yet been acted but without doubt they have reason for whâ—t they say and the success will be answerable to their judgment of it Paris Jan. 1. 1672. Letter II. SInce I have proposed to begin the weekly news I have tyed my self to write as often as I can with fome extraordinary adventure you have here Madam a true one which will doubtless please you A young Sovereign Gallant and amorous being one day walking without the ordinary confident of his Gallanteries after having studied upon something for a while hastily asks for him which obliged all that Princes Courtiers to look out every was for Cleodates so will I name that favourite or rather under that name speak of him in the Story since you have given me an Item that I should put feigned names to all the Gallant Adventures I shall get to send you Philemon a young Cavalier more solicitous then any of the rest to make his Complements to the favourite was mosthappy and thought himself the more so because as he imagined his master had particularly addressed himself to him to seek him he flyes to Cleodates house which had a back door directly opening toward the Princes Palace and which he found only put to he must have gone a great way about to the ordinary Gate of entrance and there to no purpose asked for Cleodates For that Cavalier no less Gallant then his Master whose Confident he was had gone out alone and taking a turn about came in again by that private door without being perceived by any of his people This way then Philemon went in without meeting any body he goes up a little pair of Stairs which stood in a by Corner but which he knew very well this not being the first time he had tryed that passage and came presently to the Chamber where he thought he might find Cleodates but seeing no one there he was forced to knock at a little Closet door stood by it After having knockt a good while it came into his head to look through the Key-hole for he thought he heard some body within he presently observed Cleodates kissing a Lady but could not discover who she was her face being hid from him only he took notice she had Green Silk Stockings on and very rich Garters He easily guessed by their not answering nor stirring up and down that they would not have it known they were in that Closet and that they would not open the dooâ— for any one whatever Philemon hereupoâ— returns with intention to tell the Prince hâ— could not find Cleodates he did so indeed but 't was in a way made him suspect there was a mystery in it for he could not forbear laughing at uttering his name Thâ— Prince would needs know the reason anâ— very earnestly required it he was soon saâ— satisfied for Sovereigns not being to be refused any thing Philemon told him all hâ— had seen This adventure which one would have thought should have diverted the Prince begot a dumps in him made Philemon a hundred times repent his weakness in discovering a thing he observed grieved his Master and might be prejudicial to Cleodates This Prince loved a young beauty in his Court and now grew suspicious his favourite might be his Rival he asked Philemon if he knew the Lady he had seen by her Legs Philemon was so ready to answer yes that he had not time to consider how he might by it both displease his Master and loose his Friend The Prince replyed If that Lady were one of the Court he would know her e're it were long and at that instant obliged the Princess his Wife to send for all the Ladies of the Court and as soon as they were come proposed to them to mount immediately on horse-back and see a chase some said they should have time given them to put shorter Coats others were of a contrary opinion The Prince could have wished it that he might the better have seen their Stockings but then he doubted they might in changing Cloaths change Stockings too but whatever he feared he was soon recovered of it as you will hear by the sequel This Prince who was naturally Gallant appeared so in this occasion somewhat more so then usual and talking pleasantly with all the Ladies told them that he would set them all on Horse-back you may easily guess what he meant by it and that by this contrivance he only designed to discover the Lady with the Green Stockings He had already seated a great many without finding what he feared to find when at last he discovered one of the delicatest Legs in the world and on it a Green Silk Stocking You will be as much surprized as he was Madam when you shall understand that it was upon his Mistress he found them but 't is no time to stand wondering now or if you will wonder what you have yet to hear will but amaze you will more The Prince in despair stretcht on the extreams of love and jealousy gave a shreck at the sight of those Stockings and stood like one astonished Philemon who was still near him perceiving the cause of his disquiet told him in his ear That the Stockings he had seen were of a deeper Green and the Garters of another Colour Thou would'st abuse me replyed the Prince only to asswage my grief but if I find no other Green Stockins I shall give no faith to any thing thou sayest At these words he endeavered to appear Blith and Gay as he did before and with a Countenance full of mirth and jollity though his heart were heavy proceeded to seat the rest of his Ladies on Horse-back He was come now to the very last without finding any other Green Stockings but his Mistresses and the fear he should fail of finding any other hindred him from casting up his eyes on her whose Leggs he only look'd on without knowing whose they were he was much surprized to find Stockins and Garters both to be like those Philemon had described Philemon who thought of nothing more then relieving the Prince from the trouble he had put him and making it appear he had no intention to deceive him kept still his Eyes cast downwards so that at the same time both he and the Prince cryed out they had found what they sought for if their joy were great their amazement was no less when lifting up their Eyes almost both at a time they perceived I believe you are very impatient now to know and that your curiosity would be very burdensome to you if I should long delay it It was Philemons wife which fight made him look as like a Coxcomb as indeed he was The Prince appeared as much amazed as he but yet could not forbear laughing from the bottom of his heart The Srory goes no farther and since I have promised to write you nothing but truth I will add nothing of my own though it were easie to invent a thousand fine things on so delicate an occasion Monsieur the Duke
