Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	body_n	part_n	soul_n	20,019	5	5.7069	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78453	The triumphant lady: or, The crowned innocence· A choice and authentick piece of the famous, De Ceriziers, almoner to the King. / Translated into English, out of the original French, by Sir William Lower Knight.; Histoire d'Hirlande, ou l'Innocence couronnée. English	Cerisiers, René de, 1609-1662.; Lower, William, Sir, 1600?-1662.; Gaywood, Richard, fl. 1650-1680, engraver.; Barlow, Francis, 1626?-1702, artist.	1656 (1656)	Wing C1682; Thomason E1617_2; ESTC R209636	67,915	166

the present grief is not more incommodious then that which we look upon in the future Nature is moved in the apprehension of the evil which shewes it self but she despaires in the combat of that which afflicts her nothing comforts her in the actual convulsions of her pain and a thousand precautions promise her succour when her misery is distant That great Philosopher of whom I borrow these Reasons produceth a third better then the others Never doth the Courage resolve it self to the pursuit of an enemy but it promiseth it self the Victory On the contrary Patience scarce sees her self assailed but she apprchends to be overcome It is not a discretion that we should expect from an Adversary to accommodate himself to our forces in such manner as be would dispute with us the advantage with honour As his design is to vanquish his wisdom is to measure himself before the Combat if he sees himself not able he careth not to hazard himself but if he thinks that he hath more strength then his enemy hath resistance then he contracts himself drawing new forces from the weaknesse of another Saint Thomas upholds the sentiments of Aristorle with this solid Discourse One cannot doubt that the perfect suppression of fear is not more hard to find then the just temperament of choler which are the two effects of Force then there is more mer●t in sufferance then in action For as much as danger which is the proper object of choler and fear concurs of it self and by its natural condition to moderate audaci●y and on the contrary it aideth timility And therefore the repression of fear is lesse easie then the moderation of the motion which is opposed to it for besides th●t our inclination is for Choler which accompanies courage patience is alwayes followed of fear which is the strong est to be the weakest of our affections Now it is certain that it belongeth to Force to assault for as much as it rules audacitie and sustaines in correcting fear It is lesse then to do then to suffer So the Holy Ghost praising the Beauties of his Spouse speaks not of her armed hand but of her neck adorned with a thousand Bucklers because we have a thousand evils from which we should defend our selves From all this Dispute I gather That there is much more Courage to suffer Calumny then to revenge it since Revenge acteth and Patience sustaineth Though this truth remaines strongly enough established upon these Reasons I think it fit to add some others which are proper to the subject which I treat of It is not a little glory to triumph of an enemy whose ●ate is no lesse unjust then damageable for as much as he who is the Conqueror of another seemes to become the Master So that the same Motive which thrusts us on to superiority solicites us to revenge But we ought to observe that man having more aversion from Infamy then love for esteem it is more glorious to represse the sentiments of injury then to satisfie the appetite of glory The secret principle of this inclination is found in that reasonable interest which per swades us that the entire ruine of our being excites more our fears and flights then its perfection merits our desires and searcher So is it certaine what greedinesse soever we have for reputation that we never hazard its pursuit in the occasions of dishonour A great Courage gives it self up unto the dangers of losing life because he sees his recompence in the esteem but he with-holds himself from the Encounter of reproach because he feareth the Infamy Therefore it is no wonder if I say that it is more to suffer detraction which indeavours to sully us then to revenge it fince the peaceable acquiesment hath this ill witnesse that we love ignominy and the effort which we make to reject it discovereth our impatience And really to consider the forces which we imploy in the one and the other we shall find that reason alone aids us to suffer Calumny and that a great number of passions thrust us on to revenge it We have alwayes esteemed a Victory by the little assistance of the Conqueror and by the advantages of the Conquered Who can then deny that a man who combats with Reason alone against a great crowd of enemies meriteth no more Elogies then he who is sucoured of all sides All the difficulty that there is to suffer comes not from the infirmity of the person that suffers it comes also from the power of the causes which produce the sufferance Add unto that that very often there is no hope to acquire glory and that one hath alwayes cause to require the satisfaction thereof by Justice But if the difficulty of a work augments the glory and price thereof it is not hard to conclude of that which I have said that the Couragious who repulseth the outrage meriteth lesse Praise and Recompence then the patient that endures it So must it be confessed that the last proof of Christian generosity is in the