want it. So I do my part to them, let them think of me what they will or can. I have another judge, to whom I stand or fall. If I should regard such things, it were in another's power to defeat my charity, and evil should be stronger than good: but difficulties are so far from cooling christians, that they whet them. Truly it grieves me to think of the child, how destitute she is, and that in this necessary time of education. For the time of breeding is the time of doing children good; and not as many who think they have done fairly, if they leave them a good portion after their decease. But take this rule, and it is an outlandish one, which I commend to you as being now a father, "the best-bred child hath the best portion." Well; the good God bless you more and more; and all' yours; and make your family a houseful of God's servants. So prays Your ever loving brother, G. HERBERT. My wife's and nieces' service. To my very dear brother Sir Henry Herbert, at Court. * Elizabeth, wife of Sir Henry Jones. The latter part of her life, we are told by her brother, Lord Herbert, was most sickly and miserable; she pined" away to skin and bones" LETTERS WRITTEN AT CAMBRIDGE. V. FOR MY DEAR SICK SISTER.* THI HINK not my silence forgetfulness; or that my love is as dumb as my papers; though business may stop my hand, yet my heart, a much better member, is always with you: and which is more, with our good and gracious God, incessantly begging some ease of your pains, with that earnestness, that becomes your griefs, and my love. God who knows and sees this writing, knows also that my soliciting him has been much, and my tears many for you; judge me then by those waters, and not by my ink, and then you shall justly value your most truly, most heartily, affectionate brother and servant, GEORGE HERBERT. Trinity College, December 6, 1620. SIR, TH VI. TO SIR J. D.† DLET HOUGH I had the best wit in the world, yet it would easily tire me to find out variety for nearly fourteen years, and at last died in London, worn out by pain and affliction. + This and the following letters were probably addressed to Sir John Danvers, Herbert's father-in-law. of thanks for the diversity of your favours, if I sought to do so; but, I profess it not: and therefore let it be sufficient for me, that the same heart, which you have won long since, is still true to you, and hath nothing else to answer your infinite kindnesses, but a constancy of obedience; only hereafter I will take heed how I propose my desires unto you, since I find you so willing to yield to my requests; for, since your favours come a-horseback, there is reason, that my desires should go a-foot; neither do I make any question, but that you have performed your kindness to the full, and that the horse is every way fit for me, and I will strive to imitate the completeness of your love, with being in some proportion, and after my manner, your most obedient servant, GEORGE HERBERT. VII. SIR, DARE no longer be silent, lest while I think I wrong my and als the confidence my friends have in me; wherefore I will open my case unto you, which I think deserves the reading at the least; and it is this, I want books extremely; you know, Sir, how I am now setting foot into divinity, to lay the platform of my future life, and shall I then be fain always to borrow books, and build on another's foundation? What tradesman is there who will set up without his tools? Pardon my boldness, Sir, it is a most serious case, nor can I write coldly in that, wherein consisteth the making good of my former education, of obeying that Spirit which hath guided me hitherto, and of achieving my (I dare say) holy ends. This also is aggravated, in that I apprehend what my friends would have been forward to say, if I had taken ill courses, Follow your book, and you shall want nothing: you know, Sir, it is their ordinary speech, and now let them make it good; for since I hope I have not deceived their expectation, let not them deceive mine; but perhaps they will say, You are sickly, you must not study too hard; it is true (God knows) I am weak, yet not so, but that every day, I may step one step towards my journey's end; and I love my friends so well, as that if all things proved not well, I had rather the fault should lie on me, than on them; but they will object again, What becomes of your annuity? Sir, if there be any truth in me, I find it little enough to keep me in health. You know I was sick last vacation, neither am I yet recovered, so that I am fain ever and anon, to buy somewhat tending towards my health; for infirmities are both painful and costly. Now this Lent I am forbid utterly to eat any fish, so that I am fain to diet in my chamber at mine own cost; for in our public halls, you know, is nothing but fish and white-meats: out of Lent, also twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays, I must do so, which yet sometimes I fast. Sometimes also I ride to Newmarket, and there lie a day or two for fresh air; all which tend to avoiding of costlier matters, if I should fall absolutely sick: I protest and vow, I even study thrift, and yet I am scarce able with much ado to make one half year's allowance shake hands with the other: and yet if a book of four or five shillings come in my way, I buy it, though I fast for it; yea, sometimes of ten shillings: but, alas Sir, what is that to those infinite volumes of divinity, which yet every day swell, and grow bigger? Noble Sir, pardon my boldness, and consider but these three things. First, the bulk of divinity. Secondly, the time when I desire this (which is now, when I must lay the foundation of my whole life). Thirdly, what I desire, and to what end, not vain pleasures, nor to a vain end. If then, Sir, there be any course, either by engaging my future annuity, or any other way, I desire to be my mediator to them in my behalf. you, Sir, Now I write to you, Sir, because to you I have ever opened my heart: and have reason, by the patents of your perpetual favour to do so still, for I am sure you love your faithfullest servant, GEORGE HERbert. Trinity College, March 18, 1617. SIR, VIII. THIS your favours ; HIS week hath loaded me with I wish I could have come in person to thank you, but it is not possible; presently after Michaelmas, I am to make an oration to the whole univer |