want water for all these things and so there must but for the great care of those that bring it to that place for there are are very large Terrasses excellently Wrought and Imbelished under which are Cisterns of Water The Miracles done by Monsieur Nautre in these Magnificent Gardens are no less admirable The great quantities of Orange-trees Planted in the ground may be a Testimony of it as well as those great Trees transplanted to inlarge the great Walk a thing never before seen There are yet a thousand things might be said of this Castle which surpasses the Palace of Armida I might speak of the Buildings and those who are the Architects but that would be too long a Story and therefore had better put it off to another time or rather till they be finished Paris April 2. 1672. Letter XV. I Know not Madam whether the News I have sent you since the Month of January hath satisfied your Curiosity I am of the opinion that what I have hitherto done has only shewed my obedience in punctually writing you but I hope in time to send you more pleasing and plentifull news Monsieur the Cardinal de Bonzy received this week the Cap from the Kings hands in the presence of the Cardinals de Retz Bovillon and Maldoching I have already writ you something of Cardinal Bovillon and you are not ignorant of the great merit of Cardinal de Retz and that both his wit and his misfortunes have made him equally famous as well as his fidelity to his Friends and you know likewise that his Justice and Generosity of which every one is a partaker who comes within the reach of his kindness make him no less admired All men seem'd astonished to see at this Ceremony Monsieur Priam formerly President at Mantoua who had seen the former Cardinal of Bonzy great Uncle to this man and Grand Almoner to Mary de Medicis receive the Cap from the hands of Henry the fourth The Duke de Chaune famous for his Embassis to Rome as likewise for the good service he has done the King in the States of Brittain of which he is Governour some days since presented the Deduties of that Province to his Majesty The Duke of Bethane so well known under the Title of Count de Charost whose services fidelity and acknowledgements to his Benefactors makes as esteemable as his Illustrious birth which he derives from the ancient Count of Bethune has taken his Oath between the Kings hands for the charge of Lieutenant General of Picardy in Exchange of that of Captain of the Guard du Corps which is given to the Duke de Duras You know Madam this Duke is one of the most ancient Houses in France that has a vast wit that he has in all Armies where he has served given approved marks of Valour and Conduct and gain'd the esteem of a very great Captain You may have heard e're this of the Death of the Dutchess Dowager of Orleans her Age her Family and her Christian Virtues are all so well known to you that I need not enlarge my self on that point Paris April 9. 1672. Letter XVI SInce 't is your desire Madam after having heard something concerning the French Academy that I should likewise write you something concerning that of the Abbot of Aubignac of which as you say you have only heard some confused speeches I will tell you that it is called l' Academie des belles Lettres and that its institution was for examining works of Eloquence and Poesy The first day of every Month a discourse was held of the several Conditions of man in which Eloquence was held necessary The holding the first discourse fell to Monsieur Blondeau Advocate in Parliament he held it on the Eloquence of the Bar and acquitted himself very well in the great Hall of the Hostel de Matignon before an Assembly composed of many persons of quality both of the one and the other Sex Monsieur the Marquis de Villaines gain'd applause the Month following on Military Eloquence The impression this discourse made is a sign of its Excellence and therefore I 'll say no more but pass to the third which fell upon Monsieur the Abbot of St. Germain The two former having made discourse with regard to their profession this illustrious Abbot would make his on the Eloquence of the Pulpit and had great success in it to the wonderful satisfaction of the whole Assembly Monsieur Perachon gain'd credit the Month following and the other Academians addicted themselves from Month to Month to give Evidences of their Wit and Learning At the end of these Discourses they read some works of Poesy composed by some of the Gentlemen of the Academy and these are the names of the Composers Monsieur the Abbot of Aubignac director Monsieur de Vaumorieres Subdirector Monsieur Gueret Secretary of the Academy The late Marquis de Chatelet Monsieur the Marquis de Villaines Monsieur the Marquis d' Arbaux Monsieur Petit Director after the Abbot d' Aubignac Monsieur Perachon Advocate in Parliament Monsieur The Abbot of Vilars Monsieur the Abbot of Villeserain at present Bishop of