we might have banded together fome good Authors of the antient time: Among which, I obferved you to bave been familiar. 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 I must plainly confess to have seen 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 modestly foever) the true Artificer. For the Work itself I had view'd fome good while before, with fingular delight, baving receiv'dit from our common Friend Mr. R. in the very close of the late R's Poems, printed at Oxford, whereunto it was added (as I now Suppose Suppose) that the Accessory might help out the Principal, according to the Art of Stationers, and to leave the Reader Con la bocca dolce. Now, Sir, concerning your Travels, wherein I may challenge a little more privilege of Discourse with you; suppose 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 easily find attending the young Lord S. as bis Governor, and you may furely receive from him good directions for the shaping of your farther journey into Italy, where be did refide by my choice some time for the King, after mine own recefs from Venice. I should think that your best Line will be thorow the whole length of France to Marseilles and thence by Sea to Genoa, whence the passage into Tuscany is as Diurnal as a Gravesend Barge: I haften as you do, to Florence, or Siena, the rather to tell you a Sport story, I ftory, from the interest you have given me in your safety. At Siena I was tabled in the House of one Alberto Scipioni, an old Roman Courtier in dangerous times, having been Steward to the Ducca di Pagliano, who with all his Family were strangled, fave this only man, that escap'd by foresight of the Tempest: With him I had often much chat of those affairs; into which he took pleafure to look back from his Native Harbour; and at my departure towards Rome (which had been the centre of his experience) I had won confidence enough to beg bis advice, how I might carry myself fecurely there, without offence of others, or of mine own Confcience. Signior Arrigo mio (Jays be) I pensieri stretti, & il viso fciolto, will go safely over the whole World: Of which Delphian Oracle (for fo I have found it) your judgment doth need no commentary, and therefore (Sir) I will commit you with it to the 1 the best of all securities, God's dear Love, remaining Your Friend, as much at command as any of longer date, Henry Wootton. POSTSCRIPT. SIR, Have exprefly fent this my Foot+ boy to prevent your departure without some acknowledgment from me of the receipt of your obliging Letter, having myself thro' fome business, I know not how, neglected the ordinary conveyance. In any part where I shall understand you fixed, I shall be glad, and diligent to entertain you with Home-Novelties; even for fome fomentation of our friendship, too foon interrupted in the Cradle. |