all fhe could
defire to fee, except it were Men. But as the moſt
agreeable Solitude has always fomething melan-
choly
The Undaunted LADY..
57%
chely in it, he was defirous to remedy that too.
He, with great Labour and Charge, got together
the handſomeft and strongest Slaves that could be
met with; and having bought a good Number of
them, he had them inftructed with a great deal
of Diligence, and by the beſt Mafters of Italy, in
all the Exerciſes in which the moſt noble are us’d
ro excel. Theſe were call'd the Dutchefs's Slaves;
and were all richly drefs'd, even in her Colours.
They had no other Badge of Servitude, than a
Gold Collar round their Necks, from whence there
hung a Chain of the fame Metal, with a Medal of
the Arms of their Miftrefs. Three Times a Week
they were brought into a fpacious fanded Court,
which was just under the Windows of her Gallery,
and there they were exercis'd, fome at Wrestling,
others at Running, and fome at managing of Hor-
fes. Sometimes they run at the Ring, or made
Barrier-Combats; and dividing themfelves into.
two Companies, undertook: Tournaments. The
Duke had invented this Diverfion with two De-
figns; first to divert the Dutchefs, whom he lov'd'
extreamly, and the other, to give her a Contempt
of all Mankind, by fhewing her in Slaves, that is to-
fay, in the vileft Part of it, the fame Qualities
which the best educated poffefs, and which add a
Luftre to the moſt noble.
Alcidalis immediately upon his arriving in Italy,
heard all this; and having fome few Days confi-
der'd what he had beft to do, thought no Degree
would agree fo well with him, as that of Zelida's
Slave, and that the Greatneſs of his Station hav-
ing been the Caufe of all the Misfortunes which
had ever happen'd to him, he could apply no bet-
ter Remedy to them, than placing himſelf in the
meanest of all Conditions. He communicated his
Defign to him who accompany'd him, who dif-
guifing himſelf like a Merchant, went to thofe
who govern'd that Company of Men. They ſeeing
D 3
in
58
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
in Alcidalis all the Qualities they defir'd, foon fet
a Price upon one who could never be priz'd fuffi-
ciently; and with a fmall Sum of Money pur-
chas'd for a Slave the Son of a King, and the moft
accomplish'd Man upon Earth. At first he was
Scholar to thoſe whom he was able to teach, and
gave himfelf to be inftructed in what he under-
food better than they, or any Body elfe. Thus,
pretending every Day to learn fomething of the
Exerciſes which were taught him, he made fo
great a Progrefs in fo fmall a Time, that he was
admir'd by all the World; and the Mafters were
amaz'd to find they had taught him more than
they knew themſelves. Whether he was to ride,
to wreſtle, or to leap, he fhew'd himſelf in every
Thing with fo much Skill, Strength, and Aptnefs,
that he ſeem'd a Prodigy. The Horfes feem'd to
obey him by Inftinct, and without any Motion he
made them underſtand his Pleafure. If any defy'd
him at Wreſtling, or at Running; the one he fa
eafily threw to the Earth, and the other he fo far
out-ftript, that it was plain he was born above
them, and that they were never to be any where,
but at his Feet or far behind him. When he ran a-
Foot, Horfes were more heavy than he was; and
when he was upon their Backs, they were ſwifter
than Birds. In fhort, no Prize was propos'd, but
what was Alcidalis's; and it was impoffible to make.
an equal Match, when he was to be of it, unleſs
he was by himſelf fet againft all the reft, and even
then he conquer'd. Yet amidst all the Praifes
which were given him he found a fecret Shame in
himself to difpute with Slaves; for he had no lefs
a Soul than* he, who would run only with Kings;
but only it was neceffary to the carrying on of his
Defign. Tho' he did every Thing with a wonder-
ful Grace, yet he did it with fo little Attention,
* Alexander the Great,
and
The Undaunted LADY.
59
and fo much Contempt, that 'twas eafy to fee he
aim'd at a greater Victory. Every Time he en-
ter'd the Lifts, where they were feen by the
Dutchefs, he was always the firft, and ftay'd the
laft. In all his Exercifes, he had ftill his Heart and
Eyes fix'd upon the Lettice, through which he
thought fhe look'd; and all he did himself, or
that others did, could not divert him from it. To
what Blindness is Mankind fubject! The moft
faithful of Lovers idolizes a Beauty he never faw.
He fighs before her, he fends her his Heart by his
Looks; and tho' he has a Miftrefs, whom he
loves a hundred Times more than himfelf, he has
voluntarily fold himſelf to another.
Alcidalis, who might have been remarkable a-
mong the moft accomplish'd Princes in the World..
was eafily fo among Slaves. From the very firſt
Day, his Beauty and Gracefulneſs attracted the
Eyes of the Dutchefs; foon afterwards, he gain'd
hér Efteem and Admiration; and when fhe bad
obferv'd him more narrowly, fhe thought fhe faw
in the Nobleneſs of his Carriage, fomething extra-
ordinary, and above the Condition he was in. She
took particular Notice of the Attention with which
he always look'd at her. She obferv'd his Sighs,
and the Palenefs and Sadness of his Countenance;
and how, amidst the Praifes and Applaufes he
receiv'd on all Sides, nothing could rejoyce him.
All this first gave her Curiofity, afterwards Pity,
and at laſt Love.
I have often heard you fay, Madam, fhe was not
touch'd with this laft Paffion; and that she had
only a Curiofity to know who that could be, who
in fo mean a State was Mafter of fuch Gentleman-
like Qualities. But you must give me leave to
diffent from you in this Point. I have heard you
fometimes excufe Perfons that were much lefs
excufable than her; and I well know your Scrupu-
louſneſs is capable of reaching even fo far, as to be
cautious
D 4
$
60
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
i
cautious how you fcandalize one who never had a
being. But if you confider, the Duke was old and
jealous, the Dutchefs young and barr'd of her Li-
berty, and the Prince the moft compleat and a-
miable that ever was upon Earth; you will con-
fefs, it is no ill-grounded Sufpicion, to believe fhe
was in Love with him.
In fhort, one Evening, as this handfome Slave
was going out of the Duke's Palace with the reft,
in a Paffage where it was pretty dark, he found
himſelf pull'd by a Woman whom he did not
know; and feparating himfelf a little Way from
the reft, without waiting 'till he spoke fhe faid
to him, Clariant, (for that was the Name he went
by) if you are as bold as you feem to be, come a-
Jone to Morrow Night, at the fecond Watch, to
the Foot of the Greek Tower; being there, if you
take hold of the Opportunity, you will be more
happy than you could ever poffibly hope to be.
This fhe faid in hafte, and left him without ftay-
ing for his Anfwer. It was never yet difcover'd
how the Dutchefs, being fo ftrictly guarded and
fo narrowly watch'd by fo many People, could find
a Way to fend this Meffage to Alcidalis. You your
felf, Madam, could not make any Guefs at it; and
I remember, my Lady your Mother, who never
lofes an Opportunity of faying a witty Thing,
commended you for having been fhort in your In-
vention in this Part of the Story. Indeed 'tis re-
markable, that not having ever been at a Stand
to fave Alcidalis from all his Dangers, to preferve
Zelida's Chastity pure in the Hands of Pirates, and,
after fo many Wanderings, to restore them both.
to their Kingdom, your Imagination fhould be
found defective upon this Occafion only, and could
not find out a Way for a Lady to fend a. Meffage
to a Man!
10
Ever fince Alidalis's Misfortune, he had not had
the leaft Ray of Joy 'till this Minute. He pre-
fently
The Undaunted LADY.
"
fently conceiv'd that this Meffage came from
Zelida; and with Tears in his Eyes, he thank'd›
Heaven for thus beginning to take Pity of him :-
Yet, whether it be that the Souls of Great Men
have fome Infight into the Darkneſs of Futurity,
or that the Unhappy are cautious how they give
Credit to the Promifes of Hope, which they have
ſo often been abus'd with he durft not be confi-
dent of his good Fortune, and when he began to
hope, he began more to fear. In this Place, Ma-
dam, a more eloquent Writer would not fail to
fay, that he thought every Hour a Day, and every
Day a Year; and that his amorous Impatience
made him count every Moment, accufe the Slow-
neſs of Time and of the Sun, and bring all Heavent
into Fault. But without all this, it is not hard to
imagine the Uneafineſs of Altidalis from the Caufe
he had to be fo. The Day, or rather Night, of
the Affignation, came at laft; and before he had
well darken'd the Earth, he was at the Foot of
the Tower. It was built juft upon the Sea, into
which it enter'd about fifty Paces. The Prince,
who had provided all Things neceffary for that
Purpoſe, went thither in a Fifher-boat, which he
faften'd to fome Iron Rings fix'd in the Wall, and
there expected the Succefs Fortune fhould think
fir to give this Adventure, in the Darkneſs and
Silence of the Night, which was interrupted only ·
by the Noife of the Sea. He remain'd an Hour
before any Thing appear'd, agitated, in the mean
Time, with Hope and Fear; which, tho' they are
contrary Paffions, do'nevertheless often meet in
one and the fame Perfon. He form'd to himſelf
all thofe Imaginations which any other may re-
prefent to themfelves; but which, neither you
nor I, Madam, who never lov'd can do. There
blew a ftrong Wind from the Shore, which fo
fwell'd the Waves, that the Rope which held the
Bark, could fcarce refift it, and he every Moment
expected
D. 5.
62
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
expected to fee it unfaften'd. At laft, just as he
was beginning to defpair of his Happiness, and
was taken up with Thoughts more black and
frightful than the Night and Sea, with which he
was furrounded; a Noife he heard at the Top of
the Tower reftor'd him to the Hopes he had loft.
He thought he heard fome Words, which he could
not well diftinguifh; to which having made An-
fwer by a Noife on his Side; he prefently after-
wards heard fomething fall into the Sea, and hav-
ing look'd more narrowly, he faw fomething white
fwimming upon the Watter; and having taken it
up, he found it to be a Rope-Ladder, which
reach'd from the Top of the Tower, at the End
whereof there was ty'd a Piece of Linnen, to make
it vifible. Then Alcidalis gave himſelf to be cheat-
ed by the Appearance of his good Fortune, who,
he thought, now meant to give him fomething of
Zelida. Wherefore, without confidering what Dan-
gers he ran into, and what Rafhnefs it was to un-
dertake, notwithstanding the Darknefs and the
ftormy Wind, to climb to a prodigious Height,
without knowing whither he went, or by whom
and in what Manner he ſhould be receiv'd, he got
upon the Ladder, and began to mount it with more
Lightnefs and Joy than he could have done the
richeft Stair-Cafe in the World. Having got up
about a hundred Steps, he found himſelf at a Win-
dow, where he perceiv'd a Perfon, who gave him
a Hand, and, without fpeaking a Word, conducted
him thro' feveral Turns and Paffages, at the End
of which he found himſelf in a Clofer, illuminated
with three golden Lamps, the moft richly fur-
nifh'd he ever faw in his Life, and which far ex
reeded all the Grandeur of his Father's Palace.
By the Light of the Lamp, he faw 'twas a Wo-
man had brought him thither, who having bid
him reft himſelf and ſtay a little, went out and
But the Door. He thought fhe was the fame that
had
}
The Undaunted LADY:
63
had bid him the Day before be at the Foot of the
Greek Tower: Then, confidering every Thing
that had pafs'd, and what he faw, he was yet more
confirm'd in his Opinion, that it was Zelida had
fent for him; and in the midft of all the Dangers
he imagin'd himſelf to be in, by a fecret Pre-
fentment of the Misfortune he fear'd nothing fo
much as not feeing her. I cannot reprefent the
different Thoughts he had, the Impatience, the
Defires and Fears, the Diftrufts, Sufpicions, Sur-
prifes, Alarms, and the other different Paffions,
with which he was tofs'd to and fro at the fame
Time. All this cannot be defcrib'd upon Paper;
nothing but the Mind of Man is capable of fo
much Confufion.
He was an Hour thus in the moft profound Si-
lence in the World, without hearing the leaſt
Noife in any Part, tho' he every Moment, with
ftrange Agitations, imagin'd he did. At laft he
thought he heard a Tread, and the Noife of a
Key; and turning his Head, he faw another
Door than that he came in by, cover'd with Ta-
piſtry, open'd by the fame Perfon who had brought
him thither, and who approaching him with a
fmiling Countenance, faid to him, Clariant, you
will foon pardon me for having made you stay fo
long, and acknowledge that the Honour you are
going to receive well deferv'd the waiting for.
The Prince having thank'd her, and defir'd to
know what was the Honour fhe fpoke of, after a lit-
tle Hefitation fhe faid to him, Clariant, if I was not
fufficiently acquainted with the Strength and
Greatnefs of your Soul, by what I have feen of
you, I fhould not let you know your good Fortune
fo foon, but give you Time to accuftom your felf
to it, and fe how you can bear it. But it is to be
believ'd, you will not be confounded at your Hap-
pinefs, be if what it will, and that your Thoughts
are no lefs noble than your Actions. Know then,
1
you
64
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
you are in the Clofet of Zelida, and in a Moment
you fhall be in her Chamber. The Dutchefs has
obferv'd all the Qualities which make you eftima-
ble; and feeing there is nothing in you that is
mean befides your Fortune, fhe means to take
Care of it her felf, and to make it better; and
for that Purpoſe, is defirous to be acquainted with
you. Do you, on your Side, make a right Ufe of.
this Opportunity; and fhew, for the Future, as
much Difcretion and Conduct, as you have hither-
to fhew'd Skill and Valour. Having faid this, fhe
led him thro' the fame Dcor fhe came in at, and
carry'd him to her Miftrefs's Chamber.
How ftrange is the Weakness of our Souls! Al
cidalis, whom Death, and all that is most terrible
in it, could not have made afraid; who, fpite of
the Wind, the Night, and the Sea, upon a weak
Cord Ladder did fo gaily climb to the Top of the
Tower; and who would at Noon Day have un-
dertaken alone to deliver the Dutchefs out of the
Hands of the Duke; trembles in a Place where
he knows there are none but Women. That
Heart, which without Fear would have fac'd a
World of Enemies, is chill'd with Fear at the Ap-
proach of the only Perfon he loves, and who he
knows loves him.
The Room was lighted but with one Taper,
and the Dutchefs was in Bed with the little Light
which fuch Enterprifes, and the Bafhfulneſs and
Fear of a young Perfon not yet accuftom'd to them,
defire; that tho' the Prince had been more him-
felf, and lefs prepoffefs'd, he could fearce have
perceiv'd his Error, and the Cheat which Fortune
put upon him. He immediately fell upon his Knees
before her, and having begun to fpeak fome Words,
which were ill pronounc'd, and worfe connected,
he ftopp'd fhort. The Disturbance of his Mind,
and the Agitation of fo many Paffions, prefs'd
him in fùch a Manner, that he could not continue,
and
The Undaunted LADY.
65
and half befides himſelf, he let fall his Head on the
Bed of the young Princefs; who having put out
her Hand to jogg him, he took it, and by that.
Means coming to himfelf, after having bath'd it
with Floods of Tears, he fpoke as follows: At
length, Zelida, Heaven has had fome Compaffion
on wretched Alidalis; and however, it oppofes
me, I return it a thouſand Thanks, for having at
leaft, once before I die, permitted me to fee vou.
Here his Sighs interrupted his Speech, and just as
he was about to refume it, he heard a great Noife
in the Palace; at which, fhe who had conducted
him, running out, came in again in a great Fright,
faying 'twas the Duke, and that he was already in
the Dutchefs's Apartment. The good Man, far
from imagining what was done in his Palace, was
gone into the Country, with a Defign to ſtay three
Days at Hunting: But, whether his Love or his
Jealoufy brought him back, or that he thought to
act a Piece of Gallantry, and fhew his Impatience
and his Affection to the Dutchefs; he return'd
the fame Day, and the first Thing he did, was, to
run preſently to ſee her.
I am mighty angry at him for coming fo unfea-
fonably; for I fhould have been very glad to have
heard what the Dutchefs would have faid in the
Amazement 'tis probable fhe was in at what fhe
heard. I think him very impertinent for coming
in fo abruptly; and if it had been I that had in-
vented the Story, Ifhould, in revenge, have made
him. The Dutchefs, in the Surprife fhe was
in at this Interruption, and at what he had juft
heard, could not utter a Word. The Woman who
had brought in the Prince, took him again by the
Hand, and having reconducted him the fame Way
he came, fhe in a Moment put him to the Window;
out of which, feeing the Treachery of Forture,
he was almoft refolv'd to precipitate himſelf, in-
ftead of defcending.
-CON-
( 66 )
ि
K K K K
CONCLUSION
OF THE
HISTORY
OF
Alcidalis and Zelida.
BA
Of
83-3-33 CARCE had Alcidalis got to the Foot
of the Ladder, by which he had be-
60S00 fore mounted, and unfaften'd the
Rope which ty'd his Boat, when he
003-8300 faw himſelf driven away by a furious
Storm that was rifen during his Abfence, and car-
ry'd immediately above a hundred Miles from
Belifa, which was the Name of her who had
brought him thither by the Dutchefs's Order,
'Twas then that the poor Woman remain'd almoft
without Motion at the Accident fhe had ſeen
fhe could not help complaining, well imagining
how much afflicted the Dutchefs would be at his
Misfortune; how often did fhe curfe the Arrival
of the Duke; what Reproaches did fhe not caft
upon the Dutchefs; but indeed, what did fhe not
;
caft
The Undaunted LADY.
67
caft upon herſelf! At laft, as if waken'd out of a
profound Sleep, the cry'd, O Gods! what Mis-
fortunes! And then look'd out carefully, if fhe
could not difcover what caus'd her Uneafinefs
but finding all her Search was in vain, ſhe retir'd,
after having feveral Times repeated thefe Words:
Ah poor Clariant, thou dear Slave! 'Tis I that am
the Caufe of this Misfortune: 'Tis I that fingled
thee from amongst thy Companions; led thee in-
to the Dutchefs's Chamber, and unexpectedly
brought thee to thy Destruction, and dug thee thy
Grave in theſe pitílefs Waves. She had fcarce be-
gan theſe Complaints, when ſhe was interrupted
by one of her Companions, who came running to
her, to bid her bring back the Slave, for the Duke
was gone. Ah! would to Heaven, reply'd Belifa,
he had never came hither, I fhould not then be o-
blig'd to carry the Dutchefs fuch unfortunate News;
for, continu'd fhe to Elvira, during this furious
Tempeft, the unhappy Clariant has been Ship-
wreck'd. This Elvira was tolerably handfome, and
very much in the Duke's Favour; who often made
ufe of her as a Spy upon the Dutchefs. She made
no Anſwer to what Belifa faid, but only reflected
upon it, and cunningly pretending to be extreamly.
griev'd, ran to tell it the Duke; and for that Rea-
fon, went thro' the Gallery of Love. Alas! how
properly it goes by that Name, fince 'tis the moſt
favourable Paffage for the Dutchefs, and the moſt
dangerous to the Duke of Tarentum, For, notwith-
ſtanding all his Vigilance and Precaution, his Wife
in that Place finds Ways by which he often fatis-
fies herſelf in the Converfation of feveral Gal-
lants. As for Belifa, fhe made hafte thro' that Gal-
lery, and by Way of the Anti-chamber which is
on one side of it went into the Dutchefs's Apart-
ment. There she found her in a very negligent
Difhabillee, getting out of Bed, impatient to hear
the Conclufion of what Alcidalis had begun to fay
when
68
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
when he was interrupted in his Difcourfe by the
Arrival of the Duke, and conftrain'd to leave the
Place, to make Way for him: But fhe foon was
undeceiv'd in her Hopes of hearing the reft, when
Belifa, in a few Words, told her his Misfortune and
her Lofs. She no fooner heard this fatal Accident,
than fhe fell into a Swoon, and was for fome Time
without being able to utter a Word; at length re-
turning to herself, and calling to Mind the laſt·
Words he had faid to her, fhe prefently imagin'd
he was certainly the unfortunate Lover of the real
Zelida; and could not help paying fome Sighs and
Tears to the Confideration of his Misfortune. In
this Condition fhe pafs'd the Night, and as foon
as it was Day, fhe feparated herfelf from her At-
tendants, and went into the Garden, where there
was a Door which correſponded with the Duke's
Apartment. There it was that fhe redoubled her
Tears, and bemoan'd the Lofs of the miferable
Stranger. At laft, having wip'd away her Tears,
fhe ruminated fome Time, and fpoke thus: What !
could not I have prevented this Misfortune? was
it not in my Power to have forborn fending for
him? But, no, his Charms were too powerful to
be refifted. Ah! Zelida, continu'd fhe, in what
Place foever thou art unhappy, never more hope
to fee thy Lover: He is dead, Zelida, he is dead;
but to Death he never forgot the Love he has for
you, and never left it 'till he left Life amidſt the
Waves. "Tis there he is now bury'd ; 'tis there he-
extinguifh'd thofe Flames which he thought you
alone deferv'd. When fhe had faid this, fhe dry'd
up the Tears which ran down her Cheeks in great-
Abundance. But as we are fometimes tofs'd with
contrary Paffions; tho' why, continu'd fhe, un-
thinking that I am? why fhould I bewail the De
ftruction of him who came to rob me of my Hap
pinefs? What Reafon have I to grieve for a Man,
who perhaps by fome violent Means, taking me
fore
A
The Undaunted LADY.
89.
for his Miftrefs, had endeavour'd to get me into
his Poffeffion? And then, the Duke coming to
underſtand the Stratagem, I ſhould foon have loſt
the Title of Dutchefs. Having a long Time con-
fulted in herſelf the Event of this Affair, fhe judg'd
fhe had no great Caufe to be unconfolable; but
that fhe fhould efpecially keep this Secret as cloſe
as poffible. Juft as fhe had taken this Refolution,
the Duke came into the Garden, and being ins
form'd by Elvira of the whole Affair, feem'd very
melancholy; and it was eafy to be feen by his
Countenance, that his Mind was not at Eafe. The
Dutchess perceiving it, went to carefs him as fhe
us'd to do, but going to embrace him, fhe receiv'd
a rude Repulfe. Not minding this Coldnefs, fhe
purfu'd her accuftom'd Kindness, dreaming of no-
thing less than of his being inform'd of her Con-
verfation with the Slave; fhe therefore try'd all
her Arts, Smiles, tender Looks, charming Words;
no Way was left unattempted. But all this had no
Effect upon the Mind of the Duke, except it were
to enrage and diſturb him the more. At last, im:
patient to know what could have difpleas'd him,
The ſpoke to him in thefe Terms: My Lord, Í
know not whether my Opinion be true or falfe
but in my Eyes you feem very much alter'd : Í
cannot make any Guefs at the Caufe of the Cha-
grin which appears in your Countenance: Am not
I the fame Zelida for whom you once declar'd fo
much Love? Have I been any ways wanting in
the Refpect I owe you? Yes, Madam, reply'd
the Duke; your Want of Faith gives me juſt
Reafon to complain of you. He faid this with fo
much Haughtinefs, and went away fo abruptly,
that he left the Dutchefs in the greateſt Diſorder.
This young Lady finding herſelf thus deferted by
her old Husband, retir'd into her Chamber, and
having fent for Belifa, fhe to whom the laid open
moft of her Thoughts, fhe in a few Words told
€
her
70
'Alcidalis and Zelida ; or;
her her Difgrace with her Husband. Belifa, who
did not want for Sharpnefs, knowing what Credit
her Companion Elvira was in with the Duke, and
that this Elvira had feen her ſpake to the Slave,
had no great Hardſhip to perfwade the Dutchefs,
that the Duke's Jealoufy could come from no o-
ther Hand; tho' the Dutchefs hardly knew how
to believe it, 'till fhe had call'd to mind that fhe
had fent Elvira to fetch back the Slave, after the
Duke had left her. As they were difcourfing of
this Mifchance, they were interrupted by the Ar-
rival of one of the Duke's Pages, who prefented
the Dutchefs with a Note, feal'd up, but without
any Superfcription: She had no fooner open'd it,
than fhe knew the Hand of her Argus, who writ
to her as follows...
ZELIDA,
I
F the Friendship I have for you did not oblige me to wipe
from my Memory fome Things which were told me
fbould not think my felf any ways bound to write theſe Lines
to you, to let you know I fall expect you this Evening at
Placentia, where I hope you wil difabuſe your Enemies
from the Sufpicions they have had of you, and which are
very prejudicial to your dear
*
TARENTU M.
When the Dutchefs had read this Note, fhe ftu-
dy'd a little upon it, and thought it would be the
best way to hufh this Matter as foon as poffible,
and therefore fhe wrote the following Anfwer.
I
Dear TARENTUM,
Was very much amaz'd at your fudden Departure, and
much more ſo at reading your Letter; I am extreamly
furpris'd at your accusing me of Infidelity. Yet, out of the
Refpect I owe you, I will receive your Reproaches, tho' I
am not in the leaf guilty of what you lay to my Charge,
namely
The Undaunted LADY:
71
namely Breach of Faith. In Obedience to your Com-
mands, I will come to Placentia, where I hope you will-
have so much Goodness as to hear my Defence, by which I
kope to difabuse my Enemies, in the unjust Sufpicions they
have had of her, who would rather chufe Death, than not to.
be all her Life
Your Lover ZELIDA.
The Dutchefs having feal'd up this Anfwer,
gave it to the Page, with Order to deliver it to
his Mafter. Whilft this falfe Zelida is thus endea-
vouring to make Peace with her Husband, which
by the Affiftance of Belifa fhe muft infallibly ef
fect, let us carry our View farther, and fee what
is become of our two real Lovers. I think I fee
the poor Clariant bury'd in the Waves; but no,
Heaven referves him for more Misfortunes, which
we fhall hear in the Sequel of our Hiftory.
So foon as the Bark was in the open Sea, with-
out Pilot, without Oars, and without any Hopes of
Relief, amidst the moft cruel Thoughts which Ha-
tred, Jealouſy, and Diſpair, could form in the Mind
of a young Prince, fo devoted to Love; he was at
the Mercy of the Winds, the Elements, and the
Waves of the Sea, which fometimes lifted him to
the Clouds, and fometimes precipitated him to
the deepest Abyſs of the Earth. But that which
had like to have concluded his Deftruction, was
his Veffels ftriking againſt a Rock, and breaking
into ſhatters, all but the middle Plank, which the
Gods feem'd to have referv'd to fave him; and
upon that he extended himſelf, and holding it in
his Hands. 'Tis now Zelida, cry'd he, that I am
certainly loft; enjoy, thou happy Lover, the
Friendship of my Miftrefs; boldly poffefs the
Object of my Love, for I fhall now foon be out of
a Condition to give you any farther Disturbance.