Senes Director after Monsieur Petit. The late Abbot of Ganaret Monsieur de Laâ—nay Monsieur Care Advocate in Parliament Monsieur Richelet Monsieur de Perier The late Monsieur de Baurin Advocate in the Counsel Monsieur Barallis Physitian Monsieur the Abbot of St. Germain The illustrious Academy has been broke off since the Abbot of Villeserain was made Bishop of Senes there was a design sometime before to bring women in and Madam de Villedieu was proposed whose works were grown so famous they talked likewise of Madam the Marchionesse of Guiberminy Daughter of Monsieur the Marquis of Villaines who has a piercing and delicate wit and cannot be too much praised nor did they forget Madam the Marchionesse Deshoulieres you must needs have heard speak of her Madam for his worth is every where known she writes very Politely both in Verse and Prose There run up and down some Gallant pieces of her Dog called Gas who is lately turned excellent Poet so that his works deserve to be Printed This Lady has made him the Cerberus of Pornassus to defend its entrance against Dablers I have inclosed a Coppy of his Verses being a Letter to the Count L. T. that you may judge of his wit and when you have read them I believe you will say you never saw more natural Verses nor heard of a more Ingenious Cur but the reason is evident all Spanels have not such witty Mistresses Monsieur de Moranges Director of the Finances died last week he was an honest and an ingenious man and the Gazetsayes so much of him that I can say nothing comes near it Monsieur the Barron of Schonborn Nephew and Envoy extraordinary of the Elector of Mentz had Audience from the King he demonstrated under the face of Youth a Prudence surprizes the Aged and business seems so natural to him
thirty such Pills as he had swallowed he told Clidamant he would go forth and there expect him to decide their difference The jealous man was about to follow him when Belisa stop'd them both and told the whole adventure Clidamant thought it so strange that he could not at first believe it but his jealousy made him determine to try all ways imaginable to discover whether Belisa had told him truth He was studying how to effect it when three or four of the afflicted Ladies friends and of Clidamants acquaintance came into the Room they soon were told how the whole case stood Their amazement was great but it was yet made greater when they saw nothing could perswade Cleontes to tell what was become of the Neck-lace Intreaties and threatnings were both imployed but all to no purpose and the afternoon was quite spent without making any discovery Belisas grief for the loss of her Neck-lace increased more and more as her hopes of ever finding it decayed she being assured that Cleontes must have stole it and hid it where ever it was having either cast it into some by Corner or thrown it to some body out of the Window The manner in which Belisa spoke this made all the Gentlemen believe it to be true and therefore they resolved to put it to the utmost test and as soon as it was quite dark they sent for a Sack which was no sooner got but seizing all four on Cleontes they violently thrust him into it and having tyed it fast carryed him to the Window That Window was two Stories high and answered to a Court in which lay some square stones for building As soon as they had him at the Window they threatned to throw him down if he would not confess what he had done with the Neck-lace and at last so terribly frightned him that he owned he had it promised to restore it but desired time 't was granted him but on condition he should tell what he had done with it he stumbled at that a great while but finding himself pressed too hard at length confessed the whole truth Whereupon they presently took him out of the Sack stript him in spite of his teeth and laid him in a sumptuous bed And immediately one of the Gentlemen went and fetch'd a vomit which he took care should be strong enough and by its operation you 'l believe it was so Cleontes refused a great while to take it but at last out of the fear of the scandal he submitted for they threatned if he did not to carry him to Prison and to publish every where that he was a Thief he had many doleful reachings and strainings and suffered infinite pangs and gripings but at last though at several times he brought up one and thirty of the Pearls There was one yet behind he offered to pay double the value for it but Clidamont would have him take the other Potion which put him to mighty torment before he could bring up the two and thirtieth Pearl however at length it came and they dismissed the poor unfortunate wretch who went away purged to the life and more cast down then he could have been after six months sickness This Madam is an adventure happened some dayes since and is yet known to few there is something me thinks so new in it that I dare believe you have scarce read the like but let us proceed to more publick news Though I have no intention at other times to entertain you with the Funeral honours paid to those who are of birth eminent enough to be spoke of it the Gazet and that I design not to trouble you with reading of publick News unless they be extraordinary yet I will not omit observing what there is of novelty in those affairs which else seem fitting to be passed over in silence because of the little pleasure taken in reading them I believe the news of the service performed at Roûen for the late Madam de Montausier is of the number and that it being so easily to be guest at it being so customary a thing to pay Funeral Rites to the dead I might and ought to have let it pass and yet the extraordinary worth of this Honourable defunct and the particular esteem Monsieur Pilot