pardon of the Offence since it is more easie to give our goods then our resentments We may permit without crying that force take our Wealth from us for they are not tyed to our flesh but we cannot suffer without patience that one should ravish Glory from us because it is glued to our spirit Much more it seems easie to witnesse Constancy when one cuts off a member from us which hath no annection but with a part of our body then to use resignation when one loseth honour which relateth to the whole soul This Discourse makes it sufficiently to be comprehended that Patience i● 〈◊〉 mystery of Christianity and that at lesse then the instruction of a God we could not have known a Vertue which makes us enemies of our selvs But if the generosity which we practise in suffering meriteth glory what praise should we not give to the courage of those who lose without displeasure what all men seek with so much zeal It belongs not but unto Jesus Christ and unto those that are neer his Crosse to bear peaceably the outrages which it is just and glorious to repulse Nothing can resolve us thereunto but the example and grace of a God since Nature is repugnant unto it and reason forbids not to pursue the punishment thereof But to put this truth into a light which may be seen and sensible to all the world I think it fit to joyn History to reason That which I will produce carries an illustrious proof of the courage which revengeth the calumny and of the patience that suffers it Since all the evil comes from the side where the North wind bloweth to speak in the terms of the Holy Ghost it is not inconvenient to draw from thence some famous example of slander Henry the fourth Emperour of Germany having resolved to chuse a Princess that might partake with him the delights of his Empire he fixed his thought upon one of the daughters of Henry

blacknesse whereof it could be capable demanded some dayes to study his infirmity A while after this Jew returned to the Palace loaden with a great number of Remedies which the King used whilst the quacking of his Esculapius could deceive his confidence But whether this Leprosie was of another nature then that of the Jewes who are more subject to that malady then any Nation of the earth or that in truth this Physician was but a Mountebank he vexed himself to swallow so many loathsome Potions and to see himself lanced every day as was almost insufferable The Jew who perceived it making use of this device but to maintaine his Fortune took occasion to represent to his Patient that his Infirmity being supernatural his Majesty should not wonder if the Medicine indeavoured unprofitably to succour him that for his part he had a conceit that there was Witchcraft in his indisposition notwithstanding that hee should not despair of his health provided that his impatience made him not to distrust his skills He added that that great God who had given him so much power upon Nature had not denyed him to do something against Magick But if he would be courageous to take a Remedy which he would prescribe him he should have no lesse docility to believe without examination the infallible vertue thereof The King who feared not to drink poison provided he might have hopes to be cured interrupted a Discourse which troubled him almost as much as his Disease My good friend said he unto him I pray thee comfort my body and amuse thee not to perswade my spirit I am ready to do whatsoever thou wilt command only and thou shalt be obeyed I put no bounds to my submission whilst I may see some assurance in thy promises Is it fatal unto Princes who are infected with Leprosie to meet alwayes with Physicians that oblige them to be cruel for to be sound and to lose humanity to acquire a little good health He who treated with our Patient failed not to represent unto him That the first Emperour of the Christians whatsoever the History sayes of it was cured of a Disease like unto his by such a Remedy as he prepared And not to entertain you unprofitably with vain words Know Sir that you shall be cured if you can resolve to wash your selfe with the blood of a little child There is nothing more easie interrupted the King Then can I protest unto you replyed the Jew that there is nothing in the world more powerful against that corruption which ruines you This malady having its first source in the masse of the blood we must indeavour to put it againe into its proper and natural constitution Nothing can more contribute thereunto then a pure blood and mingled with all kinds of qualities enemies for as much as our great Master teacheth us that one contrary is cured by another But because this Remedy is exteriour and the Disease possesseth the interiour of the body we must assist it in taking something that may encounter it even in its retreat The King pined with impatience to hear so many words and to see so little effect I conjure thee my friend said he finish speedily or I dye To that which I have said answered the Jew you must adde the heart of the fame Infant eating it very warm and if it can be yet panting The Prince who thought not to find a mischievous Remedy provided that it was possible resented some horrour when he heard that to recover his health he must become Antropophage But surely his spirit entred into very great perplexities when he understood that that Infant necessary for his Cure was to be of high Birth and much more when he was told that the Waters of Baptisme would 〈◊〉 away from his blood the