The Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. Erasmus Desiderius

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СКАЧАТЬ Indeed I am better acquainted with the Ground, than I am with my Books; but that's but a small Commendation.

      Er. You that are so good a Gamester ought to give me Odds.

      Gas. Nay, you should rather give me Odds; but there's no great Honour in getting a Victory, when Odds is taken: He only can properly be said to get the Game, that gets it by his own Art; we are as well match'd as can be.

      Er. Yours is a better Ball than mine.

      Gas. And yours is beyond me.

      Er. Play fair, without cheating and cozening.

      Gas. You shall say you have had to do with a fair Gamester.

      Er. But I would first know the Orders of the Bowling-alley.

      Gas. We make 4 up; whoever bowls beyond this Line it goes for nothing; if you can go beyond those other Bounds, do it fairly and welcome: Whoever hits a Bowl out of his Place loses his Cast.

      Er. I understand these Things.

      Gas. I have shut you out.

      Er. But I'll give you a Remove.

      Gas. If you do that I'll give you the Game.

      Er. Will you upon your Word?

      Gas. Yes, upon my Word: You have no other Way for it but to bank your Bowl so as to make it rebound on mine.

      Er. I'll try: Well, what say you now Friend? Are not you beaten away? (Have I not struck you away?)

      Gas. I am, I confess it; I wish you were but as wise as you are lucky; you can scarce do so once in a hundred Times.

      Er. I'll lay you, if you will, that I do it once in three Times. But come pay me what I have won.

      Gas. What's that?

      Er. Why, a Distich.

      Gas. Well, I'll pay it now.

      Er. And an extempore one too. Why do you bite your Nails?

      Gas. I have it.

      Er. Recite it out.

      Gas. As loud as you will.

      Young Standers-by, dap ye the Conqueror brave, Who me has beat, is the more learned Knave.

      Han't you a Distich now?

      Er. I have, and I'll give you as good as you bring.

* * * * *

      4. Leaping.

      VINCENT, LAURENCE.

      Vi. Have you a Mind to jump with me?

      Lau. That Play is not good presently after Dinner.

      Vi. Why so?

      Lau. Because that a Fulness of Belly makes the Body heavy.

      Vi. Not very much to those that live upon Scholars Commons, for these oftentimes are ready for a Supper before they have done Dinner.

      Lau. What Sort of leaping is it that you like best?

      Vi. Let us first begin with that which is the plainest, as that of Grasshoppers; or Leap-frog, if you like that better, both Feet at once, and close to one another; and when we have play'd enough at this, then we'll try other Sorts.

      Lau. I'll play at any Sort, where there is no Danger of breaking ones Legs; I have no Mind to make Work for the Surgeon.

      Vi. What if we should play at hopping?

      Lau. That the Ghosts play, I am not for that.

      Vi. It's the cleverest Way to leap with a Pole.

      Lau. Running is a more noble Exercise; for Æneas in Virgil proposed this Exercise.

      Vi. Very true, and he also propos'd the righting with Whirly-bats too, and I don't like that Sport.

      Lau. Mark the Course, let this be the Starting-place, and yonder Oak the Goal.

      Vi. I wish Æneas was here, that he might propose what should be the Conqueror's Prize.

      Lau. Glory is a Reward sufficient for Victory.

      Vi. You should rather give a Reward to him that is beat, to comfort him.

      Lau. Then let the Victor's 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 Midsummer.

      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 Exercises.

      Vi. Nay, and a very useful one too.

      Lau. For What?

      Vi. If Men are forc'd to fly in Battel, they are in the best Condition that can run and swim best.

      Lau. The Art you speak of is not to be set light by; it is as Praise-worthy sometimes to run away nimbly as it is to fight stoutly.

      Vi. I can't swim at all, and it is dangerous to converse 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 swum in, but never swam out again.

      Lau. First try with Corks.

      Vi. I can't trust more to a Cork than to my Feet; if you have a Mind to swim, I had rather be a Spectator than an Actor.

      THE CHILD'S PIETY

The ARGUMENT

      This Discourse furnishes a childish Mind with pious Instructions of Religion, in what it consists. 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 studiously at School, Thriftiness 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 applied to ourselves. The Meditation of a pious Soul at Church. What Preachers are chiefly to be heard. Fasting is prejudicial to Children. Confession is to be made to Christ. The Society of wicked Persons is to be avoided. Of the prudent chusing 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.

      ERASMUS, GASPAR.

      ERASMUS. СКАЧАТЬ