And indeed he might well fay fo, fince he was
upon the very Point of Death, for the Tempeft
being
72. Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
being increas'd, what with the Rain, the Hail, the
Lightning, and the Thunder, all the Elements
feem'd to have combin'd in the Deſtruction of
wretched Clariant. In this State he continued 'till
the next Morning, when the Gods, tir'd out by
his Patience, put a stop to the Storm, made the
Air more ferenc, and the Sea more calm. And
now he began to fwim with more Eafe, when, by
good Fortune, he fpy'd fifty eight Ships laden
with Soldiers, fent by the King of Pire, to declare.
War against the King of Morocco. A young Cap-
tain, Native of Arragon, being upon Deck, thought
he perceiv'd fomething floating on the Water, but
becauſe of the great Distance it was from him,
could not diftinguifh what it was. He fent fome
ofhis Men in the Boat to fetch what he faw, which
they did with a great deal of Speed. But being;
come near it, they were very much furpriz'd to
fee that it was a Body fo ftrongly fix'd to a large
Piece of Wood, that the Corpfe feem'd to be pur-
pofely ty'd to it. Having with a great deal of
Trouble got him out of the Water, and unfix'd.
his Hands from the Plank, they carry'd him to
their Captain, who having look'd upon him at.
tentively, had fome Idea of knowing his Face.
For tho' the Prince was quite disfigur'd, his Eyes.
half open, his Vifage pale, his Lips blue, and his
Mouth half fhut, without Motion, Pulfe, or any,
Signs of Life, yet he feem'd to them all to be
fomething above the vulgar. They therefore held
him with his Head downwards, and having made..
him difcharge part of the Water which loaded his
Stomach, he began to have a freer Refpiration,
which he fhew'd by a Groan: This gave great
Satisfaction to the Spectators, and made the Cap-.
tain put him upon his own Bed, and fhut the Win-
dows, which might hinder his Reft. The poor
Prince was fcarce laid upon the Bed, but he spoke
theſe Words; Adieu; dear Zėlida; he then ſtop'd,
and
The Undaunted LADY.
73
and preſently afterwards réfum'd his Difcourfe,
O Love! thou Tyrant of the Soul, how cruel art
thou to me? O Fortune! how changeable thou
fhew'st thy felf? When I poffefs Zelida, another
Thatches away my Happiness, and I loſe her; I
then find her again; but the very Moment I have
found her, I lofe her for ever! Strange Caprice of
Deſtiny! From a King's Son, a Slave, and from
a Slave, a Vaulter: But no matter, provided I
poffefs the Object of my Defires; but why fay I
poffefs! No, Fortune, of that there is no Likeli-
hood; go on to perfecute me; yet much thou
can'ft not prolong my Sufferings: Thefe Waves
will now in a Moment ferve me for a Tomb. Say-
ing this, he took faſt hold of the Bed Cloaths, as
he had before done of the Plank on which he was
expos'd to the Sea, imagining himſelf to be ſtill
upon it.
The Captain, touch'd with Compaffion at theſe
Words, call'd for a Light, and approaching the
Bed, Be no longer afraid, Sir, ſays he to him, you
are now entirely out of Danger. The Prince a-
maz'd at the Sound of a Voice, look'd upon all
thoſe that ſurrounded him, and having furvey'd
them all in general, he ravingly faid to him, Who
are you that ſpeak to me? Alas! tell me who I
my felf am? I am a miferable Wretch, whom
your Enchantments have chang'd into divers
Forms, and you are the Demons that perfecute me.
The Captain finding he rav'd, and that the Fati-
gues he had undergone, inclin'd him to Sleep,
fent out all thofe who were in the Room, and
went into a ſecond Bed, which was near that of
Clariant, where, without the leaft Noife, he lay
till the next Morning, and fo foon as it was Day,
he impatiently expected when the Prince would
wake, which he did foon afterwards. The Mo-
ment he wak'd, he cry'd out, O Gods! where
am I? Scarce had he ended thefe Words, when
the
74
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
the Captain jump'd out of Bed, and went to the
unfortunate Clariant, impatient to hear the Prince's
Hiftory, well imagining by what he had faid the
Night before, from a King's Son, a Slave, and
from a Slave,a Vaulter, that he had fav'd a Treaſure
from the Sea, and that this could not but be an
illuftrious Prince. He approach'd his Bed, and hav-
ing faluted him in thefe Terms, My Lord, you
are with your best Friends; banifh all Fear, and
be affur'd you are out of all Danger. How's this,
cry'd the Frince? Is this a Reality or a Dream?
If it is a Reality, I am no longer in the World;
and, if 'tis a Dream, I am alive: What! from
Death to Life! and from the Bottom of the Sea,
in which I thought I fhould be bury'd, do I find
my ſelf in a Bed of State? I beg you tell me by
what good Fortune it is, that I was brought hi-
ther. No, reply'd the Captain, I will not let you
know that, 'till you have firft been pleas'd to de-
clare to me, by what Misfortune you were fo ex-
pos'd to the Sea; and then I will tell you how I
came to be fo happy as to find you there. The
Prince finding he could not without Ingratitude
refufe fo fmall a Requeft, at laft yielded to his
Sollicitation, and began to give him an exact Ac-
count of his Misfortunes. When he had told the
Captain of his faving a Man out of the Paws of a
Bear, upon the Mountains of Catalonia, he leap'd
upon his Neck, and cry'd, Ah, generous Prince!
Is it then to you that I am indebted for Life:
Your fudden difappearing from me then, made
me afraid I ſhould never have had an Opportunity
to make any Return for that unexpected Delive
rance; but I thank Heaven, it has at laft put it
in my Power, to repay in Part fo great a Debt,
which I can never fufficiently difcharge. The
Prince amaz'd at this Rencounter, defir'd the
Captain to explain himſelf, and he told him 'twas
him he had fav'd from the Beast. The Prince
then
The Undaunted LADY.
75
then continu'd to relate the Accidents that had
befallen him, and juft as he came to his being led
into the Dutchefs's Chamber, he was interrupted
by a Noife which was rais'd in the Ships, and
which had made the Soldiers run to their Arms,
and ſeveral came into the Chamber, to give the
Captain Notice that the Enemy was just upon
them, and were hardly fix Miles of. This oblig'd
the Captain to leave Clariant, after having teſtify'd
his Concern for his Misfortunes, and how forry he
was that he could not then have the Satisfaction
of hearing out the reft of the Prince's Hiftory.
This Separation was not made without Uneafinefs,
and tho they were both in the fame Ship, yet
they were neverthelefs unwilling to be out of each
other's Sight. I mean, the Captain was in fear for
the Life of the Prince, and the Prince for that of
the Captains fo that the Prince had not been a
Moment abfent from his Friend, when, thinking
it would be Cowardice in him to lye a-Bed while
the reft were fighting, he rofe, and having choſen
Arms from amongst feveral that were in his Cham-
ber, went upon Deck, juft as they were beginning
the Battle, which was very hot, there being fixty
thoufand Combatants in it. Victory was feveral
Days doubtful which Side to fix on,´´and the laſt
of thoſe Days, there having been a fharp Engage-
ment all Night by the Light of the Moon, in the
Morning they were on both Sides fo tir'd, that
they were no longer capable of Refiftance; and
befides, their Mafts, their Sails, and their Ropes
were fo broken and torn, that few were in a Con-
dition to fly, fo that every one believing he muſt
infallibly perish by the Sword of their Enemies,
to avoid that Infamy, Rage taught the one Means
to fink the Ships of the others, and thefe, before
they perifh'd, Skill to fet Fire to the Ships of
their Enemies, fome of whom were choak'd with
the Smoke, others dy'd miferably in the midſt
of
76
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
of the Flames, and thofe whom Fire and Sword
had fpar'd, perifh'd in the Sea. There were even
fome who depriv'd their Adverfaries and the Fury
of the Ocean, of the Glory of their Death, by
poignarding themfelves. In this pitiful Sight, of
To many Men in Difpair and Fury, there was one
who had no mind to end his Days in fo terrible a
manner; and that he might not be without Com-
pany in his Defign of faving himfelf, he pull'd
with him another with a great deal of Trouble,
and fnatching him from the Fire, got him into a
Skiff to fave him; but Heaven had decreed he
fhould have another Deliverer, fince both being
thrown out of the Boat by the Impetuofity of the
Waves, they were ſeparated, and loft all Hopes of
being a mutual Succour to one another, as they at
first meant to be. This for a long Time attracted
the Prince's Eyes, tho' the Skies were cover'd
with Clouds, and its Obfcurity appear'd by a very
great Difference; for according as the Waves rofe
or fell, the Flames which had feiz'd the Ships
appear'd, and by Means of them, the Prince faw
there was fome Body in great Danger. The Piti-
fulneſs of the Object moving his Compaffion, he
went with one of the Pilots into the Boat, not
without great Hazard of his Life, row'd directly
to the Place where the Light appear'd; but what
was moſt perplexing, was, that he, who was upon
the Maft, held it fo faft, that all they did to get
him from it, was wholly in vain; for out of Fear
of the preſent Danger, he would by no means quit
his Hold, but feem'd infenfible of the Succour
which was brought him. In this ftrange Extre-
mity, he muft unavoidably have perifh'd, if ano-
ther Mifchance had not diverted the Effect of
this for the Fire taking hold of the Place he
held by, he was forc'd to let it go, and funk to the
Bottom at length he rofe up again to the Top
of the Water, in which the Pilot having plung'd
him felf,
The Undaunted LADY:
77
himſelf, pufh'd him to the Boat, and drew him
out of the Sea, having run a very great Rifque to
fave him. Thus the Prince's Compaflion did not
prove uſeleſs, tho' it look'd only to be a dead Bo-
dy, for having given a Groan, he feem'd to have
expir'd. The Prince's Sorrow was very great, and
efpecially when he had obferv'd in the Stranger's
Features, a particular Greatnefs and Majefty. For
tho' the Wounds he had receiv'd in the Engage-
ment, or fome Scratches he had got from the
Ruines of the Ships, disfigur'd his Face, yet the
Blood which ran from it, Thew'd his Beauty with
the more Advantage; and there was fomething in
his Shape which was extreamly agreeable. The
Body was for a long Time without the leaft Mo-
tion; but at length they faw there was fome little
Life remaining, which yet, without great Care
was taken, would foon be loft. The Prince, who
was very affiduous about it, found himfelf ex
treamly mov'd at touching the Body; and this
Emotion did not proceed only from his natural
Pity, but he found his Compaffion ftirr'd by hid-
den Means and fecret Engagements. After this, he
wrap'd him in his Cloak, and had him carry'dinto
his Chamber, at which he gave a Sigh, and with a
weak and mournful Voice pronounc'd thefe Words.
Ah! my
dear Lover, how unhappy art thou, and
how unfortunate am I. The Sobs having at thefe
Words forc'd him to Silence, he for a Moment
held his Peace, and after he was laid upon the Bed,
now, cry'd he, I with Juftice fuffer the Punifh-
ment I deferve, for having abandon'd my felf to
one, who, tho' he be a Prince, is guilty of the high-
eft Ingratitude: Ought'ft thou not to have oppos'd
the Queen's Deſigns, when the tore me from thee?
But that Abfence, 'tis likely, gave you no great
Uneafinefs, and the Love you pretended for me
was only feign'd: Yes, too cruel-Man, you con-
fented to the Queen's Will; for if you had had any
E
Love
778
Alcidalis and Zelida; or
*
Love for me, would you not have prevented my
being hurry'd away from you? Did you want ei-
ther Wealth, Power, or Friends? Had Love blind-
ed your Eyes? No, had you lov'd me conſtantly,
that little God had guided your Steps, and fhewn
you the Traces of your Miſtreſs; but I fhall one
Day let you fee the Firmnefs of my Courage, and
tear out this Heart which I have fo long preferv'd
in all my Labours and Troubles. You your felf
fhall hear my laft Groan, and then perhaps you
may have Compaffion on me, and the Remorfe
of your Infidelity, may fet before you all the Mis-
fortunes which have happen'd to me; then per-
haps you may implore Heaven to open to you the
the Gates of Death. But that will not be granted
you, and you fhall live to undergo innumerable
Miferies, for the Puniſhment of your Crime. But
alas! continu'd fhe, I yield myfelf up too much to
my Fury! Forgive my Paffion: You are not any
ways guilty of what I lay to your Charge; I fuf-
ficiently, my dear Lover, remember your laft
Words, when you teftify'd to me your Affection,
and told me, that no Power could ever efface Ze-
lida out of the Heart of Alcidalis. At thefe Words,
the poor Prince, who had liften'd attentively, was
fo furpriz'd, that he was not able to ſpeak a Word;
a cold Sweat ran down his Face, and ſomething
feem'd to glide through his Veins, which depriv'd
him of the Faculty of Speech. He was for fome
Time in this Diforder, 'till his Spirits returning,
he threw nimfelf upon Zelida's Neck, crying, Hea-
vens! what do I fee? Is it by a Charm that I now
fee the Face and Air of my Princefs under this
Difguife? No, 'tis furely fome Effect of my Dif
temper which difturbs my Brain and reprefents to
my Eyes the Image of her I love. At thefe words,
Zelida, who had not yet open'd her Eyes, caft them
pitifully upon Clariant, in whofe Face fhe faw the
Picture of her dear Alcidalis. "Tis impoffible to
exprefs
The Undaunted LADY.
79
exprefs the Tranfports theſe two Lovers were in
at this Meeting. Zelida, by the Name of Zelidan
regretted the Accufations he had laid to her Lo-
ver's Charge, and made amends for them by her
preſent Endearments. Alcidalis did the fame to
Zelida, in Excufe for having been fo long without
knowing her. The Caprain of the Ship took part
in this Satisfaction, and us'd the utmoft Diligence
in getting a Cure for the Wounds of Zelidan, which
was done in a few Days, they not being very dan-
gerous; and then Alcidalis oblig'd Zelida to make
him a Recital of all that had happen'd to her,
from their Separation to that Hour, which the
did in thefe Terms.
*
25
E 2
THE
800
(80)
f.
THE
HISTORY
. OF
ZELIDA
OR, THE
GENEROUS BARBARIAN.
Y
23OU may very well remember, my dear
Prince, the Day when I was ravifh'd
from you, and hurry'd into Catalonia ;
ICC the Queen's Design was to marry me to
&
the Duke of Tarentum, and with that Intent fhe
carry'd me to Sca in a Ship, where I was put into
the Hands of a Captain, with Orders to deliver
me to the Duke of Tarentum. This Surprize upon
me was kept fo fecret, that I had not the leaft
Sufpicion of it, 'till fhe brought me to the Cap-
tain and his Wife, with whom he had in Private
a long Converfation. She pretended to be mighti-
ly
The Undaunted LADY.
81
ly griev'd at parting with me, and that befides her
Engagements of Friendship with my Mother,
having educated and look'd upon me as her eld-
eft Daughter, fhe thought herfelf in fome fort
bound to provide me a Husband as fuch; and had
therefore given me to the Duke of Tarentum, whom
fhe extoll'd as one of the moft brave and virtuous
Princes of the Age. In fhort, by feveral Elogiums
of the Duke, and a thoufand other Arguments,
fhe thought to have made me forget the Love
had for you. But that Love, my dear Prince, had
taken too deep Root in my Heart, ever to be ta-
ken away. At thefe Words the Prince redoubled
his Kiffes, and with a low Voice, interrupted by
Sighs and by his Joy, he utter'd thefe Words.
Alas! dear Zelida, you have undergone too much-
Trouble for my fake; but believe me, I have not
been wholly free from Mifchances. The Queen,
continu'd Zelida, left me in the Ship, after having
told me she had perceiv'd there was a fort of Sym-
pathy between you and me; but there was no
Likelihood of its growing to an Alliance, becauſe
the King your Father would never give Confent;
that befides, there was no Confidence to be put in
one of your Age; and feveral in the Court might
talk of us, feeing us fo familiar. But that to hin
der all fuch bufy Tongues, fhe had chofen the
Prince of Tarentum for me; a Man who was not at
all undeferving of my Affection. Thefe were the
laft Words fhe faid to me, and after fome Em-
braces, and a feign'd Sorrow at parting, fhe left the
Room. She was fcarce got out of the Ship, but I
found my felf at fome Distance from the Port of
Barcelona, where there was three hundred Ships,
which fo foon as ever the Queen left ours, dif-
charg'd all their Artillery. This Noife of Cannons
was accompany'd by Trumpets, Haut-boys, and
feveral other Inftruments, which the Queen had
provided for this Separation; thinking theſe Ac-
clamations
E 3
82
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
#
2
clamations and Magnificencies would diffipate my
Sorrow; but Grief, Indignation, Shame, Rage,
and all the Paffions of that Nature, crowded fo
thick upon me, that my Senfes were for above a
Quarter of an Hour, in fuch Diſorder and Confu-
fion, that I cannot express what I faid againſt the
Queen, nay, against you yourſelf. In this Condi-
tion did I continue for feveral Days, in all which
Time, the Captain and hss Wife, by all their moſt
preffing Solicitations, and Intreaties, could not
prevail upon me either to eat or drink. They
faw I grew weaker every Day, and that inſtead of
carrying a Beauty to the Duke of Tarentum, they
fhould carry him only a dead Corpfe; I my felt,
when I faw my Face in a Glafs, and found how
was alter'd, perceiv'd I fhould be the Caufe of my
own Death, unless I apply'd fome Remedy to fo
defperate a Diftemper: One Day therefore, as
the Captain and his Wife, accompany'd by their
Neice, were perfwading me to eat, I refoly'd to
lay my Refolution before them, and let them
know my Defign: For this purpofe, I told 'em, I
could never love the Duke of Tarentum, and begg
d
that they would do me this Kindness, either to
let me die in Peace, or avoid the Match, that
their Neice being much of my Shape, Age, and
Features, and the Duke never having feen me, he
might marry her under the Name of Zelida; and
that it lay wholly in them to make their Neice
happy, themſelves rich, and me contented. With
thefe Words I fhew'd them a little Coffer full of
Diamonds, which I promis'd them as a Reward
if they would grant me the Request I had made
to them. The Captain, who had been upon the
Sea all his Life-time, without having been able to
raife his Fortune, advis'd with his Wife, and then
confented to my Propofal. We gave the Niece
Inftructions how to carry herſelf, and accuſtom'd
her to become the Dutchefs. At length we ap-
proach'd
The Undaunted LADY.
8?
}
proach'd the Coaft of Italy, where fhe fuffer'd her
felf to be feen as little as poffible. The Captain
and his Wife deliver'd their Niece Erminia to the
Duke of Tarentum, and took their Leaves of him,
pretending to be in hafte to give the Queen an
Account of their Voyage. Whilft all thefe Things
were doing, I was left in the Ship, where I was
very cautious of being feen by any Hody. In a lit-
tle Time afterwards, I faw the Sails hoifted, and
we left that hated Shore which had given me fo
many Apprehenfions; afterwards the Captain's
Wife came and told me all that had pafs'd at the
Reception of the falfe Zelida. All that now re-
main'd to be refolv'd on, was what to do with me;
and the Captain gave me his Promife to place me
with a Sifter of his, or in a Temple of Vetals,
'till he could find a Way to reftore me to the Arms-
of Alcidalis. We fail'd fome Days without any
Danger, 'till one Evening, three Hours before Sun-
fet, we perceiv'd, three Sail of Corfairs making to•
wards us, and which by the Favour of the Wind.
foon overtook us. Our Captain, tho' a Man of
Courage, was very much difturb'd at this unlucky
Accident; yet being loth to lofe the Wealth I had
given him, he was refolv'd to dye rather than
yield. Mean time his Wife, who ſtay'd with me
in my Cabin, cut off my Hair, and gave me a Suit
of Cloaths of her Husband's, which I put on, after
having thrown the Coffer of Diamonds into the
Sea. I took the firft Arms I could find, and went
into the Fight; but it was fo unequal, that the
Enemy had already faften'd themſelves to our
Ship, and jumping into it, their Rafhnefs gave
them Hopes of obtaining an eafy Victory, but they
met with a Refiftance which they did not expect
from a Ship they thought already weaken'd by
the Violence of the Waves, whofe Fury it had in-
deed felt, and the Victory was long uncertain
which Side to incline to; for of three Ships which
E A
they
84
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
they had at firſt, there was one already funk to
the Bottom. Then I was forry for my Coffer of
Diamonds, not fo much for my own fake, as for
the Captain's, to whom I had promis'd it. As we
were in the Heat of the Engagement, and the
Banks and Decks were cover'd with Blood and
dead Bodies, the Captain of our Ships drop'd dead
at my Feet. This fo diſorder'd our Men, that
the Enemy boarded the Ship, and having kill'a
fome of our Soldiers, made the reft Prifoners.
Afterwards Orcant (that was the Name of the Py-
rate) took a Review of his Prifoners, whereof I
was one. He look'd fiercely upon me, and afk’d
me my Name and Country; I told him I was a
Spaniard, and that my Name was Zelidan, Nephew
to the Captain of the Ship he had taken, and that
I thought myself unhappy in not having dy'd in
the Engagement. This, with fome other Words
which I cannot now call to mind, I faid with no
fmall Pride. Orcant took a Liking to my Boldness,
and tho' he was a Barbarian, fhew'd me fome good
Nature more than to the other Prifoners, all whom
were chain'd to the Oar, but me he excepted,
telling me he had a greater Value for me, upon
account of my having fhewn more Bravery in the
Fight than any of the reft, and one good Action
fhould be Ranfom enough for my Freedom. All
this Flattery did not in the leaft pleafe me, and I
drew very ill Omens from his Friendship. How-
ever, I refolv❜d to ſtrengthen my Courage, in or-
der to conceal my Sex: Several Occafions, during
the reſt of that Summer offer'd themſelves, in
which I endeavour'd as much as poffible to fhew
my Valour. One Day a Humour took our Cap-
tain to carry us to Memphis, where he fhew'd me
the Miracles of the Nile, and the eternal Monu-
ments of the generous Fatigue which the Egyptians
impos'd upon their Slaves, in Honour of their falfe
Gods, and for the glorious Memory of their Kings.
From
The Undaunted LADY.
85
From thence we went to Palestine, where, in the
City of Irenophanis, I admir'd a Temple, whofe
Matter and Workmanship furpafs'd all that I had
ever ſeen. After having view'd this Wonder, we
purfu'd our Voyage by Affyria, and Afia minor,
where he fhew'd me Things extreamly rare
and
ftrange; and as he was carrying us into Galatia,.
our Ships were furpris'd by a Storm, which made
us take another Rout than that Orcant had pro-
pos'd; for after having fuffer'd all that the Winds
and Waves can do to the Marks of their Fury,
we were thrown upon the Ifles Baleares, where we
were not long before we were attack'd by two o-
ther Pyrate-Ships, which pour'd upon us a Cloud ·
of Darts. In Proportion as they came nearer us,-
they made ufe of Arms that carry'd lefs far, but
whofe Blows were much more fure and violent ;
they grappled one of our Ships, to which, after
having thrown fome Grenadoes into it, they fet-
Fire, and at the fame Time to one of their own,
that could not get rid of ours faft enough. Then
the Pyrates that remain'd not only faw it would
be impoffible for them to gain the Victory, but
allo prudently obfèrv'd that they fhould have
much ado to ſave themſelves; which made them
think their Prefervation depended more upon
their Flight, than upon the obftinate Maffacre to
which they might put their Enemies. Wherefore
making the best Ufe of their Opportunity, they
loofed themſelves from us, and having a favoura-
ble Wind endeavour'd to fave their Lives by
Means t Ar Sails: But I teftify'd a Difcontent
at this C ncy, and faid aloud, that thoſe who
never b Mercy, did not deſerve to have it
fhewn to. Thefe Words I pronounc'd with
fo refolute Countenance, that it inflam'd the
Courage of Orcant and the other Corfairs; and I fo
well advis'd them to gain an entire Victory, that
the Effect was as ſpeedy as the Dèfign." Orcant
E
•1
ap
86
Alcidális and Zelida, or,
approv'd my Words, and immediately command-
ed his Men to purfue the Enemy. Being come up
to them, we renew'd the Fight, and having grap
pled their Ship, made a bloody Execution of thofe
Thieves, part of whom were cut to Pieces, and
the reft leap'd Head long into the Sea. After
this Victory, I went down into the Hold of the
Ship, to fee what Prifoners the Pyrates had left
in it, or what Booty we had gain'd; amongst which
was a great deal of rich Goods, Tapeſtries of By-
zantium, Silks of Perfia brocaded with Gold, toge
ther with great Sums of Gold and Silver, of the
Coin of all the Kings and States in the World.
After this Review, which gave extream Satisfac-
tion to our Captain, I perceiv'd of a fudden, a
beautiful Woman, very richly drefs'd; but when
I came nearer her, I obferv'd her Eyes were o-
pen, and bath'd in Tears; fhe was pale, and in all
her Body not the leaft Motion was to be feen.
This made me believe fhe was dead, but when
going to wipe her Tears I found they were warm,
was then convinc'd it was rather the Violence of
fome Paffion that had put her into fo miferable a
Condition, than the Pain of any Sickness, which
generally throws only cold Water out at the Eyes.
I found by a Sigh fhe gave, that fhe had ftill fome
little Life left. The Confideration of her Sex, and
that of her Beauty, increas'd my Compaffion; I
was therefore particularly careful in getting the
Remedies which were moft neceffary end likely
to cure the Lady, and to restore her to the Ufe
of Speech, that we might come to the Knowledge
of her Diftemper. Ifpent fome Hoith her
that Night, and not thinking it wouk proper
to wake her out of the Sleep into which the feem'd
to be fallen, I retir'd, having fet fome to take Care
of her, to give her whatever fhe fhould want, and
to call me in Cafe fhe return'd to the free Ufe of
her Speech.
A little
The Undaunted LADY.
