Is it possible that so charming a beauty should think of such an old decrepid creature as I am! I was desirous to talk with _Mercury_ about you, but he flew away like a bird. It extremely troubles me, dear child, that I am oblig’d, in answer to your letter, to tell you there is no hopes of your returning to _Versailles_; for you must consider that when I conducted _Æneas_, I was then living, and that ’tis impossible for any under a _Hercules_ to fetch you from whence you are; and where shall we find one now? The bravest _Boufflers_ in _France_ is but a link-boy in comparison to him. Your lover, _fair lady_, is so fast link’d to his old [47] _Duegna_’s tail, that he thinks no more of you and your complaints are insignificant.[48] She that hurried you out of the world in the flower of your youth, with a favourable dose of poison, is now neglected, and grown so monstrous fat and lecherous, by living lazily in a nunnery, that she’s not a fit companion for any creature that has but two legs to support it. You know not what you do, when you envy my destiny, for I’m sometimes so teiz’d and tir’d with answering the _virtuosos_ and _beaux_, that it turns my very brain. I own, ’tis a sad thing to dye at eighteen, in the heighth of one’s greatness and pleasures, because nature always thinks she pays her tribute to death before-hand. I would willingly divert you a little, but I know not which way, unless this little history I send you, which a traveller gave me not long since, and which has novelty to recommend itself, will do it. Do not believe, good lady, the scandalous story some ignorant rhiming puppy has made of _Æneas_ and me; he was not so brisk as that comes to; and I can assure you, never put the question to me. Ask _Dido_, she can tell you more of him than I can; and as modest as _Virgil_ describes her, yet she was forc’d to take this _Trojan_ prince by the throat to make him perform the duty of a gallant; by this you may judge of his constitution: besides, had he been never so amorously inclin’d, yet not knowing my inclinations, he might think his courtship would displease me, and so disoblige _Apollo_, for whose assistance he then had occasion. Therefore laugh at all those idle railleries of impertinent people, and turn your eyes and thoughts on the following dialogue. [Illustration: _The Mitred Hog and Ladys_ _Vol: II. p. 101._ _E Kirkall Sculp._ ] _The MITRED HOG: A Dialogue between Abbot_ FURETIERE _and_ SCARRON. _Furetiere._ Oh! Have I found you at last, old friend? Tho’ I were certain you were here, and desir’d earnestly to see you; yet being gouty, and tir’d with walking, I began to have no more thoughts of searching after you. How many troublesome journeys I have made, and leagues have I travell’d, and all to kiss your hands, tho’ I am a virtuoso, I cannot tell; for in truth, I am quite out of my element, and confounded ever since I have lost sight of sun and moon.