_ Of
Teachers
that were no dumb ones I assure you.
Erasmus
_ 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; but nothing
else.
_Ge. _ Has he sent you nothing yet?
_Li. _ He promis'd me largely, but he has never sent me a Farthing.
_Ge. _ Then you must live in Hopes.
_Li. _ Ay, but that won't fill the Belly; they that feed upon Hope may be
said to hang, but not to live.
_Ge. _ But however then, you were the lighter for travelling, not having
your Pockets loaded.
_Li. _ I confess that, nay, and safer too; for an empty Pocket is the
best Defence in the World against Thieves; but for all that, I had
rather have the Burthen and the Danger too.
_Ge. _ You was not robb'd of any Thing by the Way, I hope?
_Li. _ Robb'd! What can you rob a Man of that has nothing? There was more
Reason for other Folks to be afraid of me, than I of them, having never
a Penny in my Pocket. I might sing and be starved all the Way I went.
Have you anything more to say?
_Ge. _ Where are you going now?
_Li. _ Strait Home, to see how all do there, whom I han't seen this long
Time.
_Ge. _ I wish you may find all well at Home.
_Li. _ I pray God I may. Has any Thing new happen'd at our House since I
went away?
_Ge. _ Nothing but only you'll find your Family bigger than it was; for
your _Catulla_ has brought you a little _Catulus_ since you have been
gone. Your Hen has laid you an Egg.
_Li. _ That's good News, I like your News, and I'll promise to give you a
Gospel for it.
_Ge. _ What Gospel? The Gospel according to St. _Matthew_?
_Li. _ No, but according to _Homer_. Here take it.
_Ge. _ Keep your Gospel to yourself, I have Stones enough at Home.
_Li. _ Don't slight my Present, it is the Eagle's Stone; It is good for
Women with Child; it is good to bring on their Labour.
_Ge. _ Say you so? Then it is a very acceptable Present to me, and I'll
endeavour to make you Amends.
_Li. _ The Amends is made already by your kind Acceptance.
_Ge. _ Nay, nothing in the World could come more seasonably, for my
Wife's Belly is up to her Mouth almost.
_Li. _ Then I'll make this Bargain with you; that if she has a Boy, you
will let me be the Godfather.
_Ge. _ Well I'll promise you that, and that you shall name it too.
_Li. _ I wish it may be for both our Good.
_Ge. _ Nay, for all our Good.
* * * * *
_MAURICE, CYPRIAN. _
_Ma. _ You are come back fatter than you used to be: You are returned
taller.
_Cy. _ But in Truth I had rather it had been wiser, or more learned.
_Ma. _ You had no Beard when you went away; but you have brought a little
one back with you. You are grown somewhat oldish since you went away.
What makes you look so pale, so lean, so wrinkled?
_Cy. _ As is my Fortune, so is the Habit of my Body.
_Ma. _ Has it been but bad then?
_Cy. _ She never is otherwise to me, but never worse in my Life than now.
_Ma. _ I am sorry for that. I am sorry for your Misfortune. But pray,
what is this Mischance?
_Cy. _ I have lost all my Money.
_Ma. _ What in the Sea?
_Cy. _ No, on Shore, before I went abroad.
_Ma. _ Where?
_Cy. _ Upon the _English_ Coast.
_Ma. _ It is well you scap'd with your Life; it is better to lose your
Money, than that; the loss of ones good Name, is worse than the Loss of
Money.
_Cy. _ My Life and Reputation are safe; but my Money is lost.
_Ma. _ The Loss of Life never can be repair'd; the Loss of Reputation
very hardly; but the Loss of Money may easily be made up one Way or
another. But how came it about?
_Cy. _ I can't tell, unless it was my Destiny. So it pleas'd God. As the
Devil would have it.
_Ma. _ Now you see that Learning and Virtue are the safest Riches; for as
they can't be taken from a Man, so neither are they burthensome to him
that carries them.
_Cy. _ Indeed you Philosophize very well; but in the mean Time I'm in
Perplexity.
* * * * *
_CLAUDIUS, BALBUS. _
_Cl. _ I am glad to see you well come Home _Balbus_.
