Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1626-07-31
Where I loue much I speake but littel for affection hath smale pleasure in ceremonies, your kindnesse I haue found ambabus ut aiunt manibus, my deserte I dare not speake of, lest it more offend my selfe to thinke of, then you to looke on: Hauing little matter where with to entertayne your expectations I haue beene inforced to studdie for nothing, your expectation is to heare from me, and to salute you with silence weare a cold commendation. Let it therfore suffice you to heare of my health, and this expression of 330my euer vnfained affection toward you wherein if oblivious ingratitude should produce a Lethe of forgettfulnesse to ouerrunne my affections, in that verie instance and moment of time I would leaue to be my owne.
And thus for want of matter breefer then I would be I commend my loue to your kindnesse and soe rest euer, Your assuered louing Brother
W. 1. 16.
From Horace, Epistolae, I. I, 32. The usual reading is ‘Est quadam’; a Venice edition of 1584 has ‘Est quoddam.’ Smart’s translation gives the sense sufficiently well: “There is some point