primier President of the Parliament of Roûen had for her occasioned these sad duties to be celebrated with some Circumstances worthy remark and though that honourable and renowned body never used to accompany dead Corps on the like Ceremony they would needs condescend to do somewhat extraordinary to honour the memory of a person so esteemable for her worth and piety as the late Madam de Montausier I know not whether it be in my Rule to tell you that the Abbot of Novalles hath lately made appear his great wit and judgment in the Sorbonne even to the astonishment of all the old Doctors you will say perhaps reading this news That if I give you an account of all that maintain a Thesis I shall stuff my Letters with things not at all curious but when you shall understand that he did in his first act on matters of Divinity what others do not till their last you may perhaps think this Circumstance makes the news worth sending and it may induce you to conceive a fancy for this worthy Abbot which may make you distinguish him from others when you hear him spoke of for since it is one of my designs in writing you News to give you a knowledge of the deserts of the most considerable persons in France I will let slip no occasion of speaking of them and if the News I may sometimes send you of them have nothing weighty enough in it self to make you understand their particular value yet the Elogies I shall give them will at least make you know them And thus the least curious News may be acceptable The King continuing dayly to do something considerable for the glory of France has caused to be opened here some dayes past an Academy of Architecture established by his Majesty and Sieur Blondel the Kings Professor in the Mathematicks and who is likewise to officiate in the same function in this gave great Testimonies of his wit and judgment in an Oration he made in praise of the King on this occasion I know not Madam whether you are acquainted with this eminent person but he passes in the judgment of most men for a very able man he has travelled much seen both the Indies had many different imployments all which he has discharged with Honour has commanded Ships and 't is to him that Paris is obliged for the design of the Course at which he continually labours and which will beautifie the City from Port Richlein to Port. St. Anthony This Madam is all the news I can give you this week I hope within eight days to send you something more divertizing and entertain you about a Piece ready for the Theatre which friends to the Author mightily cry up It has not
with a false Beard and coming thus to Zenakhoub was at his entrance amazed to find her in such a serious meditation but was much more when with many sighs and interrupting sobs she told him of her Marriage and that she onely sent for him to take her last leave of him He was astonished at first not being able to speak a word sadness had so seiz'd his Soul but during his silence his Eyes gave evidence to Zenakhoub of the extream Grief he felt within At last both having for a good while entertained each other by looks Zenakhoub with a great sigh gave him notice 't was time to part I 'll not tell you what they might say on this occasion for besides the recital would be too long I will ease you of the grief I felt when he made me the Rehearsal and you may imagine that but you cannot think what happened to them He held Zenakhoub fast by the hand and he has swore to me that he thought verily the fire of his kisses would have burnt her if the tears he had shed from above had not allayed and moderated their flame To speak all in a word that at last the violences of his love had transported him beyond those bounds of respect which that virtuous Maid had set him and within which he had always kept he would have kist her mouth but she who felt her Soul almost yielding to her Passion and her Reason now at last gasp fearing her Resistance would at length too weakly defend her Modesty with a strange and sudden motion drew forth a Dagger she had at her Girdle and presenting it to him conjured him by all the most obliging Considerations rather to take away her Life than attempt to offend her Honour All our Lovers heat at this was turn'd to Ice but being again by little and little warmed with this Amorous Contestation as he was about to disarm her pressing down her hand he struck the Dagger into her Thigh so that what with the sight oâ— her Bloud and the other Agitations of her Soul she fell into a swound The shreek he gave seeing her in that condition was heard by the Woman of the House who run in presently to whom they could not refuse opening the Chamber-door but before they got in Zenakhoub's Nurse had shut up in an Alcove him that had been the cause of all this noise and the blow having onely raced the Skin those that found it having carried Zenakhoub into a Balcony to give her fresh air imputed it onely to a little faint-heartedness Mean time some were run to look for her Mother who came in great haste and found her Daughter just recovering her spirits with the help of cold Water thrown into her face but she was about to fall again into her swoun upon seeing her self in her Mothers Arms and in the doubts and fears she was in for her Lover 'T was well for her she was thought to be so weak she had otherwise given too apparent Testimonies of the cause of her trouble but before she was fully come to her self she observed her Mother testified more kindness than anger and judged both by it and by her lamenting her mishap that she knew neither of the Author nor Cause Yet she was not out of fear for her Lover who for his part past the time no better and heard no one come near the place where he was but he imagined they