456 THE LIFE ASD LETTERS OF POPE PIUS II. 



often find : you have put her to the proof before marriage. Do not be in 

 a hurry then so many men have been deceived in marrying without 

 sufficient knowledge. What hidden faults are not discovered a few 

 days after the wedding source inexhaustible of chagrin and sorrow 

 to husbands. I judge by what has happened to myself: I have 

 loved and known many women, who, a few days after, have become 

 odious to me. So that, I tell you, were I a marrying man, I would 

 make choice of none but a person whose habits and manners I was 

 thoroughly acquainted with. I speak plainly to you on this subject, 

 for I know your thoughts, and remember hearing you say that you 

 would take no woman to wife, but one who should feel and acknow- 

 ledge that she owed every thing to you. It seems to be that you have 

 it in your power to do as you please, if you will only be true to your- 

 self. Marry then, and when I return to Italy, if I am to return to 

 it, I will go and see you with your wife, your children, in the midst 

 of your hounsehold; you will give me a seat at your board, 

 and I shall eat of your bread. Let it not alarm you that I am 

 in the habit of seeing the great, and living in the midst of their 

 luxury : all that has few charms for me ; and I would quit them 

 willingly to return to my country, provided I could do so without 

 being a beggar for life. You know the prince I serve is of no party, 

 all his care is to preserve union in Europe. A faithful servant cannot 

 wish for any thing but what his master desires ; therefore, I offer my 

 my vows to heaven for the success of his designs, which appear to 

 me to be good One thing is certain, and that is that the royal favour 

 has fallen on you, and on me also ; and as the Count is about to grow 

 richer, with the blessing of God, we shall be able to feel the benefit 

 of it. When will that happen ? I know not. I insinuate myself with 

 the King : I will obey him in all things ; I will follow in his footsteps ; 

 I will wish as he wishes ; I will never contradict him ; I will never 

 attempt any thing that does not immediately concern myself for 

 nothing is more dangerous than to desire to meddle with the 

 affairs of a country one does not belong to. I am a stranger here ; 

 and I play the part of the Parasite, Guaton. They say yes, I say 

 yes ; they would have no, I say no. Do they do good, I praise them ; 

 are they fools, so much the worse for themselves. In short, I 

 neither envy the greatness, nor bewail the disgrace of one of them ! 

 Whatever I learn, I shall transmit to you without reflections. I 

 shall know how to hold my tongue, and obey when necessary. I 

 shall say no more to you to-day, but bid you not to forget to give me 

 news of Mr. Thomas, and write how your marriage project gets on. 

 Adieu !" 



This marriage project seems to have occupied our friend Eneas' 

 mind somewhat deeply ; for we have another epistle on the subject 

 immediately after. But we must pass it over. It must not be 

 imagined, however, that the correspondence of the future Pontiff 

 turns exclusively on light and familiar topics. He treats of the 

 questions agitated in the Council of Basle combats the arguments 

 furnished by Pope Euginius IV. ; speaks of the King of Arragon 

 who presumed to fight the Turks near Rhodes, and generally enter- 

 tains the various political and religious events which engaged 