vertue which the Jew assured to be natural against the Leprosie What resolution should a poore sick person take who is deceived with the good opinion of his Physician and transported with the desire of his health Whatever repugnance ours resented he resolved to omit nothing that might restore him perswading himself that the life of a Monarch more imported the good of the State then that of all the young Lords that were in his Iland Is there any thing that is unjust said he when it is necessary So is it that the Theology of the great ones concludes when they love better the interest of their fortune then the sanctity of their conscience But alas Where is that innocent Victime which is to dye Perhaps it is not born yet although they kill it already Perhaps it playes in the bosom of its mother and tasteth the sweetnesse thereof whilst crueltie meditates to make it drink the last gall of Nature Whosoever thou art little Innocent thy misfortune toucheth my heart and I cannot behold thy blood without shedding my teares Finish not thy Birth if thou art not in the world or haste to dye if thou art in the armes of the Nurse On how much better were it for thee to perish then to appear Death will be more favourable unto thee the lesse life it leaves thee And you poor mother Was it well done of Nature not to give you some foresight of your griefs I conjure you desire not to see that dear child which is formed in your womb It will be the sweet and the sorrowful subject of your afflictions it will be the innocent Persecutour of your heart and the deplorable cause of your Martyrdome but I am to blame to trouble the contentments that ravish you Poor Mother I am to blame to draw you from that sweetnesse which glues you to that Infant Haste you to taste all the pleasures that you can Kiss those little eyes presse those cheeks against yours hide all that amiable babe in your heart if you can Perceive you not that it witnesseth by its tremblings and quiverings that it fears or that it loves See you not how it presseth upon your bosome how it laboureth to enter once again there Desolate mother Look upon those little eyes do they not tell you that that poor Innocent is going to dye and that mouth which cannot speak yet expresseth it not by its silence the adieu which it gives you and the cruelty which it expecteth Without doubt you are curious to know the newes of our Duke and of our Dutchesse Before you may understand it from me my Reader I pray you to observe in the brutish Discourse of our Jew the true features of Superstition Why must there be an Infant of an illustrious house Why must not this little Prince be baptized Perhaps that Nobility is a Simple against the Leprosie Perhaps that a water which hath received the Benediction of heaven takes from the blood its natural vertue No believe it not the Divel who presides at this Cure pretends to kill a soul and not to heal a body All these conditions serve but to envelope his designe and to give colour to his malice

the taking of Tyre in seeing a Satyre in his sleepe as those Divines interpret it because that Satyros signifies in the Greek language Tyre is thine Did not Const●ntius also receive an advertisement of his disaster going against the Sarazines when he imagined in his sleep that he went forth of Thessalonica whose sylables divided make these three words Thes al●o nequin leave the victory to another When Astia●● saw a vine to come forth from the belly of Mandana and the mother of Augustus believed that her bowels were carried away unto heaven the divels pretended to put themselves in credit by the presages of a greatnesse which they promised in dreames and which the true God destined them in truth But to the end that these events and such others as resemble them may not carry our spirit to believe that all our dreames are true it is fit to consider what conjectures wee may innocently draw from them and to speake in few words what I think thereof it is certain that we ought as little to suspect the truth of the dreames which come from God as to receive those which come from the divels though sometimes they be free from imposture the reason is that we owe our beliefe unto God and our contempt to the divels Neverthelesse it appertaineth not to every one to judge of these nocturnall visions prudence obligeth us to leave the discernment thereof to those that govern our consciences In regard of the naturall dreams whither they proceed from the reflection which the soule makes upon its passed actions or that they have their principle in the habitude of the body it is evident that one may recollect without crime what is to arrive unto us since the humour which commands within us is the necessary cause thereof and the rest of our precedent actions may be the signs of those which are to follow Behold the bond or annexion of the accidents of our life with our dreams consequently the foundation which they give to the presages which we draw from them Dreams proceed for the most part from the temperament the temperament forms our manners our manners have an ascendant upon out actions in that they produce them or rule them our journal actions have much relation and power upon the effects whose causes are secret to us There is no magick then but the spirit sees our accidents in our dreams provided that one assures not this infallible sight So we learn from the conduct of the spiritual Fathers that one may form probable judgments not from the act