Digital Donne: the Online Variorum

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Previous image Next image The 1654 Prose Letters  Letter 30, cont. (p.86)




losam to encline to one, but upon reasons
light in themselves, or indiscussed in me,
(which are almost all the diseases of consci-
ence) I might mistake your often, long, and
busie Letters, and fear you did but intreat
me to have mercy upon you and spare you;
for you know our Court took the resoluti-
on, that it was the best way to dispatch the
French Prince back again quickly, to re-
ceive him solemnly, ceremoniously, and ex-
pensively, when he hoped a domestique
and durable entertainment. I never meant
to excell you in weight nor price, but in
number and bulk I thought I might, be-
cause he may cast up a greater summe who
hath but forty small monies, then he with
twenty Poruguesses. The memory of
friends, (I mean onely for Letters) neither
enters ordinarily into busied men, because
they are ever emploied within, nor into
men of pleasure, because they are never at
home. For these wishes therefore which
you won out of your pleasure and recreati-
on, you were as excusable to me if you
[CW: writ]
p.86

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