Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/270

266 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. ment differently tied, or of different colours than what is customary, and about that sort of food which the water produces and that which the land produces? And if this evil had reached but a few, it might have been slighted. But now we see the whole world in a flame on account of these deadly contentions. These and such like things, were they removed, we should both live in greater concord, not minding ceremonies, but pressing after those things which Christ hath taught us; and the nations of the world would the more readily embrace religion were it accompanied with liberty.

Fi. But there is no salvation out of the pale of the church. Bu. I confess it. Fi. Whosoever does not own the authority of the pope is out of the pale of the church. Bu. I don’t deny that neither. Fi. But he that neglects his injunctions does not own him. Bu. But I hope a time will come that the pope, who is Clement by name, and most of all so by nature, will mitigate all these things which hitherto seem to have alienated some people from the Roman Church; that he may bring all nations to the communion of it, and will rather pursue those things that are for the good of the church than his own private interest. I hear daily complaints of yearly offerings, pardons, dispensations, and other exactions and church grievances; but I believe he will so moderate all things, that in time to come it would be impudent to complain. Fi. I wish all monarchs would do the like, and then I would not doubt but Christianity, which is now confined to a narrow compass, would extend itself, when the barbarous nations did perceive that they were called, not to human servitude, but to gospel liberty; and that they were not sought after to be made a prey of, but to a fellow-enjoyment of happiness and holiness. If once they came to be united with us, and found in us manners truly Christian, they would of their own accord offer us more than the itmost violence can extort from them.

Bu. I should soon hope to see that accomplished, if that mischievous Ate, that has engaged the two most mighty monarchs in the world in a bloody war, were sent to her place (i.e. to the dogs). Fi. I wonder that that is not done already, when nothing can be imagined more humane than Francis; and I look upon it that Charles has had principles instilled into him by his masters, that by how much the more fortune enlarges the bounds of his empire, by so much the more he increases in clemency and bounty; besides that, good humour and lenity are peculiar to his age. Bu. You will not find that they will be wanting in anything.

Fi. What, then, is it that hinders the accomplishment of that which all the world wishes for? Bu. Why, the lawyers have not yet come to an agreement about bounds and limits, and you know that the storm of a comedy always ends in the calm of a matrimony; and the tragedies of princes commonly end in the like manner. But in comedies matches are quickly made up, but among great men matters move but slowly; and it is better to have a wound long in healing than presently to break out again in an ulcer.

Fi. But do you think marriages to be firm bonds of amity? Bu. I would have them so, indeed; but I see sometimes the sharpest contentions rise from them; and when once a war arises between near kindred, it not only is more extensive, but harder to be made up.