The Count Alanſon was ſo tranſported with grief at the reading of this letter, that for ſome time he remained ſpeechleſs. His trouble was too great to vent itſelſ in words; ſtill waters being always the deepeſt: but ſoon after, his ſorrow gave itſelf vent in the moſt paſſionate and feeling complaints; and then, calling for pen and ink, he writ the following letter to his father.
Alanson to Sieur Montaign.
"SIR,
I Received your letter, the contents whereof have brought that grief and ſorrow to my heart that will continue there for ever, unleſs the fight of my deareft Deidamia removes it. Her being turned Hugonot, is not that which gives me much trouble; it rather makes me think there is ſomething of good in thoſe opinions, or elſe, ſo much goodneſs and virtue as that of Deidamia's could never have embraced them. Had you but let her alone in my houſe, I had been happy ſtill; but your endeavouring to reclaim her has been the ruin of us both: I am ſo tranſported with grief and anger, that I know not what to write; nor would I write at all, but come away immediately, were it not for the hopes you gave me from the note, found in the chamber of my deareſt Deidamia, That ſhe was gone to him that would ſoon right ner injuries, and that can be none but myſelf. Might I but recover her again, ſhe ſhould not be miſtaken in her thoughts. It is in hopes of her coming, that I am content to ſtay here a litle longer: for it is Deidamia alone can make me happy. Farewel.ALANSON."