87
A little before Aurora had ſpread forth the firft
Beauties of the Day, the Lady waking out of her
Trance, as out of the Sleep of Death, and in the
Excefs of her Apprehenfion, as well as that of her
Grief, having loft the Remembrance of what fhe
had endur'd during the Engagement, by her Fear
of the Danger, fhew'd plainly fhe thought herfelf
fill in the Power of the Captain of the Pyrates ::
When by her Tears fhe had feem'd to have ex-
haufled all the Moiſture of her Brain, and fpent
all her Sighs to give way to her Voice, which was
to pronounce her laft Complaints. Alas! faid fhe,
miferable and unfortunate that I am to what am I now
reduc'd? Rigorous Heaven, do not Spare my Life, unleſs
thou likewife guard'ft my Honour. Dart thy Thunder at
the Head of that Barbarian, and let him fuffer the Pu-
niment his Tyranny deferves; or if Fate will not permit
that, be not difpleas'd that by the innocent Effusion of my
own Blood, I go feek in the Grave a fecure Azylum for
my Chastity. At thefe Words fhe drown'd her
Cheeks and Breaft with the abundance of her
Tears, and gave fuch way to Grief, that the loft
her Speech again for fome Time; then refuming
her Difcourfe, together with her Tears, but with
Grief much more violent than before; Tis a thou
fand times better, faid fhe, to die unftain'd, than to pre-
ferve Life after a fameful Disgrace. I have deferv'd to
die;
I must not fo long furvive the Lofs of my Hopes.
Receive then, O ye cruel Deftinies, this afflicted Soul; and
if ever my
Lover comes to pass through your Hands, tell
him, that for his fake I have made this bloody Sacrifice of
my Life. This fhe pronounc'd with an Accent, and
with Lips which breath'd only Sweetnefs and
Love; fo abfolute a Command has that Paffion
over all the others: Then ſhe continu'd with the
fame Voice with which fhe had begun: And thous
unhappy Man, whom I have defpis'd, accept this Revenge
for the little Return I have made thy Love, and the Ingra-
titude with which I have unworthily rewarded thy Duty
A
and
88
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
and Service. And again changing her Difcourfe, ac-
cording as fhe was mov'd by her principal Paffion,
fhe ended with faying, Receive then, O`amiable Ca-
valier, what rightfully belongs to you, notwithstanding the
Contempt you have beaun of it, and take in good Part this
laft Offering I fall make you ſo much the more dearly, as
I now see my self at the highest Pitch of my Affection.
She had fcarce pronounc'd thefe Words, when the
found her Spirits violently tofs'd too and fro. Fire-
flies into her Face, and makes the Lillies and the
Rofes, which feem'd to difpute in it which was
moft charming, of a tarnih'd and difagreeable.
Colour. There flafh'd from her Eyes, as from a
fiery Furnace, Exhalations of Flame and Smoke,
and her Hair flood an end, fo that the ftruck Fear
and Horror into thofe that faw her in this Tranf
port. She with a trembling Hand took a Knife,
which fhe feem'd to have referv'd for ſo bloody a
Ufe, and meafuring the Length of her Arm, the
better to aim her Blow, fhe with the other Hand
felt for the Place where her Heart lay, by its Pal-
pitation, faying thefe Words: The Safety of the Con-
quer'd lies in not expecting any. But juft as fhe was
going to give herfelf her Death's Blow, one of the
Soldiers, who had watch'd her from the very Be-
ginning, perceiving her fatal Deſign, ſtole to her,
and caught her by the Arm, which fhe was going
to employ against her Life. Her Grief for having
loft fo fair an Opportunity, put her into the ut-
moft Diſorder, and made her give a loud Cry.
The Soldier prefently call'd his Companions, but
would not fuffer us to be waked ; but I was only
in a Slumber, and the Lady's Cry reaching my
Ears, I thought fome Villain had been using Vio-
lence to her; wherefore I ran with my Sword in
my Hand, refolv'd to revenge her. But being
fold the contrary, and that she was hinder'd from
killing herſelf, I was very glad to find myſelf fo
happily deceiv'd. Afterwards, when the Soldier
had
The Undaunted LADY..
89
had inform'd me that fhe talk'd for fome Time to
herfelf, and had faid what I juft now repeated to
you with all thofe Circumftances, I went to her,
and with as much Kindness as Modefty; Madam,
faid I to her, Heaven has deliver'd you from the Mifery
you might ftand in fear of; and I fall think myſelf oblig³d
to it's Goodness, for having put it in my Power to contri-
bute fomething to the Alleviation of your Misfortunes:
You are not now under the Tyranny of Barbarians, but
under the Protection of Men of Honour, The Lady, who
out of Fear and Shame had lean'd her Face upon
her Breaft, at first made me no Anfwer; and
whatever Offers of Service I join'd to my Com
pliments, I could not get her fo much as to lift up
her Eyes to look upon me, which I infinitely de-
fir'd, that fhe might fee in my Face the Sincerity
of my Promifes. At laft, after many Prayers and
Intreatics, as refpectful as paffionate, I faw fhe
lifted up her Head a little off her Breaft, and
then preſently fhe threw herfelf at my Feet and
embrac'd my Knees, as if I had indeed had the
Glory of being her only Deliverer. Tho' furpriz'd
with this Submiffion, I help'd her up, and beg'd
her not to pay me fo much Homage for the little
Service I had done her. At thefe Words fhe lifted
up her Eyes upon me, and by her Face I faw that
'twas Love had reduc'd her to that Condition,
which was much the ſame with mine. I was not
then at all amaz'd at the Refolution fhe had taken
to kill herself in order to put an. End to her Mis-
fortunes: But I could not comprehend what could
have oblig'd her to expofe herſelf on the Sea to
the Caprice of Fortune. At length having wip'd
away fome Tears, and fetch'd fome Sighs which
before ſtop'd her Voice, fhe fatisfy'd my Curiofity
in thefe Words: Cleagenor, fays he, at that
Name the Captain of the Ship was fo furpriz'd,
that he feveral times open'd his Mouth without
pronouncing a Word, yet his Eyes executed the
Office
go
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Office of his Mouth, and his Countenance exprefs'd
to Zelida fo extraordinary a Joy, that the well faw
this must not only be a Friend of Leonice's, but e-
ven her Lover; which made Zelida defer conti-
nuing her Relation, 'till fhe had learn'd of that
Gentleman the Occafion of fo fudden and uncom-
mon an Alteration. As foon as ever the Captain
was able to speak, he began thus. You need not
wonder, Madam, at my being unable to conceal
my Alteration at the Name of Cleagenor: I was
the first that he had any particular Acquaintance
with in Italy, and the laft that in his Voyages he
made the Confident of his Fortune. To tell you.
what gave Birth to fo long and conftant a Friend-
fhip, is more than I can do and I am yet igno-
rant whether 'twas an Effect of my good Fortune,
or of the natural Inſtinct which guides the Virtu-
ous to love each other; but I can affure you, that
fo foon as ever I faw him, I found fomething in
his Behaviour fo agreeable and majeftick, that.
from that very Moment I burnt with a Defire to
be known to him.
;
I was upon the Place of Venice, when Cleagenor
came to anchor there. The Arrival of a Ship
ftirr'd up my Curiofity, and drew me prefently to
the Port; where I was no fooner come, but I faw,
landing, feveral Perfons of different Sexes and
Conditions; among whom Cleagenor appear'd as a
Sun, both by the Advantage of his Shape and the
Majefty of his Actions. As foon as he was got to
Land, fome Servants whom he had fent before,
came to conduct him to the Lodging they had
prepar'd for him; and as I had a Defign to know
if the Effects anfwer'd the Appearance, I follow'd
him with my Eye, and accompany'd him to the
Place chofen for his Refidence. He was fcarce fet-
tled in it, but by Means of his Hoft, with whom I
was particularly acquainted, as being a Citizen of
the City in which I was born, I obtain'd the Hap
pinefs
The Undaunted LADY.
pinefs of his Converfation; in which I found
Charms fo powerful, that I began to think I had
miffpent all the Time I had pafs'd out of his
Company and the Pleafure of his Difcourfe. That
I might not be wholly unferviccable to him, and
in fome fort to purchaſe the Happineſs of his
Friendship, I took particular Care to get him the
Careffes of the most confiderable Men in our Re-
publick, and to fhew him all that is most remark-
able in that noble City. And 'tis certain, in all
Italy there is none can equal it, either for Extent,.
or for its Situation, which is the most advantage-
ous in the World, and which feem'd plac'd in a
Part defign'd for holding the Empire of it all.
The beautiful Structure of the City, and the rich.
Furniture of the Inhabitants, anfwer the Magnifi
cence of the publick Places, and the Regularity of
the Streets and Squares. The Sea there is proud
of bearing fo great a Number of Ships, tho' in-
deed it feems to be put under the Subjection of
the Keys and Ports. The wide Parts of the City
are adorn'd with Obelisks, Pillars, Pyramids,
Theatres, Triumphal Arches, Agonal Squares,
and Naumachies, and the whole is accompany'ď
with a great Number of Fountains; and tho' the
Buildings are different, yet they are in fuch pro-
portionable Order, both for their Height and Si-
tuation, that they entirely charm the Eyes of their
Inhabitants by their beautiful Symetry. What is
ftill more to be admir'd, is the magnificent Struc-
ture of their Churches, which look like Iflands on
the Sea They are built of Stone but rarely met.
with, and adorn'd with Marble of ſeveral Colours:
The Ceilings, the Bordures, the Altars, the Gates,
the Windows, are all fet off with Works of Goki
and Azure, with Paintings and Statues. As for
the Embelishments of the Altars, and the Habits
of the Priests, in thofe this Nation may be faid to
excel the whole World; for tho' the most of thofe
:
Orna
92
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
باشگاه در
Ornaments are of pure Gold, or of fomething yet
more rich than that; yet the Workmanship is
much more valuable than the Material; to which
add, that Symetry is fo perfectly well obferv'd in
every Thing, that it fubjects all the other Senfes
to that of Sight. As for its Arfenal, 'tis the moſt
compleat, the most beautiful, and the best còn-
triv'd in the World: It has in it wherewithal to
arm above a hundred thoufand Men, and at the
fame Time to befiege thirty Cities, without the
Affiſtance of any Thing but what is to be found in ·
it It can produce five hundred Machines of War,
that Gaul, which makes uſe of fo many new In-
vehtions, perhaps never heard of. Its Port, which-
is one of the most famous in Europe; and capable of
holding Ships of all Sizes, makes it one of the moft
populous Cities in all Italy; and the Commerce
its Inhabitants have with all the Nations of the
Earth, make them efteem'd the richest and most
opulent in the Univerfe. The principal Citizens,
the Nobility, and the Magiftrates of that auguft
Républick, are very politick, and very Affable::
The Priests lead a very holy Life, and the Officers
of Juftice are not to be corrupted, either by Pre-
ſents, or by Friendſhip, or the Confideration of
any Alliance: The Officers of the Treafury are
the fame, without fhewing themfelves either too
extravagant, or too covetous. The Women are
very genteel and magnificent; and though their
Beauty is very different from that of the French
Ladies, yet it is ne'er the lefs agreeable, and their
Carriage may put them in Competition with the
moft charming upon Earth. Cleagenor, to whom I
fhew'd all thefe Things, found no fmall Diverfion
in the Sight of fo many Wonders. But what
charm'd him moft, was, the Converſation of the
Ladies, among whom he found fo many Attrac-
tions, that he has often own'd to me they excell'd
all the Beauties in Europe. Cleagenor; on the other
Hand,
2
The Undaunted LADY.
93
*
Hand, appear'd amongſt them with Qualities fo
recommending, that nothing could be wiſh'd for,
but what might be found in his Humour He
fpoke very gracefully, and as his Wit had the Af-
fiftance of a folid Judgment, and great Memory,
the Italian Tongue was as familiar to him as the
French. Befides, he gave Proofs upon feveral Oc-
cafions, that there was no Body of his Age could
equal him in the Exercifes of a Gentleman. The
Grandees and Ladies of the City ftrove who first
fhould have the Happineſs of his Company:
Sometimes he was invited to Balls, and fome-
times to Feafts and whatever Affemblies he was
in, he always behav'd himſelf with a Politenefs
which produc'd at once both Admiration and En-
vy; neither was he long before he made the moſt
Obftinate fubject to Love, and the moſt Modeft
confefs they could not fee him without fome Emo-
tion: But amidst fo many Charms and Careffes,
as were capable of bending the moft Stubborn;
he always fhew'd himſelf equal, and never gave
any Signs of being touch'd, neither with the Beauty
of their Faces, nor the Beauty of their Minds. I at
firſt wonder'd at this Indifference, and was amazid
at the Command I imagin'd he had over his Paf-
fions, at an Age when they generally reign ftrong-
eft in us; but I was foon rid of my Amazement,
when I knew the Caufe, which I diſcover'd a few
Days afterwards by Effects contrary to thofe I-haď
at firſt gueſs'd at. Some private Confiderations
having diverted our ufual Vifits, I was for a little
while without feeing him; when one Day I met
him coming out of his Houfe, to which I was going
to enquire after him: But I was extreamly fur
priz'd when I faw all his Attendants in Mourning,
and obferv'd, as well in his Face, as in his Cloaths,
the true Marks of an unexampled Sorrow, and the
vifible Signs of a tender. Concern. As I took great
Part in every Thing that regarded his Interefts, I
aſk'd
94
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
afk'd the Caufe of his Grief, that I might either
fhare it with him, or by fome Means contribute
to moderate its Excefs. But he fhew'd me, both,
by his Sighs and Words, that his Difeafe was of
the Nature of thofe which Time only can cure;
and that his Wounds were as yet fo deep, that it
was impoffible to put any prefent Stop to the
Pain. In short, I found his Heart was not totally.
inacceffible to Love; and that it was that Paffion.
which was the Source of fo many Sighs and Tears:
which he paid to the Memory of one whom alone
he lov'd, and whom Death had fnatch'd from him
by an untimely End. I would have perfuaded him
to tell me the Story of his Paffion, which, tilk
then, I had been totally ignorant of: But he begg'd
me not to prefs him to make fuch an Effort,
he faid he could not do without manifeft)
D of his Life; fince in telling me the Qua-
lity of his Lofs, he should be obliged to renew the
firſt and moſt violent Tranfports his Misfortune.
had thrown him into: He only told me, that as
the Object of his Sorrow was the moft charming.
in Nature, lo his Senfe of his Mifery was the juft-
eft that ever took Poffeffion of the Heart of Man.,
He then fhew'd me a Letter he had receiv'd from
his Miſtreſs, and by thofe fad Characters com-
pleated the letting me know the Affurances of the
Mifchance he deplor'd: He fhew'd me, I fay, a
Letter fo wet with Tears, that they had almoft
effac'd the Words; and the Paper was ftill damp
with them, except in fome Places which his Sighs
had dry'd, or which his Mouth, by giving it Kif-
fes, had fav'd from the Violence of his Tears. This
Misfortune made him think Life troublefome, fince
he had loft the Thing in the World he most lov'd.
After that Time, he liv'd in fo folitary and pri-
vate a Manner, that he feem'd to have no other
Defign, than to follow Her to the Grave, for
whom he had fo often figh'd. Venice, tho' fo po-
pulous
The Undaunted LADY.
95
pulous, feem'd to him a Defart; or if he did look
on any Thing in it, all feem'd to him odious and
unworthy his Converfation. Tho' he thus avoided
all manner of Company, yet I was admitted to fee
him; and fo long as I gave Way to his melancholy.
Humour, he endur'd my Difcourfe, and fometimes
affwag'd his Difturbance, by making me a Rela-
tion of his Sorrows. Any but I would have difo
blig'd Cleagenor by endeavouring to divert him from
his Thoughts, becaufe thofe, who are afflicted with
extraordinary Sorrow, delight in converfing with
their own Reveries, and imagine they may find
in Solitude the Confolation they will not feek by
going into Company. But he was fo far from be-
ing offended at the Liberty I took in interrupting
his Melancholy, that on the contrary he declar'd
himſelf infinitely oblig'd to me, for not fuffering.
my Humour to catch the Contagion from his, and
for giving him daily Marks of a generous and un-
feign'd Affection. This Friendship, which
be per
ceiv'd by the Affiduity of my Cares, produe'd
an equal one in his Soul, which was too noble
to be guilty of Ingratitude; neither was he long
before he gave me Proofs of it, but fuch Proofs
as I cannot call to Mind, without even ftill admir-
ing the Effects of them: For, to fecute my Hap-
pinefs, he ventur'd his own, and left no Way un-
try'd, to make me triumph over the Misfortune
which then feem'd to oppofe the Courſe of my
Felicity and Content, as you may fee in the Re-
lation I fhall now make to you.
THE
(96):
THE
HISTORY
Q&F
Lifander and Leonice:
OR, THE
Force of Friendship.
HILST Cleagener bewail'd the Loss of
W his Hopes, the Birth of mine made me
figh for one to whom Nature had given
fo many Advantages above all others of
her Sex, that one would have thought flie had
been nigardly towards the reft, to be prodigal to
her; and indeed fhe reign'd abfolutely over all?
Hearts, in which her Modefty made no fewer
Wounds than her Beauty. Leonice was the Name of
this young Miracle ; and tho' Rome had the Ho-
nour
+
The Undaunted LADY:
97
nour of her Birth, yct Venice had the Happiness of
being the Place of her Refidence, which it gain'd
becauſe of Lifimene, who was a very near Relation
to her, and whofe Heir fhe was to be after her
Death, as in her Life ſhe was her Comfort. But
not to weary you with a Recital of my Adventures,
I fhall not amufe my felf with relating to you the
Beginning nor Progrefs of my Amours I fall only
tell you that of feveral Gentlemen of my Quality,
whom he had equally wounded, I was a great
while the only one whofe Addreffes fhe receiv'd,
and fhould infallibly have been the moft happy
and contented of Mortals, if Fortune had been as
conftant as my Paffion. But I foon afterwards found
by Experience, that Love had made me embark
upon this Sea, which appear'd fo calm, only with
Defign that I fhould be more fenfible of its Storms,
and to expofe me more cruelly to the Violence of its
Tempefts. I was belov'd by Leonice, and nothing
could have oppos'd the Courfe of my Profperity
had not Heaven fent me a Rival, whofe Splendor
overthrew all my Defigns, and who, by the Pomp
of his Equipage, dug a Grave for my Hopes. The
Fame of Leonice's Beauty and Merit was not com-
mon only in our Republick, that of Gença too
was filld with the Noife of it, and Rome where ſhe
had Thewn forth the firft Rays of her Charms,
was not long without making Vows for the Re-
turn of that Star, whofe Beauty feem'd to add
fomething to the Splendor of her Quality. At
length, among feveral Lords, whom fo great a
Reputation infpir'd with Curiofity to fee her, one
nam'd Cilindo fell in Love with her; whether he
had formerly feen her at Rome, which was his
Country, or whether the Defcription of her Merit
had charm'd him, I cannot tell; but to make the
beft of his Time, he addrefs'd himfelf to Lifimene,
to whom he fo well reprefented the Advantages
of his Fortune, that he was favourably heard; and
fome
98
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
fome Time afterwards receiv'd with more Civility
than his ill Mien and other Faults entitled him
to. 'Tis true, Leonice, who was Miftrefs of too
much Senſe not to make a Diftinction between
Cilindo and me, was at firft brought to do it with
fome Reluctance; but Lifimene, who was fway'd
more by Intereſt than any other Confideration,
forgot nothing that might give her a Liking to
my Rival. She was fo cunning, that even of his
Defects the made fo many Virtues. She never
fpoke but in magnificent Terms of his good Hu-
mour and Regularity of Life, and highly declar'd
he was of an Age too far advanc'd for Inconftancy:
that he was paft the Flames of Youth, which give
fo much Trouble to Women; that he poffefs'd
great Riches, and that his Virtue, which appear'd
in his Moderation, was very uncommon: In a
Word, fhe fo artfully perfuaded Leonice in favour
of Cilindo, that he refolv'd to accept of him, not-
withſtanding the Affection (he had always teftify'd
for me. I'll leave you to imagine whether I was
amaz'd at this Change, and whether my Mouth
remain'd filent upon fo juft an Occafion of Speak-
ing? No certainly; I faid against the Inconftancy
of Leonice, and the Avarice of Lifimene, all that a
true Refentment can infpire a Man who is abus'd;
and my Tranfports were fo outrageous, that I
was upon the Point of rendering the Affections of
Cilindo both vain and fatal. One Day, feeing him
go into Leonice's Houfe, I refolv'd to follow him,
either to fhew him the Advantage I had over
him in her Heart, or at leaft, to partake with him
in the Happineſs of a Converfation, which before I
peaceably enjoy'd alone. Cilindo had heard fay
that I courted Leonice, but never having ſeen me,
he was far from entertaining a Thought that 'twas
I who came to pay her a Vifit fo unfeafonably.
On the other Hand, Leonice would not tell him my
Name, for fear of making him jealous ; and I well
faw
The Undaunted LADY.
faw fhe would not be a little confounded how to
behave herfelf in fo unlook'd for a Meeting. As
for me, having had a Defcription of the Shape and
Face of Cilindo, I knew him preſently, and did not
fail to rally him upon his Courtship, and even to
give Leonice fome Strokes upon the Change of her
Affection. Cilindo, not to be dumb at that firft At-
tack, took the Hint, and faid, Sir, I don't doubt
but you are that Lifander who fome Time ago
made Addreffes to the incomparable Leonice; but
if I did not know your Humour to be courteous
and generous, by the Reputation of its being fo,
I fhould think the Cavaliers of this Country as
rude and unpoliſh'd, as the Air of it is delicious
and pleafant. At thefe Words I interrupted him,
and the more to provoke him, to what I had faid
before, I added this: My polifh'd Sir, the Cava-
liers of this Country are all born with the fame
good Humour and Generofity; but fince you know
me by Report, and are inform'd that I have made
Addreffes to the incomparable Leonice; now know
then, that whofocver fhall pretend to fupplant me
in my Addreffes, declares himself my Enemy. It
was impoffible but this must make Cilindo draw his
Sword, as indeed it did; but Leonice feparated ús
immediately, and to appeafe the Tranſports which
the Violence of my Paffion had rais'd contrary ro
all Decency, the fpoke to me in this Manner:
Where are you, Lifander? What Fury makes you
thus in cold Blood quarrel with a Stranger in my
Houfe? Have you forgot the Laws of Honour and
Civility, which you always us'd fo religioufly to
obferve? Moderate your Rage, brave Lifander,
and do not lofe by a fudden Paffion, the Glory
and Reputation your Wit and Courage have ac
quir'd you. Theſe Words, pronounc'd with a grace.
ful Air, gave fome Calm to the violent Move-
ments of my Anger; fo that to excufe my Tran-
fports; I thought myself oblig'd to fay this to
her:
100
Alcidalis and Zelida; er;
her: Fair Leonice, you would look upon me to
have very little Love, Courage, or Senfe of Inju-
ries, if after the Refufal you have made of my
Alliance, I did not lay before you, and that too in
the Prefence of him who hopes to be your Huf
band, the Wrong you do to my Affection. You
know the Devoirs I have paid you, and are not
ignorant of the Effects of my Fidelity and Con-
ftancy. Yet, fince Gilindo is fo valuable in your
Eyes, I will not pretend to force your Inclinati-
ons ; but muſt aſſure you, that as you were the
first Object of my Defires, fo you ſhall be the laſt
of my Hopes; and if I cannot obtain the Happi-
nefs of living with the Title of your Husband, at
leaft I fhall know how to die in the Quality of
your Servant. Saying thefe Words, I took my
Leave, and departed; but fo diſturb'd and befide
myfelf, that I had no other Thoughts than thoſe
of my Defpair.
In this Condition I met Cleagenor, whom I made
acquainted with my Misfortune and Leonice's In-
conftancy; he was amaz'd at the Change, and
plainly fhew'd he took no fmall Part in my Sor-
rows he even offer'd to ferve me in whatever I
would employ him, whether I would proceed by
Art, or by open Force; and indeed he fo earneft-
ly fought all Occafions of obliging me, that at
laft he met with one worthy his Courage and
the Affection of a Man who will fpare no Pains
nor Danger, if he can be uſeful to his Friend.
The Ambition of Lifimene, and the Obedience of
Leonice, were juft upon the Point of transferring
Cilindo from his Hopes of the Happineſs he fo paf-
fionately defir'd to the Poffeffion of it, when
Heaven offer'd an Occafion which reftor'd me
to all my Expectations, and precipitated my
Rival from the haughty Pitch Fortune had rais'd
him to, to the very Center of his Ruin. I am
here afraid, charming Zelida, and you generous
Prince,
The Undaunted LADY.
Frince, that you will blame my Proceeding, and
not give my Conduct the Approbation of a noble
Action; but I hope you will bear with what I re-
late, tho' it contains nothing illuftrious, but what
was produc'd by the Valour of my dear Friend
Cleagenor. You very well know that Stratagems are
lawful as well in the Wars of Cupid, as in thofe of
Mars; and, in my Opinion, 'tis no great Matter
how we conquer our Enemies, fo we do but con-
quer them, and gain the Prize and Fruits of Vic-
tory. Wherefore, I fhall not in the leaft fcruple to
tell you, that not being able to bring Cilindo to a
Duel, which I had fo often provok'd him to, I
thought I might honourably have recourfe to Ar-
tifice, to break his Deſigns, and rob him of a Lau-
rel, which my Conftancy feem'd fo juftly to have
deferv'd ; and thus I proceeded.
A young Brother of mine, nam'd Lifidas, after
long Travels into foreign Countries, arriv'd at
Venice; but fo alter'd and fallen from the Condi-
tion he was in when he left it, that I had much
ado to know him again: Yet, that fecret and
powerful Inclination which Nature gives us for
thoſe who are of our Blood, fhew'd it felf on this
Occafion more knowing than my Eyes, and forc'd
me to receive him with all the Tenderneſs and
Affection that could be expected from a Brother.
