Epistle

the world owes to your Virtue; than to the pri-
vate duties, which force me to this homage. That if
my affection has less success than ardor, I
promise myself that you will not judge by that
my intentions, and that this small tribute, being a
testimony of the respect that all those of my robe The "robe" refers to his status as a member of the clergy or a religious order.
bear to your merit, it may also be consi-
dered as a proof of the power that you will
always have over my will, in the capacity of

MY LORD.