Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/291

 that they have never got over it to this day. There were chambers on a ground-floor, and rotten plaister, they stood near a stinking house of office, in which none ever dwelt, but he either got his death, or some grievous distemper. I shall say nothing of the unmerciful whippings, even of innocent persons. This they say is to break their fierceness, for so they call a sprightly genius; and therefore, they thus cow their spirits, to make them more humble in the monasteries: Nor shall I take notice how many rotten eggs were eaten; nor how much sour wine was drank. Perhaps these things may be mended now; but however, ’tis too late for those that are dead already, or carry about an infected carcass.

Nor do I mention these things because I have any ill will to the college, but I thought it worth while to give this monition, lest human severity should mar inexperienc’d and tender age, under the pretence of religion. How much civility, or true piety, may be taught there at present, I don’t determine. If I could but see that those that put on a cowl, put off naughtiness, I should exhort every body to wear one. But besides, the spirit of a vigorous age is not to be cow’d for this sort of life; but the mind is to be form’d for piety. I can scarce enter into a carthusian monastery, but I find some fools and some madmen among them. But it is time now, after so long a digression, to return to our first proposition. Bu. We lose nothing by the digression, as long as we have talked to the purpose; but, perhaps, you have something further to add concerning human constitutions. Fi. In my mind, he does by no means observe a human constitution, who neglects to do what he aim’d at that ordain’d it. He that upon holy-days forbears working, and does not employ them in divine duties, profanes the day, by neglecting to do that for which end it was appointed; therefore is one good work forbidden that a better may be done. But now, as for those that leave their secular employ, to go to junketting, whoring, and drinking, fighting and gaming, they are guilty of a double profanation of it.

Bu. It is my opinion, that the task of saying prayers was imposed upon priests and monks for this purpose, that by this exercise they might accustom themselves to lift up their hearts to God: And yet he that neglects saying his prayers, is in danger to be punished; but he that only mumbles over the words with his mouth, and does not regard the meaning of ’em, nay, nor take pains so much as to learn the language they are written in, without which he can’t tell what the sound meaneth, is accounted a good man by others, and he thinks himself such. Fi. I know a great many priests that look upon it a heinous sin to omit any part of their prayers, or by mistake to have said concerning the virgin mary, when they should have said concerning st. Paul. But the same persons count it no crime to game, whore, and drink, tho’ these things are forbidden both by the law of God and man.

Bu. Nay, I myself have known a great many, that would sooner die than be persuaded to take the sacrament after they had chanc’d to taste a bit of food, or let a drop of water go down their throat while they were washing their mouths; yet the same persons will own, that they have so much malice against some, that, if they had an opportunity, they would kill them; nor are they afraid with this temper of mind