Sociable Letters 255 



onely in my friends' brains I am better entertained; 

 and this is the reason I retire so much from the sight 

 of the world, for the love of life and fear of death: 

 for since nature hath made our bodily lives so short, 

 that if we should hve the full period, it were but like 

 a flash of lightning, that continues not, and for the 

 most part leaves black obhvion behind it ; and since 

 Nature rules the bodily life, and we cannot live 

 alwayes, nor the bounds of Nature be inlarged, I am 

 industrious to gain so much of Nature's favour, as to 

 enable me to do some work, wherein I may leave my 

 idea, or hve in an idea, or my idea may hve in many 

 brains ; for then I shall live as Nature hves amongst 

 her creatures, which onely lives in her works, and is 

 not otherwise known but by her works. We cannot 

 say, she lives personally amongst her works, but 

 spiritually within her works; and naturally I am so 

 ambitious, as I am restless to Hve, as nature doth, in 

 aU ages, and in every brain ; but though I cannot hope 

 to do so, yet it shall be no neglect in me; and as I 

 desire to live in every age, and in every brain, so I 

 desire to live in every heart, especially in your Ladi- 

 ship's, wherein I beheve I do already, and wish I may 

 live long. Wherefore for my own sake, as well as 

 yours, let me intreat you to remove out of that 

 plaguy city, for if you die, all those friends you leave, 

 or think of, or remember, partly die with you, nay, 

 some perchance for ever, if they were personally dead 

 before, and onely live in your memory; wherefore, 

 as you are a noble lady, have a care of your friends, 

 and go out of that city as soon as you can, in which 

 you will oblige all those you favour, or that love 

 you, amongst which there is none more truly, faith- 

 fully, and fervently, your friend and servant, than. 

 Madam, I, ^ M. N. 