His Return, as it at firft was private, was kept fo
for a great while; becauſe, having been robb'd by
the Way, and loft all his Equipage, he did not
care to appear in publick, 'till he had put himſelf
into a new one. Whilft he was repairing the In-
conveniencies of his Lofs, and reſting himſelf af-
ter the Fatigue of his Voyage. I generally kept
him Company, and left him but very feldom, ei-
ther becauſe Decency requir'd that Duty at my
Hands, or Curiofity gave me a Defire to hear his
Adventures; and indeed, I found by the Relation
he made me of them, that he had not loft his
F
Time
702
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or;
·
Time abroad; and that if he had not brought
home much Wealth, at leaft he had gain'd a great
many other Accomplishments; which oblig'd me
to open my felf to him, and declare to him the
Birth and Progrefs of my Amours. He liften'd to
the Beginning of them without any Concern, not
being ignorant that Lightnefs and Ambition are
natural to Women: But when he heard that my
Rival was like to gain my Miſtreſs from me, only
by his Riches, with which he had dazled the
Eyes of Lifimene and Leonice, he could not then re-
ftrain his Paffion; and fo great was his Senfe of
the Wrong which was done me, that he did not
fcruple to fay he wore a Sword, the Brightness of
whofe Steel could foon out-fhine that of Gold, and
fend It with its Mafter to the Place it fprung from.
Tho' I well knew this Anger could do me no good,
becauſe of my Rival's Cowardice, yet it was not
at all unpleafing to me; for it fhew'd me in the
Eyes of Lifidas the Marks of a generous and fin-
cere Affection. Yet I did not fuffer him long to
go on in that Humour, but appeas'd the Tran-
fports of it, by the Confiderations I have already
told you; remonftrating to him, that I had al-
ready try'd the Means he fpoke of, and was but
too willing to attack Cilindo, if he had but Refolu-
tion enough to defend himſelf. Overcome by thefe
Reaſons, he talk'd no more of that Method; but
as foon as ever he was in a Condition to go abroad,
he did an Action, which fo amaz'd me when I
knew it, that I could not but own his Friendship
was without an Equal : For, in order to obtain me
Leonice, he run a Rifque of deftroying himſelf, and
forgot his own Safety, to ruin the Expectations of
my Rival, as if he had no Ambition but that of
being ferviceable to me.
Lifidas, then having heard that Cilindo intended
to repair the Defects of his Perfon by the Magni-
ficence of his Train, went and offer'd himſelf to
him
The Undaunted LADY.
103
him with fo good a Grace, that it was impoffible
for my Rival to refuſe him; believing him to be
a Stranger, as he perſuaded him he was, by the
Diverfity of Languages he was perfect Mafter of
He was no fooner receiv'd into the Number of
Cilindo's Attendants, than he let him fee the Agree-
ableness of his Wit, and the genteel Mien Nature
had bestow'd upon him in every Thing; which
made him fo confiderable in the Eyes of my
Rival, that in a little while afterwards he became
the Confident of all his Secrets, and the Depofi-
tory of all his Defigns. Lifidas having thus gain'd
the Efteem of the Mafter, whom he had volun-
tarily given himſelf to ferve me, artfully commu-
nicated to me all the Secrets with which he was
entruſted. But his Cunning had been of but little
Service to me, if that blind Goddefs, who takes
delight in Change and Inconftancy, had not back'd
the Stratagems of Lifidas, and facilitated the Means
which he us❜d to restore me to the good Graces of
Leonice, and the Content I flatter'd my felf with
from her Affection.
>
One Day that credulous Maid, over-perfuaded
by Lifimene's mercenary Temper and her own
Ambition, to favour the Addreffes of Cilindo, made
him a Prefent of a Bracelet of her Hair, delicate-
ly woven, and enrich'd with a Buckle of Pearls
but fhe forbid him wearing it, for fear if Lifimere
fhould come to know it, fhe would blame her for
her Freedom: So that, after having fhewn it to
Lifidas, he put it under Lock and Key, 'till he
could get Leave of Leonice to honour his Arm
with fo precious a Pledge of her Love. Lifidas,
who had taken Notice of the Place wherein he
had depofited that Treafure, did not want for In-
vention to get it from thence, to put it into my
Hands; but not to be too rafh in what he did, he
only let me know of it, and inform'd me how to
come at it. Having therefore learn'd of Lifidas,
F 2
that
104
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
that a young Florentine Boy, who ferv'd Cilindo in
his Chamber, was very debauch'd and eaſy to be
corrupted, I refolv'd to gain him by Promifes and
Rewards, knowing there was no Door fo faft, but
what a Golden Key would open. Neither was I
deceiv'd in my Politicks; for he was fo faithful to
me, and fo perfidious to his Mafter, that by_fome
Means or other he found a Way to get the Brace-
let out of the Cafket. As foon as ever he had com-
mitted this important Robbery, he brought it to
me, and fold it to me at what Price he would:
But the Money he got of me, only ferv'd as an
Inftrument to his Deſtruction; for ufing it in Ex-
cefs of Debauchery, he dy'd a few Days after-
wards, being thus juftly punifh'd by Heaven for
his Treachery; and if his Death was ferviceable
to me, the Occafion, which I am going to tell you,
was no lefs fo.
There was in Venice a young Lady extreamly
handfome and genteel; but fhe made an open
Profeffion of Loofenefs, fince fhe got her Living
by it, alledging her Poverty in Excufe of her ill
Life. As Neceffity obliges moſt of ſuch Cattle to
be often changing their Lodgings, this Woman be-
gan to be packing up her Awls and leaving Venice,
being inform'd that the Magiftrates, upon Account
of fome Diſorders which had happen'd at her
Houfe, had order'd her to be fhut up in the Rock
of Penance. She therefore bid adieu to the City,
without paying her Debts, leaving to fatisfy her
Creditors, only fuch Goods as fhe could not carry
along with her; and thinking fhe might drive a
better Trade at Rome, where fhe could have more
Liberty, fhe embark'd to go thither. A Day or
two after her Flight, all fhe had left behind her
was expos'd to Sale, and the Money made of it to
be diftributed amongit the most neceffitous of
thofe to whom fhe was indebted. About that Time,
Cilindo too refolv'd to take a Journey to Rome, as
well
The Undaunted LADY:
103
well to fettle the Affairs of his Family, as to make
Preparation for his Marriage. He therefore went
to take his Leave of Leonice, who receiv'd his Fare-
wel with the Sentiments the ought to entertain
for one fhe already look'd upon as her Husband :
But he was ſcarce departed, when its good For-
tune foon chang'd its Face; for as of the many
Favours Leonice was us'd to grant me, I ftill re-
tain'd that of going to fee her. I immediately
went to pay her a Vifit; and after fome Difcourfe,
I pull'd out of my Pocket the Bracelet I had
bought of Cilindo's Valet. She no fooner faw it,
than ſhe knew it to be hers, and afk'd me to whom
I was oblig'd for that Favour? I made no Scruple
to anſwer her Queſtion ; but prefently told her,
I bought it from among the Goods of the Courte-
zan, who a little while ago had left Venice, At
theſe Words fhe could not conceal her Refent-
ment; the Blood flew into her Face, and her
Eyes were fwell'd with Tears, which fufficiently
fhew'd that she was not a little enrag'd. Seeing
her brought to the Point I expected, and finding
my Plot had taken Effect, I was refolved to pufli
it, which I did very fuccefsfully in thefe Words.
I don't doubt, faid I, but the Slight Cilindo has put
upon your Favour, is the Caufe of the Uneafinefs
which appears in your Behaviour; and indeed
you have fo juft a Caufe to complain, that he muſt
have loft his Reafon who fhould condemn you for
it; but pray what better could you expect from
one who did not carefs you alone, but who made
Offer of his Service and Affection to all the Ladies
he could meet with? Do you not know, that be-
ing Mafter of fo much Wealth as he is, he is every
where receiv'd with Honour, and that his Mind
being divided by the Kindnefs which is fhewn
him, in Confideration of what he has, he knows
not where to fix his Inclinations, nor even to di-
ftinguish between a Courtezan, and the chaft At-
traction
F 3
106
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
traction of a Lady of Virtue and Innocence. But
perhaps, added I, you imagine I fpeak for my
own Sake, and I don't at all doubt, but you think
I want to give you ill Impreffions of Cilindo, in or-
der to obtain my Hopes, at the Expence of his.
Yet, if you will believe what you fee, I hope fo
clearly to convince you of the Truth of my Words,
that you may for the future, fafely believe Cilinde
to be guilty, and Lifimene intereſted. I had hardly
faid this, when Lifimene came in; fo that Leonice
had not Time to make Anfwer, nor defire me not
to fay any thing of the Bracelet, which was the
Subject of my Difcourfe, and of her Refentment.
Lifimene having faluted me, afk'd us what we were
talking of; and feeing Leonice could not conceal
her Alteration, was defirous to know what had
chang'd the ordinary Gaiety of her Countenance.
I, who thought it might be of further Service to
me if Lifimene knew it, feem'd a little unwilling
to let her know the Reaſon, the more to excite
her Curiofity; but I was foon prevail'd upon, by
the earnest Intreaties fhe us'd, to impart to her
the News which had diſturb'd the Quiet of Leonice
Finding my felf thus prefs'd, I began to rally, and
faid to her; Madam, I am much more oblig'd to
the Courtezan you have heard talk of, than a great
many others who have ferv'd her; for whereas
they us'd to make Prefents to Her, fhe has made
this to me, to put me in mind of her. With this
I fhew'd her the Bracelet, which fhe immediately
knew to be Leonice's, whom fhe gave a very fevere
Look, and ask'd, whether it was not fhe had made
me that Prefent. She reply'd, that indeed it was
hers; but that it had for fome few Days before
been ftollen from her. I'll affure you, reply'd I,
'twas no other than Cilindo, that was guilty of the
Robbery, for the Courtezan I fpeak of, publickly
boafted before all the World, fhe had this Brace-
let from him, together with feveral other rich
Prefents,
>
The Undaunted LADY.
107
Prefents, which ſhe ſaid fhe receiv'd from him a
little before he fet out for Rome. And what makes
me ſpeak fo confidently of it, is, becauſe I have
yet more Proofs of this Truth, which leave no
Room for Doubt, and which would plainly con-
vince you of the Treachery and Bafenefs of Cilinde.
Leonice, who was juftly apprehenfive of my pro-
ducing fomething before Lifimene, that might dif
pleafe her, told me fhe wanted no other Proofs of
Cilindo's Infidelity, than that I had fhew'd her; and
was fufficiently perfwaded of it by my Reafons,
to refent it, as an Affront of that Nature deferves.
So that I was fatisfy'd with this firft Blow, which
was fo fatal to my Adverfary, that it at once ruin'd
his dearest Hopes, and all the good Will Leonice
had teftify'd for him, after the greateft Trouble
and Affiduity;.and thus I perceiv'd it. About a
Fortnight afterwards, during all which Time the
Mind of Leonice was in the greateft Uneafinefs,
Letters were deliver'd her from Cilindo, with which
fhe was fo offended, that he not only would not
read nor open them, but could not even be pre-
vail'd upon to touch them, refolving never more
to hold Correfpondence with him, who, as fhe
thought, had fo flighted her Favour. Lifidas, who
had brought thofe Letters from Cilindo, finding in
Leonice the Alteration he had foreſeen, tho' he
was raviſh'd at the Succefs of his Undertaking,
yet pretended to be mightily furpriz'd; however,
he took the Letter again, without its being once
open'd, and carry'd it back to Cilindo, who already
waited in the most agreeable Thoughts, which an
Enjoyment that he thought himſelf fure of, could
offer to his Imagination.
I need not tell you how furpriz'd my Rival was,
at News he fo little expected; for I believe you
of yourfelves can conceive that fuch an Accident is
capable of difordering the beft Judgment in the
World, and fhaking the greateſt Conftancy. I fup-
F4
pofe
108
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
pofe he made a ftrict Search into all his former
Thoughts and Actions, to find out the Caufe of
his Difgrace; but the more he look'd for Light
in this Matter, the more he found himſelf in the
Dark. To attribute this Change to his ill Mien,
would have been ridiculous, fince that had not
hinder'd his being always receiv'd with Honour,
by Leonice and Lifimene; to have fufpected the
Cauſe to be his want of Wealth, would have been
yet more fo, fince he was Mafter of a much more
plentiful Fortune than hers was, wirh whom he
was fo paffionately enamour'd. As for his Birth,
that was truly Noble, and he could find nothing
in his Paffion, that in his Opinion, deferv'd fo ex-
traordinary a Treatment. Not knowing therefore
whence this fudden Alteration could poffibly pro-
ceed, he ask'd Lifidas a thouſand Queſtions about
it; but all he could get from him, was, that he
had obferv'd in the Eyes of Leonice, Marks of the
greateſt Indignation and Anger, tho' he could not
get to the Knowledge of the Caufe
and that
when he offer'd his Letters, he was anfwer'd, that
nothing ought to be taken from a perfidious and
indifcreet Man. If Cilindo was diſturb'd at the Re-
fufal Leonice had made of his Letter, he was no
lefs fo at Lifidas's Anſwer, which made him im-
mediately examine into all his paft Life, to find
out what Perfidiouſneſs or Indifcretion he could
have committed; but the more he ftudy'd for the
Cauſe of this ill Ufage, the lefs he was able to
difcover it. Therefore, to learn the Occafion of
his Misfortune at any Price whatever, he refolv'd
to venture one Letter more to Lemnice, and fent it
by another Gentleman, either to give Lifidas Time
to repofe himſelf, or perhaps to try if another
would have more Skill and good Luck. The
Gentleman who was imploy'd in this Meffage,
immediately fet out upon his Journey, and made
fuch hafte, that he arriv'd at Venice eight Days
after
#
The Undaunted LADY.
109
after Lifidas had left it. But he was in no fmall
Perplexity what Means he fhould ufe to get Leonice
to read Cilindo's Letter; for to carry it to her, would
not be proper, becaufe he could expect no better
a Reception than Lifidas had had. Having one
Day therefore feen her going out of her Houfe,
he follow'd her quite into Church, to which fhe
went, and having taken Notice of the Place where
fhe us'd to fit, next Day he carry'd his Letter, and
put it in a Place where Leonice could not fail to fec
it, tho' he was very fearful of fome others finding.
it before her. She perceiving the Paper, and ex-
pecting nothing less than to receive a Letter from
Cilindo, as well upon Account of the little Satisfac-
tion fhe had given Lifidas, as the fhort Time he
had been gone, made no Scruple to take it; but
when by the Superfcription, the found it was di-
rected to her, and was Cilindo's Hand, fhe was very
doubtful what to do. If fhe left it there, fhe was
afraid it might fall into the Hands of fome Body,
that might make his Advantage of it to her Coft;
and, on the other Hand, fhe could not endure the
Thoughts of reading any thing that came from a
Man, who fhe thought had fo highly offended her.
But at last fhe refolv'd to take it with her, and was
no fooner got Home, than fhe went into her Clofet
to read it; and as he fhew'd it me fome Time
afterwards, it contain'd thefe Words.
CILINDO to the incomparable
LEONICE,
Fair LEONICE,
M²/
Y Innocence is too great, not to give me the Liberty
to complain of the Injury you have done me ; but I
honour you too much, to demand any other Satisfaction for
it,than what you fall please to give me. If the Artifices.
of my Enemies have prejudiced you with any Sufpicion of
FS
my
1 ΙΟ
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
my
Letters
my Fidelity, or a Doubt of my Difcretion, I beg you would
fo far oblige me, as to tell it to this Gentleman, who be-
longs to me, and who can undeceive you. Tho'
and Prefence be equally odious to you, yet do not condemn
me, before you have heard what I have to say in my own
Defence, nor fo baftily pass a Sentence upon me, which I
have not deferv'd, as I am certain Time and my Fidelity
will one Day convince you.. Deliver me from the Trouble I
am in through your Silence ; pronounce the Decree of my
Life or Death ; cr if you think me unworthy even of that
Favour, at leaſt know, and ſuffer that I dye,
Your CILINDO.
Thefe Words, which were dictated to Cilindo by
a real Innocence, had no fmall Weight in the Mind
of Leonice; fo that I faw fhe was just upon the
Point of refolving to let him know at length the
Caufe of her Complaint and Difpleafure; but I
fo well refresh'd her Memory of what fhe had feen
in my Hands, and fo cunningly perfwaded her of
my Rival's Falfenefs, that all his Shews of Since-
rity pafs'd for Pretences, with which fhe thought
he meant to abufe her. Mean Time, the Gentle-
man who brought the Letter, having obferv'd that
Leonice had taken it from the Place he put it in,
did not fail to follicit an Anfwer, and let her know
by one of her Maids, that he had exprefs Orders
not to depart from Venice, 'till he was in fome.
Manner inform'd of the Reaſons for which fhe
gave Cilindo fuch cold Treatment, or 'till he could
get fome Letter which might free him from the
Confufion he was in, upon fo fudden and extraor-
dinary an Alteration. Leonice, to deliver herſelf
from his Importunities, took a blank Sheet of Pa-
per, which the feal'd up, and caus'd one of her
Women to write a Superfcription upon it, think-
ing by that Means, to punih his Contempt by a
Mockery. But Cilindo, tho' very much amaz'd´at
that
The Undaunted LADY.
III
that Meffage, yet interpreted it to his own Ad-
vantage, and thought fhe fent him that Paper in
fuch a Manner, to fignify to him, that she had no
worfe Impreffions of his Conduct, than were men-
tion'd upon that blank Sheet of Paper, which
feem'd only to exprefs the Marks of his Innocence.
This favourable Interpretation, in fome meaſure
leffen'd his Uneafinefs, and reviv'd in him the
Thoughts of returning to Venice, to try if he could
again bring Leonice to have the fame Sentiments
fhe had before of the Fidelity of his Love: But
I was too well eftablifh'd in her good Graces, ever
to fuffer him to have any further Kindness from
her, and foon made him know that he muſt look
for nothing from his Return, but the Diſpleaſure
of feeing me as well with Leonice, as he was ill thro'
my Stratagem. So foon as ever he was arriv'd,
he did all he could to get to ſpeak with Leonice
but ſhe always induftriouſly avoided him, and did
not fcruple to have it told him, fhe would as foon
endure the Prefence of a Devil, as his; which put
him into fuch Defpair, that he had like to have
loft his Senfes. Nevertheless he refolv'd to fee
her, be the Fruits whatever they would, and to
expofe himſelf to all the ill Treatment in the
World, rather than remain filent, when he had
fuch juft Cauſe to fpeak. He therefore went to
Leonice's Houfe, and found her with Lifimene, who
receiv'd him very coldly, and fufficiently gave him
to understand, that his Company was not at all
welcome to her; for inftead of the Compliments
fhe before paid him, fhe gave him nothing but
Looks as fevere, as they were formerly kind.
Having learnt from Lifimene the Reafons which
occafion'd her to ufe him in that manner, after a
thouſand Tranfports, and an Amazement which it
is impoffible to exprefs, he would have juflify'd
himfelf; but he was fo far from having any Hopes
of gaining Belief, that he was not fo much as
heard,
112
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
;
heard. In vain he fwore that his Bracelet was
ftol'n from him, and that he who could witnefs
the Truth of what he alledg'd, was dead; his
Reaſons were not regarded, and with whatever
Oaths he affirm'd that he did not ſo much as know
the Courtezan, whom I had made them believe
was the Object of his Affections, yet they bid him
go to her for a Confolation in his Misfortunes.
From Endeavours to clear himſelf, he appeal'd to
the Compaffion of Lifimene and Leonice; but both
the one and the other, were fo prepoffefs'd with
the Impreffion I had given them to his Diſadvan-
tage, that Lesnice, weary of his Importunity, retir'd
with Scorn, and Lifimene ftood infenfible to the
moft violent Movements of his Deſpair. He ftay'd
a little while with her, after Leonice had left her
but at last finding it was to no Purpoſe, to tell her
Reaſons which he would not ever hear, he re-
folv'd to be gone, and leave to Time and Fortune,
the Care of clearing his Innocence. He therefore
went from Lifimene very diffatisfy'd; but what moſt
of all enrag'd him, was the Sight he met with in
the Anti-chamber, as he was going out: Leonice
having given him the flip, to avoid anfwering a
thoufand Queſtions, with which he began to im-
portune her, met me by Chance, just as I was en-
tering into the Room fhe was coming out of. This
hinder'd me from going on; fo that fitting down,
we talk'd together with a great deal of Privacy,
and were ſpeaking of Cilinde's Tranſports juſt as he
came by; the Moment fhe faw him coming, to
give him the greater Torment, fhe fhew'd me a
great deal more Kindneſs than ufual, and put on
a Lock in which he might eafily read my Happi-
nefs, and his Difgrace. He remain'd at this Sight
without Motion, and appear'd fo Thunder ftruck,
that the Ufage which made me taſte Life with
Pleaſure, almoſt kill'd him with Jealoufy. Yet
Rage having awaken'd his Spirits, he went out,
but
"The Undaunted LADY.
113
but with Intention to be reveng'd, and either to
deprive me of Life, or of Leonice; not longer doubt-
ing but that I was his Rival, and the Author of
his Ruin. So foon as he was got Home, he com-
municated this generous Project to Lifidas, who,
for fear he ſhould employ any other in the Execu-
tion of his bloody Purpoſes, (for he defign'd to
have me affaffinated) prefently offer'd to ferve
him, and to poignard me, if I ftood at all in his
way. Cilindo feeing him appear fo refolute, was
far from refufing his Service; but overjoy'd at his
Offer, conjur'd him with an Embrace, to rid him
as foon as poffible of him who thus obftructed his
Happiness; which Lifidas promis'd to do, with
Proteftations capable of gaining Belief from the
moft incredulous and diftruftful Mind upon Earth.
Cilindo being perfwaded in this manner, trufted
the Care of this Bufinefs to his Confident; but
whilft he was in Expectation of my Death, Lifidas
is contriving how to fave me, and to turn the Storm
from off my Head, that it may break upon my
Rivals And thus he manag'd it.
:
Lifidas having got Leave of Cilindo, to do any
thing to take away my Life, came fecretly to me,
and inform'd me of the Defign my Rival had
form'd to have me affaffinated. I did not at all
wonder at what he told me; for I did not think
Cilindo uncapable of fuch an Action; but I was not
a little furpriz'd, when Lifidas told me he was to
be the Minifter of his Villany, and that having
himſelf confirm'd his Mafter in his Refolution, he
had begg'd to be employ'd in my Murther. But I
was freed from my Surprize, and could not help
admiring his Prudence, when I heard all the Cir-
cumſtances of this Affair, and the Reaſons which
had induc'd him to undertake it. He first bid me
give Leonice Notice of this Attempt, which I fhould
pretend to have been inform'd of by one who had
got an inkling of it through the Indifcretion of
fome
114
Alcidalis and Zelida; or
fome Servant; and told me, he himself would
confirm her in that Opinion, if I us'd but never fo
little Art in it; which he effected very cunningly,
after having given me feveral Inftructions how to
behave my felf: For having taken fome Servants
with him, as Accomplices in his Defign, and walk'd
feveral Times back wards and forwards before the
Door of Leonice, with whom I was at the Window,
he ftop'd at a little Diftance, and began to talk
with a great deal of Action, of all the Particulari-
ties of their Enterprizes, which one of my Atten-
dants, whom I had left in the Street, on purpofe
to watch them, came and repeated to us, in fuch
a Fright as was enough to terrify the boldeft.
Leonice, at what fhe heard, was infpir'd at once
with two Paffions, very different from each other;
Horror against Cilindo, and Compaffion for me,
who was not in the leaft Danger, my Rival hav-
ing moft Cauſe to fear.
Lifidas having by fo many Actions and Poftures
confirm'd Leonice in the Sufpicion of Cilindo's in-
tending to have me murther'd, went Home to his
Mafter, to whom he pretended he could not exe-
cute his Commands, becaufe I was follow'd by too
many Attendants; and indeed I was feldom alone,
and my Train was none of the leaft in Venice
which ferv'd Lifidas for an Argument to perfwade
Cilindo, that it was impoffible to fucceed in this
Enterprize, and that he had better have recourfe
to fome Means more honourable; fince if that
fhould ever come to be diſcover'd, as it was but
too probable it would, either by the Providence
of Heaven, which is an Enemy to Wickedness, or
by the Indifcretion of thofe to whom it was truft-
ed; fuch a Difcovery could not but be extreamly
fhameful to a Gentleman of his Birth. With thefe,
and the like Reafons, he fo well reprefented to
Cilindo the Bafenefs of this Defign, that he not on-
ly averted the Effects of it, but even made him
hate
The Undaunted LADY.
115
hate the Thoughts of continuing it. Lifidas having
thus beat him from the bafe Sentiments, to which
he had abandon'd himſelf, did not believe he had
done enough for me, unless he entirely deliver'd
me from the Sallies and Caprices of my Rival.
For this purpofe, he endeavour'd to prevail upon
him to meet me Sword in Hand, and by that
Means, at one Blow, revenge himself both of the
Wrong I had done him, and the Inconftancy of
Leonice. To thefe Confiderations he added the Ju-
ftice of his Caufe; call'd the Teftimonies I had
given of my Valour, only Effects of Vanity; and
flatter'd Cilindo with fuch aery Hopes, that he a-
waken'd his dormant Courage, and infpir'd him
with a Refolution to call me into the Field. Whilft
he was yet in this Heat, which Lifidas had drove
him into, he writ a Challenge to me; which, as I
found fome Time afterwards, contain'd theſe
Words.
CILINDO's Challenge to LISANDER.
L I Ifander, if I have not yet regarded the Sallies of
Pain you have had against me, you are oblig'd for
it to my Discretion and your Youth: But fince I find your
Pride increases by my Patience, I fall at length condescend
to puni you as you deferve: Wherefore, refolve, before it
is too late, either to defift from your Purſuit of Leonice,
or to receive the Chaftifement of your Boldness, at the Place
this Gentleman ſhall appoint you, and where you ſhall be
impatiently expected by
The injur'd CILINDO.