_Ba. _ And I to see you alive _Claudius_.
_Cl. _ You are welcome Home into your own Country again.
_Ba. _ You should rather congratulate me as a Fugitive from _France_.
_Cl. _ Why so?
_Ba. _ Because they are all up in Arms there.
_Cl. _ But what have Scholars to do with Arms?
_Ba. _ But there they don't spare even Scholars.
_Cl. _ It is well you're got off safe.
_Ba. _ But I did not get off without Danger neither.
_Cl. _ You are come back quite another Man than you went away.
_Ba. _ How so?
_Cl. _ Why, of a _Dutch_ Man, you are become a _French_ Man.
_Ba. _ Why, was I a Capon when I went away?
_Cl. _ Your Dress shows that you're turn'd from a _Dutch_ Man into a
_French_ Man.
_Ba. _ I had rather suffer this Metamorphosis, than be turn'd into a Hen.
But as a Cowl does not make a Monk, so neither does a Garment a _French_
Man.
_Cl. _ Have you learn'd to speak _French? _
_Ba. _ Indifferently well.
_Cl. _ How did you learn it?
_Ba.
_ Of Teachers that were no dumb ones I assure you.
_Cl. _ From whom.
_Ba. _ Of little Women, more full of Tongue, than Turtle Doves.
_Cl. _ It is easy to learn to speak in such a School. Do you pronounce
the _French_ well?
_Ba. _ Yes, that I do, and I pronounce _Latin_ after the _French_ Mode.
_Cl. _ Then you will never write good Verses.
_Ba. _ Why so?
_Cl. _ Because you'll make false Quantities.
_Ba. _ The Quality is enough for me.
_Cl. _ Is _Paris_ clear of the Plague?
_Ba. _ Not quite, but it is not continual, sometimes it abates, and anon
it returns again; sometimes it slackens, and then rages again.
_Cl. _ Is not War itself Plague enough?
_Ba. _ It is so, unless God thought otherwise.
_Cl. _ Sure Bread must be very dear there.
_Ba. _ There is a great Scarcity of it. There is a great Want of every
Thing but wicked Soldiers. Good Men are wonderful cheap there.
_Cl. _ What is in the Mind of the _French_ to go to War with the
_Germans_?
_Ba. _ They have a Mind to imitate the Beetle, that won't give Place to
the Eagle. Every one thinks himself an _Hercules_ in War.
_Cl. _ I won't detain you any longer, at some other Time we'll divert
ourselves more largely, when we can both spare Time. At present I have a
little Business that calls me to another Place.
_FAMILY DISCOURSE. _
The ARGUMENT.
_This Colloquy presents us with the Sayings and Jokes of
intimate Acquaintance, and the Repartees and Behaviour of
familiar Friends one with another. 1. Of walking abroad,
and calling Companions. 2. Of seldom visiting, of asking
concerning a Wife, Daughter, Sons. 3. Concerning Leisure,
the tingling of the Ear, the Description of a homely
Maid. Invitation to a Wedding. 4. Of Studying too hard,
&c. _
PETER, MIDAS, _a Boy_, JODOCUS.
_Peter_, Soho, soho, Boy! does no Body come to the Door?
_Mi. _ I think this Fellow will beat the Door down. Sure he must needs be
some intimate Acquaintance or other. O old Friend _Peter_, what hast
brought?
_Pe. _ Myself.
_Mi. _ In Truth then you have brought that which is not much worth.
_Pe. _ But I'm sure I cost my Father a great deal.
_Mi. _ I believe so, more than you can be sold for again.
_Pe. _ But is _Jodocus_ at Home?
_Mi. _ I can't tell, but I'll go see.
_Pe. _ Go in first, and ask him if he pleases to be at Home now.
_Mi. _ Go yourself, and be your own Errand Boy.
_Pe. _ Soho! _Jodocus_, are you at Home?
_Jo. _ No, I am not.
_Pe. _ Oh! You impudent Fellow I don't I hear you speak?
_Jo. _ Nay, you are more impudent, for I took your Maid's Word for it
lately, that you were not at Home, and you won't believe me myself.
_Pe. _ You're in the Right on't, you've serv'd me in my own Kind.