came to him and he gave himself over to discovery when the Jew feigning to look out some Cloaths threw him a Womans Habit to disguise himself in I believe now that you would be glad to be rid of your fears you are in for him and to that purpose it will be enough to tell you that favoured by that disguise he got out of the house but his love not thus satisfied foryed him to another hazard again to see Zenakhoub before he left her for ever and which I almost tremble at when I but think of it made him take the boldness to go in where she was and to whisper something in the Jew's Ear as if he had been a Slave sent to her about some business If Zenakhoub's Mother had not been otherwise employ'd or prepossess'd with grief or had taken the least notice how the Jew was astonished and grew pale at his entrance or how her Daughter changed Countenance which on a sudden was all in a flame it had possibly put any other thoughts into her head than what she feared that this sudden change was a symptome of Zenakhoub's distemperature But she suspected nothing and the sick Lady having called the Jew to her as if she desired some assistance from her to help her to raise her head upon the pillow she commanded her immediately to carry away that rash man to give some ease to her Spirit tossed and perplexed betwixt Fear and Love They departed immediately and Zenakhoub's Wound being more favourable than hurtful served onely for a pretence to retard the Marriage But let us return to the Author of Bajazet whose Work has occasioned the recital of this Adventute I have nothing to say to you of his Worth It is so Great that there is no place left on Parnassus worthy to offer him His Friends would seat him between Sophocles and Euripides in whose Works Diogenes Laertius would make us believe Socrates had the greatest share in the sublimest parts The Rivals of this French Euripides or Socrates would I doubt not be willing to see him gone to those great Personages among the Greeks though upon condition that his memory were as glorious as theirs ever deserved to be Paris 9 January 1672. Letter III. I Cannot tell Madam whether my Letters have the good fortune to please you but I assure you I am very diligent to inform my self of the most curious Novelties and most surprizing Adventures and I believe this wherewith I am about to entertain you will appear no less wonderful than the former It happened sometime since in one of the Provinces of this Kingdom where it is yet the whole subject of Discourse Celiantes a Person of Quality handsome witty valiant and who had given Evidences of his Judgment and Valour in an Age when others seem but to peep into the World fell deeply in love with the young Lydiana You may think now I am going to paint her out like a Heroine in a Romance and intend to tell you she was the fairest Person in the World but since I am to relate a true story I will leave the Curiosity of those pretty Imbellishments to the Ingenious Inventers of Romances wherewith the pleasant Wits of France have often diverted the whole World All that I can say for Lydiana's advantage is that she had a well-shap'd Body and had a great deal of Wit and if she did not pass for a Beauty she must needs have some pleasing Features which though all the World could not find out appeared so at least in the Eyes of
filled with People as at a Publick Entrance Among this great number of Mules Horses and Chariots richly covered were to be seen fourscore Waggons whose coverings were not so rich and gaudy as those of the Chariots but they were better lined and the Horses could hardly draw them They were loaden as 't is said with what we call the Nerves and Sinews of War and guarded with the Kings Gend'arms and Light-horse The Covetous looked with greedy eyes on this great mass of Money Mothers wish'd it for portions for their Daughters Lovers to make Presents to their Mistresses and Debtors to pay their Debts In short every one wished to supply his occasions and the least interessed had their thoughts too That which was most pleasant in it was that every one believed what he wished for would not much lessen the sum nor do the King or his Armies any wrong and yet had this Money been to be distributed according to every ones wish there must many yet have remained unsatisfied and not a denier of it gone out of Paris If the Equipages during the last week have filled all the streets of Paris the old Castle of St. Germain has been as full of those who went to take their leaves of the King The Ambassador of England has taken it for a long time being to return to the King his Master he is of the House of the Montagues which is no less Honourable in England then well known in France He is a man of excellent Parts of which the particular respect he has ever shewn here to men of knowledge is a sufficient Witness He leaves them very melancholly for his departure and some Ladies of very great reputation are sharers in their sorrow with whom he used to spend the time he could spare from the serious business of his Imploy he presented to the King the Sieur de Godolphin who is to stay with his Majesty during this Campaigne The Ambassador of Savoy the Swedish Resident and the extraordinary Envoys of Mentz and Genoua took likewise leave of his Majesty and so did all the Sovereign Courts and the Provost of the Merchants All the Bishops that are here were there likewise and all persons of any consideration imitated them These marks of respect and love to the greatest of Kings had never ended if his Majesties Warlike ardour had not made him leave St. Germain sooner then he intended He is gone with a small Train but he is gone to find an Army so great and numerous that never any of his Predecessors