Lifidas took this Commiffion upon him, as he
had done all the others; but not defigning to ha-
zard either my Perfon or Happineſs, he would not
communicate it to me, well knowing there could
not be a Duel between Cilindo and me, without di-
fturbing
116
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
turbing the Calm which my happy Love thear
enjoy'd. Yet it was neceffary to content my Rival,
and to give him a Subject upon whom to wreek
his Revenge and Fury: What therefore does Li-
fidas do upon this Occafion? He tells Cilindo he had.
deliver'd me the Challenge, and I would not fail-
to meet him. My Rival, having receiv'd this An-
fwer, went immediately into his Clofet, and hav-
ing made Choice of a good Sword, hafted to the
Place where he thought he ſhould undoubtedly
find me. He was no fooner there, but Lifidas, who
had got thither before him, came up to him, but
with an Air and Countenance which had nothing
of the Submiffion and Deference he had before
paid him. My Rival at firft took no Notice of
this extraordinary Affurance: But he was very
much amaz'd, when, upon aſking Lifidas whether
his Enemy was not come? He made Anfwer, that
he fhould stay for no other Enemy than was al-
ready before him, and that it was him he muft
prepare to engage. Cilindo, who could not divine
the Caufe of this Whim, turn'd his Words into
Raillery, and thought he ſaid them only to divert
him, and ſhorten the Time of his Adverfary's
coming. But Lifidas foon convinc'd him of his
Miftake, by diſcovering to him that he was my
Brother, and that he had infinuated himſelf into
his Service, only to bring about this Opportunity;
in which Defign, he was fo happy as to have drawn
him into the Field, and therefore bid him ftand
upon his Guard, if he had any Sentiments of Ho
nour, or intended to fave his Life. Rage and Mad--
nefs did the Office of Valour, and hurry'd on Ci-
lindo to the Defire of Revenge. In fhort, they at-
tack'd each other, and Lifidas, to the Warmth of
his Courage join'd a great deal of Skill, but as
Fortune fometimes delights in giving Triumph to
the Defperate, Cilindo throwing himfelf Headlong
upon his Adverfary, gave him fo furious a Puſh, that
he
The Undaunted LADY.
117
E
he ran him thro', and laid him upon the Ground;
where he was just going to end him, if Heaven,
who 'till then perhaps had permitted his Misfor-
tune, fatisfy'd with this Puniſhment, which he
feem'd to have deferv'd by his Imprudence, had
not put a stop to it, by an Accident as happy as it
was unexpected. Cleagenor, who ever fince the
News of his Miftrefs's Death, generally fought out
the moſt folitary and unfrequented Places, was
that Day gone to entertain himfelf with his own
Thoughts, a little Way from the City. After he
had fatisfy'd his Humour, as he was returning
Home, he faw at a Diſtance, two Men with their
Swords drawn, and who by their Actions fhew'd
they did not mean to give any Quarter; which
made him preſently run towards them, to hinder
the Misfortune which the Chance of Arms might
throw upon either of them; but notwithſtanding
all his Hafte, he was not come up to them, 'till
Cilindo, having gotten an Advantage over Lifidas,
was upon the Point of taking away his Life.
Cleagenor, tho' at first he did not know my Bro-
ther, whom he had often feen, did nevertheleſs
fave him from the Rage of Cilindo, and ferv'd him
as a Rampart againſt the laſt Efforts of that in-
human Man: He had no fooner calm'd this Storm,
and oblig'd my Rival to fheath his Sword, than he
himſelf was conftrain'd to renew the Tempeft
which then feem'd to be over; for perceiving it
was Lifidas that was wounded, Compaffion of his
Misfortunes, join'd to the Friendſhip he had for
me, touch'd him in fo tender a Part, that he thought
it would be an Offence againſt his Generofity, if
he parted with Cilindo, without revenging my Bro-
ther's Blood and the Wrong our common Enemy
had formerly done me in my Amours: Cleagenor
therefore, mov'd by fo many noble Paffions, drew
his Sword, and forc'd Cilindo to make ufe of his a
fecond Time. He, puff'd up with Pride upon the
Blood
*
T18
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Blood he had fo lately fhed, did not at all refuſe
the Combate, thinking Fortune would always be
for him: But Cleagenor foon made him know fhe
had left his Side, to come over to that of Valour;
for there was hardly a Moment between his feeing
and conquering him, and the unhappy Cilindo could
hardly diftinguifh between fighting and perifhing:
His Conqueror, having difarm'd him, would have
given him his Life, but that was too late, for two
Hours afterwards he dy'd of his Wounds.
As for my Brother, being brought to my Houfe
in the miferable Condition to which his Enemy
had reduc'd him, it was a great while before we
had any Hopes of his Life. Yet our Care was
fuch, and the Surgeon who had him in Hand fo
ſkilful, that ſome Days afterwards, our Hopes re-
viv'd, and our Fears ceas'd, by the vifible Tokens
we had of an approaching Recovery, and a per-
fect Cure of his Wounds. I will not tell you how
much I was furpriz'd, and how great was my Af
fiction, when at my Return Home, I found him
laid upon a Bed all bloody, and hardly with the
leaft Sign of Life. You are not ignorant that fuch
a Tide of Grief is better conceiv'd than expreſs'd;
and you are not unacquainted with the Sentiments
which fo near a Tie of Blood is us'd to give upon
fuch Occafions. For this Reafon I fhall only tell
you, that if my Sorrow was inexpreffible, my A-
mazement was no lefs fo, when among fome Pa-
-pers which were found about him, there was the
Challenge Cilindo had writ, and which was directed
to me. I own, at feeing it, I was almost ready to
die with Vexation; and every Time I imagin'd
that Lifidas had robb'd me of an Opportunity I
had always fo earneſtly long'd for, I could hardly
help being glad of the Chaftifement he had re-
ceiv'd for his Rafhnefs: Yet, when I had more
fedately confider'd all the Circumftances of this
Affair, I could not but commend his Friendſhip,
and
The Undaunted LADY.
119
and give his Courage the Praife it deferv'd. In
fhort, after Cilindo's Death, I thought I w out of
all Danger of any more of the Storms and Croffes
which generally disturb the Repofe of Lovers and
the Calm of the ftrongeft Affections: But foon
afterwards I found my ſelf very far from my Hopes,
and perceiv'd that Heaven had deliver'd me of one
Rival, only with an Intent to give a more power-
ful one, and he too fo much the more to be fear'd,
as being very much my Friend; I could not, with-
out Ingratitude, oppofe the Birth of his Happineſs,
and it was impoffible for me to fee it without be-
ing cruel to myfelf. Yet my Deſtiny in this one
thing was favourable, I mean, that my Rival was
far from defiring to triumph over me by the Help
of Leonice's Inconftancy; but it was very much my
Enemy in this Point, namely, that to conquer her
there wanted not the leaft Conflict, fince fhe was
vanquifh'd even before the Conqueror had any
Thoughts of attacking her; and thus it happen'd.
Cilindo, as I have already told you, being dead
of his Wounds, was prefently embalm'd and fent
to Rome, there to receive the laſt Duties from his
Relations, who were defirous of having him laid
in the Tomb of his Anceſtors. His Funeral being
over, thofe who had been his Friends in his Life-
time, thought they had not done enough for him,
if befides Pity, they did not fhew their Revenge,
which perfwaded them that Blood was not to be
paid with Tears, nor Death with Sorrow.
With this Refolution they came to Venice, where
having inform'd themfelves of Cleagenor's Houfe,
they drew up their Complaint, and prefented it
to the Magiftrates, who immediately fent out a
Warrant for apprehending him whom they ac
cus'd of Cilindo's Death. Cleagenor, who did not in
the least expect fuch a Procefs, becauſe they had
let it lye dormant fo long, did not any Ways re-
gard it; fo that he was furpris'd by our Enemies,
and
120
Alcidalis and Zelida; or;
and feiz'd, notwithstanding the Endeavours of his
Attendants. As for him, he made no Refiftance;
for his Valour being known by all, they had taken
care to difarm him. He was no fooner in the
Hands of the Senate, than I heard the unwelcome
News from one of his Servants, who came imme-
diately to let me know of his Misfortune. It would
be fuperfluous to tell you how much I was con-
cern'd at it: For befides that I am not Maſter of
Words which can exprefs it, I have already in-
form'd you that I was very deeply intereſted in
it, and that I lov'd him too well not to be extream-
ly difturb'd at any Thing which might give him
Uneafinefs. As foon as I heard of his Confine
ment, I defir'd Permiffion to fee him; and being
intimately acquainted with thoſe who were chofen
by the Republick for his Judges, I obtain'd my
Requeft, in fpite of all the Oppofition and Re-
monftrances of his Adverfaries. With this Autho-
rity I went to pay my Duty to Cleagenor, and let
him know how much I was concern'd at his Mis-
fortune, by the Offers I made him of my Service:
But his Courage was fo great upon this Occafion,
that it was almoſt an Offence to offer him any Af-
fiftance befides that which he expected from the
Juftice of his Caufe and the Generofity he had
fhewn in what he did. I went thither with De-
fign to comfort him; but, quite contrary to my
Expectations, I myſelf ſtood moft in need of Com-
fort; and I receiv'd that compaffionate Office
from the very Man towards whom I thought to
perform it. I could not behold him in fo miferable
a Place without Sorrow, I could not difcourfe with
him without Admiration; he was at Liberty in
Chains, and I was a Slave in Freedom; he brav'd
his ill Fortune, and I could not endure it; and
whilft with an even Brow and conſtant Mind he
defpis'd the Purfuits of his Enemies, I feem'd op-
prefs'd with Deſpair, and gave myself wholly up.
to:
The Undaunted LADY.
T21
2
to the Violence of my Grief. Yet that fuch Virtue
might not too long languifh in the Disturbance
Captivity gives to a great Soul, I folicited the
Judges to let him have Audience, and as much as
lay in my Power difpos'd them to be favourable
to him. The next Day he was brought before the
Senate, to be examin'd concerning the Fact of
which he was accus'd; and if I had us'd all the
little Credit I had in our Republiek to foften the
Severity of thofe who were to prefide in this
Judgment, his Adverfaries fpar'd neither Pains
nor Artifice to make them rigorous. They made
ufe of Arguments of Pity, to drive it out of the
Hearts of the Judges, and did not fcruple to fhed
Tears in favour of Cilindo, by a miferable Change
to make them lavifh of Cleagenor's Blood, which
they were too thirſty of. Heaven, which in him
faw one of its greateſt Maſter-pieces, would not
fuffer him to be deftroy'd, nor abandon him to
the Caprices of his Enemies; on the contrary, it
took partiular Care of his Innocence, and by a Pro-
vidence to us unknown, turn'd to his Advantage
the Plots form'd for his Deftruction. Cilindo's
Friends, having Notice given them that Cleagenor
was to be examin'd, did not fail to be at the Se-
nate, to exaggerate their Complaint, and demand
Juftice for the Death of their Kinfman: But not
thinking their own Words powerful enough to ob-
tain this Requeſt, they carry'd with them a Siſter
of the Deceas'd, call'd Phillis, extreamly beauti-
ful, and whofe Wit was not unworthy the Advan-
tages fhe had receiv'd from Nature. This young
Lady, drefs'd in Mourning, which added wonder-
fully to her natural Fairneſs, was no fooner come
into the Senate, than fhe threw herfelf at the Feet
of the Judges, and with Tears which might move
the most cruel, conjur'd them not to let go un-
punish'd the Crime of a Man, who by the Death
of her Brother, had depriv'd her of her greateſt
Support
--
*
122
Alcidalis and Zelida; or;
Support, and without whom her Life for the fu
ture would be only troublefome and difagreeable.
A diftrefs'd Beauty generally gets ſo many Advo-
cates, that there are fome who even turn Enemies
to Virtue, to fhew themſelves Friends to her
Charms; and indeed Phillis made her Complaint
fo artfully, that fhe rais'd Compaffion in all who
heard her, and fo ſtagger'd the Reſolutions of the
Judges, that I could not help being apprehenfive
for my Cleagenor. Grief appear'd fo charming in
this Lady's Face, that ſhe not only forc'd the Eyes
to admire her, but the Heart to pity her: The
Tears which fell upon her Cheeks refembled Pearls,
or thoſe Diamonds with which Aurora every Morn-
ing adorns the Tops of the Grafs; and had ſhe not
inform'd us of the Caufe, one might have faid fhe
fhed them only to water the Flowers of her Com-
plexion. While fhe was at the Feet of the Judges,
The mov'd Compaffion in the Hearts of all that
beheld her; but when fhe got up, the rais'd every
Body's Admiration by the Beauty of her Shape,
and the Majesty of her Behaviour.
Phillis having ended her Complaints, Cleagenor
'rofe, and having by the Charms of his graceful
Mien divided the Inclinations of the whole Af-
fembly, he began to defend himſelf as follows.
I hold my ſelf not a little oblig'd to Heaven, O equitable
Fudges, for granting me the Happiness of appearing this
Day in your auguft Senate; fince tho' I came into it in the
Quality of a Criminal, I fall go out of it with the Title of
Innocence, and add to the Vexation of my Enemies, that of
retiring with the Shame of having accus'd me unjuftly.
Yes, Gentlemen, I hope my Prison will be a Glory to me,
and this Accufation an Honour; for by the Injustice of ther
Refentment, they will carry off only the Shame of having
been guilty of it, and by the Eafiness of my Fuftification,
they will be oblig'd to grant me a Glory which my Modefty
binder'd me from challenging. And to the Intent that the
Effects
The Undaunted LADY:
723
·Effects may answer the Truth of what I fay, you need only
examine into the Action which brings me before you, and fee.
by the Circumstances of it, whether it may be cau'd´a Crime
or a Virtue. I am accus'd of the Death of Cilindo: 'Tis
true I kill'd him; and this Lady's Anger would be just, if
her Brother had hewn lefs Cowardice and more Bravery :
But if he confiders in what Manner I took away his Life,
fbe'll find that he has no Reason to be forry, fince I fav'd
him from the Infamy ſe muſt have expected would be thrown
upon him by all Men of Honour, or perhaps from the fame-
ful Puniſhment his Crime would lawfully have deferv'd.
For Proof of what I fay, Gentlemen, it will not be impros
per to let you see the Difference there was between my Pro
ceeding and his ; wherefore, as I have always ftrictly ad-
hered to the Truth, I will ingenuously declare to you the
Beginning and Progrefs of the whole Affair. Cilindo be-
gan the Duel with Lifidas; Ifaw them with their Swords
drawn, and finding them in that Condition, hinder'd a Mif-
chief which would have been lefs fatal to the Conquer'd
than to the Conqueror; fince the one would have loft bis
Life with Honour, and the other must have lost his upon a
Scaffold with Difgrace. Lifidas was authoriz'd in what
he did by the Laws of Nature, which gave him leave to
take Part in the Interefts of his Brother; but Cilindo was
govern'd by the Irregularity of his Paſſions, and the unjuft
Movements of his Despair. The one was happy in his Mis-
fortune, and the other infolent in Victory; for Čilindo bav-
ing gotten Lifidas down, was not contented with this Ad-
vantage, but, without confulting the Pity which true Vax
lour ſhews on ſuch Occafions, he was juſt going to make an
End of him, when I ftopt the Course of his Barbarity, and
hinder'd him from doing a Deed, as fatal to his Honour as
to the Life of his Enemy. I own, when I ſaw 'twas Lifi-
das whom Cilindo bad reduc'd to fo wretched a Condition
I could not help my Refentment, nor forbear obliging his
Enemy to renew a Combat which prov'd lefs fortunate to
him than the first : But he receiv'd much more Courteſy in
it, than he had fewn to him whom the Chance of Arms had
put into his Power : I thought I oblig'd him, when, after
·
be.
124
Alcidalis and Zėlida; or,
5
be fo easily had triumph'd over Lifidas's Valour, I gave
another Subject to his Fury. 'Tis true, Fortune chang'd
Sides, and I made the Storm break upon the Head of him
who had firſt rais'd it; but I did not follow the Example
he had fet, neither did I uſe him as he had done his Ad-
verſary: I was fatisfy'd with my Victory, and far from
giving him the fatal Stroke, I endeavour'd to remedy thofe
which the Heat of our Fighting and his ill Fortune had made
him receive. He is fince dead of his Wounds; but who can
you justly accuſe, befides his own Imprudence? He had a
Deſign to kill Infidas, and I kill'd him without Defign
he came with a premeditated Intention, and I by Chance,
In short, I binder'd the Effects of a Crime by an Action of
Generosity, and have fav'd the Life of one who was inno-
cent, by the Death of one who was guilty. Do you imagine,
whether after this I may not justly hope for Favour from
your Fustice, fince the Action I did was of that Nature,
that I fhould die with Grief had I not done it.
As his Soul was too great to beg his Liberty
with unworthy Words, he concluded his Speech
with an Affurance, which had nothing in it of that
Meanneſs and Submiffion which Fear generally
makes Criminals run into. Yet his Judges were fo
touch'd, that they were juft upon the Point of
making a Decree in his Favour that Moment; but
for Fear fo much Precipitation fhould make them
ſuſpected of too much Indulgence and Eafinefs,
they fufpended their Judgment, and oblig'd Clea-
genor to give Proofs of what he had advanc'd in his
Defence. This difpell'd all my Fears, and I now
plainly faw he muft needs come off with Honour.
But whilft I was intent upon the Revival of Clea-
genor's Happineſs, I did not perceive the Mifchief
which attended it, nor obferve, that this firft Step
to his Felicity, was to be the laft of my Hopes, and
the Beginning of all my Miſeries.
The Day that Cleagenor gave fo many illuftrious,
Tokens of his Wit and Virtue, Leonice, who was
con-
The Undaunted LADY.
125
concern'd in this Caufe as well as me, fince he had
punish'd Cilindo for the Affront fhe thought he had
put upon her, had the Curiofity to hear the Rea
fons which had caus'd him to be apprehended,
and what he fhould fay in his own Defence. I
therefore carry'd her to the Senate, and put her
in a Place, from whence, without being feen, the
might eafly hear and fee both the Judges and
the Parties. From thence fhe faw Cleagenor, with
all the Gracefulneſs and Majeſty which appear'd
in his Actions. She faw him admir'd by all the
Spectators, who were no leſs taken with his good
Mien, and Proportion of Shape, than with the
Charms of that Eloquence, with which he had
given fo much Confufion to his Adverfaries, and
fo much Amazement to his Judges. There too it
was, that, to my Misfortune, fhe appear'd both too
curious and too much mov'd; for as fhe had Eyes
and Judgment to obferve fo many divine Qualities
in Cleagenor, fhe could likewife perceive my Faults,
which then were the more confpicuous, being
darken'd by the Coalifion of fo great a Light. It
was not long before I found the Effects of this;
her Paffion immediately fhew'd itfelf in her Words,
and my Difgrace was but too vifible in her Con-
tempt. Leonice at laft grew fo paffionately in Love
with him, that he did not fcruple to tell me, I
muft either refolve never to fee her more, or elſe
behold without murmuring the Affection fhe for
the future intended to teftify for Cleagenor. Scarce
had the pronounc'd this fatal Command, when I
fainted away at her Feet, like a Tree, which be-
ing blafted with Thunder, fruftrates all the Hopes
which the Spring had given of it.
How's this, brave Lifander, fays fhe, feeing me
in this Condition, do you want Courage when you
moft ftand in Need of it? And does your Con-
ftancy give Way to the first Attacks of a Misfor-
tune? Is this the Example you ſet of the Patience
Ġ
we
126.
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
:
we are to fhew in Mifery? O how cruel you are,
reply'd I, to defire that I fhould languifh, after
having heard the Sentence of my Death, and to
come yourſelf to let me know your Perfidiouſneſs!
But yet, continu'd I, if you grant me one Favour,
which is never refus'd to the greateft Criminals,
I fhall at least have the Satisfaction to know the
Cauſe of my Puniſhment; but you condemn me
without giving me the Hearing, and will not take
the Pains to look back into my Behaviour towards
you, for Fear you fhould not find any Guilt in it,
except too much Love, and fo give yourſelf the
Shame of having unjustly accus'd me, and me the
Glory of fo honourable a Juftification. Confider
then if I have not Reafon to be afflicted, fince,
having deferv'd favourable Uſage, I meet with
the moſt rigorous Treatment. In fhort, fair Leo-
nice, my Patience is at laft tir'd out; for what I
feel cannot be ſpoken, what I speak cannot be
believ'd, and what may be believ'd cannot be
written. Would you make a juft Judgment of my
Patience? Meaſure it by your Rigour. Whence
can fo fudden a Change proceed, and what In-
juſtice arms you fo ftrongly against the Sincerity
of my Love and Conftancy? Do not ufe fuch in-
jurious Terms, reply'd fhe, and have done with
your Complaints, which can turn only to your
own Confufion, if you remember that you are Li-
fander, and he I prefer to you, Cleagenor; his Merit
caufes my Change, and the Obligations I lye un-
der to the Greatnefs of his Courage, authorize my
Proceeding, and abfolutely condemn the Injustice
of your Regrets and Complaints. 'Tis true, you
inform'd me of the bafe Affront Cilindo did me;
but Cleagenor it was that wafh'd away the Stain in
the Blood of the Traytor, and generally finifh'd
the Enterprize you had but flightly begun. See
then, Lifander, what are your Pretenfions; you
think it ftrange, that in Reward for a little Com-
plaifance
The Undaunted LADY.
127
plaifance which you have fhewn me, fome Ad-
dreffes you have made me, and a few Sighs which
have eſcap'd from you, I ſhould oblige you to bet
contented with the Favour I have done you, ina
admitting your Vifits; and yet you would have
me be unmov'd at the Merit of a Man, who runs
the Rifque of lofing both Life and Fortune for my
Sake. No, no, Lifander; as it would be unworthy
of you to envy a Recompence Cleagenor has fo
juftly deferv'd; fo 'twould be ungrateful in me to
refufe him the Bonds of my Affection, in Exchange ·
for the Chains he bears upon Account of his hav
ing fo generoufly defended my Caufe. To theſe
Reafons, to alleviate your Difpleaſure, add the
Confideration of him I prefer remember the
;
Service he did Lifidas; and whatever Alteration
you fee in me, remember that I ſtill oblige you in
the Perfon of your Friend.
:
After theſe Words, Grief having choak'd up my
Voice, I made her a Bow, and went out fo afflict-
ed, that I was feveral Times tempted to cxtin-
guifh in the Sea the Flames of my Love and of
my Life. But having, by little and little, drawn
my Imagination off from the Caufe of my Deſpair,
I went Home, where I recommenc'd my Com-
plaints, and faid against Leonice's Infidelity all
which Indignation generally puts into the Mouths
of thoſe who think themfelves moft bafely abus'd.
As for Cleagenor, I us'd him according to the Irre-
gularity of my Paffion, which, as it was more or
lefs violent, every Moment hurry'd me from one
Extremity to t'other: At one Time I regarded
him as my Friend, and at another Time as my
Rival; and in this Inequality of Temper having
for a long Time been uncertain what to do, I at
laft refolv'd to feek, in Abfence, a Remedy for
the Miferies which were equally brought upon
me by Love and Friendſhip. I had no fooner
form'd this Defign, than I fet about executing it ş
and
G 2
1:28
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
and having provided every Thing which I thought
neceffary for my Voyage, I went away, without
taking Leave either of Leonice, or of Cleagenor, or of
Lifidas, in order to avoid the Tenderneffes and
Delays which are never wanting upon fuch Occa
fions. The Route I follow'd was that of Spain, and
beginning by
tantabria, I went by Uliffipone the
principal City of Lufitania. From thence I con-
tinu'd my Voyage along the Dominions which are
under the Obedience of the Carthiginians. Having
left Carthage, very well fatisfy'd both with their
Courteſy, and for my own particular Curiofity, I
embark'd in a Ship which was bound for Pire.
There I learnt, that their King was at War with
the King of Morocco. I prefented myfelf for Em-
ployment to the Admiral, who receiv'd me in
Quality of Captain, and we were afterwards, by
his Order, brought to the Place where he defign'd
to attack the Enemy. I fhall not relate the Par-
ticulars of the Engagement, you having been Spec-
tators of the Death of fifty thoufand Men; tho'
the Victory is fo equally divided, that 'tis impoffi-
ble to fay, either Side has gain'd it; for of two
hundred Ships, which there might be at firft on
both Sides, there remains of ours but this one,
neither do we know what is become of all the
reft; but fince I believe we are out of Danger
from our Enemies, and have now a free Paffage
into Italy, we muſt bid the Pilot fteer that Way,
which they agreed to; and afterwards Zelida was
prefs'd by Alcidalis to end her Hiftory, which' fhe
did as follows.
And so
al vod blood foile
and down side worse bak moved spII
dis quibashitionon tadi and TIE
(129)
・
THE
SEQUEL
OF THE
HISTORY
O F
ZELID A.
A
H! Lifander, I plainly fee Love betrays
you, when you relate the Greatness of
your Paffion. Yes, 'tis true, Lifander,
Leonice ftill loves Cleagenor, and the Cold-
neſs with which he always refifted her Love, has
not yet been able to extinguifh her Flame. I have
often heard her fay, that Lifander was indeed a
true Lover, and Cleagenor the most ungrateful of
Men; but that notwithstanding all his Cruelty,
G 3
fhe
130
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
fhe could not help loving him more than fhe did
Lifander. I told her that Heaven, whoſe Counſels
are incomprehenfible and Juftice infinite, is us'd
to deprive us of those whom we love.moft paffio-
nately; Merit carrying us
to Idolatry, the Beauty of the Creature should
make us forget the Creator, and ungratefully ne
glect him to whom we owe all thefe Wonders;
befides that, all we poffefs is only a Loan from
him, who is able to take it again whenever he
pleaſes.
left the Excefs of the love.n
10
Ah! Sir, reply'd fhe, Fown the Virtue you fet
fo perfect an Example of, ought to keep me all
my Life in the Refpect I owe to the Will of
Heaven; but I believe you will not at all wonder,
if the Excefs of
of my Sex, did at firft take from me that Patience
and Strength, which a generous Soul prefervés.
even in the moſt rigorous Severities of Fate: For
my ill Fortune had reduc'd me to fuch a Crifis,
that 'twas impoffible for me to fave my Life with-
out lofing my Honour, if Heaven, taking Pity of
my Mifery, had not made Ufe of more noble
Means to fave me, employing your Valour to
fnatch me out of the Hands of the Pirate, who
meant to force my Virtue, and your Compaffion
to hinder my Soul from leaving my Body in
Streams of Blood barbaroufly fhed by my own
Hand. But alas! to how little Purpose have you
fav'd my Life; and how cruel is your Compaffion
in prolonging it, fince being odious to Cleagenor
I am odious to my felf! Do not therefore hinder
me from putting an End to the Misfortunes of an
unhappy Woman, or rather in Revenge of the
Ingratitude with which I have us'd Lifander, plunge
your Sword into this Breaft, which made to ill a
Return for all the noble Services of my Lover;
Or if you will not do it, give me that Steel, do not
refufe it me; and this laft Favour will not be one
and Strength, ons,
and the Weaknes
7
2
of
The Undaunted LADY:
131
of the leaſt I am oblig'd to you for, fince 'tis certain,
nothing is fo pleafant as a Blow which ends the
Days of one that is wretched. Thefe Words were
interrupted by a great Number of Sighs and a
Torrent of Tears, which I fuppos'd fhe paid to
the Memory of Cleagenor; fo that to comfort her,
I infinuated, that the fame Providence which had
protested her in fo many Dangers, could alfo de-
liver her Lover from them: But this had a quite
different Effect from what I imagin'd it would ;-
for the more I talk'd to her of Cleagenor, the more
Tears fhe fhed, as if fhe intended to raife another
Storm by the Violence of her Sobbs and Sighs,
which the gave over only to utter thefe Words.
