To,'ir Henry Goodyere.
It should be no interruption to your pleasures, to hear me often say that I love you, and that you are as much my meditations as myself. I often compare not you and me, but the sphere in whieh your resolutions are, and my wheel; both I hope eoncentric to God: for methinks the new astronomy is thus appliable well, that we which are a little earth, should rather more towards God, than that he whieh is fulfilness and tan eome no whither, should more towards us. To your life full of variety, nothiug is old, nor new to mine; a],d as to that lire, ail stickings and hesitations seem stupid and stony, so to this, all fluid slipperinesses, and transitory miations seem giddy and feathery. In that liîe one is ever in the poreh or postern, going in or out, never within his house himself: it is a garment made of remnants, a lire ravelled out into ends, a line discontinued, and a number of small wretehed points, useless, beeausc they concur hOt: a lire built of past and future, hOt proposing any constant prescrit; they have more pleasures than we, but hot more pleasure; they joy oftener, we longer; and no man but of so mueh understanding as may deliver him from being a fool, would change with a madman, which had a better proportion of wit in his often lueidi». You know, they which dwell farthest from the sun, if in any eonvenient distance, have longer days, better appetites, better digestion, better growth, and longer life; and ail these ad-
LETTER8 TO SEERAL
vantages bave their minds who are well removed from the scorchings, and dazzlings, and exhaliugs of the world's glory: but neithcr of out lires are in such extremes; for you living at court without ambition, which would burn you, or envy, which would devest others, live in the sun, hot in tbe tire: and I which lire in the country without stupifying, ara hot in darkness, but in shadow, vhich is uit no light, but a pllid, waterish, and diluted one. As ail shadows are of one colour, if you respect the body from which they are cast, (for out shadows upon clay will be dirty, and in a garden ffreen and flowery) so ail retirings into a shadiwy lire are alike from ail causes, and alike subject to the barbarousness and insipid dullne of the country: only t|le cmployments, and that upon which you cast and bestow your pleasure, business, or bools, give it the tincture, and beauty. But truly wheresoever we are, if we can but tell ourselves tru|y what and wherc we would be, we may make any state and place such; for we are so composed, that if abundance, or lory scorch and melt us, we lmve an earthly cave, our bodies, to go into by consideration, aud cool ourselves: and if we be frozen, aml contracted with lower and dark fortunes, we have within us. torch, a soul, lihter and warmer than any without: we are therefore out own umbrellas and out own suus. Thcse, sir, are the sallads aud onious of Micham, sent to you with as wholesome affection as your other friends send raclons and quelqe-coses from court and London. If I present you hot as good diet as they, I would yet say racc to thelrs, and bid much good do it you. I send you, with this, a letter which I sent to the countess. It is hot my use nor duty to do so, but for your haviug of it, there were but two consents, and I ara sure you have mine, aud you are sure you have hêrs. I also wrote to ber ladyship for the verses she showcd in the garden, which I did hot only to extort thêm, nor only to |êep my promise of writing, for that I had done in the other lettêr, and percbance she bath forgotten the promise; nor only because I think mv letters just good ênough for a proess, but bêcause I would write apace to ber, whilst it is possible to express thm vhich I yet know of ber, for by this growth I sêe how soon she will be ineffable.
LgTTER V. Te t)te Countess of Bêclford. IIappiest and worthiest Lady, I de net remember that ever I have seen a petition in verse; I would net therefore be singular, ner add these te your other papers. I haro yet adventured se near as te make a petition for verse, it is for those your ladyship did me the honour te sec in Twickenham gardcn, cxcept you repent your making, and having mcnded your judgment by thinking worse, that is, better, because juster, of their subject. Thcy nmst needs bc an excellent exereise of your wit, which speak se well of se iii: I humbly beg them of your ladyship, with two such promises, as te any other of your compositions were threatenings: that I will net show thcm, and that I will net believe them; and nothing shall be se used that cornes frein your brain or breast. If I should confess a fault in the boldness of asking them, or make a fault by doing it iu a longer letter, your ladyship might use your style and old fashion of the court towards me, and pay me with a pardon. litre therefore I hunmbly kiss your ladyship's fair learned hands, and wish)'ou good wishes and speedy grants. Your ladyship's servant,
If is in out state ever held for a good sign te change prison, and nella siynoria de mi, I will think it se, that my sickness hath given me leavo te corne te my London prison. I ruade de doubt but my entranee-pain (for it was se rather than a siekness, but that my sadness putrefied and eorrupted it te that naine) affected you also; for nearer coutracts than general Christianity, had ruade us se much towards one, that one part canner escape the distemper of the other. I was, therefore, very careful, as well te slack any sorrow which my danger might occasion in you; as te give you the comfort of having becn heard in your prayers for me, to tell you as soon as my pain remitted what steps I ruade towards health, which I did last week. This Tuesday morning your man brought me aletter, which (if he had not round me at London) I see he had a hasty commandment to have brought to Micham. Sir, though my fortune hath ruade me such as I ara, rather a sickness and disease of the world than any part of it, yet I esteemed myself so far from