but from the inclination of the vice or of the vertue of a persons dreames Behold upon what foundation a man that feares to sinne even in his sleepe and resists the filthy imaginations thereof can assure himself that he loves purity and that an unlawful pleasure should be troubled to surprise his reason when it awakes The conjectures which concern not the liberty are lesse suspected therefore it may bee believed that he who dreames but of pleasant things is of a sanguine humour that those in whom Phlegme predominates have in their visions but water shipwrack raine and snowes the cholerick makes still almost warre during the profound peace of his repose and the melancholy sees not but sorrowful objects and horrible phantosmes Thus the physicians can prudently judge of the intemperature of the humour by the assiduity of dreaming the same things Now the reason why we know better the excesse of the temperament of that which passeth in the night then the day it is that the humour suffers not any diversion in its operations whilst the soule reposes and that being not imployed in her most important actions she suspendeth not those of the body which follows ordinarily her application I pretend not to deny that the most familiar source of our dreams is in the entertainments and businesses of the day because that the species thereof being yet fully fresh the spirit which is at leisure amuseth it self to review them and because that its reason is but half awaked it rangeth them so ill and confounds them sometimes with so much disorder that of the fairest images of the day there succedeth thereof but strange grotesques or confused representations Behold my Lord from whence I thinke that your dreame proceedes you ought not then in my opinion to conclude that there is any thing mischievous to arrive to your Lady but rather that your imagination hath not well rallied all the thoughts which have entertained you since your departure from her So ended hee his discourse Thanks unto God I have not so weak a spirit to yeild me to the presages of an evil dream notwithstanding if the Vulture were a Monster cruel enough to figure an inhumane Prince I would say unfortunate Gerard that it should be thee I know not whether it was by hazard or through design that this young Lord was present at the discourse of the Jew Howsoever it was it is certain that all being departed from his Chamber he went to the King to the end to make him apprehend how much his health-imported the repose of his State and that the interest of one sole child should not make so many people suffer All the difficulty that seemed to be in the thing was to meet with one of a fit Birth Gerard who played the Polititian judged that there was hazard in chusing one of the Iland for as much as his death might alter the spirit of many of his most faithful subjects But the sick was soone assured by the offer which a cruel Unkle made him to release him of his pain My Reader wonder not if I conceal you his name I have no lesse shame then horrour to know it and would it had pleased God that it had never been known in the History Let us withdraw from a Court where we should be constrained to assist at the massacre of an Innocent it is better to passe into that of our Dutchesse where all the world rejoyced in the hope to see there suddenly a new Master Though Hi●landa had cause to fear her first throwes she expected notwithstanding the pains thereof with impatience The desire which she had to leave a pledg of her chaste amours to the Prince made her to say a hundred times that she should dye contentedly if she might give her life to a son and a son to her Husband The joy of all this House was much augmented when it was told to the Dutchesse that her Brother in Law was upon the point to arrive As soon as she had advertisement thereof she ran with all the speed that shee could to meet him Deplorable Princess What do you Apprehend you not a fall which it seemes you seek by your precipitation Let us not retain her joy transports her there can be but little moderation where there is much affection Scarce had she met this dear brother at the entrance of the Castle but she cast her selfe about his neck to tell

you what she did it would be to tell you little lesse then what she would have done if her Artus had been returned On the other side Gerard rendred her all the Testimonies which could be expected from a true amity Madam said he at the same time that he feigned to be able to speak I should have other then common words to expresse unto you my resentments I am ravished to see you but I am the more so in that I cannot tell it you to see you in the condition to be one of the happiest mothers of the earth If I deceive me not you are upon the point to give us a young Artus at least your Vermilion complection and that vigour which appeareth in your whole body makes me believe that you have conceived nothing but what is generous Though you have more need of a Midwife then of a younger Brother who is not versed therein I rejoyce notwithstanding to be at your lying in to the end to render you a part of the offices and tendernesses which you should expect from my Brother it seemes long unto me till I hold that little Babe in my armes Oh Traitor it will be too soon Besides I declare unto you my good Sister that it belongs unto me to rock him and that I will not suffer any body to pay him these petty Devoires to my prejudice The sweetnesse of this Complement