264 The Duchess of Newcastle 



ON THE GRANDEUR OF NOBLE PERSONS 



Madam,— The Lady G. R. and the Lady A. N. in 

 a visiting meeting, fell into a discourse of great princes 

 and noble persons, where the Lady G. R. said, that 

 great princes and noble persons should or ought to 

 have a grandeur in their behaviours, habits, dis- 

 courses, attendance, life and renown, as to their 

 persons, garments, speech, ceremony, actions and 

 fame, according to their titles, births and fortunes. 

 Nay, said the Lady A. N. not according to fortune, for 

 misfortune or ill fortune knocks grandeur down, and 

 makes it lye as dead, also age doth lessen it: the 

 Lady G. R. said, that true grandeur did ride in triumph 

 upon misfortune's back; for though ill fortune might 

 degrade noble persons of wealth, and poverty degrade 

 them of ceremony, yet the right grandeur of true 

 noble persons would appear through raggs, and their 

 low condition Hke as the sun, which though it could 

 not shine cleer and bright through thick, black clouds, 

 yet it made day in that hemisphere it moved in, for a 

 dark day is not night. So, although ill fortune may 

 darken the grandeur of noble persons, yet it cannot 

 benight it; and as for age, said she, it is so far from 

 lessening grandeur as it gives it addition for true 

 noble and heroick persons, their very shadows do 

 appear with a majestical grandeur, and their fame 

 sounds with a solemn renown, both to beget respect, 

 reverence, and honour in the eyes, ears and minds of 

 all persons, in despite of fortune or time, for grandeur, 

 said she, lives both in the ashes and fame of noble, 

 worthy, and gallant persons. But leaving their dis- 

 course together with their visit, 



I rest. Madam, 

 Your faithful servant and friend. 