Ungrateful and perfidious Cleagenor, who with fo
much Obftinacy flieft the miferable Leonice, do
not believe I will any longer follow you with the
Sentiments Love had given me in your Favour
your Ingratitude makes me reflect upon my own
and fince I already have receiv'd Chaftifement for
my Fault, 'tis but juft you should be punifh'd for
yours. Yes, perfidious Man, fly to the very Ex-
tremities of the Earth, where you believe you ſhall
never more hear of me; yet if my Vengeance
cannot overtake you, at leaft my Imprecations
fhall throw upon you the Mifery your Pride de-
ferves. I from henceforth renounce all Hopes of
your Love, and deteft it with as much Sincerity
as I before purfa'd it.
A.
'Tis impoffible to tell you how much I'was fur-
priz'd at this Difcourfe, to find fo fudden a Change
in one who but juſt before ſeem'd to live only for
Cleagenor. I now fided with Cleagenor against Leonice
which fhe obferving, I fee, Sir, fays fhe, you won-
der at my running thus from one Extream into a-
nother, and I doubt not you take it for an Effect
of the Inconftancy and Inequality of my Humour,
but I hope you'll alter your Opinion when you
know the Realon, and I affure my felf you will
G4
cal
132
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
call That Prudence, which perhaps at preſent you
think Lightnefs. Since Love and my Misfortunes
have put me befide myfelf my Mind and Body
have been in Tempests which I could not avoid:
But as the Pilot grows mote tilful by Dangers,
and fhuns the Rocks he had before (plit upon;
fo I will alter my Courfe, for fear of being flip-
wreck'd, in fteering towards a Port which it is
Madness ever to hope to arrive at; and that you
may be able to judge whether I am not in the
Right in what I fay, Iwill tell you the Dangers I
have run thro'.
"Tis not neceffary, Lifander, to repeat what you
have already told us; therefore I hall only take
up the Story where you dropp'd it, *and give it in
Leonice's own Words,
THE
(133)
THE
HISTORY
OF
LEONICE:
60
OR, THE
Jealous Miftrefs.
00 A Q Q
90000000 FTER Lifander Kad left me, continu'd
oo
fhe, I went to vift Cleagenor in his Pri-
fon; where, after a great many Senti-
Gondango ments of Tendernefs and Pity, I came
infenfibly to thofe of Love, and gave him fuch
plain Teftimonies of it, that it was impoffible for
him-to doubt its Reality. He at firft excus'd him-
felf upon the Condition he was in, and when Juftice
had reftor'd him to Happinefs and Liberty, he
delpis'd all my Entreaties, and under Pretence of
efcaping from the Confpiracies of his Enemies,
G. S
he
134
Alcidalis and Zelida; or;
he meant to get from me, and leave me a Prey to
my Sorrows. But notwithstanding the Secrecy of
this Refolution, I difcover'd it, and not having in-
Tereft enough to make him change it, I was fo
blinded by Love, that I form'd a Defign which has
been the Source and Caufe of all my Misfortunes.
Cleagenor Having provided the Equipage necef-
fary for his Departure, and not caring to be feen
to embark, went in a Boat to an Ifland about a
Mile from Venice, and there waited fome Time for
the Ship which was to take him in. As I had
plac'd Spies every where, I foon had Notice of
this Proceeding, and my Love not being able to
confent to this Separation, made me find a Way
to eſcape from Lifimene, to go to that charming Fu-
gitive, who did not think me fo much as worthy
of a Farewel. When I came to him, I conjur'd
him not to leave me, or at leaft, if I was fo ex-
treamly odious to him, to honour me fo far as to
let me die by his Hand. To my Tears I added
Intreaties, Sighs, and if you would have a lively
Picture of my Love and his Ingratitude, imagine
to yourſelf all the Tenderneffes and Tranſports
which the greateſt Paffion can employ to raife
Compaffion, and you well know the Endeavours I
us'd to bend this inflexible Man. But Gleagenor be-
held all my Sorrows with an unconcern'd Counte-
nance, and his Heart was as little mov'd with my
Defpair, as is a proud Rock with the weak Dafh-
ing of the Waves. Seeing him fo little mov'd at
all I could fay, I was out of Heart, and fell in a
Swoon at his Feet; but far from affifting me in a
Condition fo piteous, he took that Opportunity to
By from my Reproaches and Complaints. Yes, he
had the Heart to leave me upon the Shore in the
Arms of Death; and how happy had I been, it
that unfortunate Day had been the laft of my Life.
But Heaven, which referv'd me for other Mis-
fortunes, was too angry with me, to grant me fo
fweet
The Undaunted LADY.
135
፣
fweet and timely a Death. I return'd then to the
Light, or rather to fresh Ditafters; for I faw Clea-
gener's Ship already put to Sea, and bearing in its
Sides my Repofe and my Hopes. Whilft could
fee it, I never took my Eyes off, and tho' by little
and little I found it diminiſh'd, yet in the leaſt
Atom that appearid of it, I view'd my Grief, re-
preſenting to myſelf the Lofs I fuftain'd in lofing
Cleagener. Being reduc'd to this Extremity, Ibegan
to think what Way Ifhould put an End to my Mi-
feries, and was juft upon the Point of precipitat-
ing myfelf into the Waves, when looking on the
Sea, towards the Part Cleagenor was gone, I faw afar
offa Ship, which with incredible Swiftnefs feem'd ›
to make to the Ifland upon which I ftood. We:
are always inclin'd to believe the Things we defire.
Seeing that Ship coming towards me with fo much
Swiftnefs, I prefently fancy'd 'twas Clingenor, who,
touch'd with Remorse at having deferted me, was
coming to restore me his Prefence, or at leaft to
prevail upon me to follow his Fortune. Whilft I
was in this Error, the Ship touch'd at the Ifland,
and fome of the Men taking Land, upon what
Account I am yet ignorant. I defir'd them to bring
me to their Captain, thinking they were the Sol-
diers Cleagenor had hir'd for the Defence of his
Ship and Perfon, againſt the Incurfions of the Bar-
barians. My Prayer, alas! was granted, and they
immediately carry'd me to their Commander:
But instead of Cleagenor, I beheld a Man, whoſe :
Sight I could hardly endure without Horror; for
his Face being burnt by the Sun, and his tangled
Hair covering part of his Shoulders in Ropes,
which his Lazinefs and Length of Time had fuf-
fer'd to go uncomb'd, made him fo frightful, that
he rather feem'd a Monſter than a Man. When I
found my ſelf run into this Mifchief, through my
own Blindnefs and Folly, there was nothing that
I did not ufc to deliver my felf from it; Cries,
Tears,
3
ti
in
136
Alcidális um Želilla br,
·
b
$
Tears, and Complaints were the leaft Fokens of
my Grief tore my Hairoandard all b could
think of against my Face and Breaft, to deftrøy
their Beauty, which I too well found would be al-
ways fatal to me: But alas! all was in vaingsfor
the Pirate having weigh'd Anchor, put out again
to Sea; and fer Guards upon me, who patinout
of my Power to hurt myſelf. If I was griev dat
this Accident, I was no lefs amaz'd when showas
given for a Slave to a Woman, who feem'd to be
the Barbarian's Wife; but to my great Aftonin-
ment, I found her to be the fame Phitis whom I
had feen at Venice; and who, as I afterwards heard,
had been taken by this Pirate as he was return-
ing to Rome. As foon as I came before her, the
haughty Woman knew me again, and looking up-
on me with a difdainful Eye; now, Leonice, fays
fhe, you fhall receive the Punifhment due to your
Infolence, and feel my Revenge for the ill Ufage
you gave Cilindo, whofe Death you were the Caufe
of, as well as for the Misfortunes I at prefent lie
under on your Account. Saying this, that her Me-
naces might not be vain, fhe caus'd me to be treat-
ed with all the Cruelty that can be imagin'd, and
ftripping me of the rich Drefs I had on, gave me
one which forted better with the unhappy Condi-
tion I was in. Some Days afterwards we caft An-
chor at the Ifland of Crete, to refreſh our ſelves
with Water and Provifions. Phillis being gone to
Shore to buy fome Neceffaries, and fell the Booty
which was in the Ship, the Pirate who was call'd
Aftrubal, took the Opportunity to talk with me,
for he durft not do it but in the Abfence of Phillis,
whofe ill Humour he flood very much in fear of,
thinking her worſe than the Water or Fire in their
moft violent Fury; and indeed he was a mere
Slave to her Will, fince with a fingle Kifs, and a
Glafs of Wine, fhe could make him do whatever
fhe defir'd. I particularly told him all my Misfor-
tunes,
The Undaunted LADY.
137
#
کیوں
•
fortunes, which cruel as he was, he was not only
boncern'd at, but could not forbear crying fome-
times alas ! Ever after that he began to oufe me
with more Kindneſs, and Phillis knowing me to be
handfomer than herfelf, being now grown a little
ningYears, and finding her Husband ſpeak of me
often with Pity, took it in her Head that Aftrubal
was in Love with me; and being inform'd that
there was no Law among Corfairs, to hinder them
from putting away one Wife to marry another,
or at least from keeping a Concubine, fhe was re-
folv'd not to endure fuch a Rival. Thus, jealous
of a Happinefs which I detefted and abhorr'd
more than Death, fhe form'd a Plot to get rid of
ome, and hir'd fome Slaves to poignard me in the
Night, and throw me into the Sea And I could
with that eternal Providence which warded off the
Blow from me, had given Phillis, the Satisfaction
fhe defir'd, I ſhould not then have been expos'd
to any more Miferics; but alas! it happen'd quite
otherwife; for being by Chance gone out of my
Cabin when the Murtherers enter'dit, they stay'd
for me a good while; wherefore Phillis, carry'd
by Impatience, or perhaps defirous to be herfelf
Spectatrefs of that Cruelty, went thither; but
had no fooner fet her Foot into the Door, than
the Soldiers, taking her for me, pierc'd her with
a hundred Wounds, and immediately threw her
where fhe had commanded them to throw me.
The Affaffinates having in this Manner done an
Act of Justice, inftead of a barbarous Murther,
return'd to Phillis's Chamber, to affure her that
they had facrific'd me to her Jealoufy; but they
were very much aftonifh'd, when they could not
find her there, nor in any Part of the Ship, tho'
they fearch'd for her with the utmoft Diligence;
at laft, concluding fhe must be gone into the Cap-
tain's Cabin, to amufe him with her Careffes,
whilft they executed her cruel Commands, they
*
were
138
Alcidālis and Zelida ; or,
were eafy and gave over their Search. But conf
fidering that it was not enough to have committ
ted the Crime, without they took Care to conceal
it, they went back to my Gabin, to wash away the
Blood they had fhed, to the Intent that when no
Marks of their Bury fhould appear, they might
ſcribe the Cauſe of my Deftraction to the Effects
of my Deſpair. But if they were furpris'd at not
finding Phill where they had left her, they were
much more fo, when having knock'd at my Door,
which I had shut at my Return, they knew by
my Voice I was where they did not believe me to
be. They intreated me to open it, but in vaing
for as I was always in fear of the Violence Afrubal
had a Mind to exercife tipon my Honour, far from:
fatisfying their Defires, Ifet all I could find in my
Cabin againſt the Door, and prepar'd to caft my
felf into the Sea, if they fhould force the Obftacles
with which I had fortify'd myſelf againſt their in-
folent Endeavours. Prayers, Stratagems. Force
and Threats were us'd by the Barbarians, to pré-
vail upon me
me to open the Door to them, but my
Vertue made me as infenfible to them, as Cruelty
generally makes them inexorable to others. Hav
ing thus in vain continued their Endeavours 'till
the Morning, they then gave over attacking me in
my Azylum; but thinking their Safety depended
upon my Death, they refolved to try to bring it
about in another Manner, and had Recourfe to
that malignant Cunning which is fo natural to
them, to deprive me at once of my Life and In-
nocence. For this Purpoſe they went to Aftrubal,
and pretending to be in a mighty Fright, afk'd
him with a trembling Voice if Phillis was with
him? Aftrubal, very much amaz'd at ſuch a Que-
ftion, and at the Looks they put on, afk'd them
whence this Curiofity proceeded, and what was
the Meaning of the Alteration which appear'd in
their Countenacces. As we were walking towards
the
3
*
The Undaunted LADY.
139
the Chamber of the Italian Slave about Break of
Day, reply'd the Traytors, we heard a Noife,
which made us go nearer owe then heard the
Voice of a dying Perfon, and thro' the Crevices of
the Door could perceive the Gleam of a Dagger,
which fome pitylefs Hand plung'd feveral Times
into a Body, which all bloody was caft into the
Sea, as we judg'd by the Noise it made in falling
into the Water. We intreated your Slave to open
the Door to us; but ſhe, to hide from us the Marks
of her Murther, refus'd us Entrance, and let us
know that our Strength would prove as vain as
our Prayers, if we endeavour'd to force it open.
Thofe Words made us fear her Deſpair would
fnatch her from the Chaftifement her Crime de
ferves ; we went to look for Philks to let her know
it, but not being able to find her any where in
the Ship, we fufpected her Death upon very good
Grounds ; and therefore came to inform you of
this Mifchance, which, to our Grief, it was impof-
fible for us to prevent. Aftrubal, very much amaz'd
at this News, caus'd Phillis to be fearch'd for in all
Parts of the Ship, but fhe could not be found,
which fo enrag'd Aftrubal, that he would prefently
have facrific'd me to the Manes of Phillis, if Hea-
ven, which protects the innocent, had not fav'd
me from his Fury by a Miracle.
Whilft Aftrubal was preparing to take an unjuſt
Revenge, and I a long wifh'd for Death, fome
Soldiers faw floating round the Ship, a Body which
the Sea fometimes receiv'd into the Bottom of its
Entrails, and then preſently feem'd to vomit up
again, mov'd at this pitiful Object, they went
down into the Boat, and having taken the Time
when it came to the Surface of the Water, they
feiz'd it by the Garments, which it fill had on,
and drew it into the Boat, from whence they car-
ry'd it into the Ship, to fee who it was, and to
confront it to my Face. The miſerable Body was
no
140
Alcidalis and Zelida; or
no fooner laid upon the Ship, than Aftrubal ran to
fee it, and with him the greatest Part of the Pi-
rates; among whom, the Murtherers themfelves
did not fcruple to appear; but this Curiofity
prov'd very fatal to them, for they had fcarce come
near the Corpfe, which was known to be Philles's,
when the Blood fpurted quite into their Faces,
and imprinted upon them the Marks of a Crime
which they had malicioufly laid to my Charge.
':
At this Wonder, which Heaven work'd in my
Favour, Afirubal caus'd-the Murtherers to be feiz'd,
and they prefently confefs'd the Fact just as it had
pafs'd, declaring the Command Phillis had given
them to poignard me. Aftrubal being thus inform'a
of all the Particulars of this Defign, came himſelf
to my Chamber, to let me know what had hap
pen'd; but I had already heard the greateſt Part
of it, from fome Soldiers whom I overheard talk-
ing of it, which had calm'd my Spirits a little,
and made me declare my felf to the Captain, who
Having told me of the Confpiracy that had been
form'd against me, I reply'd their Crime did not
in the leaft regard me, or if it did, all I blam'd
them for, was for not having executed their De-
fign, which would have freed me from all my Mi-
feries. After this Anfwer, he commanded Phillis's
Murtherers to be put to Death, and to let me fee
that her Death was not the Caufe of their Punish-
ment, he at the fame Time caus'd her Body to be
thrown again into the Sea, being alfo minded by
that Contempt of her, to fhew me, that even af-
ter her Death, he would punish her for the At
tempt he made upon my Life. He afterwards
gave me an ample Declaration of his Love, and
of his Defire to have me for his Wife, and to get
my Confent the more eafily, he affur'd me he
would not proceed against my Will, tho' I was his
Slave: To this he added a great many Protefta-
tions how he would always love me above all things,
STEM Whether blow od bre ove Tule
The Undaunted LADY.
141
*
ufe me with the greateſt Kindnefs, and even leave
off the fhameful Profeffion he follow'd And
nore, to make his Peace with the Venetians, he
would go offer them his Ships, and good Part of
the Wealth he had heap'd up, during the Time
he had exercis'd Piracy. I would not give him an
abfolute Denial, for fear it fhould provoke him to
fome Violence; but I affur'd him, that as foon as
I faw myſelf at Liberty, and in my own Country,
I would contribute all I could to his Satisfaction.
Upon this Promiſe I defir'd him, as he lov'd me,
to fleer his Courſe towards the Adriatic Gulph,
and in the mean Time to ufe me as his Sifter, 'till
Heaven fhould permit me to give emire and law-
ful Content to his Love. This Argument, and the
Prayers I added to it, fatisfy'd him for fome Time;
but then my Eyes, which he ſaid gave him cruel
Blows, advis'd him quite to the contrary. There-
fore to hinder my Beauty's inflaming him any
more, and leaft his Paffion fhould gain too abfo-
lute a Power over the little Reafon he had lot for
his own Good, I try'd to leffen it as much as I
could. I came into his Prefence as feldom as pof-
fible; I often pretended to be fick ; I hardly eat
any thing; and the little Suftenance I took, was
rather to make me lean, and ſpoil my Complexi-
on, than to nourish me; but all thefe Methods
which I us'd to make my felf ugly, and to gain his
Averfion, ferv'd only to make him more hot than
ever. At last, after having committed a thoufand
Infolencies, and attack'd my Honour by Prayers,
Promiſes, and Threats; for thefe two Nights laft
paſt he endeavour'd to uſe the utmoſt Violence
upon me; but I hinder'd it by Submiffions, Cries
and Tears; yet of a Fortnight which I begg'd of
him to refolve in, I could obtain only 'till yefter-
day; and in that Time he fwore with a dreadful
Oath, he would be my Husband either by Force
or Love; and he would certainly have executed
>
that
142
Aleidalis and Zelida; or,
that detefted Refolution, if Heaven had not made
ufe of your Courage to prevent it.
z
Thefe, Sir, fays he to me, are the Dangers
the miferable Leonice has run for having lov'd
Gleagenor and yet the Ingrate, tho' he has been
the Caufe of all my Misfortunes, refufes to reme-
dy them; and far from fuccouring me in my Dif-
afters, flies my Sight, thinking the image of Death,
which the Sea every Moment prefents before his
Eyes, more fupportable than my Prefence. But
fly where thou wilt, Barbarian, continu'd, fhe, and
as you before efcap'd from my Love, now fecif
you can efcape alfo from my Hatred: Heaven
which knows thy Ingratitude, and the Juftice of
my Refentment, will take Care to work my Re-
venge, and thy Punishment. After Leonice had faid
this, he told me he was very forry for the ill
Ufage fhe had 'till then given Lifander, and pro-
mis'd for the future, to receive his Addreffes with
all the good Will he himfelf could wish for.
+
In the mean Time fhe pray'd me to command
the Pilot to make to Land as foon as poffible, that
fhe might repofe herfelf after the Fatigues of the
Sea. Provifions beginning to grow fhort, Leafily
perfwaded our Men.to agree with Leonice's Defire;
fo that making the best of the Wind, it was not
long before we difcover'd Byzantium, but not ca •
ring to go to Shore there, becaufe that City be-
longs to the Turks, we refolv'd to pass through the
Bosphorus of Thrace, and caft Anchor under the Lee-
fhore of fome of the Simplegades, there to wait for
fome more favourable Wind; but 'twas in vain,
for the Wind rifing, and veering to the Weft with
more Violence than it had done before, the Pilot
was forced to weigh Anchor, for fear of being loft
against the Shelves that are round thoſe two Iſlands,
which are for that Reafon call'd the Cyan can
Stones; and this bad certainly happen'd to us if
the Anchor Cable had chanc'd to break, as it was
very
The Undaunted LADY.
·J43
B
*
very likely to do, becauſe of the Strength of the
Wind, and the perpetual Flux which runs in that
Place from the Euxine Sea, and enters into the
Prepontis. Having then weigh'd Anchor, we were
contrain'd to obey the Wind, which blowing for
fix Days together without Ceffation, drove us near
the Coaft of Mefembria, in which we did not care
to enter, the Avenue of the Port being difficult,
and the Inhabitants very barbarous. Therefore we
went farther on, and coafting along the Promon-
tory of Salamin, we fail'd by Cydon, meaning to go di-
rectly to Rhodes; but the Wind in the Night-time
chang'd to the North, and growing ftronger and
Aronger all Day, was fo violent in the Afternoon,
that tho' the Sails were lower'd, yet there was no
holding any other Courfe than the Wind would
permit; fo that we turn'd our Stern upon Rhodes,
our Mariners not being able to govern the Ship,
and the Sea being fo high, that the Waves oblig'st
them to commit themſelves entirely to the Ca-
price of Neptune. I fometimes thought our Ship
mounted to the Clouds, and at other Times that
it was defcending to Hell. The Water fwelling in
this Manner, the Waves fometimes darted into our
Ship, in fuch great Quantities, that we were al-
molt fubmerg d. The Wind blew fo violently
through every Moment
our Tackle, that we
thought it would break, and be carry'd into the
Sea with the Mafts and Yards: My Hair ftands
an End at the very Remembrance of fo horrid a
Tempeft; for we could fee nothing but Water
both above and beneath us, and the Hail and Rain
falling in great Showers feem'd to threaten to fink
us: The Lightning and Thunder terrify'd us on
the other Side, and I thought all the Elements
were returning to their firft Confufion, when the
Cloud opening, we faw a Fire glance out of it,
which gave a Sight of Hell in the midst of Hea-
ven. Yerbour Fear was this Time greater than
}:
the
[144
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or
婴
​the Danger; for the Tempeft ceas'd in the Night,
and the Air being clear'd from all Clouds, we faw
at the Top of the Maft Caftor and Pollux, who fhone
amidſt a
oufand Stars, whofe Clearneſs gave us
full Affurance both of the Serenity of the Heavens
and the Calmness of the Sea. During this Stillness
the Pilot confulted his Compafs, and told us we
were not far from the feven Mouths of the Danube,
and that we might land at the Entrance of the
River Tyrias, which is a little above it. So that
being come thither towards Break of Day, we
went up the River about thirty Stadia, and an
chor'd our Ship upon the Shore which was low
and very fruitful in Grafs, as was all the Land
thereabouts. Tho' we knew we were landed in a
very barbarous Country, inhabited by Scythians;
yet the Want of Provifions conftrain'd us to go a-
fhore to remedy fo preffing a Need. Orcant and E,
accompany'd by Leonice and fome Sailors, went to
fearch for Provifions, while thoſe who ſtay'd with
the Ship fill'd our Veffels with freſh Water; but
we were not got far into the Country before we
were obliged to fly with all the Hafte we could
make towards the Ship, being purfu'd by a Mul-
titude of Men arm'd with Bows and Darts, which
they fhot at us, and unfortunately wounded Orcant:
This forc'd him to ftand, for the Point of the Ar-
row being barb'd, ftuck in the Wound, and trem-
bling with the Force it came with, was an unfuf-
ferable Pain to him. For my Part, I ran towards
Leonice to get her into the Ship; but the Scythians
being very ſwift of Foot, overtook us, and fiezing
us carry'd us all with them, except fome Mariners,
who having regain'd the Ship, cut the Rope which
was fallen'd to the Anchor, and fuffer'd them-
felves to be driven along with the Stream. Now
thefe Scythians, who took us, were Soldiers of the
King of Morocco, who having left the City of Olbia,
had pafs'd the River Arafces to look out for Vic-
a
tuals,
The Undaunted LADY.
145
3
tuals, which they wanted in the Camp, becauſe
of the great Number of Men their King had
rais'd to fight the Pyrians, who had already
paſs'd the River Tanais, and were endeavour-
ing to force the Paffage of the Borifthenes; in order
to compleat the Deftruction of the King of Pire;
tho' the Defign of this War was not to ufurp, nör
to enrich themfelves with the Spoils of each other,
but only to revenge the Injuries which thefe Scy-
thians, anciently call'd Cymmerians, have fuftain'd
from the true Scythians, call'd Nomades, having dri-
ven one another into feveral Provinces, in which
always leaving fome of their People, they have
given the Name of Scythia to a very great Extent
of Country, as well in Europe as in Afia. Thefe Sol-
diers, having drefs'd Orcant's Wound, carry'd us
with them, and made us repafs the River Araxes,
near which they had pitch'd their Camp, where
being arriv'd, their Captain went to the King, to
inform him of his Booty, and he prefently order'd
us to be brought before him ; and knowing by our
Habits as well as Faces, that we were Strangers,
he caus'd us to be examin'd by one of his Inter-
preters. At first, he talk'd to us in feveral Lan-
guages which we understood nothing of; but ad-
dreffing himſelf to Orcant, who was not ignorant of
the Greek Tongue, he of him learnt all our Mis-
fortunes, which the Interpreter prefently repeated
to the King of Morocco, who, notwithſtanding all
His Barbarity, teftify'd a very great Compaffion
of our Miferies, and tho' he intended to facrifice
us to his Gods, to gain their Favour and Affiſtance
againſt his Enemies, yet he would not then let us
know it, deferring that Declaration, and the Exe-:
cution of it, till the Eve of the Battle; to the in-
tent that he might either put us out of our Pain
at once, if we must needs be fo unhappy, et to
endeavour to find other Viams, who might th
our Stead be offer'd to Mart and Diana, whom he
C
defir'd
146
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
defir'd to render propitious to him. At length
the King having obferv'd in the Countenance of
Orcant all the Marks of a Man of Courage, he ſent
for him, and by his Interpreter gave him to un
derftand the Custom and Religion of the Country,
according to which they were used to facrifice hu
man Victims to their Gods, who ſeem'd to have
chofen us to be offer'd to them. Yet, continu'd
the Interpreter, the King had rather facrifice his
Enemies, and I believe the Gods would be better
pleas'd with his doing fo, than with his offering
Strangers, as I know you to be. Wherefore, he
declares to you by my Mouth, that if you would
fave yourſelves from Death, you must prepare to
furprize our Enemies, and to bring them to us for
your Ranfom. The King for this Purpoſe will
give you what Number of Men you fhall defire,
and an Interpreter to tell them your Orders,
Tho' this Refolution might have fhaken the
firmeft Courage, yet it did not frighten Orcant,
who thank'd his Majefty for this Offer, and begg'd
Permiffion to take his Leave of us. The King
granted him whatever he aſk'd, and having given
him an Interpreter, commanded him to take fifty
of his own Guards, and do with them all that Or-
cant fhould order. This done, Orcant came to us,
and told us all the King had refolv'd concerning
us. At this Vifit, which we thought would be our
laft, Leonice gave herfelf up to Tears, and I was
perplex'd between the Love I bore for my own
Sex, and the Shame of fitting idle, whilft another
ran the Hazard of Death to fave our Lives; on
the other Hand, I could not bear to leave Leonice
to the Mercy of a barbarous People, who I thought
might have procur'd our Abfence, to erect to
themſelves a Trophy of Leonice's Honour: Thus I
fear'd for both, which oblig'd me to utter theſe
Words, Since we muft die, Leonice, why do we not
die all together, that our Souls may in the fame
$
Moment
The Undaunted LADY.