mollified Hirlanda in such manner that she could not reply unto him one sole word so was it better to answer him with the heart then with the mouth Some dayes slid away in good cheer and preparatives for the Lying in nine months being now even fully accomplished since the Conception of the Dutchess The good mother would her self prepare the little swadling cloaths and other moveables for her dear Infant Whilst this happy day advanced what did Gerard He put on the best countenance he could to beget in the Dutchesse a perfect confidence of an unfeigned Amity But alas Heart of man how perfidious art thou At the same time that his sister made him all the Entertainment that she could he mingled with it the most dangerous perplexity that her Innocence could fear The Midwife and Nurse who attended the Birth of that little Prince were already in Hirlanda her house since the arrival of her Brother in Law these were the two women that he attempted but with so much cunning that his conduct passed in the beginning for a simple design only to affectionate them to the succours of his sister and to the eares of her child He advised them notwithstanding to discover nothing of his Lib●ralities to the other Domesticks for feare that his favour might put them into jealousie nor likewise to his Sister lest that it might passe with her in stead of the recompence which she destined them At last after a long practise judging that he possessed enough the spirit of these Mercenary souls he declared unto them that their fortune depended on their courage and that if they had never so little heart they might hope good fortune enough The assurance to put themselves in place where they should have nothing to feare gave them the boldnesse to enterprize any thing And then all that he demanded from their fidelity was to feigne that his sisters child was dead in her labour and to follow him in a Country where he pretended to cause it to be brought up for great reasons which obliged him to withdraw it from its mother At last the very moment of lying in arrived the Convulsions thereof were so violent for the space of a day that it was easily believed that nothing would proceed thence but the death of the poor Princess It is true yet that she was delivered in a swoun which gave opportunity enough to those whom Gerard had gained to betake themselves to the sea where a Shallop attended them They were to imbark in a place of the Armorick which at this day is called Quidalet and was then named Alethe a word which in its Orginal signifies Errour this place merited formerly so much veneration from the Inhabitants of these coasts that all the slaves which the tempest brought to this Sanctuary recovered their liberty as soon as they touched the borders of that happy Land But this good fortune hapned not to those that stole away our little Prince for scarce were they entred into their Shallop but a troop of armed men boarded them their angry Visages and their naked swords shined so bright amidst the darknesse which the first break of the day had not fully dissipated that our Fugitives could draw from thence but a fatal presage of their ruine Behold them then Captives and loaden with Irons in a place where the most miserable quitted them These poor people surprised with an accident which they had neither apprehended nor foreseen doubted whether they should lament or blesse their very fortunate misfortune The knowledge which they had of their Crime gave them too much fear of the punishment to rejoice at this favourable disaster On the other side seeing themselves delivered from a death which they began to taste when they were arrested it was impossible that the present joy should not put some good interval to the fears which their evil conscience furnished them Adoreable providence of God which conducts so wisely the misfortunes of the wicked that it leaves them fear enough in the bottom of their hearts to punish them and confidence whereby not to yeild themselves to despair My Reader You know the just Motive of their apprehension but you are ignorant for a while of that of their joy be not troubled with that which is to arrive to our Fugitives there is but one Innocent amongst them Perhaps these Strangers that hold him will have pity of his misery But though they should want sweetnesse to spare his life the death which they shall make him suffer will be a favour to him both because it will be more humane then that which they destine him and because he is lesse sensible of the grief then he shall be if compassion permits him to grow up In respect of them who have carried him away there is nothing too cruel and rigorous that may arrive unto them let their Pirats have all the ill will that the sea hath ever maintained it will not be too much to punish them I would not have you to consider a poor mother in the convulsions of death I would not have you think of the interest of a Prince who is not yet unfortunate but with the foresight of his misfortune It is sufficient to make you consent to the death of the guilty to put you in mind of their Treason Without doubt servants merit not for the most part the outrages which they receive from their Masters if they are faithful they ought to be humane to them But if avarice or some other passion takes from them that quality which hinders them to be our most dangerous

