With these affections of
mind, and my heart wholly set upon letters, I went to the
university, but was soon torn from thence by that violent public
storm which would suffer nothing to stand where it did, but rooted
up every plant, even from the princely cedars to me, the hyssop.
Yet I had as good fortune as could have befallen me in such a
tempest; for I was cast by it into the family of one of the best
persons, and into the court of one of the best princesses of the
world. Now though I was here engaged in ways most contrary to the
original design of my life, that is, into much company, and no small
business, and into a daily sight of greatness, both militant and
triumphant, for that was the state then of the English and French
Courts; yet all this was so far from altering my opinion, that it
only added the confirmation of reason to that which was before but
natural inclination. I saw plainly all the paint of that kind of
life, the nearer I came to it; and that beauty which I did not fall
in love with when, for aught I knew, it was real, was not like to
bewitch or entice me when I saw that it was adulterate. I met with
several great persons, whom I liked very well, but could not
perceive that any part of their greatness was to be liked or
desired, no more than I would be glad or content to be in a storm,
though I saw many ships which rid safely and bravely in it.
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