The Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. Erasmus Desiderius

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СКАЧАТЬ of it. But they all agree in this, that I am in a sad Condition.

      Ge. How long have you been taken with this Illness? How long have you been ill of this Distemper? How long has this Illness seiz'd you?

      Li. About twenty Days more or less, almost a Month. It's now near three Months. It seems an Age to me since I was first taken ill.

      Ge. But I think you ought to take care that the Distemper don't grow upon you.

      Li. It has grown too much upon me already.

      Ge. Is it a Dropsy?

      Li. They say it is not.

      Ge. Is it a Dissentery?

      Li. I think not.

      Ge. Is it a Fever?

      Li. I believe it is a Kind of Fever; but a new one, as ever and anon new ones spring up that were unknown before.

      Ge. There were more old ones than enough before.

      Li. Thus it pleases Nature to deal with us, which is a little too severe.

      Ge. How often does the Fit come?

      Li. How often do you say? Every Day, nay every Hour indeed.

      Ge. O wonderful! It is a sad Affliction. How did you get this Distemper? How do you think you came by it?

      Li. By Reason of Want.

      Ge. Why you don't use to be so superstitious as to starve yourself with Fasting.

      Li. It is not Bigotry but Penury.

      Ge. What do you mean by Penury?

      Li. I mean I could get no Victuals, I believe it came by a Cold. I fancy I got the Distemper by eating rotten Eggs. By drinking too much Water in my Wine. This Crudity in my Stomach came by eating green Apples.

      Ge. But consider whether you han't contracted this Distemper by long and late Studying, by hard Drinking, or immoderate use of Venery? Why don't you send for a Doctor?

      Li. I am afraid he should do me more Harm than good. I am afraid he should poison me instead of curing me.

      Ge. You ought to chuse one that you can confide in.

      Li. If I must dye, I had rather dye once for all, than to be tormented with so many Slops.

      Ge. Well then, be your own Doctor. If you can't trust to a Doctor, pray God be your Physician. There have been some that have recover'd their Health, by putting on a Dominican or a Franciscan Fryars Cowl.

      Li. And perhaps it had been the same Thing, if they had put on a Whore-master's Cloak. These things have no Effect upon those that have no Faith in 'em.

      Ge. Why then, believe that you may recover. Some have been cur'd by making Vows to a Saint.

      Li. But I have no Dealings with Saints.

      Ge. Then pray to Christ that you may have Faith, and that he would be pleased to bestow the Blessing of Health upon you.

      Li. I can't tell whether it would be a Blessing or no.

      Ge. Why, is it not a Blessing to be freed from a Distemper?

      Li. Sometimes it is better to dye. I ask nothing of him, but only that he'd give me what would be best for me.

      Ge. Take something to purge you.

      Li. I am laxative enough already.

      Ge. Take something to make you go to Stool. You must take a Purge.

      Li. I ought to take something that is binding rather, for I am too laxative.

* * * * *

      OF ENQUIRING OF A PERSON UPON HIS RETURN

The ARGUMENT

      Of interrogating a Person returning from a Journey, concerning War, private Affairs, a Disappointment, great Promises, a Wife Lying-in, Dangers, Losses, &c.

      George. Have you had a good and prosperous Journey?

      Li. Pretty good; but that there is such Robbing every where.

      Ge. This is the Effect of War.

      Li. It is so, but it is a wicked one.

      Ge. Did you come on Foot or on Horse-back?

      Li. Part of the Way a Foot, Part in a Coach, Part on Horse-back, and Part by Sea.

      Ge. How go Matters in France?

      Li. All's in Confusion, there's nothing but War talk'd of. What Mischiefs they may bring upon their Enemies I know not; but this I'm sure of, the French themselves are afflicted with unexpressible Calamities.

      Ge. Whence come all these tumultuary Wars?

      Li. Whence should they come but from the Ambition of Monarchs?

      Ge. But it would be more their Prudence to appease these Storms of human Affairs.

      Li. Appease 'em! Ay, so they do, as the South Wind does the Sea. They fancy themselves to be Gods, and that the World was made for their Sakes.

      Ge. Nay, rather a Prince was made for the Good of the Commonwealth, and not the Commonwealth for the Sake of the Prince.

      Li. Nay, there are Clergymen too, who blow up the Coals, and sound an Alarm to these Tumults.

      Ge. I'd have them set in the Front of the Battel.

      Li. Ay, ay, but they take Care to keep out of Harm's Way.

      Ge. But let us leave these publick Affairs to Providence. How go your own Matters?

      Li. Very well, happily, indifferently well, tolerably.

      Ge. How goes it with your own Business? As you would have it?

      Li. Nay, better than I could have wish'd for, better than I deserve, beyond what I could have hop'd for.

      Ge. Are all Things according to your Mind? Is all well? Has every Thing succeeded?

      Li. It can't be worse. It is impossible it should be worse than it is.

      Ge. What then, han't you got what you sought for? Han't you caught the Game you hunted?

      Li. Hunt! Ay, I did hunt indeed, but with very ill Success.

      Ge. But is there no Hope then?

      Li. Hope enough, but nothing else.

      Ge. Did the Bishop give you no Hopes?

      Li. Yes, whole Cart Loads, and whole Ship Loads of Hope; СКАЧАТЬ