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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 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 (bow modeftly foever) the true Artificer. For the Work itself I had view'd fome good while before, with fingular delight, having receiv'd it 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

fuppofe

fuppofe) that the Acceffory 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 Difcourfe with you; L 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 his Governor 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 recefs from Venice.

I fhould think that your beft Line will be thorow the whole length of France to Marfeilles and thence by Sea to Genoa, whence the paffage into Tuscany is as Diurnal as a Gravefend Barge: I baften as you do, to Florence, or Siena, the rather to tell you a port I

Story,

flory, from the intereft you have given me in your fafety.

At Siena I was tabled in the Houfe of one Alberto Scipioni, an old Roman Courtier in dangerous times, baving been Steward to the Ducca di Pagliano, who with all his Family were ftrangled, fave this only man, that efcap'd by forefight of the Tempeft: With him I had often much chat of thofe 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 bad won confidence enough to beg his advice, how I might carry myself fecurely there, without offence of others, or of mine own Confcience. Signior Arrigo mio (fays he) I penfieri ftretti, & il vifo fciolto, will go fafely 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 fecurities, God's dear Love, remaining

Your Friend, as much at command

as any of longer date,

Henry Wootton.

POSTSCRIPT.

SIR,

I Have exprefly fent this my Footboy to prevent your departure without fome 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 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.

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The PERSON S.

The attendant Spirit, afterwards in the habit of Thyrfis.

COMUS with his Crew.

The Lady.

1 Brother.

2 Brother.

SABRINA the Nymph.

The chief Perfons who prefented, were,

The Lord BRACKLY.

Mr. THOMAS EGERTON his Brother.

The Lady ALICE EGERTON.

A

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