_Jo. _ As I sleep not for every Body, so I am not at Home to every Body,
but for Time to come shall always be at Home to you.
_Pe. _ Methinks you live the Life of a Snail.
_Jo. _ Why so?
_Pe. _ Because you keep always at Home and never stir abroad, just like a
lame Cobler always in his Stall. You sit at Home till your Breech grows
to your Seat.
_Jo. _ At Home I have something to do, but I have no Business abroad, and
if I had, the Weather we have had for several Days past, would have kept
me from going abroad.
_Pe. _ But now it is fair, and would tempt a Body to walk out; see how
charming pleasant it is.
_Jo. _ If you have a Mind to walk I won't be against it.
_Pe. _ In Truth, I think we ought to take the Opportunity of this fine
Weather.
_Jo. _ But we ought to get a merry Companion or two, to go along with us.
_Pe. _ So we will; but tell me who you'd have then.
_Jo. _ What if we should get Hugh?
_Pe. _ There is no great Difference between _Hugo_ and _Nugo. _
_Jo. _ Come on then, I like it mighty well.
_Pe. _ What if we should call _Alardus? _
_Jo. _ He's no dumb Man I'll assure you, what he wants in Hearing he'll
make up in Talking.
_Pe. _ If you will, we'll get _Nævius_ along with us too.
_Jo. _ If we have but him, we shall never want merry Stories. I like the
Company mainly, the next Thing is to pitch upon a pleasant Place.
_Pe. _ I'll show you a Place where you shall neither want the Shade of a
Grove, nor the pleasant Verdure of Meadows, nor the purling Streams of
Fountains, you'll say it is a Place worthy of the Muses themselves.
_Jo. _ You promise nobly.
_Pe. _ You are too intent upon your Books; you sit too close to your
Books; you make yourself lean with immoderate Study.
_Jo. _ I had rather grow lean with Study than with Love.
_Pe. _ We don't live to study, but we therefore study that we may live
pleasantly.
_Jo. _ Indeed I could live and dye in my Study.
_Pe. _ I approve well enough of studying hard, but not to study myself to
Death.
_Pe. _ Has this Walk pleas'd you?
_Jo. _ It has been a charming pleasant one.
* * * * *
_2. GILES, LEONARD. _
_Gi. _ Where is our Leonard a going?
_Le. _ I was coming to you.
_Gi. _ That you do but seldom.
_Le. _ Why so?
_Gi. _ Because you han't been to see me this twelve Months.
_Le. _ I had rather err on that Hand to be wanted, than to be tiresome.
_Gi. _ I am never tired with the Company of a good Friend: Nay, the
oftner you come the more welcome you are.
_Le. _ But by the Way, how goes Matters at your House.
_Gi. _ Why truly not many Things as I would have them.
_Le. _ I don't wonder at that, but is your Wife brought to Bed yet?
_Gi. _ Ay, a great While ago, and had two at a Birth too.
_Le. _ How, two at once!
_Gi. _ 'Tis as I tell you, and more than that she's with Child again.
_Le. _ That's the Way to increase your Family.
_Gi. _ Ay, but I wish Fortune would increase my Money as much as my Wife
does my Family.
_Le. _ Have you disposed of your Daughter yet?
_Gi. _ No, not yet.
_Le. _ I would have you consider if it be not hazardous to keep such a
great Maid as she at Home, you should look out for a Husband for her.
_Gi. _ There's no Need of that, for she has Sweet-hearts enough already.
_Le. _ But why then don't you single out one for her, him that you like
the best of them?
_Gi. _ They are all so good that I can't tell which to chuse: But my
Daughter won't hear of marrying.
_Le. _ How say you! If I am not mistaken, she has been marriageable for
some Time. She has been fit for a Husband a great While, ripe for
Wedlock, ready for a Husband this great While.
_Gi. _ Why not, she is above seventeen, she's above two and twenty, she's
in her nineteenth Year, she's above eighteen Years old.
_Le. _ But why is she averse to Marriage?
_Gi. _ She says she has a Mind to be married to Christ.
_Le. _ In Truth he has a great many Brides. But is she married to an evil
Genius that lives chastly with a Husband?
