BACON,--I can neither expound nor censure your late actions, being ignorant of all of them, save one, and having directed my sight inward only, to examine myself.

You do pray me to believe that you only aspire to the conscience and commendation of _bonus civis_ and _bonus vir_; and I do faithfully assure you, that while that is your ambition (though your course be active and mine contemplative), yet we shall both _convenire in codem tertio_ and _convenire inter nosipsos_.

Your profession of affection and offer of good offices are welcome to me.

For answer to them I will say but this, that you have believed I have been kind to you, and you may believe that I cannot be other, either upon humour or my own election.

I am a stranger to all poetical conceits, or else I should say somewhat of your poetical example.