THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF POPE PIUS II. 455 



considerations, I have decided upon offering to you many letters which 

 have been sent to the court here from the East. They are full of such 

 excellent counsel, that the soul naturally inclines to the admonitions they 

 contain, and by observing their contents, cannot fail to attain the bliss of 

 eternal life. Adieu." 



Sylvius, Imperial Poet, to Berthold de Lunebourg, a liberal and 



half-prodigal Writer to the Imperial Chancellary, 

 " Greeting. We have received the letter in which you invite us to sup. 

 We accept the burthen you would impose ; and are preparing our stomachs 

 accordingly : do you see that they do not return empty. It matters little 

 that the host be at home, if the partridges' and capons represent him at the 

 table. As to mine hostess, we will meet her with pleasure we will embrace 

 her, and should it so please her not be slack in doing more for her. If you 

 hold to any rights, have a care how you share them ; what is for the general 

 good ceases to be private. You know how dexterous Michael's hands are 

 you know the eloquence of Wolfgang, and how easily he persuades. As to 

 Winceslaus, he is luxury personified, and however Jacob pretends to be only 

 a boy, you are not to let him see you bait the mousetrap with bacon, even 

 though it be Lent ; Lewis says nothing, but pries into every corner like a 

 mouse. If then you desireto have us, all must be shared in common, or no- 

 thing. There is however one cure, you may give us so much to drink, 

 that sleep shall prove stronger than love. We will come, however, although 

 aught else being wanting, we shall have got you left in person." 



To show that scarce a subject has been left unembellished by our 

 imperial Poet and embryo Pope, we shall next translate the 45th 

 letter, addressed to one of his friends, named Peter, in which he dis- 

 courses notably of marriage and women, and says a few words of 

 himself, which go some way to indicate the natural genius of the 

 individual. The description given of rich wives, will operate, we 

 trust, as a warning to fortune-hunters. 



" Methiriks it has fallen out fortunately with you, since you have 

 made choice of a well-favoured virgin who suits your way of life, and 

 will live not after her own, but after your habits. You do not 

 tell me of her poverty : he who takes a wife marries not gold but a 

 woman. What I should like myself in marriage would be, a wife 

 chaste, handsome, and fruitful. If these conditions were fulfilled, 

 I should exact nothing more. Oh ! beleive me, my dear Peter, it 

 seldom happens that rich wives do not betray great defects. One 

 often finds in them, drunkenness, pride, anger, falsehood, and 

 adultery. In general, they are ugly, barren, and ill-tongued, never 

 giving their husbands peace. It seems your little one has none of 

 these defects but that she is not rich. So be it. Return thanks to 

 heaven, that you have enough, and fill a lucrative situation. You 

 know the story of the Marquis of Saluces, who, wearied of 

 Court vices and excesses, took to wife a certain girl named 

 Griselda, who tended cattle in the forests. You know that the orderly 

 and modest life of this wife has served, and still serves, as a model 

 to all women, making those who rank above her, her inferiors. Who 

 shall stop you in your object, when princes themselves have not been 

 afraid of marrying poor girls ? As for me, my dear Peter, I advise 

 you not to be in a hurry to marry, if, as you say, the girl is gentle, and 

 agrees well with you. You have an advantage which others do not 