_Gi. _ I don't think so.
_Le.
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; but nothing
else.
_Ge. _ Has he sent you nothing yet?
_Li. _ He promis'd me largely, but he has never sent me a Farthing.
_Ge. _ Then you must live in Hopes.
_Li. _ Ay, but that won't fill the Belly; they that feed upon Hope may be
said to hang, but not to live.
_Ge. _ But however then, you were the lighter for travelling, not having
your Pockets loaded.
_Li. _ I confess that, nay, and safer too; for an empty Pocket is the
best Defence in the World against Thieves; but for all that, I had
rather have the Burthen and the Danger too.
_Ge. _ You was not robb'd of any Thing by the Way, I hope?
_Li. _ Robb'd! What can you rob a Man of that has nothing? There was more
Reason for other Folks to be afraid of me, than I of them, having never
a Penny in my Pocket. I might sing and be starved all the Way I went.
Have you anything more to say?
_Ge. _ Where are you going now?
_Li. _ Strait Home, to see how all do there, whom I han't seen this long
Time.
_Ge. _ I wish you may find all well at Home.
_Li. _ I pray God I may. Has any Thing new happen'd at our House since I
went away?
_Ge. _ Nothing but only you'll find your Family bigger than it was; for
your _Catulla_ has brought you a little _Catulus_ since you have been
gone. Your Hen has laid you an Egg.
_Li. _ That's good News, I like your News, and I'll promise to give you a
Gospel for it.
_Ge. _ What Gospel? The Gospel according to St. _Matthew_?
_Li. _ No, but according to _Homer_. Here take it.
_Ge. _ Keep your Gospel to yourself, I have Stones enough at Home.
_Li. _ Don't slight my Present, it is the Eagle's Stone; It is good for
Women with Child; it is good to bring on their Labour.
_Ge. _ Say you so? Then it is a very acceptable Present to me, and I'll
endeavour to make you Amends.
_Li. _ The Amends is made already by your kind Acceptance.
_Ge. _ Nay, nothing in the World could come more seasonably, for my
Wife's Belly is up to her Mouth almost.
_Li. _ Then I'll make this Bargain with you; that if she has a Boy, you
will let me be the Godfather.
_Ge. _ Well I'll promise you that, and that you shall name it too.
_Li. _ I wish it may be for both our Good.
_Ge. _ Nay, for all our Good.
* * * * *
_MAURICE, CYPRIAN. _
_Ma. _ You are come back fatter than you used to be: You are returned
taller.
_Cy. _ But in Truth I had rather it had been wiser, or more learned.
_Ma. _ You had no Beard when you went away; but you have brought a little
one back with you. You are grown somewhat oldish since you went away.
What makes you look so pale, so lean, so wrinkled?
_Cy. _ As is my Fortune, so is the Habit of my Body.
_Ma. _ Has it been but bad then?
_Cy. _ She never is otherwise to me, but never worse in my Life than now.
_Ma. _ I am sorry for that. I am sorry for your Misfortune. But pray,
what is this Mischance?
_Cy. _ I have lost all my Money.
_Ma. _ What in the Sea?
_Cy. _ No, on Shore, before I went abroad.
_Ma. _ Where?
_Cy. _ Upon the _English_ Coast.
_Ma. _ It is well you scap'd with your Life; it is better to lose your
Money, than that; the loss of ones good Name, is worse than the Loss of
Money.
_Cy. _ My Life and Reputation are safe; but my Money is lost.
_Ma. _ The Loss of Life never can be repair'd; the Loss of Reputation
very hardly; but the Loss of Money may easily be made up one Way or
another. But how came it about?
_Cy. _ I can't tell, unless it was my Destiny. So it pleas'd God. As the
Devil would have it.
_Ma. _ Now you see that Learning and Virtue are the safest Riches; for as
they can't be taken from a Man, so neither are they burthensome to him
that carries them.
_Cy. _ Indeed you Philosophize very well; but in the mean Time I'm in
Perplexity.
* * * * *
_CLAUDIUS, BALBUS. _
_Cl. _ I am glad to see you well come Home _Balbus_.
_Ba. _ And I to see you alive _Claudius_.
