Complete Works, Volume 1: The Book on Games of Chance

...you will dissipate whatever residue of poisonous dust there may be with the daily breath of your senatorial consultations. A desirable feat, and an arduous one! Yet, it is by no means to be despaired of, with you as a great promoter, and a greater patron, LOUIS, given to us by GOD for this purpose, that he may undertake the HEROIC WORK OF THE AMENDMENT OF HIS TIMES. He wills this, and he rejoices to will it; therefore, he will accomplish it. For what is impossible to a magnanimous and young King, who abundantly possesses gold, and iron, and wisdom, and the hearts of his people? This little word, harsh and barbaric to the Roman Orator, is most sweet and most French to our King. This best and greatest Prince, who in the very course of his victories granted peace to his enemies, will not suffer our families to perish in a war more than internecine, and to be devoured alive by starving harpies. O GOD of peace and of peacemakers, give us peace, external, internal, and eternal.

We wrote this at Lyon on the Saône, on the Calends of January, in the climacteric year of the century 1663, which I pray may be fatal to the palatine hydra under the Hercules, LOUIS. I. H.