The Copy of a Letter Written by Sir HENRY WOOTTON, to the Author, upon the following Poem. From the College, this 13th of April, 1638. SIR, Ied upon me here the first taste of your acquain T was a fpecial favour, when you lately beftow tance, though no longer than to make me know that I wanted more time to value it, and to enjoy it rightly; and in truth, if I could then have imagined your farther ftay in these parts, which I understood afterwards by Mr. H., I would have been bold in our vulgar phrafe to mend my draught (for you left me with an extreme thirst) and to have begged your converfation again, joyntly with faid learned Friend, at a poor meal or two, that we might have banded together fome good Authors of the antient time: Among which, I obferved you to have been familiar. your Since your going you have charg'd me with new Obligations, both for a very kind Letter from you dated the fixth of this Month, and for a dainty piece of entertainment which came therewith. Wherein I should much commend the Tragical part, if the Lyrical did not ravish me with a certain Dorique delicacy in your Songs and Odes, whereunto Im plainly confefs to have feen yet nothing parallel in our Language: Ipfa mollities. But I must not omit to tell you, that I now only owe you thanks for intimating unto me (how modeftly foever) the true Artificer. For the work it felf I had view'd fome good while before, with fingular delight, having receiv'd it from our common Friend Mr. R. in the very clofe of the late R's Poems, Printed at Oxford, whereunto it was added (as Inow fuppofe) that the Acceffory might help out the Principal, according to the Art of Stationers, and to leave the Reader Con la bocca dolce. you; Now Sir, concerning your travels, wherein I may challenge a little more privilege of Difcourfe with I fuppofe you will not blanch Paris in your way; therefore I have been bold to trouble you with a few lines to Mr. M. B. whom you shall eafily find attending the young Lord S.as his Governour, and you may furely receive from him good directions for the shaping of your farther journey into Italy, where he did refide by my choice fome time for the King, after mine own recess from Venice. I fhould think that your beft Line will be thoro the whole length of France to Marfeilles, and thence by Sea to Genoa, whence the paffage into Tufcany is as Diurnal as a Gravefend Barge: 1 haften as you do to Florence, or Siena, the rather to tell you a fhort story from the intereft you have given me in your fafety. At Siena I was tabled in the House of one Alberto Scipioni an old Roman Courtier in dangeDes times, having been Steward to the Duca di Pagliano, who with all his Family were ftrangled, fave this only man that efcap'd by foreight of the Tempest: With him I had often much chat of thefe affairs; Into which he took pleasure to look back from his Native Harbour; and at my departure toward Rome (which had been the center of his experience) I had won confidence enough to beg his advice, how I might carry my self securely there, without offence of others, or of mine own conscience. Signor Arrigo mio (fays he) I penfieri ftretti, & il vilo fciolto will go fafely over the whole World: Of which Delphian Oracle (for fo Ihave found it) your judgment doth need no commentary; and therefore (Sir) I will commit you with it to the best of all fecurities, Gods dear love, remaining Your Friend as much at command as any of longer date, Henry Wootton, SIR, POSTSCRIPT. I Have exprefly fent this my Foot-boy to prevent your departure without fome acknowledgement from me of the receipt of your obliging Letter, having my felf through fome bufinefs, I know not know, neglected the ordinary conveyance. In any part where I fhall understand you fixed, I fhall be glad, and diligent to entertain you with Home-Novelties; even for fome fomentation of our friendship too foon interrupted in the Cradle. |