_Cl. _ You are welcome Home into your own Country again.
_Ba. _ You should rather congratulate me as a Fugitive from _France_.
_Cl. _ Why so?
_Ba. _ Because they are all up in Arms there.
_Cl. _ But what have Scholars to do with Arms?
_Ba. _ But there they don't spare even Scholars.
_Cl. _ It is well you're got off safe.
_Ba. _ But I did not get off without Danger neither.
_Cl. _ You are come back quite another Man than you went away.
_Ba. _ How so?
_Cl. _ Why, of a _Dutch_ Man, you are become a _French_ Man.
_Ba. _ Why, was I a Capon when I went away?
_Cl. _ Your Dress shows that you're turn'd from a _Dutch_ Man into a
_French_ Man.
_Ba. _ I had rather suffer this Metamorphosis, than be turn'd into a Hen.
But as a Cowl does not make a Monk, so neither does a Garment a _French_
Man.
_Cl. _ Have you learn'd to speak _French? _
_Ba. _ Indifferently well.
_Cl. _ How did you learn it?
_Ba.
_ Of Teachers that were no dumb ones I assure you.
_Cl. _ From whom.
_Ba. _ Of little Women, more full of Tongue, than Turtle Doves.
_Cl. _ It is easy to learn to speak in such a School. Do you pronounce
the _French_ well?
_Ba. _ Yes, that I do, and I pronounce _Latin_ after the _French_ Mode.
_Cl. _ Then you will never write good Verses.
_Ba. _ Why so?
_Cl. _ Because you'll make false Quantities.
_Ba. _ The Quality is enough for me.
_Cl. _ Is _Paris_ clear of the Plague?
_Ba. _ Not quite, but it is not continual, sometimes it abates, and anon
it returns again; sometimes it slackens, and then rages again.
_Cl. _ Is not War itself Plague enough?
_Ba. _ It is so, unless God thought otherwise.
_Cl. _ Sure Bread must be very dear there.
_Ba. _ There is a great Scarcity of it. There is a great Want of every
Thing but wicked Soldiers. Good Men are wonderful cheap there.
_Cl. _ What is in the Mind of the _French_ to go to War with the
_Germans_?
_Ba. _ They have a Mind to imitate the Beetle, that won't give Place to
the Eagle. Every one thinks himself an _Hercules_ in War.
_Cl. _ I won't detain you any longer, at some other Time we'll divert
ourselves more largely, when we can both spare Time. At present I have a
little Business that calls me to another Place.
_FAMILY DISCOURSE. _
The ARGUMENT.
_This Colloquy presents us with the Sayings and Jokes of
intimate Acquaintance, and the Repartees and Behaviour of
familiar Friends one with another. 1. Of walking abroad,
and calling Companions. 2. Of seldom visiting, of asking
concerning a Wife, Daughter, Sons. 3. Concerning Leisure,
the tingling of the Ear, the Description of a homely
Maid. Invitation to a Wedding. 4. Of Studying too hard,
&c. _
PETER, MIDAS, _a Boy_, JODOCUS.
_Peter_, Soho, soho, Boy! does no Body come to the Door?
_Mi. _ I think this Fellow will beat the Door down. Sure he must needs be
some intimate Acquaintance or other. O old Friend _Peter_, what hast
brought?
_Pe. _ Myself.
_Mi. _ In Truth then you have brought that which is not much worth.
_Pe. _ But I'm sure I cost my Father a great deal.
_Mi. _ I believe so, more than you can be sold for again.
_Pe. _ But is _Jodocus_ at Home?
_Mi. _ I can't tell, but I'll go see.
_Pe. _ Go in first, and ask him if he pleases to be at Home now.
_Mi. _ Go yourself, and be your own Errand Boy.
_Pe. _ Soho! _Jodocus_, are you at Home?
_Jo. _ No, I am not.
_Pe. _ Oh! You impudent Fellow I don't I hear you speak?
_Jo. _ Nay, you are more impudent, for I took your Maid's Word for it
lately, that you were not at Home, and you won't believe me myself.
_Pe. _ You're in the Right on't, you've serv'd me in my own Kind.
