Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 23 (p.67) |
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To the Countesse of Bedford. Happiest and worthiest Lady, I do not remember that ever I have seen a petition in verse, I would not therefore be singular, nor adde these to your other papers. I have yet adventured so near as to make a petition for verse, it is for those your Ladiship did me the honour to see in Twicknam garden, except you repent your making, and having mended your judge- ment by thinking worse, that is, better, be- cause juster, of their subject. They must needs be an excellent exercise of your wit, which speake so well of so ill: I humbly beg them of your Ladiship, with two such promises, as to any other of your composi- tions were threatnings: that I will not shew them, and that I will not beleeve them; and nothing should be so used that comes from your brain or breast. If I should con- fesse a fault in the boldnesse of asking them, or make a fault by doing it in a longer Letter, your Ladiship might [CW: use] |
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