Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/213

 TEE ALCHEMIST. 209 and he could not find out any pretence to ask for more, he at last bethought himself of this project. He comes home like one frightened out of his wits, and in a very mournful tone cries out, O Balbinus, I am utterly undone, undone; I am in danger of my life. Balbinus was astonished, and was impatient to know what was the matter. The court, says he, have got an inkling of what we have been about, and I expect nothing else but to be carried to gaol immediately. Bal- binus at the hearing of this tm-ned pale as ashes; for you know it is capital with us for any man to practise alchemy without a licence from the prince. He goes on, Not, says he, that I am afraid of death myself, I wish that were the worst that would happen I fear something more cruel. Balbinus asking him what that was, he replied, I shall be carried away into some castle, and there be forced to work all my days for those I have no mind to serve. Is there any death so bad as such a life ? The matter was then debated, Balbinus being a man that very well inderstood the art of rhetoric, casts his thoughts every way if this mis- chief could be prevented any way. Cannot you deny the crime, says he 1 ? By no means, says the other, the matter is known among the courtiei-s, and they have such proof of it that it cannot be evaded, and there is no defending of the fact, for the law is point blank against it. Many things having been proposed, but coming to no conclusion that seemed feasible, says the alchemist who wanted present money, O Balbinus, we apply ourselves to slow counsels, when the matter requires a present remedy. It will not be long before they will be here that will apprehend me and carry me away into tribulation. And last of all, seeing Balbinus at a stand, says the alchemist, I am. as much at a loss as you, nor do I see any way left but to die like a man, unless you shall approve what I am going to propose, which is more profitable than honourable, but necessity is a hard chapter. You know these sort of men are hungry after money, and so may be the more easily bribed to secrecy. Although it is a hard case to give these rascals money to throw away; but yet, as the case now stands, I see no better way. Balbinus was of the same opinion, and he lays down thirty guineas to bribe them to hush up the matter. Ph. Balbinus was wonderfully liberal, as you tell the story. La. Nay, in an honest cause you would sooner have got his teeth out of his head than money. Well, then, the alchemist was provided for, who was in no danger, but that of wanting money for his wench. Ph. I wonder Balbinus could not smoke the roguery all this while. La. This is the only thing that he is soft in; he is as sharp as a needle in anything else. Now the furnace is set to work again with new money, but first a short prayer is made to the Virgin Mary to prosper their undertakings. By this time there had been a whole year spent, first one obstacle being pretended and then another, so that all the expense and labour were lost. In the meantime there fell out one most ridiculous chance. Ph. What was that 1 La. The alchemist had a criminal correspondence with a certain courtier's lady. The husband, beginning to be jealous, watched him narrowly, and in the conclusion, having intelligence that the priest was in the bedchamber, he comes home before he was looked for, knocks at the door. Ph. What did he design to do to him ? La. What ! Why nothing very good, either