_Jo. _ As I sleep not for every Body, so I am not at Home to every Body,
but for Time to come shall always be at Home to you.
_Pe. _ Methinks you live the Life of a Snail.
_Jo. _ Why so?
_Pe. _ Because you keep always at Home and never stir abroad, just like a
lame Cobler always in his Stall. You sit at Home till your Breech grows
to your Seat.
_Jo. _ At Home I have something to do, but I have no Business abroad, and
if I had, the Weather we have had for several Days past, would have kept
me from going abroad.
_Pe. _ But now it is fair, and would tempt a Body to walk out; see how
charming pleasant it is.
_Jo. _ If you have a Mind to walk I won't be against it.
_Pe. _ In Truth, I think we ought to take the Opportunity of this fine
Weather.
_Jo. _ But we ought to get a merry Companion or two, to go along with us.
_Pe. _ So we will; but tell me who you'd have then.
_Jo. _ What if we should get Hugh?
_Pe. _ There is no great Difference between _Hugo_ and _Nugo. _
_Jo. _ Come on then, I like it mighty well.
_Pe. _ What if we should call _Alardus? _
_Jo. _ He's no dumb Man I'll assure you, what he wants in Hearing he'll
make up in Talking.
_Pe. _ If you will, we'll get _Nævius_ along with us too.
_Jo. _ If we have but him, we shall never want merry Stories. I like the
Company mainly, the next Thing is to pitch upon a pleasant Place.
_Pe. _ I'll show you a Place where you shall neither want the Shade of a
Grove, nor the pleasant Verdure of Meadows, nor the purling Streams of
Fountains, you'll say it is a Place worthy of the Muses themselves.
_Jo. _ You promise nobly.
_Pe. _ You are too intent upon your Books; you sit too close to your
Books; you make yourself lean with immoderate Study.
_Jo. _ I had rather grow lean with Study than with Love.
_Pe. _ We don't live to study, but we therefore study that we may live
pleasantly.
_Jo. _ Indeed I could live and dye in my Study.
_Pe. _ I approve well enough of studying hard, but not to study myself to
Death.
_Pe. _ Has this Walk pleas'd you?
_Jo. _ It has been a charming pleasant one.
* * * * *
_2. GILES, LEONARD. _
_Gi. _ Where is our Leonard a going?
_Le. _ I was coming to you.
_Gi. _ That you do but seldom.
_Le. _ Why so?
_Gi. _ Because you han't been to see me this twelve Months.
_Le. _ I had rather err on that Hand to be wanted, than to be tiresome.
_Gi. _ I am never tired with the Company of a good Friend: Nay, the
oftner you come the more welcome you are.
_Le. _ But by the Way, how goes Matters at your House.
_Gi. _ Why truly not many Things as I would have them.
_Le. _ I don't wonder at that, but is your Wife brought to Bed yet?
_Gi. _ Ay, a great While ago, and had two at a Birth too.
_Le. _ How, two at once!
_Gi. _ 'Tis as I tell you, and more than that she's with Child again.
_Le. _ That's the Way to increase your Family.
_Gi. _ Ay, but I wish Fortune would increase my Money as much as my Wife
does my Family.
_Le. _ Have you disposed of your Daughter yet?
_Gi. _ No, not yet.
_Le. _ I would have you consider if it be not hazardous to keep such a
great Maid as she at Home, you should look out for a Husband for her.
_Gi. _ There's no Need of that, for she has Sweet-hearts enough already.
_Le. _ But why then don't you single out one for her, him that you like
the best of them?
_Gi. _ They are all so good that I can't tell which to chuse: But my
Daughter won't hear of marrying.
_Le. _ How say you! If I am not mistaken, she has been marriageable for
some Time. She has been fit for a Husband a great While, ripe for
Wedlock, ready for a Husband this great While.
_Gi. _ Why not, she is above seventeen, she's above two and twenty, she's
in her nineteenth Year, she's above eighteen Years old.
_Le. _ But why is she averse to Marriage?
_Gi. _ She says she has a Mind to be married to Christ.
_Le. _ In Truth he has a great many Brides. But is she married to an evil
Genius that lives chastly with a Husband?
_Gi. _ I don't think so.
_Le.
