Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/243

 nothing himself shall make a vow that another man shall work? Put the case that you should tie yourself up by a vow that I should fast twice a week if you should succeed in such and such an affair, do you  think I would perform what yon had vowed? Og. I believe you would not, although you had made the vow yourself, for you make a  joke of fobbing the saints off. But it was my mother-in-law that made the vow, and it was my duty to be obedient. You know the temper 'of women, and also my own interest lay at stake. Me. If you had not performed the vow what risk had you run? Og. I do not believe the saint could have laid an action at law against me, but he  might for the future have stopped his ears at my petitions, or slily have  brought some mischief or other upon my family; you know the humour  of great persons.

Me. Prithee, tell me how does the good man St. James do, and what was he doing? Og. Why, truly, not so well as by far he used to be. Me. What is the mattery is he grown old? Og. Trifler, you know saints never grow old. No, but it is this new opinion that has been spread abroad through the world is the occasion that he has not so  many visits paid to him as he used to have, and those that do come  give him a bare salute, and either nothing at all, or little or nothing  else; they say they can bestow their money to better purpose upon  those that want it. Me. An impious opinion. Og. And this is the cause that this great apostle, that used to glitter with gold and jewels,  now is brought to the very block that he is made of, and has scarce a  tallow candle. Me. If this be true the rest of the saints are in danger of coming to the same pass.

Og. Nay, I can assure you that there is a letter handed about which the Virgin Mary herself has written about this matter. Me. What Mary? Og. She that is called Maria a Lapide. Me. That is up towards Basil, if I am not mistaken. Og. The very same. Me. You talk of a very stony saint. But who did she write it to? Og. The letter tells you the name. Me. Who did she send it by? Og. An angel, no doubt, who laid it down in the pulpit, where the preacher  to whom it was sent took it up ; and to put the matter out of all doubt,  you shall see the original letter. Me. Do you know the angel's hand that is secretary to the Virgin Mary? Og. Well enough. Me. By what token? Og. I have read St. Bede's epitaph that was engraven by the same angel, and the shape of the letters are exactly the same;  and I have read the discharge sent to St. Aegidius, and they agree  exactly. Do not these prove the matter plain enough? Me. May a person see it? Og. You may, if you will damn your soul to the pit of hell if ever you speak about it. Me. It is as safe as if you spoke it to a stone. Og. But there are some stones that are infamous for this, that they cannot keep a secret. Me. If you cannot trust to a stone, speak to a mute then. Og. Upon that condition I will recite it to you ; but prick up both your ears. Me. I have done so.

Og. Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Glaucoplutus sendeth greeting. This is to let you know that I take it in good part, and you have much obliged me in that you have so strenuously followed Luther, and convinced the world that it is a thing altogether needless to invoke saints. For before this time I was even wearied out of my life with the wicked