Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/241

 THE LYING-IN WOMAN. 37 victuals and you had such a nurse, that I question whether there is such an one to be found do you think there is any one in the world will go through all the fatigue of nursing as the mother herself; the bewrayings, the sitting up at nights, the crying, the sickness, and the diligent care in looking after it, which can scarce be enough ? If there can be one that loves like the mother, then she will take care like a mother. And besides, this will be the effect of it, that your son will not love you so heartily, that native affection being as it were divided between two mothers ; nor will you have the same affection for your son. So that when he is grown up he will neither be so obedient to you, nor will you have the same regard for him, perhaps perceiving in him the disposition of his nurse. The principal step to advancement in learn- ing is the mutual love between the teacher and scholar. So that if he does not lose anything of the fragrance of his native good temper, you will with the greater ease be able to instil into him the precepts of a good life. And a mother can do much in this matter, in that she has pliable matter to work upon that is easy to be carried any way. Fa. I find it is not so easy a thing to be a mother as it is generally looked upon to be. Eu. If you cannot depend upon what I say, St. Paul, speaking very plainly of women, says, " She shall be saved in child-bearing." Fa. Are all the women saved that bear children] Eu. No; he adds, " if she continue in the faith." You have not performed the duty of a mother before you have first formed the little tender body of your son, and after that his mind, equally soft, by a good education. Fa. But it is not in the power of the mother that the children should persevere in piety. Eu. Perhaps it may not ; but a careful admonition is of that moment, that Paul accounts it imputable to mothers if the chil- dren degenerate from piety. But, in the last place, if you do what is in your power, God will add his assistance to your diligence. Fa. Indeed, Eutrapelus, your discourse has persuaded me, if you can but persuade my parents and my husband. Eu. Well, I will take that upon me, if you will but lend your helping hand. Fa. I promise you I will. Eu. But may not a person see this little boy 1 Fa. Yes, that you may and welcome. Do you hear, Syrisca, bid the nurse bring the child. Eu. It is a very pretty boy. It is a common saying, there ought to be grains of allowance given to the first essay, but you upon the first trial have shewn the very highest pitch of art. Ftt. Why, it is not a piece of carved work, that so nnich art should be required. Eu. That is true, but it is a piece of cast work. Well, let that be how it will, it is well performed. I wish you could make as good figures in the hangings that you weave. Fa. But you, on the contrary, paint better than you beget. Eu. It so seems meet to Nature to act equally by all. How solicitous is Nature, that nothing should be lost ! It has represented two persons in one: here is the nose and eyes of the father, the fore- head and chin of the mother. Can you find in your heart to entmst this dear pledge to the fidelity of a stranger? I think those to be doubly cruel that can find in their hearts so to do; because, in doing so, they do not only do this to the hazard of the child, but also to themselves too; because, in the child, the spoiling of the milk often brings