147
Moment join the Immortality of their Being to
that of our Affection? Why do we not die to brave
Our Misfortunes, fince the End of Miferies is the
very higheft Pitch of the Miferies themfelves? If
I thought Heaven, reply'd Leonice, would preferve
you from the Death to which you run, I ſhould
be content; but alas! I fear that in this Occafion,
to which your Courage excites you, Death will
not be the leaft of your Mifchances. Orcant, whofe
Mind was already in the Battle, look'd upon us
with a fterner Eye than he had ever done before:
We have ftay'd long enough, fays he, let us run
Zelidan, whither Fortune conducts us. I follow'd
him, having bidden Leonice farewel, and defir'd
her to take Heart, fince the God whom we adore
in another Manner than thoſe Barbarians do their
impotent Deities, would never fuffer That to fall
upon us which the apprehended.
We afterwards went to the King, where we
found his Men ſtaying for us. We mounted with
them into their Chariots, which being driven by
fkilful Drivers, came at Night by the Favour of
the Moon behind the Pyrian Camp, where finding
a thinner Guard than in other Quarters of the
Army, we carry'd off four of the Enemy's Cha-
riots, thoſe who were in them being faft afleep.
This Prize being gain'd without fo much as ftrik-
ing a Blow, we return'd the fame Way we came,
and being fpurr'd on by the Confideration, that
we had in our Hands the Ranfom of our Lives,
we came to the Camp without taking the leaft
Reft. The King was furpriz'd at our fudden Re-
turn, and much more fo, when he faw the Num-
ber of Priſoners we brought him.
After this Piece of Service, we began to breathe.
more freely, and were deliver'd out of the Hands
of the Priefts who had been order'd to prepare us
for Death. The King having caus'd us to be
brought into one of his Pavilions, told Ortant by
his
148
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
his Interpreter, that he was very glad he had by
his Dexterity deliver❜d us by taking his Enemies,
which his own Men could never execute, being
afraid of ferving for Victims to their Adverfaries,
if the Chance of Arms was not favourable to them.
After feveral Praifes which he gave Orcant, he
concluded, that he intended to make ufe of us,
and conjur❜d us not to leave him 'till his Enemies
were retir'd. We foon confented to his Requeft,
well knowing that the Defires of a King are all
one as Commands: Yet our thirft after Glory did
not fo wholly employ our Minds, but that we had
a great deal of Care of Leonice, for whom we begg'd
Security and Protection. The King granted us all
we ask'd, and gave us People to ferve her, and an
Interpreter to give Orders for whatever ſhe ſhould
want, with an exprefs Command to obey Leonice
in all the defir'd. For her further Safety, he of
fer'd to fend her into the City of Olbia; but fhe
would not go thither, faying, that there fhe could
not hear from Orcant and me fo well as in the
Camp, and without that it was impoffible for her
to live. Thus fhe was accommodated with every
Thing at the Pavillion, where the Interpreter had
at first plac'd her; and had Slaves, both of Men
and Women, allotted to attend her. Seeing her
fettled in this Manner, we took our Leaves of her,
and went to the Troops which the King had fet
Orcant and I to command for his Service. And to
let us fee what a good Opinion he had of us, and
that he meant to protect us, he caus'd all his Ar-
my to be drawn out, and chofe for us the beſt
arm'd Companies in it. The Number of his Sol-
diers was very great, and made a wonderful Ap-
pearance in the Plain; there were at least four-
fcore thouſand Men, moft of them on Horſeback
with Bows and a great many Arrows which hung
in a Quiver at their Back, the Scythians being very
skilful Archers, tho' they fhoot on Horfeback; for
pre-
The Undaunted LADY.
149
pretending to fly, they fuddenly turn themſelves
in their Saddle, and never mifs fhooting full in the
Stomach of the Enemy that purfues them.
The Review being ended, the King ask'd Orcant
what was his Opinion of his Army? He anſwer'd,
that he had not yet feen all the Enemies; but
that as far as he had feen of them, the Pyrians were
advanc'd too far to hurt him, and that if he would
march against them, he did not think they would
have the Boldnefs to ftand the Attack. The King
anfwer'd, that the Succefs of a Battle was always
doubtful, let the Advantage of the Ground or of
Men be never fo great, and that for this Reafon
he had always chofen rather to fpare his Soldiers,
than to run the Rifque of facrificing them thro
too much Precipitation; governing his Kingdom
not as his own, but as belonging to his People, who
he knew lov'd him more than they fear'd him,
and therefore he thought it his Duty to preferve
them by all poffible Means, amongst which he had.
try'd the fafeft, namely, not to expofe himself to
the Fury of the Enemy, but only to put a Stop to
their Violence, and to cool their Heat by Degrees,
by blocking up the Paffage of the Borifthenes, which
the Pyrians durft not attempt, for fear of being at-
tack'd before they were half over: Yet that his
Enemies might not carry off the Glory, of having
provok'd him, without his having ventur'd to re-
ceive them; fince the Gods had been pleas'd to
fend to his Affiftance Strangers, whofe Experi-
ence and Wiſdom he had already made a Tryal
of, he was refolv'd to fend a Salute to them under
our Command, and had to that Intent chofen from
among all his Troops, thofe he had feen, by the
Means of which he affur'd himſelf he might do
him fome good Service, becauſe he would find
them obedient and ready to execute his Com-
mands.
H
Having
150
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Having rang'd his Soldiers in this Manner, and
given them to our Conduct, he faid further to us :
this Day conjure you, O generous Cavaliers, to
Thew that the Efteem I hold you in is not in vain ;
go and effect your Refolutions without asking me
what I would have done; for in the different
Changes which happen in War, the greateft Con-
fidence ought to be repos'd in him who commands,
and in the Obedience of the Soldiers.
Orcant, having taken Leave of the King of Mo-
recco, and chofen three Interpreters for our Guides,
made a fecond Review of his Troops, and gave
me Part of them to command. They confifted of
eight thouſand Horfe, and an hundred Chariots,
in each of which were four Archers with two hun-
dred Arrows, cach Chariot being drawn by two
Horfes, and driven by a Man who fate in the Fore-
part of it, and had in his Hand befides a Whip, a
Bow and fome Darts, which he made Ufe of if
there was Occafion. With thefe few Men, who
were far from being enow to attack the Pyrian
Army, which confifted of above an hundred and
twenty thousand Horfe, Orcant refolv'd to cut them.
out Work enough; for having already experienc'd
the ill Watch they kept behind their Camp, and
feeing his Men were very bold, he decamp'd a-
bout Midnight, and at the fame Time fent the
King a Memorial, wherein he defir'd him to dif
cover, by one of his Spies, next Day, what the E-
nemy was doing, and if he heard any Confufion in
their Camp, to pretend prefently to pass the Bo-
riftkenes, in order to attack them, but without pre-
fently venturing to do it.
;
This firft Night our March was very long, and.
fo fecret, that 'twas impoffible to difcover us. The
Way was the fame Orcant went before fo that
finding himfelf near the Eremy, and knowing
their Negligence, he fet his Men in Order in the
Night-time, fo that the Enemy might fee us to-
wards
The Undaunted LADY.
151
wards Break of Day. He form'd a Squadron of
four thouſand Horfe, which he caus'd to advance,
to begin the Skirmish, founding their Cornets of
Bone, which they made Ufe of inſtead of Trum-
pets. Upon this Alarm the Pyrians were very
much terrify'd, and the lighteft arm'd of them
were fent out to reconnoitre what we were; but they
were warmly repuls'd. Yet they reported to their
King, that there were not very many of us. Pir,
which was the King's Name, caus'd about fix or
feven thouſand Horfe to advance against us, who,
they thought, furiouſly repuls'd Orcant's Fore-
runners, which giving Way to the Enemy, retir'd
a-fide of my Squadron, making Ufe of me as a
Left Wing, and by giving back drew the Enemy.
fo far on, that our Chariots were all at their Backs.
The firft Chariot which ftood towards the Enemy
prefently wheel'd to the Right, and was follow'd ·
by all the reft, and when the reft of our Horfe
difcover'd themfelves, and attack'd the Pyrians,
who were by this Means furrounded on all Sides,
the Enemy were all miferably maffacred.
Orcant's Troops being fpread out along the Field
upon this Occafion, fhew'd much more numerous
than they had done as they were rang'd before;
and being perceiv'd by the Enemy's Army in that
Pofture, Pir began to be afraid, thinking it was
fome Succour come to the King of Morocco from
the Agothyfes, or the Roxolanians, who had always
been his mortal Enemies. On the other Hand,
Advice was brought him of that King's being a-
bout paffing the River, and of his having already
faften'd feveral Boats together for that Purpoſe.
Pir was fo confounded at this, that without any
farther Confultation, he prefently commanded his
Army to turn Head, and retreat towards the River
Tanais. The King of Morocco, who plainly faw his
Enemies were diflodging, did not yet care, either
for the Hopes of Booty or Revenge, to pafs the
River,
H 2
152
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
River, to follow them, fearing fome Stratagem
which might not eafily be remedy'd: Orcant nei-
ther would not advance any farther, contenting
himſelf with the Honour he had gain'd, by beat-
ing Part of the Enemy. Yet fome Prifoners being
brought to him, who affur'd him of the Diflodg-
ment of the Pyrians, he fell upon their very Camp,
where his Men got no fmall Plunder. The King
feeing this Defeat of his Enemy, prefently caus'd
a Bridge to be rais'd over the River, in order to
pafs it with his Army, which refreſh'd it felf with
the Provifions Pir had left in great Quantities.
The King of Morocco after this went to Olbia,
which is fituated near the Borifthenes, on a Canal
drawn from that Riyer, for the Conveniency of
the City. As after what Orcant and I had done for
him, we were not a little in his Efteem, he would
have had us taken Part in the Pleaſures and Tri-
umphs he meant to celebrate upon a Victory,
which feem'd to promife his Dominions as much
Repofe as Glory: But our Impatience to fee Leo-
nice not fuffering us to ftay there ſo long, the King
permitted us to go to her. We were no fooner
arriv'd, but we went immediately into the Tent
where we had left her at our Departure; but the
King's Favour was of no Ufe to us upon this Oc-
cafion, and all our Search was in vain; for Leonice
was not to be found, and all we could learn about
her was, that fhe went away in the Night with
one of her Slaves, and that it was not likely they
were gone far, becauſe they had left all their
Goods hehind them. Orcant having ask'd where
thofe were, and being fhew'd them by the Slaves,
look'd them all over exactly in my Prefence; and
his Spirits being lefs diforder'd than mine, he
fearch'd fo narrowly, that he found a Letter writ
ten with Leonice's own Hand, containing theſe
Words.
LEO-
The Undaunted LADY.
153
LEONICE to the generous ORCANT,
and the brave ZELIDA N.
H
Aving no body whom I could truſt to tell you what I
have to let you know, my Hand must do the Office
of my Mouth, to inform you, that the Treachery of the In-
terpreter the King gave us is fo great, that the Villian had
the Impudence to attempt my Honour; and because he could
not fucceed in fo odious a Defign, he swore be would be
reveng❜d of my Virtue, and use any Violence whatsoever to
deftroy it. To avoid fuch a Misfortune, I chufe rather to
expofe myſelf to the Inhumanity of a barbarous People, and
even to the Rage of the wildest Beafts, than to remain at
the Mercy of such a Man: Therefore I bid you farewel
perhaps for the taft Time. Yet I confide in the Goodness of
Heaven, which has already preferv'd us from ſo many Dan-
gers; or, if I muft at last fuccumb under fo great a Load
of Misfortunes, at least be pleas'd to remember
#
The miferable LEONICE
This Letter having inform'd us of her Misfor-
tune, Grief almoft drove us to Defpair, to think
that we had fought fo long to no Purpoſe, for the
Life of one whom at laſt we could not fave. We
thought we could not make our Refentment a
more agreeable Sacrifice, than by taking Ven-
gear.ce on the Interpreter, who had been fo perfi-
dious to us. Orcant would have made him a Vic-
tim to his Fury, but I hinder'd him, by reprefent-
ing, that to come off with the King more honoura-
bly, it would be better to implore the Succour of
his Juftice. He took my Advice, and we imme-
diately return'd to the King at his Palace in Olbia,
where we made our Complaints to the King, and
demanded Satisfaction for the Violence the Inter-
preter would have offer'd to Leonice, For Proof of
what
H 3
154
Alcidalis and Zelida; or
what we faid, I fhew'd him the Letter of that
unhappy Woman: The King caus'd it to be inter-
preted to him by another Interpreter, and imme-
diately promis'd, that the Punishment fhould e-
qual the Greatnefs of the Crime. He therefore
prefently fent for all the Slaves that were left in
the Pavillion, and commanded the Officers of Ju-
ftice to feize the Interpreter, which they executed
with as much Fidelity as Diligence; for they
brought him away, without telling him any thing
more, than that they made him Prifoner by the
King's Order. Being before his Majefty, Leonice's
Letter was read to him; he impudently deny'd all,
and alledg'd, that fhe had only done it for a Co-
lour to her Flight. Upon this the Slaves were
examin'd apart, and varying in their Anfwers, they
were put to the Rack; fome bore it with unpa-
ralel'd Refolution; but most of them, without
enduring the Torment, confefs'd the Force the
Interpreter would have us'd upon the Perfon of
Leonice. They were, upon this Confeffion, confront-
ed with the Criminal, who, changing Colour feve-
ral Times, vary'd from his firft Anfwers, and at
laft confefs'd the Crime he was too juftly accus'd
of. The King having heard this Confeffion, inftead
of pardoning a Fault fo bafe and unworthy of his
Clemency, condemn'd the Interpreter to be im-
pal'd, which was in a few Hours afterwards exe-
cuted out of the City.
After this Execution, the King thank'd us for
the Service we had done him againſt the Enemies
of his Country, and defir'd us to ftay with him,
offering us the moſt confiderable Pofts in his King-
dom, befides Perfons to go in Search of the mi-
ferable Leonice, both by Land and Sea. Orcant
first return'd him Thanks for the Juftice he had
been pleas'd to do us, and then conjur'd him to
give us Leave to go to Rhodes, where he hop'd we
might hear Tidings of her either from France, or
Italy,
The Undaunted LADY:
155
Italy, by means of the Knights which that Ifland
receives from all the Provinces of Europe; begging
him to furnish us with what we fhould want in
our Voyage, and in our Search of Leonice. The
King took his Requeft in good part, and gave
him a Chariot richly adorn'd, and cover'd within
with Plates of Gold; he alfo made me fome Pre-
fents, and order'd about a dozen Perfons for our
Guards and Guides. Thus equipp'd, we took our
Leaves of the King, who was not a little concern'd
at our Separation; we too were very much griev'd
at it, but we promis'd his Majeſty, if ever Fortune
prov'd favourable to us, we would again do our
felves the Honour to fee him. After thefe Prote-
ftations I mounted with Orcant into the Chariot,
which was preſently follow'd by fix others fent a-
long with us by the King,
In this Equipage we went towards the Danube,
which having crofs'd, we took the Way to Mezem-
bria, where we refted fome Time before we went
into Afia Mizor; from thence going along by the
Side of the Propontis and the Archipelago, we faw,
by the Way, Mitilene, Smyrna, and Ephefus. At laft.
after a long Journey, which we took round about,
to avoid Byzantium, we arriv'd at Halicarnaffus
where we intended to ftay 'till Heaven fhould fend
us fome favourable Opportunity of going into Italy
or France. Of all the Chariots which came along
with us, we took with us only that which the
King of Morocco had given us, the others remain'd
at Epbefus, 'till the Return of the People that ac-
company'd us. As we enter'd into the City of Ha-
licarnaffus, I faw in the Street a young Woman,
drefs'd after the Manner of the Morocco Slaves;
this I prefently fhew'd Orcant, who, touch'd with
the fame Sentiments that I was, conceiv'd the
fame Hopes. Both of us, incited by Curiofity,
ftopp'd her; and becauſe fhe was drefs'd like a
Slave, we ask'd her who fhe belong'd to. At first
H 4
fhe
1156
'Alcidalis and Zelida ; or;
The feem'd furpriz'd, either at our talking to her
in the Scythian Tongue, which we had fome flight
Knowledge of, or at our Faces, which had no-
thing in them like thofe of the Nation whoſe
Drefs we imitated; yet looking on me for fome
time, fhe in return took the Liberty to ask us, if
we did not come from the Camp of the King of
Morocco. Our Anfwer having fatisfy'd her Defire,
her Joy and our Happineſs were vifible upon her
Forehead, and her Ravifhment having taken a-
way her Speech, fhe invited us by an agreeable
Silence to follow her. The poor Girl, to whom
Impatience feem'd to have lent Wings, got before
us a little Way, and entring into a Houfe, left us in
the Street, where lifting up our Eyes we faw a
Lady at the Window, who feem'd very much
mov'd; the little Time fhe ftay'd there, would
not fuffer us to obferve her much, but we were
very much furpriz'd, when coming to the Door,
we knew it to be Leonice. This Meeting feem'd to
both of us as that of a Son rais'd from the Dead,
who is met by his Mother; Kiffes and Embraces,
Tears of Joy, and all the Tenderneffes imaginable,
were the Compliments I made to Leonice: Orcant
would not interrupt us, but whilft we were in
thefe Tranſports, he went and took Care to fee
the Attendants the King had fent with us honoura-
bly accommodated, which having acquitted him-
felf of with as much Generofity as Courtefy, he let
them know we had found Leonice, and that they
need not go any farther, our Defign being to ſtay
fome Time at Halicarnaffus, where he defir'd them
10 refresh themſelves at his Charge as long as they
pleas'd.
The Scythians, tho' a barbarous and unpolifh'd
People, thank'd Orcant for the Offers he made
them, and told him, that being us'd to the Coun-
try, they did not find fo much Repofe in Cities,
wherefore they defir'd him to give them Leave
to
The Undaunted LADY.
157
to return the next Day, and in the mean Time to
write to their King. Orcant leaving them for that
Night at their Lodgings, came to me and Leonice
and defir'd her to write to the intent that what
fhe writ now being conformable to the Letter fhe
had left, and that which had been a Witnefs a-
gainſt the Interpreter, it might be a farther Proof
of his Crime. Leonice, who paid great Deference to
the Sentiments of Orcant, was eafily perfuaded, and
not to lofe Time, fhe fatisfy'd his Requeſt, in
Words much like thefe.
LEONICE to the King of the
SCYTHIANS.
SIR,
- Must be as ungrateful as your Majefty is juft, if
the
fame Hand which took the Liberty to fend you my Com
plaints, did not alſo fend you my Thanks for the Justice you
have been pleas'd to do her, who was once the most wretched
Woman upon Earth, but is now, thro' your Goodness, the
moft happy. By this Virtue, which you have given a Proof
of, you have clearly few'd how much you love your Sub-
jects, fince, to revenge the Wrong done to a Stranger, you
have not spar'd your Subjects themſelves: This I will pub-
lifh to the Extremities of the World, that all may know your
Generofity, and the Obligations I lie under to you, which I
can never repay, but by confelling my self for ever
•
Your LEONICE.
This Letter, with one from Orcant, and another
from me, wherein we exprefs'd our Acknowledg
ment of the Favours the King had done us, we gave
to the Scythians, who the next Day took Leave of
us, to go to the City of OlBia; and we remain'd at
Halicarnaffus, where Leonice, upon our entreating
her to tell us the Particularities of her laft Difaf
ter, fatisfy'd our Curiofity, by relating them as
follows.
H
CON-
4
158
Alcidalis and Zelida; dr;
CONTINUATION
OF THE
HISTORY
O F
LEONICE;
OR, THE
Perfidious Interpreter.
00
U
00000909 Hilft you, dear Orcant, and you, generous
Zelidan, fought for the King of Morocco
09 W 60 against his "Enemies, I fought for my
A felf against his Subjects; and I did
BO
that by my Virtue, for the Sake of my Honour,
which, by the Force of Courage you did for your
Glory. You were inform'd by the Letter I left in
the Pavilion where we parted, of the Paffion I
rais'd in the Interpreter, whom the King appoint-
ed
The Undaunted LADY.
159
ed to ſerve me, and by the fame you know how
he endeavour'd to uſe the laft Violence upon my
Honour; therefore I fhall pafs over that, content-
ing myfelf with telling you, that in fpite of all he
could do, I forc'd him to retire with Shame. In-
dignation fucceeded to this Affront, and Menaces
to Compliments; fo that to avoid his Treachery,
I choſe rather to expoſe my ſelf to the greateſt of
Dangers, than to give myfelf up to his Revenge.
When Day came, I declar'd to this Woman, in
whom I have always found a great deal of Affec-
tion and Fidelity, the Refolution I had form'd of
going wherefoever Heaven fhould conduct me:
She, out of the Love fhe bore me, offer'd to bear
me Company; knowing that if fhe ftay'd there,
'twould be all one as feeking her own Death. We
immediately put our Defign in Execution; and
notwithstanding the Darkneſs of the Night, which
was very great, we fet upon our Journey, to fly
from our Enemy and his Spies. We travel'd four
or five Hours that Night without any Moleftation,
becauſe there were no Centinels fet round the
Camp after you had driven away the Pyrians, and
about Break of Day we came to the Banks of the
River Araxes, where having fpy'd a Fifher-boat
flightly faſten'd to the Shore, we made ufe of it
to cross the River, and this my Companion got
me over with great Dexterity and Succefs. Being:
come to the other Side we perceiv'd fome Cha--
riots cover'd with Brafs, which made us believe
there were fome Seybians in them, for thofe People
have no other Houfes. But we foon afterwards
found there were only fome Women in them, their
Husbands and the biggest of their Children being
gone to hunting, which made us the bolder to ask
them for fome Victuals. They freely gave us of
what they had, and our Meal was foon got ready,
there being no need of great Preparations, fince it
confiited only of fome Milk, Fruit, and other
Things
160
Alcidalis and Zelida ; or,
Things of that Kind. After this little Refrefh-
ment, we continu'd our Journey towards the River
Tyrias; but we had hardly got half a League from
thence, when looking behind us we could fee a-
crofs a great Plain a Chariot drawn with incredi-
ble Swiftnefs by two Horfes, and two Dogs ty'd
behind it. As every Thing is Occafion of Terror
to thofe that are already afraid, I own I was not in
a little Apprehenfion; neither was it without good
Reaſon, for it was the Interpreter who had follow'd
us by our Foot-ſteps all that Way, and was refolv'd
to have purfu'd us to the Extremities of the Earth.
Being come to the River Araxes, and hearing we
had paſs'd it, it is not to be doubted but he was
very much enrag'd; and there I believe it was he
pick'd up the Dogs which were ty'd to his Cha-
riot. The Scythian Dogs are naturally cruel and
ftrong, and there are fome who do not fear even
to face a Tyger or a Lyon: Their Bodies are very
large and their Bark extreamly loud. When the
Bitches are proud, their Mafters carry them into
the Forrests to be lin'd by Tygers, that their
Whelps may partake of their Cruelty and Strength.
The Fear we conceiv'd at this Sight added Wings
to our Feet; and as our Safety depended upon
our Flight, we ran into a Cave which was at the
Bottom of a Valley under the Amadarian Mour.-
tains, whence the Rivers Tyrius and Araxes fetch
their Source. We had not got far into the Cave,
when the Interpreter came to it, and knowing we
were gone into it by the Prints of our Feet, he
made a Soldier he had brought with him get down
out of the Chariot and go in to look for us.
The
Man thinking he heard fome Noife in it, goes in
further, tho' 'twas fo dark he could not fee his
Hand; which added to his Fear, fo that he bawl'd
out as loud as he could in his Language; come
out quickly to my Mafter, Run-away, or where-
foever you are hid, he'll let looſe his Dogs, who
w:ll
The Undaunted LADY.
161
will foon find you and punifh your Rafhnefs.
At this Noife a Tyger came out from the further
Part of the Cave, beat him fuddenly down to the
Ground and tore him to Pieces, greedily devour-
ing Part of his Body, and carrying the reft with
her for her Whelps. The Interpreter, not feeing
his Man return, came to the Entry of the Cave,
and calls with a loud Voice, but finding he call'd
in vain, he let loofe one of his Dogs, which fmel-
ling the Blood of a Man, runs directly to the Place
where his Noſe guided him ; but the Tyger meet-
ing him, fell upon him; they ftrove together a
long Time, but at laft the Dog was worfted and
ftrangled by the Tyger, which fighting in Defence
of its Young, was more ftrong and furious than or-
dinary. The Interpreter hearing the Noife, fuf-
pected what was the Matter; wherefore he un-
ty'd his other Dog, which met with the fame Re-
ception as the firft; ſo that our Enemy, being left
defencelefs, was forced to return the Way he came,
and leave us to our Deſtiny.
