Reward to him that is beat to comfort him. Lau. Then let the Victors Reward be to go into the Town crowned with a Bur. Vi. Well, 'tis done, provided you'll go before playing upon a Pipe. Lau. It is very hot. Vi. That is not strange when it is Midfummer. Lau. Swimming is better. Vi. I don't love to live like a Frog, I am a Land Animal, not an Amphibious one. Lau. But in old Time this was look'd upon to be one of the most noble Exercifes. Vi. Nay, and a very useful one too. Vi. For what? Vi. If Men are forc'd to fly in Battle, they are in the best Condition that can run and fwim beft. Lau. The Art you fpeak of is not to be fet light by It is as Praife-worthy, fometimes to run away nimbly, as it is to fight ftoutly. Vi. I can't fwim at all, and it is dangerous to converfe with an unaccustomed Element. Lau. You ought to learn then, for no Body was born an Artist. Vi. But I have heard of a great many of these Artists that have fwum in, but never fwam out again. La. First try with Corks. Vi. I can't truft more to a Cork, than to my Feet. If you have a Mind to fwim, I had rather be a Spectator than an Actor.

This Difcourfe furnishes a childish Mind with pious Inftructions of Religion, in what it confifts. What is to be done in the Morning in Bed, at getting up, at Home, at School, before Meat, after Meat, before going to Sleep, of beginning the Day, of praying, of behaving themselves ftudiously at School, Thriftyness of Time: Age flies. What is to be done after Supper. How we ought to Sleep. Of Behaviour at holy Worship. All Things to be apply'd to our felves. The Meditation of a pious Soul at Church. What Preachers are chiefly to be heard. Fafting is prejudicial to Children. Confeffion is to be made to Chrift. The Society of wicked Perfons is to be avoided. Of the prudent chufing a Way of Living. Holy Orders and Matrimony are not to be entred into before the Age of twenty two. What Poets are fit to be read, and how,

ERAS

ERASMUS, GASPER. 40

ERASMUS.

RASMUS. Whence came you from? Out of fome Alehoufe? Ga. No, indeed. Er. What from a Bowling Green? Ga. No, nor from thence neither. Er. What from the Tavern then? Ga. No. Er. Well, fince I can't guess, tell me. Ga. From St. Mary's Church. Er. What Bufinefs had you there? Ga. I faluted fome Perfons. Er. Who? Ga. Christ, and some of the Saints. Er. You have more Religion than is common to one of your Age. Ga. Religion is becoming to every Age. Er. If I had a Mind to be religious, I'd become a Monk. Ga. And so would I too, if a Monk's Hood carried in it as much Piety as it does Warmth. Er. There is an old Saying, a young Saint and an old Devil. Ga. But I believe that old Saying came from old Satan : I can hardly think an old Man to be truly religious, that has not been fo in his young Days. Nothing is learn'd to greater Advantage, than what we learn in our youngest Years. Er. What is that which is call'd Religion? Ga. It is the pure Worship of God, and Obfervation of his Commandments. Er. What are they? Ga. It is too long to relate all; but I'll tell you in fhort, it confifts in four Things. Er. What are they? Ga. In the first Place, that we have a true and pious Apprehenfion of God himself, and the Holy Scriptures; and that we not only ftand in Awe of him as a Lord, but that we love him with all our Heart, as a most beneficent Father. 2. That we take the greatest Care to keep our felves blameless; that is, that we do no Injury to any one. 3. That we exercise Charity, i. e. to deferve well of all Perfons (as much as in us lyes). 4. That we practice Patience, i. e. to to bear patiently injuries that are offered us, when we can't prevent them, not revenging them, nor requiting Evil for Evil. Er. You hold forth finely; but do you practice what you teach? Ga. I endeavour it manfully. Er. How can you do it like a Man, when you are but a Boy? Ga. I meditate according to my Ability, and call my felf to an Account every Day; and correct my felf for what I have done amifs : That was unhandfomely done, this faucily faid, this was uncautiously acted; in that it were better to have held my Peace, that was neglected. Er. When do you come to this Reckoning? Ga. Moft commonly at Night; or at any Time that I am most at leifure. Er. But tell me, in what Studies do you spend the Day? Ga. I will hide nothing from fo intimate a Companion: In the Morning, as foon as I am awake, (and that is commonly about fix a Clock, or fometimes at five) I fign my felf with my Finger in the Forchead