being so to you, as I esteemed you to be far from being so of the world, as to measure men by fortune or events. I ara now gonc so far towards health, as there is hOt infirmity enough left in me for an assurance of so much nobleness and truth, as your last lcttcr is to work upon, that might cure a greater indisposition than I ara now in: and though if I had died, I had hot gone witltout testimonics of such a disposition in you towards the reparation of my fortune, or preservation of my poor reputatlon; yet I would lire, and be some such thing as you might hot be ashamed to love. Your man must send away this hour in which he visits me; and I have not yet (for I came last night) offered to visit my Lady Bcdford, and therefore have nothing to say which should make me grudge this straitness of time. He tells me he sends again upon Thursday, and therefore I will make an end of this letter, and perfect it then. I doubt my letters have hot corne duly to your hand, and that writing in my dungeon of Micham without dating, bave nmde the chronology and sequence of my letters perplexed to you; howsoever you shall not be rld of this ague of my letters, though perchance the fit change days. I have received in a narrow compass three of yours, one with the catalogue of your books, another I found here left last Saturday by your man, and this which he brought me this moruing. Sir, I dare sit no longer in my waistcoat, nor bave anything worth the danger of a relapse to write. I owe you so much of my health, as I would not mingle you in any occasion of impairing it, and therefore here ask leave to kiss your hands, and bid you good morrow and farewell. Your very true friend and servant, J. Do,-.
When I w your good countess last, she ht me think that her message by ber footman would hasten you up. And it furthered that opinion in me, when I knew how near Mr. Mathew's day of departing this kingdom was. Te counterpoise both these, I Lhave a litth htter frein you brought te me te Micham yesterday, but left at my lodging two days sooner: and because that speaks nothing of your return, I ara content te be perplexed in it; and as in ail other, se in this perplexity te de that which is safest. Te me itis safest te write, because if performs a duty, and 1caves my conscience well: and though it seem net safest for the letter, wlfieh may perish, yet I remember, that in the crociate for the wars in the Holy Land, and se in all pilgrimages entcrprised in devotion, he which dies in the way, enjoys ail thc benefit and indulgences whieh the end did afford. Howsoever, ail that can increase thedanger of your letter, increases my merit; for, as where they immolate men, it is a scanter devotion te sacrifice one of many slaves or of many children, or an only ehild, than te beget and bring up one purposely te sacrifice it, se if I ordain this letter purposely for destruction, it is the largest expressing of that kind of piety, and I ara easy te believe (beeause I wish it) your baste hither: net that I eau fear any slaekness iu that business which drew you down, beeause your fortune and honour are a pair of good spurs to it; but here also you bave both true business and many quasi ne9otia, 'hieh go two nd two to business; which are visitations, aud such, as though they be hot full businesses, yet re so near them that they serve as for excuses, in omissions of the other. As when abjurations were in use in this land, the state and law were satisfied if the bjuror came to the sea-side, and waded into the se, when winds and rides resisted, so we think ourselves justly excusable to out friends and ourselves, if when we should do business, we corne to the ple of business, as courts and the bouses of great princcs and oflàcers. I do hot so much intimate your infirmity VOL. VI. X
LETTEIJ TO 8EVERAL
give you the eonlfOl't of having becn heard in your prayers for me, to tell you as soon as my pain remitted what steps I ruade towards heMth, which I did last week. This Tuesday morning your man brouht me aletter, which (if he had hot round me at London) I sec he had a hasty commandment to have brought to Micham. Sir, though my fortune hath ruade me such as I ant, rather. slckness and disease of the worhl than any part of it, yet I esteemed myself so far front being so to you, as I esteemed you to be far from being so of the world, as to measure meu by fortune or events. I ara now /Zouc so far towards heMth, as there is hot infirmitv enough left in me for an assurance of so much nobleness and truth, as your last letter is to work upon, tllat might cure a greater indispo.ition than I ara now in: and though if I had died, I had not gone without testimonies of such a disposition in you towards the reparation of my fortune, or preservation of my poor reputation; yet I would lire, and he some such thing as you might hot be ashalned to love. Your man must send away this hour in which he visits me; and I bave not yet (for I came last night) ofièred to visit my Lady Bedfol'd, and therefore bave nothing to say which should make me grudge this straitness of rime. He relis me he sends again upon Thursday, and thcrefore I will make an end of this letter, and perfect it then. I doubt my letters have not conte duly to your hand, and that writing in my dungeon of Micham without dating, bave ruade the chronology and sequence of my ]etters perplexed to you; howsoever you shal] not be rid of this ague of my letters, though perehance the fit change days. I bave received in. narrow compass three of yours, one with the catalogue of your books, another I round here left last Saturday by your man, and this which he brought me this mornlng. Sir, I date sit no longer in my waistcoat, nor bave anything worth the danger of a relapse to write. I owe you so much of my health, as I would hot mingle you in any occasion of impairing it, and therefore here ask leave to kiss your hands, and bid you good morrow and farewell. Your very truc friend and serrant, J. Do.'E.