first endeavouring to cover his evil design with some good pretence He governed himself with so much artifice that one would have thought him Protector of her whom he intended to destroy Behold how he began to contrive his plot Being one day with his Brother in a Garden belonging to the Castle as he perceived that his spirit laboure'd with some melancholy he fained to be much troubled thereat Sir said he unto him I wonder to see you sad in the common joy of your House and that you should be the only one that participates not in the good fortune of your Family What is wanting to your contentments now that heaven hath blessed your Marriage Really replyed Artus you have hit it the●e and found out wherewith to comfort me you could not better tell me that I have a most just cause to afflict me then to say that I am the father of a daughter I have a great Obligation to Hirlanda fo● this fair present that she gives me to sustaine so strongly my house My Reader Judge of the goodnesse of this spirit who makes his wife ●riminial for having not brought a Son into the world Must she not be at least a Goddesse to content his humour ●ince the Patriark Jacob answered Rachel That he was not God to give her children I find that the plaint of our Duke is more extravagant then that of this good Lady for if it be true that the fathers contribute more to the birth of their Heirs then the mothers Artus is more culpable then Hirlanda Behold notwithstanding the murmur of many fantastick husbands who take occasion to persecute or at least to frowne upon their wives because they have no children or not such as they desire with passion Our evil brother had no mind to represent this to the Duke he contented himself to make an answer which indeed charged not the Princesse but left her in suspicion to have voluntarily contributed to this defect through the austerities and penitencies which weaken nature Notwithstanding added he we should not blame a person when she offends but through too much zeal otherwise it would be sometimes a crime to have vertue Behold Gerard Philosopher and Preacher see him now Cheater and Slanderer A while after as he perceived that his brother continued his coldnesse he visited his sister in Law and counselled her to render her self more complacent to the humours of Artus disclosing unto her the cause of his change It is not to be doubted but the honest caresses of a wife can do much upon the spirit of a Husband but if he be savage and capricious they provoke him more then they gain him It is that which Gerard intended and which he obtained because that the Duke being of a fierce nature the more tenderness Hirlanda expressed to him the more he despised her Besides he began to believe that there was artifice in these Testimonies of love and that she intended rather to deceive him then to pacifie him This umbrage was strongly upheld by an accident which hapned one day to the Prince in the beginning of his dinner for as he opened his napkin he found therein a note wherein there was but these words Take heed of a flattering woman I will not tell you who was the Author of this device but I can assure you that it forwarded very much the Designe of Gerard which was to render the Dutchesse suspected to her Husband Since this fatal day he spake not one reasonable word to Hirlanda when he met her it was but to do her injury Unfortunate Princesse your disaster toucheth you sensibly I doubt not of it since it deserves the tears of all the world I consent that you should lament No no Hirlanda weep not it is better that Vertue command with you then Impatience but if you cannot deny your tears to your griefe I conjure you to make provision of them for another time Without doubt it is not hard to judge that our brother in Law was in too good a way to stop himself his Artifice had too much successe to quit the match upon the point to gain it His familiar spirit suggested him the means which he had not yet imployed I have not yet told you that the Duke had in his neighbourhood a Cavalier who was redoubtable to the whole Province the advantages which he had had in many Encounters gave him the heart to fear nothing Notwithstanding I can scarce believe that he was perfectly courageous seeing he was a Traytor Gerard thought it fit to gain this man to destroy his sister he tryed all that which he judged would corrupt him but it was no hard matter to acquire a man who was for every one that sought an opportunity to do evil Behold then the resolution taken to put Artus in distrust of his wife see the conduct thereof After that this dangerous spirit had sounded the Dukes and found disposition enough in his soul to receive a calumny he took a time one day to speak unto him in these termes My Lord if I had not more passion for your glory then prudence to dissemble your injuries I might be blamed for the il service which I am notwithstanding obliged to render you I would the report which runs through the Province were false it is too common to conceal it from you if your Excellence please to give me leave to discover to you what I know thereof I will avouch nothing which I will not maintain at the peril of my life I believe my Lord that you are not ignorant what is spoken openly of the privacies of my Lady with the Lord de l'Olive It is not but since to day that he ought to be suspected of you since all his life hath been but a continual plot to ruine her Whilst your Excellence was absent he never was from her when she was away he kept her by one of his Aunts now that you have begun to discover their practices