Sociable Letters 233 



ment, blindfolds the understanding, and deludes the 

 reason; also it softens the obdurate hearts, and 

 causes dry eyes to weep, and dryes wet eyes from 

 tears; also it refines the drossy humours, polishes 

 the rough passions, bridles the unruly appetites, re- 

 forms the rude manners, and calms the troubled 

 minds; it can civilise the life by virtue, and inspire 

 the soul with devotion. On the other side it can 

 enrage the thoughts to madness, and cause the soul 

 to despair. The truth is, it can make men like gods 

 or devils, as having a power beyond nature, custom 

 and force, for many times the tongue hath been too 

 strong for the sword, and often carried away the vic- 

 tory ; also it hath been too subtil for the laws, as to 

 banish right, and to condemn truth; and too hard for 

 the natures of men, making their passions its prisoners. 

 And since eloquence hath such power over arms, and 

 laws, and men, as to make peace or war, to compose 

 or dissolve commonwealths, to dispose of souls and 

 bodies of mankind; wherefore those men that are 

 indued with such eloquence, and overflowing wit, 

 are both to be feared and loved, to be highly ad- 

 vanced or utterly banished ; for those whose eloquent 

 wit outruns their honesty, are to be punished, but 

 those that employ their eloquent wit, and elegant 

 graces, to the service of the commonwealth, are to 

 be esteemed, respected, and relied upon, as pillars 

 of the commonwealth. But to conclude, wit makes 

 a ladder of words, to climb to fame's high tower, and 

 the tongue carries men further than their feet, and 

 builds them a statelier, and more lasting palace than 

 their hands, and their wit, more than their wealth, 

 doth adorn it. But now, leaving words and wit, I 

 rely upon love and friendship, and rest. Madam, 



Your faithful friend and servant. 



H2 



