personal acknowledgment for your late kind visit, and I trouble you with this because I fear I shall not be able to perform that 'till the latter end of the week; but I shall, after this business is over (which concerns an account with a kinsman of mine), importune you with frequent visits, and, I hope, prevail with you that I may have the honour to see you again at my poor villa, when my respects are less diverted, and that I may treat you without ceremony or constraint. For it were fitting you did see how I live when I am by myself, who cannot but pronounce me guilty of many vanities, deprehending me (as you did) at a time when I was to gratify so many curious persons, to whom I had been greatly obliged, and for whom I have much value. I suppose you think me very happy in these outward things; really, I take so little satisfaction in them, that the censure of singularity would no way affright me from embracing an hermitage, if I found that they did in the least distract my thoughts from better things; or that I did not take more pleasure and incomparable felicity in that intercourse which it pleases God to permit me, in vouchsafing so unworthy a person to prostrate himself before Him, and contemplate His goodness. These are indeed gay things, and men esteem me happy. Ego autem, peccatorum sordibus inquinatus, diebus ac noctibus opperior cum timore reddere novissimum quadrantem: Whilst that account is in suspense, who can truly enjoy any thing in this life sine verme? Omnia enim tuta timeo. My condition is too well; and I do as often wonder at it, as suspect and fear it: and yet I think I am not to do any rash or indiscreet action, to make the world take notice of my singularity; though I do with all my heart wish for more solitude, who was ever most averse from being near a great city, designed against it, and yet it was my fortune to pitch here, more out of necessity, and for the benefit of others, than choice, or the least inclination of my own. But, Sir, I will trouble you no farther with these trifles, though as to my confessor I speak them. There are yet more behind. My Essay upon Lucretius, which I told you was engaged, is now printing, and (as I understand) near finished: my animadversions upon it will I hope provide against all the ill consequences, and totally acquit me either of glory or impiety. The captive woman was in the old law to have been head-shaven, and her excrescences pared off, before she was brought as a bride to the bed of her lord. I hope I have so done with this author, as far as I have penetrated; and for the rest I shall proceed with caution, and take your counsel. But, Sir, I detain you too long, though with promises to render you a better account hereafter, both of my time and my studies, when I shall have begged of you to impose some task upon me, that may be useful to the great design of virtue and a holy life, who am, DEAR SIR, Sir, your, &c. Jeremy Taylor to John Evelyn. July 19th, 1656. I perceive the greatness of your affections by your diligence to inquire after and to make use of any opportunity which is offered whereby you may oblige me. Truly, Sir, I do continue in my desires to settle about London,1 and am only hindered by my Res augusta domi; but hope in God's goodness that He will create to me such advantage as may make it possible: and, when I am there, I shall expect the daily issues of Divine Providence to make all things else well; because I am much persuaded that, by my abode in your vicinage of London, I may receive advantages of society and books to enable me better to serve God and the interest of souls. I have no other desigu but it; and I hope God will second it with his blessing. Sir, I desire you to present my thanks and service to Mr. Thurland: his society were argument enough to make me desire a dwelling thereabouts, but his other kindnesses will also make it possible. I would not be troublesome: serviceable I would fain be, useful, and desirable; and I will endeavour it if I come. Sir, I shall, besides what I have already said to you, at present make no other return to Mr. Thurland, till a little thing of mine be public, which is now in Royston's hands, of Original Sin: the evils of which doctrine I have 1 Jeremy Taylor was now living at a small village in Wales, The "Doctrine and Practice of Repentance" was the title given to this admirable Essay when published. now laid especially at the Presbyterian door, and discoursed it accordingly, in a missive to the Countess Dowager of Devonshire. When that is abroad, I mean to present one to Mr. Thurland; and send a letter with it. I thank you for your Lucretius. I wished it with me sooner: for, in my letter to the Countess of Devonshire, I quote some things out of Lucretius, which for her sake I was forced to English in very bad verse, because I had not your version by me to make use of it. Royston hath not yet sent it me down, but I have sent for it: and though it be no kindness to you to read it for its own sake, and for the worthiness of the work; because it deserves more; yet, when I tell you that I shall, besides the worth of the thing, value it for the worthy author's sake, I intend to represent to you, not only the