he flies your Court either to avoid his punishment or to dissipate your suspitions I doubt not but one might say more thereof if it were not better to give you only this advice by precaution then to enlighten you too much by a truth so odious The Traitor ended here but to provoke more and more the curiosity of the Duke who failed not to press him to instruct him with the rest It is not without constraint that I am to finish but since you will have it so I must tell you against my will that no body believes that ever you were father Would to God that I had not seen those privaces which made me to know him that contributeth truely to the birth of the Dutchesse children I should be without doubt more discreet then to speak unto you of it if I were not the most ardent as the most obliged to serve you But since all the world knowes this disgrace it would be to love your shame to conceal it from him alone that can

him not Our condition would be worse then that of the meanest works of Art and Nature which receive not their accomplishment from the thought which is formed of their excellence but rather from an interiour term which finisheth them Honour being then a strange mark of vertue calumny may hinder us to pass for people of Honour but it cannot make us not to be vertuous in spight of all its envy we shall be honourable if we have merit although we cannot be honoured if we possess not its favour I dare likewise assure that detraction which indeavours to wound vertue is advantageous to its glory not only by the encreasements that it gives to its principle but also by the relief wherewith it raiseth its rayes They are not the beauties only of a face which draw new graces from the blackness that seems to disfigure them these shadowes which the malice of a jealous person would fasten upon merit serve not but to make it to be remarkable in the same manner as there is but the Eclipse that gives us the means to see the Sun To judg at first and upon the first sight one would blieve that these gulfs which appear in the pictures pierce the wall that bears them and that these Abysines which a little oyl and colours make upon the cloth prepare shipwrack to the eyes and imaginations that contemplate them And yet if we look here more narrowly and neerer we shall find that these precipies are at the highest superficies of the portrait and that the point of the most eminent mountains hath no more elevation then the hollowness of these deep Enfonceurs that is an agreeable illusion and a profitable deceit which abaseth us to raise us let us judg soundly of calumny and we shall see that though she hath some other design she hath notwithstanding that effect How many great Vertues are there which are unknown unto us because no body hath traduced them How many are there that glitter because malice hath cast a cloud upon them Not to go from my subject and to leave an example which merits our application Should Hirlanda have come unto us without her disgraces should we have known her merit if it had not been combatted A thousand Princesses of as high a birth as she remain buried in oblivion in not having met with a brother in law or in having one better then Gerard. There is reason then sometimes to wish misfortunes imprisonment is then advantageous an enemy hath benefits and dishonour glory But if it happen that calumny takes truly from us what we possess amongst men never goes it so far as to God the loss which we make will be but an Eclipse in the Ephemerides of the time that passeth and not in the book of life which remains eternally Comfort your self then my Reader if tongues do you some injustice perhaps you will judg one day that those whom you make the object now of all your hates do merit actions of thanks from your acknowledgment But if you cannot have these lights in this life and that the love of a detractor would be a vertue too hard I consent that you should conserve your reputation carefully provided that your care be without impressment Should you not be blind to lose peace which is the dear treasure of your heart to defend renown which is but the invisible picture of your vertue In case that you should quit a little of the tranquillity of your spirit I conjure you diminish nothing of the Innocence of your soul Remember that that jealousie which with too much inquietude combats honour hazardeth not only its lustre but ruins also the merit which serves for foundation unto it The fable saith that Jupiter brake the eggs of the Eagle which he had in his bosom in shaking off the mute of the bird that defiled his purple how lively it expresseth that which you would do if you should abandon vertue to conserve its fame It is an ill fashion to take away the blemishes of a face to strip the skin off it is that notwithstanding which a mother doth passionate of her childs complexion and a man too amorous of his reputation she woundeth a flesh which she would purifie from its defects and he offends the merit which he pretends to priviledg from blame My Reader since I have but one word to say unto you receive this last advice from me and believe me true if I maintain that the least troublesome way to conserve the esteem of men is to make little accompt of their sentiment Come you your self to the practice of this generous contempt and I am certain that as soon as you leave tongues to speak your vertue triumpheth and that if you suffer quietly their malice you assure for ever your Innocence FINIS