To the best Kni#ht,,ir II. lVootton.
When I saw your good countess last, she ]et me think that her message by ber footman would haten you up. And it furthered that opinion in me, when I knew how near Mr. Mathews day of departing this kingdom was. To counterpoise both these, I.bave a little |etter from you brought to me to Micham yesterday, but left at my lodging two days sooner: and because that speaks nothing of your return, I ara content to be perplexed in it; and as in ail other, so in this perplexity to do that which is safest. To me it is safest to write, because it performs a duty, and leaves my conscience well: and though seem hot safest for the letter, which may perish, yet I remember, that lu the crociate for the wars in the Holy Land, and so in ail piigrimages enterprised i devotion, ho whieh dies in the way, enjoys ail the bcnefit and indulgences which the end did afford. Howsoever, all that can increaae the:danger of your letter, increases my merit; for, as where they immo]ate men, it isa scanter devotion to sacrifice one of many slaves or of many chi]dren, or an only child, than fo beget and bring up one purposely to sacrifice it, so if I ordain this letter purposely for destruction, it is the largest expressing of that kind of piety, and I am easy to believe (because I wish it) your baste hither: hot that I can fear any slackness in that business which drew you down, because your fortune and honour are a pair of good spurs to it; but here also vou have both truc business and many quasi egotia, which go two and two to a business; which are visitations, and such, as thougb they be hot full businesses, yet are so near them that they serve as for excuses, in omissions of the other. As when abjurations were in use in this land, the state and law were satisfied if the abjuror came to the ses-side, and waded into the ses, when winds and rides resisted, so we think ourselves justly excusable fo our friends and ourselves, if when xve should do business, we corne to the place of business, as courts and the bouses of great princes and oflicers. I do hot so much intimate your infirmity VOL. Vl.
in this, as frankly confess mine own. The toaster of Latin ]anguage says, Oculi e aurs aliorum te peculantnr et custodiunt, So those two words are synonymous, and only the observation of others upon me, is rny preservation from extrerne idleness, else I profess, that I hate business so rnuch, as I am sometimes glad to rernember, that the Roman chureh reads that verse A neyotio perambulante in tenebrls, which we read, From the pestilence walking by night, so equal to me do the plague and business deserve avoiding, but you will neither believe that I abhor business, if I enlarge this letter, nor that I xvould afford you that case which I arfect; therefore return to your pleasures. Your unprofitablest friend, Mm'ch 14, 1607. Jo. Dom.
To the Honourable tn9ht, £;ir H. Goodyere, one of the Gentlemen
You may rernember that long sinee you delivered Fowler possession of me, but the,vide distance in whieh I have lived from court, nmkes me reasonably fear, that now he knows hot his right and power in me, though he must of neeessity have ail, to whom you and I join in a gift of me, as ve did to him, so that perchance he hath a servant of me, which rnight be passed in a book of eoncealment. If your leisure surfer it, I pray find whether I be in him still, and conserve me in his love; and so perfect your own work, or do it over again, and restore me to the place, which by your favour I had in him. For Mr. Powell, who serves her majesty as clerk of ber council, hath told me that Mr. Fowler hath some purpose to retire himself; and therefore I would fain for ail rny love, have so much of his, as fo find him willing, when I shall seek him at court, to let me understand his pupose therein; for if my means rnay rnake me acceptable fo the queen and him, I should be very sorry, he should make so far steps therein with any other, that I should fail in- it, only for not having spoken to him soon enough. It were an injury to the
To)rourael.. 8if, I send you here a translation; but if is net onlyto believe me, it is a great invention te bave understood any piece of this book, whether the gmvity of the *natter, or the poetical ferre, give it his inclination, andloricilOiUm raotus; you are his centre, or his sphere, and te you as te his proper place he addresses himself. Besides that all my things, net only by oblition, but by custom, know tbat that is the way they should go. I spake of this te my Lady of Bedford, thinking then I had had a copy which I ruade long since, at sea, but because I find it net, I have done that again; wheu you find it net unseasonable, let ber see it; and if you eau think it fit, that a thing that bath either wearied, or distssted you, should receive se much faveur, put it amongst ber papers: when you bave a new stomach te it, I will provide you quickly a new copy. Your very true friend and servant and loyer, J. DoNNe. Af my Blitcham hospital, Aug. 10.
Te Eir Henry Goodyere.
In the history or style of friendship, which is best wrltten both in deeds and words, a letter which is of a mixed nature, and bath somcthing of both, is a nfixed parenthesis: it may bc ]eft