238 The Duchess of Newcastle 



in a house. Yet I write not this as beheveing he may 

 not be happy in his choice, for 'tis hkely the match 

 may be more happy than honourable, and if he 

 thinks it is no disgrace, or cares not for disgrace, all 

 is well, for it onely concerns himself, as having no 

 parents living to grieve or anger, nor no former 

 children to suffer by. But though her ofQce and birth 

 were both dripping and basting, yet his dignity and 

 wealth hath made her a gay lady, and so leaving him 

 to his dish of brewess, 



I rest. Madam, 

 Your faithful friend and servant. 



ON THE DEGREES AND DIVERS SORTS OF 



WIT 



Madam, — ^You were pleased to desire me to send 

 you my opinion of Mrs. R. E.'s wit, truly I cannot 

 judge of her wit until I have a longer acquaintance 

 with her. For there are many several degrees, and 

 divers sort of wit, as from a pint to a tun, or teirce, 

 or pipe of wit, all which may be drawn dry, and their 

 brains be as empty barrels; and some have rivers or 

 seas of wit, which sometimes ebb and some flow, 

 wherein some have double tides; and others have 

 springs of wit which issue out into small streams, but 

 make great flouds, by reason they constantly flow 

 without intermission. But there are not many seas, 

 nor rivers, nor floods, nor springs of wit, for there are 

 more bottels than springs, and more barrels than seas 

 of wit. As for spring wit, it is fresh, sweet, calm, 

 smooth, pure, bright and clear, whereas sea wit is 

 salt, sad, fomy, rough, boisterous, unsteady, and 

 sometimes dangerous. And as there are several 



