Sociable Letters 



277 



disease, or a natural defect, or rather effect in the 

 female sex, and the defects and effects of nature may 

 be obscured, but not altered, so that it is very improb- 

 able, if not impossible, for a woman to be silent; 

 indeed it is against the nature of women, so that a 

 silent woman would be as a monster in nature; but 

 howsoever, my desire is rather to be a monster for 

 silence, than a natural in talk; wherefore, lest I 

 should commit a double fault, in overmuch writing 

 of my overmuch talking, I take my leave of you, and 

 rest, Madam, 



Your faithful fr. and s. 



OLD YEARS AND A YOUNG FACE 



Madam, — ^You were pleased in your last letter to 

 tell me, that you did see the Lady C. C. and that her 

 face seems young, although she be old in years; but, 

 Madam, youthful appearance is like green moss on 

 aged trees, and not as the green of springing buds, or 

 flourishing leaves ; the truth is, some bodies are happy 

 in being so healthful, and of so lasting a constitution. 

 For like as the holly, ivy, bay, or laurel, last green all 

 their time, not only in summer, but also in winter; 

 so some men and women will appear young in the 

 winter of their age, with a fresh, and lively colour, 

 and so smooth, and free from wrinkles, as if time had 

 no power on them; but there are not many bodies, or 

 faces, that can boast they are too strong for time, and 

 although they should be victorious over time for a 

 time, yet time ruins them all at last. And so leaving 

 the Lady C. C. to her old years, and young face, 



I rest, Madam, 

 Your faithful friend a^d servant. 



