A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Forth Winthrop to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Winthrop, Forth Winthrop, John, Jr.

1626-07-31

To his lovinge Brother Mr. John Winthrop at his fathers house in Groton. Suff.
Est aliquod prodire tenus Si non datur vltra.2

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

Forth Winthrop. From Cambridge July the last 1626.
1.

W. 1. 16.

2.

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 in philosophy we may advance to, if we can no farther.”