saw the like His Majesty hath left the administration of Affairs to the Queen with a Counsel composed of the Keeper of the Seal Villeroy le Tellier and Colbert Their merit is so well known that I can say nothing to their advantage which will not be infinitely below it or which has not been ten thousand times said I should in my Letter concerning the new Modes have told you of some words which though they be not new yet are at present a la mode Par toute Terre thorough the whole World is one of them and when they would speak highly of any thing that it is approved or pleases c. They will say they talk of that Par toute Terre That is liked Par toute Terre That is approved Par toute Terre The Gallants now scarce speak fifty words without using that ten times as well as the word Violant which is much worse applied to all they use it for to say That is troublesome they will say Cela est violant to express he has wrong they say the same and seem to affect to make it serve to express things with which it has not the least agreement I believe Madam you never heard of the like Foppery those who have hitherto invented new words or expressions have studied to make the best they could signifie what they would say The Verb Desoler is no less a la mode and now when any one would say That another is trublesome she sayes Qu'elle la desole when they would say One is melancholly they say Qu'on est desole and in short they apply this word to any thing has any pain or trouble in it I cannot resolve to close this Letter till I give you a Story I have just now learned Megius a learned man and known by many fine works was lately at a Ladies his friends accompanied with Bretius a young man of great wit but who was not very forward in shewing it having been there a good while and said nothing This Lady Megius his friend was an admirer of Astrology and believed she knew something of it which was enough to begin a discourse of it That brought on others and at last they talked of fixing of Mercury Megius said That if they would send for some he would fix it some was presently brought and he did what he had promised to the Ladies great amazement and more to an Astrologers her friend that was with her This pretended Astrologer asked him how he came to know what he had done if he had learnt it by reading if any one had shewed it him or if by some chance he had hit of it or by Art had found out the secret By one of these wayes indeed answered Megius I learnt what you have now seen me do for look you there said he turning to Bretius who had yet spoke only Monosyllables is he that taught me what I have now done both the Lady and her friend presently cast their Eyes upon him they viewed him from head to foot and blamed themselves in private that his silence had made him pass with them for a man of no Sense They offered him now a thousand praises and spoke of him with admiration In the remainder of the conversation he made them perceive he had his share of wit but instead of satisfying their curiosity in what they desired he only told them things that inflamed them the more and made them passionately desire to unite a firm friendship with him night coming on obliged them to part sooner then they would have done for every one had his design as you will understand by the sequel of the story The Astrologer whom I shall hereafter call Zoroastes came to see Bretius the next morning and expressed such a vehement desire to learn his secret that the young man who had long wished for some body to make a Fop of was mighty glad to have found one Zoroastes on his part pretermited nothing might engage his friendship presented him gave him great treats and all yet to no purpose for the young man who had resolved to make himself sport and was mightily pleased with these treats had the cunning to delay him so long till himself was almost weary of it At length the day broke which was to enlighten Zoroastes Knowledge and all things being prepared Bretius weighs a little Ball of Wax which he had brought with him and which weighed almost nothing and put it into the _____ and told Zoroastes after having covered it that it must stand two hours without being looked on and that in the mean time he might go to his Closet and cast a Figure to see if the work should have good effect The two hours being run out they found there very good Silver at least it appeared so to the eyes of Zoroastes who went presently to shew it three or four Gld-smiths who affirmed it as good as any they had in their Shops His Caresses now to Bretius cannot be described he almost smothered him with kindness and treated him like a man who was able to teach him a secret by which he hoped to become master of more treasure then all the Kings of Europe swel'd with these hopes he conjured him to give him where withall only to make Silver Bretius gave him one of his Balls but it melted and came to nothing with our Astrologer Hecomplains to Bretius of it who told him his curiosity was the cause which had made him too soon remove the Cover he did it over again with him and it succeeded as before Zoroastes was convinced and one day tells the Prince of it then again tell Bretius what he had said of him The young man was in a Peck of Troubles and was forced to acknowledge it was but a trick of Legerdemain and to shew him his cunning and so things stopt there There are many people suffer themselves to be cheated by such fine outward appearances Me thinks Madam this Letter is somewhat long I know not whether it may divertize you or whether any of the former have pleased you But I know I will use my endeavour to find out things so pleasant and delightful that if it be possible you shall be satisfied Paris May 1. 1672. FINIS