153.H06.HE2 To the Countesse of Bedford /sist%5r%6 to the L.%5d%6 Harrington [87v] 153.H06.HE3 Madame. 153.H06.001 I haue learnd by those lawes wherein I /am a little conversant, 153.H06.002 that hee w.%5ch%6 bestowes any /cost vpon the dead, obliges him 153.H06.003 w.%5ch%6 is dead /but not the heyre. I doe not therefore send this 153.H06.004 /paper to yo%5r%6 La.%5pp%6 that yo%5u%6 should thanke mee /for it, or 153.H06.005 thinke that I thanke yo%5u%6 in it. yo%5r%6 fauo%5rs%6 and benefits to mee 153.H06.006 are so /much aboue my merits that they are even aboue /my 153.H06.007 Gratitude, if that were to bee iudged by /words w.%5ch%6 must exp%5r%6sse 153.H06.008 it. But, Madame, since yo%5r%6 Noble Brothers fortunes beeing yours 153.H06.009 /the Evidences also concerning /it ar yours, so his vertues beeing 153.H06.010 yours, the /Evidences concerning that belong also to /yo%5u.%6 /PAR Of w.%5ch%6. by 153.H06.011 yo%5r%6 acceptance, this may bee one /part. In w.%5ch%6, quality I humbly 153.H06.012 p%5r%6sent it, /and as a testimony how entirely yo%5r%6 family 153.H06.013 /possesseth 153.H06.014 Yo%5r%6 La.%5pps%6 most humble 153.H06.015 and fayth[var:thank]full s%5r%6v%5t%6. 153.H06.016 Iohn Donne [CW:Obsequyes] 153.H06.0$$ L. 1 indented 10 sp.; ll. 14 & 15 indented 20 sp.; l. 16 indented 25 sp.; proofed vs. mf 2-21-89, EWS, TLP