and

and Breaft with the Sign of the Crofs. Er. What then? Ga. I begin the Day in the Name of the Father, Son, and holy Spirit. Er. Indeed that is very piously done. Ga. By and by I put up a fhort Ejaculation to Chrift. Er. What dost thou fay to him? Ga. I give him thanks that he has been pleafed to bless me that Night; and I pray him that he would in like Manner profper me the whole of that Day, fo as may be for his glory, and my Souls good; and that he who is the true Light, that never fets, the eternal Sun, that enlivens, nourishes and exhilarates all Things, would vouchfafe to enliven my Soul, that I mayn't fall into Sin; but by his Guidance, may attain everlasting Life. Er. A very good Beginning of the Day indeed. Ga. And then having bid my Parents good Morrow, to whom next to God, I owe the greatest Reverence, when it is Time I go to School; but fo that I may pass by fome Church, if I can conveniently. Er. What do you do there? Ga. I falute Jefus again in three Words, and all the Saints, either Men or Women; but the Virgin Mary by Name, and especially that I account moft peculiarly my own. Er. Indeed you seem to have read that Sentence of Cato, Saluta libenter, to good Purpofe; was it not enough to have faluted Chrift in the Morning, without faluting him again prefently. Are you not affraid left you should be troublesome by your over Officiousness? Ga. Chrift loves to be often called upon. Er. But it feems to be ridiculous to speak to one you don't fee. Ga. No more do I fee that part of me that speaks to him. Er. What Part is that? Ga. My Mind. Er. But it feerns to be Labour loft, to falute one that does not falute you again. Ga. He frequently falutes again by his fecret Infpiration; and he anfwers fufficiently that gives what is ask'd of him. Er. What is it you ask of him? For I perceive your Salutations are petitionary, like thofe of Beggars. Ga. Indeed you are very right; for I pray that he, who, when he was a Boy of about twelve Years of Age, fitting in the Temple, taught the Doctors themselves, and to whom the heavenly Father, by a Voice from Heaven, gave Authority to teach Mankind, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him: And who is the eternal Wisdom of the most high Father, would vouchsafe to enlighten my Understanding, to receive wholesome Learning, that I may use it to his Glory. Er. Who are thofe Saints that you call peculiarly yours? Ga. Of the Apostles. St. Paul; of the Martyrs, St. Cyprian; of the Doctors, Jerome; of the Virgins, St. Agnes. Er. How came these to be yours, more than the reft? Was it by Choice or by Chance? Ga. They fell to me by Lot. Er. But you only falute them I fuppofe; do you beg any Thing of them?