During this Fight we were very much afraid,
and tho we did not know but the Tyger might
afterwards turn his Fury against us, yet we never
theleſs wifh'd him the Victory. But our Fright
was over, when by his going to his Whelps, at the
very Bottom of the Cave, he fhew'd he was fatis-
fy'd with the Blood he had fo freely fhed. Upon
this Affurance we went out of the Cave, and tra-
velling all Night with a great deal of Expedition,
we found our felves in the Morning near a Com-
pany of Shepherds, who were going towards Me-
fembria. Through the Procurement of this my
Companion, I mixt myfelf with them, and re-
ceiv'd more Afſiſtance from then than I could pof-
fibly expect; for they gave me part of their Pro-
vifions, and courteoufly accommodated me as well
as they were able. Our greatest Trouble was to
pafs the Danube, (which in that Part is one of the
broadeft
162
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
broadest Rivers in Europe) in order to avoid the
Country thro' which it falls into the Euxin Sea,
with all its Mouths. We had always inclin'd to-
wards the Weft, becauſe it had been very inconve-
nient for us to have been inclos'd by fo many
Streams. From the Place at which we came, to
the River Danube, we could fee the City Diogenia,
but we durft not go into it, for fear of being too
narrowly obferv'd, and known to be Strangers.
Travelling therefore along the Side of this River,
in order to find fome Way how to crofsit, we were
a great while before we met with one; 'till at laft
the Shepherds thought of felling fome Trees, of
which they made Floats, and tying them together,
we upon them expos'd our felves to the Mercy of
the Water, and of Fortune: By this Means we
fucceſsfully came to the oppofite Side, and there
return'd Thanks to Heaven for the Mercy it had
fhewn us. Some Days afterwards we went and re-
fresh'd our felves at Mefembria, in which City we
ftay'd fome Time, hoping that after the Scythian
Wars, you might come thither; but not thinking
my ſelf ſafe among the Thracians, I refolv'd to
come to Halicarnaffus; where at length, after long
Sorrows and Afflictions, Heaven has granted me
the Happineſs of feeing you again
When Leonice had ended the Relation of her
Adventures, we admir'd her Refolution and Vir
tue. Orcant himfelf, who 'till then had only fhewn
her a complaifant Friendſhip, had then a parti-
cular Efteem for her Merit, and told me that if it
were not for my Intereft, which he had fworn ne-
ver to oppoſe, his Value for her might have grown
even to Love. He believ'd, becauſe he had feen
me embrace her at parting, I intended to marry
her. I made no Antwer to what he faid, which
obferving, he continu'd and told me, that he would
be contented with Leonice's Friendſhip, and gave
His Confent to my poffeffing her. She, to whom I
had
The Undaunted LADY.
163
had before difcover'd my Sex, pretended to give
my Addreffes a favourable Reception, and told
me in Orcant's Prefence, that I'fhould be the
Bounds of her Inclinations and Defires.
Whilft we liv'd thus happily, and Heaven feem'd
to look upon us with an Eye of Favour, Fortune,
which 'till then had always perfecuted us, began
to do it again; for as we were leaving Halicarnaf-
fus, in a Ship bound for Meftria, we were taken by
feveral Ships which furrounded ours, and carry'd
to their Generals, whom we knew to be of Morocco,
having feen them in the Army of the King of Mo-
rocco. They receiv'd us with all imaginable Civi-
lity, and promis'd to carry us to the Place where
we meant to go. Afterwards they told us that they
were going to cut off the Paffage of the Pyrians,
who intended to ufurp their Country, which we
foon afterwards faw; for the Enemy made a great
Fire with their Artillery all the Way as they came.
I need not give you the Particulars of what pafs'd
in the Battle, becauſe you yourſelf was in it: I
fhall only tell you that our Admiral was prefs'd
fo home, that 'twas impoffible for him to refift;
for feveral Fire-fhips furrounding him, ſo artfully
fet Fire, to the Veffel he was in that not one could
be fav'd. For my Part. I fix'd myfelf to the Maft,
and there call'd upon the Gods for Succour, which
they fent me by your Hands. Thus Zelida con-
cluded her Hiftory.
Alcidalis afterwards told Zelida all that had hap-
pen'd to him from her Departure. As for Lifander,
he was almoft in Defpair, when he reprefented to
his Mind the Death of his Leonice, who he thought
certainly perifh'd in the Battel; and as they ap.
proach'd Rhodes, they all refolv'd to ſtay there for
fome Time. They were fcarce come thither, when
they heard that the Rhodians having gain'd a fignal
Victory over the Turks, who had befieg'd Gazella,
in order to pour in Troops afterwards upon the
reſt
164
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
reft of the Iſland, were celebrating divers fports,
and giving the People publick Spectacles to fhew
their Joy And to give an Idea of the Dangers
they had expos'd themſelves to for the Defence of
their Country, they intended to have a Battle be-
tween favage Beafts, which the Ambaffador of
Getulla had fent for from Africa, for the Pleafure
of thoſe illuſtrious Knights, whom Heaven feems
to have eſtablifh'd for the Protection of that Ifland.
Alcidalis and Zelida prevail'd upon Lifander to go to
fee that Sight, which was free for every Body;
and as the Nobility of that Nation are extreamly
courteous to Strangers, they feated them in very
advantagious Places. But the Shew prov'd fatal;
for after they had given themſelves the Satisfac-
tion of feeing a fingle Combat between fome of
thofe Beafts, and had put them all together, that
they might fight all in general confufedly, a Scaf
fold laden with People happen'd to break, and its
Fall was fo violent, that it dragg'd with it part of
that which was next to it, whereon were a great
many Ladies and Gentlemen. The Diſorder and
Confufion upon this Accident was very great, but
the Confequences of it prov'd much more fatal;
for the wild Beafts ran all at once amidſt the Men
and Women with fo much Fury, that they tore.
feveral to Pieces before any Succour could bet
brought. Fear having feiz'd all that were prefent,
Alcidalis was not only incited by a noble Defire to
go to the Affiftance of fo many Perfons, but the
Danger fuch Multitudes of Ladies were in, made
him blind to all private Confiderations, and oblig'd
him to leap from his Seat to fuccour them. A.
mong fo many Objects of Pity, there was one
which feem'd more moving than all the reft; and
tho' to get to her Aid, he must go through all the
wild Beafts, he did it with ſo much Courage, that
fo
there was no Body but what were amaz'd at the
Valour with which he kill'd and wounded a great
Number
The Undaunted LADY.
165
Number of thofe Beafts; ſo that by difperfing
them, he fav'd feveral People, and came juſt in
Time to fave a Lady from the Claws of a Tyger
which had ſeiz'd her. In this bold Enterprize he
made fuch good Ufe of his Valour, that juft as the
Tyger was about to devour that unfortunate Wo-
man, it was forc'd to leave her, and give way to
the Violence of the Blow Alcidalis ftruck upon its
Head; but he was in no fmall Danger for having
fo enrag'd the Tyger, which leap'd upon his Shoul
ders, and threw him to the Ground; but he foon
rofe, and the Danger he was in adding freſh
Strength to his Courage, after having receiv'd
fome few Scratches, he cut off one of the Tyger's
Claws, and ran her through with his Sword. Then
making ufe of this Advantage, without lofing Time,
he took the Lady by the Hand, and having put
her in a Place where fhe might be fafe, he ran a-
gain among the Beafts, and deliver'd' feveral o-
thers, thinking himſelf the happieſt Man in the
World, in having perform'd an Action fo uncom-
mon and dangerous. His Example encourag'd all
the Knights, that were Witneffes of fo noble a
Deed, to affift him; the Fight was very bold,
the Prefence of the Knights of Rhodes, who ex-
pos'd themſelves more than any, and the Honour
of faving fo many Perfons of Quality who were
like to be destroy'd, was a powerful Spur to thoſe
that had any fenfe of Honour, to make them run
the greateſt Rifques, En treaties, Commands, Pro-
mifes, and Threats, pufh'd on the lefs Valiant ;
but as for Alcidalis, Virtue alone was his Motivę
He was back'd by Zelida, Lifander, and afterwards
by twenty or thirty Knights, who fought bravely;
but the reft, they made not the leaft Noife 'till
the Danger was over, and the Fight ended. Some
came in arm'd at all Points, when there was no
further Need of 'em; and others fled fo far that
Day, that they could not get Home 'till the next.
but
There
166
'Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
There were alfo fome who had hid themſelves
under the Scaffolds, and as during the Battel they
durft not come out for fear of being devour'd, fo
afterwards they could hardly be prevail'd upon to
fhew themſelves, for fear of being mock'd. After
this Diſorder was quieted, the City gave great Re-
wards to all who had behav'd themfelves well up
on that Occafion, and honour'd them with feveral
noble Titles, which were ever after a Glory to
thoſe who had fo worthily acquir'd them. More-
over, that their Juftice might be in every thing
compleat, they forgave the old Men whofe Hearts
had fail'd them, but caus'd feveral Soldiers, who
had fhew'd themſelves Cowards, to be fhot to
Death; and degraded a great many young Knights,
who, through want of Courage, had been the Oc-
cafion of fhedding more human Blood. Tho' Alci-
dalis had render'd himſelf the moſt remarkable of
all, by having been the firſt that fac'd the Danger,
and thro' the Quality of thofe he fav'd, yet he had
a mind to fhew, that all the Reward he defir'd
for this Action, was the Satisfaction of having per-
form'd it; and therefore, looking upon the Re-
compences of the Rhodians as unworthy of his Cou
rage, to avoid them, he gave the Company the
flip as foon as poffible; but he was follow'd by
the Lady he first deliver'd, and who, during the
whole Fight, had never taken her Eyes off him,
fhewing by their Motions, her Fear of lofing, and
Defire of preferving him; neither would fhe retire,
till fhe was affur'd of the Safety of her Protector,
by feeing an End of the Danger. Being thus un-
expectedly ftopp'd, he feem'd a little furpriz'd;
but Zelida, who had follow'd Alcidalis, was much
more fo; when fhe knew that this was Leonice,
who fhe believ'd had miferably perifh'd. At this.
Sight her Joy redoubled, together with her Ad-
miration, and her Lover's having fav'd her Friend
from Death, had like to coft her her Life, thro'
+
the
The Undaunted LADY:
167
the Excefs of her Tranfports: Whilft this happy
Rencounter flopp'd them, the principal Men of
the City came to Alcidalis, and after great Com-
pliments, for a Mark of his Valour they prefented
him with a Sword, whofe Workmanſhip was ex-
treamly curious. Two Serpents intertwin'd form'd
the Guard of it; the natural Colour of the Scales
was reprefented by little Emeralds and Saphir-
Stones, together with a beautiful Enamel of Grey
and Red for the Handle; it had a Scepter of
Rubics, and its Pummel was an Eye artfully car-
ved with a great many Diamonds, and other pre-
cious Stones, which increas'dits Value. As for the
Blade, it was Phoenician, all dy'd with Flames and
Trophies; in the midt of which, were grav'd
thefe Words for a Device, Love and Honour. In
fhort, 'twas worthy the Magnificence of the Rhodi
ans and the Courage of Alcidalis, who receiv'd it
with a Promife of ufing it for the Service of thofe
who had given him fo magnificent a Prefent.
The Knights having had fuch ill Succeſs in the
firft Shew they had given the People, were re-
folv'd to blot out the Horror of that by other Di-
verfions lefs dangerous and more agreeable, and
join'd to Balls and Dances, Plays, Sports, and Tur-
naments; in a Word, every Thing that could be
thought of, to make Sorrow give Way to Rejoy-
cings. Alcidalis, on this Occafion, fhew'd his Skill
and genteel Mien by the Name of the Strange
Knight. He out-fhone the finest Qualities of the
moft famous in that Nation; he had fo Majeftick
a Beauty, that when he appear'd in any Action,
he never fail'd to gain the Affection and good Will
of all the Spectators, fo that every Body wifh'd
him innumerable Profperities; and it is plain his
Merit had a powerful Afcendant over that of all
the reft, fince, tho' his Perfections were fo ex-
treamly great, he caus'd more Admiration than
Envy in a Court where the Diverfity of Nations
is
168
Alcidalis and Zelida; or;
is more apt to produce Emulation and Jealoufy.
Among this great Number of Perfons who devot
ed themſelves to him, none was fo much charm'd
with him as Zelida; for regarding him as a Man
to whom ſhe was oblig'd for Life, he never look'd
upon him but with Eyes full of Admiration and
Love; and indeed fhe never look'd off of him, for
in the fole. Confideration of fo perfect a Gentle-
man, fhe plac'd the higheſt Point of the Felicity.
of her Life. Yet there was a fecret Combat in the
Receffes of her Soul, her Fear and her Defires
every Moment producing different Effects, and
her Modefty join'd to her Difcretion, oppofing her
Love and Impatience. Every Time fhe faw him
fet forth from the Lift, Zelida thought fhe fhould
never more fee her dear Alcidalis; fo that fhe al-
ways follow'd him with her Eyes to the End of the
Currier, and when fhe faw him returning, her
Heart leap'd for Joy at his Safety. But if Alcidalis
approach'd her, her Colour grew higher and red-
der, as if his Looks had inflam'd her, or the Fire
of her Heart had extended even to her Cheeks.
As for Alcidalis, all he did, gave. undoubted Affu-
rance of his Paffion.
*
After the Combats were ended, the leffer Fa-
yours were diſtributed by the Judges of the Field,
but the Ladies were defir'd to give the greater to
thofe who were moft worthy of them. Hidafpes, a
Gentleman of Rhodes, won that of the Ring, and
receiv'd it from the Hand of a Lady nam'd Me-
dina, whom he paffionately lov'd, with a mutual
Satisfaction to both of them. Another Knight
call'd Alidor, had that of the Barrier-Combat, and
begg'd it with a great deal of Refpect; but he
receiv'd it from an infolent Beauty nam'd Lucia,
with fo manifeft a Difdain, that it had been cer-
tainly better for him if he had been lefs fuccefs-
ful, or had had lefs Skill. Laftly, Aleidalis was
call'd to receive from Zelida the Recompence of
his
The Undaunted LADY.
169
his Virtue; and upon this Occafion it was that
fomething more was obferv'd in him than an ordi-
nary Complaifance; and as he very well knew
which was to be his Prize, he neglected all the o-
thers: He pull'd off his Head-piece, and fhewing
to all who were prefent his beautiful Hair, and
the Graces of his Countenance; there was none
but what admir'd him, and were equally charm'd
with his Dexterity and Modefty. He firft made a
low Bow to the Knights and Ladies, then turning
to Zelida, he accofted her with a Refpect which
could proceed from nothing but Love; and as a
Mark of extraordinary Submiffion, he contented
himſelf with kiffing her Hands; and with his Eyes
fix'd on the Ground, Madam, faid he to her, will
you pleaſe to give me Leave to beg you to reward
the good Fortune I have had? At theſe Words,
Zelida, in the greateſt Confufion, generous Alcidalis,
reply'd fhe, with a Face full of Sweetnefs and
Love, the Prefent you now receive from my Hand,
is but a fmall Teftimony of your Virtue, and the
great Obligations I lie under to you. Divine Zelida,
anfwer'd Alcidalis, pronouncing his Words with
fome Difficulty, the Honour I this Day receive
from the most perfect Creature upon Earth, is too
glorious a Reward for all the Services I am able
to do you. This little Difcourfe was but too plain
a Proof of the Paffions they entertain'd for each
other, and the Mafter of the Ceremonies perceiv'd
fomething of it when he prefented Alcidalis to her;
but he look'd upon it to be only an Effect of Civi-
lity and Complaifance. Zelida then gave him a
fine Scarf, and offering him her Hand to Kiſs,
Alcidalis, fays the, I give you theſe Bonds in return
of thofe I have receiv'd from you. He made no
Anfwer to this; but his Eyes, by a dumb Elo-
quence, did the Office of his Mouth, and his Civi-
lities ended by an humble Bow.
an humble Bow. So foon as he
as retir❜d from Zelida, a ſoft Murmur was ſpread
amilt
170
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
amidft that Multitude of People, who thereby
plainly fhew'd how well they approv'd of the ge-
neral Efteem which was teftify'd for that Ca-
valier.
All the Prizes being thus diftributed, the Peo-
ple began to retire ; when of a fudden a confus'd
Noife was heard amongst the Populace, who all
made Way for a new Spectacle, which unexpected-
ly appear'd before thofe who were prefent: A
Knight richly drefs'd, and very well mounted up-
on a white Horfe fumptuoufly harneſs'd, rode into
the Lifts. His Drefs was after the Arabian Fashion,
and he had a Perfian Scimitar by his Side. In this
Equipage he made Way thro' the Mob, and ad-
vanc'd accompany'd by a Lady. Leonice, who was
abſent becauſe of fome Indifpofition, could not be
there in the Morning; but being told that the
Turnament was not over, fhe 'rofe and took a Ja-
velin in her Hand with a Refolution to conquer.
In this Condition fhe came to the Place where
Alcidalis fate; fhe was no fooner there, than the
Trumpets having given the Signal, fhe march'd
out against the Arabian Knight, who receiv'd her,
and afterwards fet out against each other in fo full
a Speed, that they made their Lances fly into Shi-
vers, by a mutual Encounter, wherein neither had
the Advantage. This firft Combat being over,
they drew their Swords, and the Arabian Knight
having truck fo heavy a Blow on the Head of his
Adverfary, that he ftruck off his Helmet, was juft
going to fecond it, when he was flopt by the Ac-
clamation of the People, and of Alcidalis, who knew
this to be the Lady he had preferv'd fix Days be-
fore from the Fury of the Beafts. Alas! what a
Condition was Lifander in, when he knew that the
Perfon to whom he had given fuch ill Treatment,
was his dear Leonice! He ran after her, and Tran-
fports of Joy fucceeding to his Surprize, he e-
fteem'd himſelf the happieft of Mortals, when he
C
The Undaunted LADY.
171
confider'd that he had gain'd a Prize which he
thought effac'd the Luftre and Magnificence of all
the reft but his Joy was foon dafh'd by an Effe&
quite contrary to what he had imagin'd; for Leo-
nice, with a fevere Accent, and a ferious Counte-
nance, began to ſpeak to him theſe Words.
What are your hopes, Lifander, and what your
Pretentions? Am I then fo inconfiderable to you,
that a Stranger is able to wound you fo deeply at
the first Meeting, and to triumph fo eafily over
you, in fpite of my Courage and your Glory?
Ah! Lifander, how faithlefs you are, and how juft
is Heaven in reducing you to the Ebb you are now
at! Yes, fince the Arabian Beauties are powerful
enough to make you take Arms against all the
Knights upon Earth, I advife you to fix your Af
fections upon them, and gain their good Graces at
the Price of your Valour: For my Part, I give
Way to their Merit; and not to obstruct your Hap-
pinefs, I give you your Liberty, and renounce the
Weak Inclination my Vanity promis'd me from
you. Your Complaints, charming Leonice, (reply'd
Lifander) are very eloquent, but extreamly unjuft,
and I am no leſs amaz'd at hearing you talk in this
Manner, than at feeing you in this Equipage, by
which you feem to have had a Defign to furprize
me: But Heaven, which knows my Fidelity, and
the Sincerity of my Intentions, has blefs'd my Con-
duct with a Succefs as happy as your Enterprize
had been fatal to me, if my Courage had not ge-
neroufly fought for my Love. Yes, charming
Leonice, fuffer me to fend back the Dart you lanc'd
at me, and forgive me if I take the Liberty to ac-
cufe you of a Crime which you unjustly lay to my
Charge, fince, if I have made a falfe Step, 'tis on-
ly by your Example; for by expofing your felf to
the Ambition of fo many Knights, whofe Conqueft
You might be, you gave Birth to the Defire which
ne you condemn. I do not condemn, reply'd
172
Alcidalis and Zelida; or,
Leonice, the Defire you had to fight, fince that wis
only the Effect of your Generofity; but I blame
your Injuſtice in demanding of me a Prize which
was not propos'd to you, and which upon this Oc-
cafion was neither the Object of your Hopes nor
of your Love. You fought for an Arabian Lady,
and the Expectation of a Return from her, was
what enliven'd your Courage. In fhort, you have
conquer'd; 'tis but juft you reap the Fruit of your
Victory: But that I fhould be your Reward, is
what you ought not to pretend to, fince you did
not enter the Field for Leonice, but for a Lady
wholly unknown, Ah! Leonice, anſwer'd Lifander,
you alone must be my Reward, fince Nature made
you the Miracle you are, and Art prefented to
your Eyes this Arabian, who was to be the Prize of
my Valour, and the Fruit of my Victory.
This Difpute lafted a great while, and Lifander,
notwithstanding his being Victor, was upon the
Brink of being vanquish'd by the Cunning of Leo-
nice, who combated his Arguments with fo much
Subtilty, that he almoft thought himſelf unhappy
in having had too much Happineſs. But at laft
fhe yielded to Lifander's Addreffes, thro' the In-
terceffion of Alcidalis and Zelida; and this Debate
was concluded in this agreeable Manner. This
Company went to Leontius's, a Knight of Rhodes,
who had before entertain'd them at his Palace,
and the next Day they departed to go to Italy.
They had fcarce got fixteen Miles from Rhodes,
when they learnt of a Man who fled, the Misfor-
tune which happen'd to the Rhodians; for that a-
miable Republick, whilft it was yet finging Songs
of Victory and Triumph, was forc'd to lay afide
Inftruments of Mufick, to take up Arms againſt
the Byzantines, who came to affail it with an Army
fo much the more formidable, as the great Solynan
was there in Perfon. This Man gave them an Ac⋅
count of the Particulars of this War, and faid t'is
Att
The Undaunted LADY.
173
Attacks and Defences were fo hot, that 'twas long
uncertain which Side would have the Victory;
but that the Byzantines had brifkly pufh'd on their
Attacks both by Sea and Land, and in fpite of all
the Refiftance of the Rhodians, Bellona declar'd for
the Befiegers, who foon made themfelves Mafters
of the City, and triumph'd over thofe by whom
they had before been overcome: And that as for
the Citizens, they found fome Comfort in the Cle
mency of Solyman; who contented himſelf with
their Obedience, without requiring any other Ad-
vantage from his Conqueft; but that as for him,
he had loft his Son in this Battel, whom he lov'd
more than his Eyes, and for that Reafon intended
to ſearch him throughout the whole Earth.
Alcidalis, having heard out this fhort Narration,
was very much griev'd for what had happen'd to
the Knights of Rhodes, and was forry he had left
the Place fo foon, hoping he might have fhewn
his Valour and Courage: But finding there was-
no Remedy, he refolv'd to continue his Journey
with his little Company; and the Heat of the Sun
being great, and perceiving a little Forest where-
in they might fhade themfelves from it, they reft-
ed there, and took what Refreſhment they stood
in need of. But while they were in the Wood, they
fuddenly heard a Cry of feveral Voices, which
made them apprehenfive there was fome Danger.
They preſently got up, and becauſe it began to
grow dark, they quicken'd their Speed, fo that
they foon came to the Place whence the Cry
feem'd to proceed. But they were very much fur-
priz'd when they faw a Man fingly defending
himfelf against Ten, who defign'd to murther him.
Akidalis, at the Sight of this unmanlike Action,
being mov'd by his natural Humanity, ran to his
Affiftance, and was back'd by Lifander, making
a ftrange Maffacre of the Villains. The Gentle
man, who but little expected fuch generous Affift-
уп
ance
174 Alcidalis and Zelida; or
ance, made his Acknowledgments to the whole
Company. None was at that Moment in fuch a
Surprize as Leonice, who looking ftedfaftly on him
they had fuccour'd, thought the faw Cleagenor,
whom he had once lov'd; but when she was
confirm'd in this Thought by Lifander, the remain'd
confounded for fome Time. Yet having reflected
upon the inceffant Coldneſs fhe had receiv'd from
Cleagenor, fhe entirely gave herſelf up to the Love
of Lifander, who overjoy'd at this Alteration, and
fearing fome Sparks of her former Flame might
ftill remain in her, refolv'd to leave the Company
when they came out of the Foreft; and there be-
ing at the End of it an Iſland, where there was a
Ship which was just going to Venice, they went on
Board of that, after having taken their Leave.
Alcidalis, Zélida, and Cleagenor, finding no Ship in
that Ifland to carry them to the Place whither
they were going, refolv'd to continue their Jour-
ney by Land to Marseilles, and there having put
themſelves into a more handfome Equipage, they
foon afterwards arriv'd at Arragon. They were
fcarce come thither, when they heard of the King's
Death, which had happen'd but a little before,
and of the Diſorder the Kingdom was in ; for Al-
cidalis's Step-mother had already made Prepara-
tions for her Daughter's Marriage, and for fetting
the Crown upon the Head of one fhe honour'd
with her Friendship: But Alcidalis put a Stop to
all thofe Proceedings, and having fhewn himſelf
to his People, was prefently own'd King, and re-
ceiv'd with all imaginable Acclamations, and the
next Day the Nuptials of Alcidalis and Zélida were
celebrated,
FINI S.
1.
THE
CONTENTS
Of the LETTERS, &c. of Voiture, con-
tain'd in this VOLUME.
ANguien, Duke de,
Chavigny, Monfieur de,
A
Page
45, 55, 56, 58.
C.
5
Chapelain, Monfieur.
21
Coftar, Monfieur de,
26, 32, 34.
G.
Guiche, Count de,
14, 22, 24.
L.
Lady Abbess, to thank her for a Cat,
54
M.
Maifon-Blanche, Monfieur de,
19.
Maigrin, Marquess de,
44
Julia into a Diamond,
Maid of Honour to one of the Dutchefs of Savoy's Daugh-
ters.
Mazarin, Lord Cardinal,
Metamorphofis of Lucina into a Rofe,
Leonida into a Pearl,
13
10
62
63
64
Montaufieur, Marquefs de
6, 49, 50
P
Pifany, Marquess of,
7,16, 52.
R.
Rambouillet, Mademoiselle de,
I, 9.
S.
Savoy, Dutchess of,
II
Serifantes, Monfieur de,
The Elogium of the Conde Duke de Olivares,
18
T.
65
THE
THE
CONTENTS
Of the feveral
HISTORIES Contain'd in the ROMANCE.
Lcidalis and Zelida: Or, The Undaunted Lady,
A¹
The Generous Barbarian,
Page 3.
8
Lifander and Leonice: Or, The Force of Friendship, 96
Sequel of the Hiftory of Zelida.
The Jealous Mistress,
The Perfidious Interpreter,
129
133
158
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