esteem I have of your worthiness, but the love also I do and ever shall bear to your person. Dear Sir, I am in some little disorder by reason of the death of a little child of mine, a boy that lately made us very glad: but now he rejoices in his little orb, while we think, and sigh, and long to be as safe as he is. Sir, when your Lucretius comes into my hands, I shall be able to give you a better account of it. In the meantime I pray for blessings to you and your dear and excellent lady: and am, Dear Sir, Your most affectionate and endeared JER. TAYLOR. SIB, Dr. Thomas Triplet to John Evelyn. London, 7th August, 1656. I might doubt a little whether my letter came to your hands, but I had not the least jealousy of your friendly care in case you received it. I thank you I have now an account of it, having spoken yesterday myself with the major, and was civilly received by him. I am heartily sorry that neither you nor your brother Richard were at our Rendezvous at Bexhill, that my Lord might have seen such a pair-royal of brothers as I believe is not again to be found in the nation for loving one another and loving one another's friends, which I am sure I am concerned in, and most gratefully acknowledge to all, and to you particularly, as Sir, Your humble bounden, T. TRIPLET. Dr. John Wilkins' to John Evelyn. HONOURED SIR, Wadham College, Oxford, 16th August, 1656. I am very sensible that I have reason to be ashamed that I have no sooner returned my acknowledgment for the favour of your book, in which I have not observed any such erratas as you complain of, nor can I think you have any reason to suspect the imputation of such mistakes to yourself. I am very sure all that know you must be zealous to vindicate you. For that unusual way of the combs in the hive, it may sometimes so happen, and hath done so with me, though according to the usual course they are built edgewise from the place of their entrance. A window in the side hath this inconvenience in it, that in hot weather when the bees are apt to be busy and angry, a man cannot so safely make use of it. There are several means prescribed by Mr. Rutler in his book of Bees to force such as lay out to rise or keep within, to which I shall refer you; and have no more at present but the presentation of my most hearty thanks for all your noble favours, and my most humble service to your lady. I am, Sir, Your true Honour and humble servant, Jeremy Taylor to John Evelyn. HONOURED AND Dear Sir, 9ber 15, 1656. In the midst of all the discouragements which I meet withal in an ignorant and obstinate age, it is a great 1 See Diary, vol. i. pp. 305, 306. Dr. Triplet, the writer of the preceding letter, had undertaken in Evelyn's absence to correct the proof-sheets of the translated book of Lucretius, and seems to have performed the task very negligently. See Diary, vol. i. p. 330. comfort to me, and I receive new degrees of confidence when I find that yourself, and such other ingenious and learned persons as yourself, are not only patient of truth, and love it better than prejudice and prepossession, but are so ingenuous as to dare to own it in despite of the contradictory voices of error and unjust partiality. I have lately received from a learned person beyond sea, certain extracts of the Eastern and Southern Antiquities, which very much confirm my opinion and doctrine: for the learned man was pleased to express great pleasure in the reasonableness of it, and my discourses concerning it. Sir, I could not but smile at my own weaknesses, and very much love the great candour and sweetness of your nature, that you were pleased to endure my English poetry; but I could not be removed from my certain knowledge of my own greatest weaknesses in it. But if I could have had your Lucretius when I had occasion to use those extractions out of it, I should never have asked any man's pardon for my weak version of them: for I would have used none but yours; and then I had been beyond censure, and could not have needed a pardon. But, Sir, the last papers of mine have a fate like your Lucretius ;-I mean so many erratas made by the printers, that, because I had not any confidence by the matter of my discourse and the well-handling it, as you had by the happy reddition of your Lucretius, I have reason to beg your pardon for the imperfection of the copy: but I hope the printer will make amends in my Rule of Conscience, which I find hitherto he does with more care. But, Sir, give me leave to ask, why you will suffer yourself to be discouraged in the finishing Lucretius: they who can receive hurt by the fourth book, understand the Latin of it; and I hope they who will be delighted with your English, will also be secured by your learned and pious annotations which I am sure you will give us along with your rich version. Sir, I humbly desire my services and great regards to be presented by you to worthy Mr. Thurland: and that you will not fail to remember me when you are upon your knees. I am very desirous to receive the Dies ira, Dies illa, of your translation; and if you have not yet found it, upon notice of it from you I will transmit a copy of it. Sir, I pray God continue your health and his blessings to you |