This is the fourth of this moneth, and I receive your Pacquet so late,
that I have scarce waking time enough to tell you so, or to write any
thing but dreams. I have both your Letters, mother and daughter, and am
gladder of them, then if I had the mother and daughter here in our
neighbourhood; you know I mean Sir _H. Gooderes_ parties. Sir, you do me
double honour when my name passes through you to that Noble Lady in whose
presence you are. It is a better end and a better way to that then I am
worth. I can give you nothing in recompense of that favour, but good
counsell: which is to speake sparingly of any ability in me, lest you
indanger your own reputation, by overvaluing me. If I shall at any time
take courage by your Letter, to expresse my meditations of that Lady in
writing, I shall scarce think lesse time to be due to that employment,
then to be all my life in making those verses, and so take them with me
and sing them amongst her fellow Angels in Heaven. I should be loath that
in any thing of mine, composed of her, she should not appear much better
then some of those of whom I have written. And yet I cannot hope for
better expressings then I have given of them. So you see how much I should
wrong her, by making her but equall to others. I would I could be
beleeved, when I say that all that is written of them, is but prophecy of
her. I must use your favour in getting her pardon, for having brought her
into so narrow, and low-roost a room as my consideration, or for
adventuring to give any estimation of her, and when I see how much she can
pardon, I shall the better discern how far farther I may dare to offend in
that kinde. My noble neighbour is well, and makes me the steward of his
service to you. Before this Letter reaches you, I presume you will bee
gathering towards these parts, and then all newes will meet you so fast,
as that out of your abundance you will impart some to
_Your affectionate friend to
serve you_
J. Donne.
[xcv.]
_To your selfe._