them? Ga. I pray, that by their Suffrages they would re commend me to Chrift, and procure that by his Affiftance, it may in Time come to pafs, that I be made one of their Company. Er. Indeed, what you ask for is no ordinary Thing: But what do you do then? Ga. I go to School, and do what is to be done there with my utmoft Endeavour: I fo implore Chrift's Affiftance, as if my Study without it would fignify nothing; and I ftudy as if he offered no help, but to him that labours induftrioufly; and I do my utmost not to deferve to be beaten, nor to offend my Master, either in Word or Deed, nor any of my Companions. Er. You are a good Boy to mind thefe Things. Ga. When School is done, I make hafte home, and if I can, I take a Church in my way, and in three Words, I falute Jefus again; and I pay my Refpects to my Parents; and if I have any Time, I repeat either by my felf, or with one of my School Fellows, what was dictated in School. Er. Indeed you are a very good Husband of Time. Ga. No wonder I am of that, which is the most precious Thing in the World, and when pafs'd is irrecoverable. Er. And Hefiod teaches, that good Husbandry ought to be in the middle, it is too foon in the Beginning, and too late in the End. Ga. Heftod fpoke right enough concerning Wine, but of Time no good Husbandry is unfeafonable. If you let a Hogfhead of Wine alone, it won't empty it felf; but Time is always a flying, fleeping or waking. Er. I confefs fo, but what do you do after that? Ga. When my Parents fit down to Dinner, I fay Grace, and then wait at Table, 'till I am bid to take my own Dinner, and having returned Thanks, if I have any Time left, I divert my felf with my Companions, with fome lawful Recreation, till the Time comes to go to School again. Er. Do you falute Jefus again? Ga. Yes, if I have an Opportunity; but if it fo happen that I have not an Opportunity, or it be not seasonable, as I pafs by the Church, I falute him mentally; and then I do what is to be done at School with all my Might; and when I go home again, I do what I did before Dinner: After Supper, I divert my felf with fome pleafant Stories; and afterwards bidding my Parents and the Family good Night, I go to Bed betimes, and there kneeling down by the Bedfide, as I have faid, I fay over thofe Things I have been learning that Day at School; if I have committed any great Fault, I implore Chrift's Clemency that he would pardon me, and I promise amendment: And if I have committed no Fault, I thank him for his Goodnefs in preferving me from all Vice, and then I recommend my felf to him with all my Soul, that he would preferve me from the Attempts of my

evil Genius, and filthy Dreams. When this is done, and I am got into Bed, I cross my Forehead and Breast, and compose my self to reft. Er. In what Pofture do you compose your felf? Ga. I don't lye upon my Face or my back; but first leaning upon my right Side, I fold my Arms a crofs, fo that they may defend my Breaft, as it were with the Figure of a Cross, with my right Hand upon my left Shoulder, and my left upon my right, and so I fleep fweetly, either till I awake of my felf, or am called up. Er. You are a little Saint that can do thus. Ga. You are a little Fool for faying fo. Er. I praise your Method, and I would I could practife it. Ga. Give your Mind to it, and you'll do it; for when once you have accustom'd your felf to it for a few Months, thefe Things will be pleafant, and become natural. Er. But I want to hear concerning divine Service. Ga. I don't neglect that, especially upon holy Days. Er. How do you manage your felf on holy Days? Ga. In the first Place I examine my felf if my Mind be polluted by any Stain of Sin. Er. And if you find it is, what do you then? Do you refrain from the Altar? Ga. Not by my bodily Prefence, but I withdraw my felf, as to my Mind, and standing as it were afar off, as tho' not daring to lift up my Eyes to God the Father, whom I have offended, I ftrike upon my Breaft, crying out with the Publican in the Gofpel, Lord be merciful to me a Sinner. And then if I know I have offended any Man, I take care to make him Satisfaction, if I can presently; but if I cannot do that, I refolve in my Mind to reconcile my Neighbour as foon as poffible. If any Body has offended me, I forbear Revenge, and endeavour to bring it about, that he that has offended me, may be made fenfible of his Fault, and be forry for it: But if there be no Hope of that, I leave all Vengeance to God. Er. That's a hard Task. Ga. Is it hard to forgive a fmall Offence to your Brother, whofe mutual Forgiveness thou wilt ftand in frequent need of: When Christ has at once forgiven us all our Offences, and is every Day forgiving us? Nay this feems to me not to be Liberality to our Neighbour, but putting to Intereft to God, just as though one Fellow Servant fhould agree with another, to forgive him three Groats, that his Lord might forgive him ten Talents. Er. You indeed argue very rationally, if what you fay be true. Ga. Can you defire any Thing truer than the Gofpel? Er. That is unreasonable; but there are fome, who can't believe themselves to be Chriftians, unless they hear Mafs (as they call: it) every Day. Ga. Indeed I don't condemn the Practice, in thofe that have Time enough, and spend whole Days in profane Exercises; But I only difapprove of those who fuperftitiouf

ly