Since the spirit of curiosity possesses us here in this world, no less than it did in your’s, ’tis an infinite trouble for those persons, Madam, who were acquainted with every thing while they liv’d, not to know all that passes after their death; and of this you’ll one day make an experiment. I am not desirous to know, Madam, what you have done to succeed the greatest beauties of the earth, in the affection of an old libidinous monarch, nor what charms you make use of to secure the possession of his heart, at an age you cannot please without a miracle. My planet, dear Madam, has rendered me somewhat knowing in these affairs, for _Henry_ II. was my gallant as long as he liv’d; and tho’ I was little handsomer than you, I was not, I think, much younger. But I must tell you, I cannot comprehend what procures you those loud commendations and applauses which reach even to our ears, and are by their noise most horribly offensive to us. The advantages of my birth were great; and it is well known my charms so captivated _Francis_ I. that they redeem’d my father from the gallows. I marry’d a very considerable man, and the name of _Breze Reneschal_ of _Normandy_, sounds somewhat better than that of _Scarron the queen’s ballad-maker_. The house of _Poictiers_ too, from which I was descended, may surely take place of those monarchs from whom that mercenary fellow _Boileau_ derives your extraction; and lastly, if I had a few particular enemies, I did nothing to make myself generally odious. Yet for all this, I was neither canoniz’d nor prais’d, but openly laugh’d at, and by one of my own profession, I mean the duchess of _Estampe_, who was mistress to the father of my lover, and said she was born on my wedding-day. Blundering impudent _Bayard_ was banish’d for speaking too freely of me; and tho’ it was said, _That for me alone beauty had the privilege not to grow old_, the compliment was so forc’d, that I was little the better for it. Ragged _Marot_ was the only poet that ever pretended to couple rhimes in my praise; and I will appeal to you if he did not deserve to go naked. _I dare not, (were’t to save my ransom)_ _Affirm your ladyship is handsome;_ _Nor, without telling monstrous lyes,_ _Defend the lightning of your eyes;_ _For, Madam, to declare the truth,_ _You’ve neither face, nor shape, nor youth._ _Howe’er, all flattery apart,_ _You’ve plaid your cards with wond’rous art._ _When young, no lover saw your charms._ _Or press’d you in his eager arms:_ _But triumphs your old age attend,_ _And you begin where others end._