Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/346

342 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. of age. I think also that it ought to be resolved, nemine contradicente, that no woman be allowed particularly to mention her own husband by name too freely. It may be allowed to speak in the general, but that too ought to be done with moderation and decency. Ca. But why may it not be allowed us to talk freely of the men here, when they are always talking about us everywhere ? My Titius, whenever he has a mind to divert his company, tells them what he did with me in the night, what I said to him, and oftentimes affirms what is false. Co. If we would speak the truth, our reputation depends wholly upon that of the men ; so that if we expose them, what else do we do but disgrace ourselves 1 ? And although, indeed, we have a great many just com- plaints against them, yet all things being duly considered, our condition is much preferable to theirs. For they, endeavouring to get a main- tenance for their families, scamper through all the parts of the earth by land and sea. In times of war they are called up by the sound of the trumpet, stand in armour in the front of the battle, while we sit at home in safety. If they transgress the law, they are punished severely ; but our sex is spared. And in the last place, for the most part it is in our own power to make our husbands such as we would have them. But it remains that we come to some resolutions about precedency in taking places, lest it should be with us as it often happens among the plenipotentiaries of kings, princes, and popes, who, in their con- gresses, squabble away three months at least in punctilios and cere- mony before they can sit down to business. Therefore it is my opinion that none but peeresses sit in the first bench ; and these shall take their places according to the degrees of their nobility. First, those that have four ; next, those that have three ; after them, those that have two ; then those who have one ; and last of all, those who have but half a one. And in every rank regard shall be had to antiquity. Bastards of every rank shall sit in the lowest place of it. The next bench shall be that of the commons ; and of those, they shall sit in the foremost places who have had the most children ; and between those who have had the same number, age shall decide the difference. The third bench shall be for those who never had any children.

Ca. Where do you intend to place the widows ? Co. Well remembered. They shall have their seats in the middle of the mothers, if they have children, or ever had any ; those that have been barren shall sit at the lower end of them. Ju. Well, but what place do you design for the wives of priests and monks 1 Co. We will consider of that matter at our next meeting. Ju. What do you determine about those women who get their living by their bodily labour 1 Co. We will not suffer this assembly to be polluted by the mixture of such cattle. Ju. What will you do concerning kept mistresses 1 Co. They are of several ranks ; we will consider that when we are more at leisure. There is another matter to be considered of, how we shall give our votes whether by sci'atching or balloting, or by word of tricks mouth, or holding up our hands, or by dividing. Ca. There are in balloting, and so there are in scratching ; and if we give our vote by dividing, as we wear long petticoats, we shall raise too much dust; so that I am of opinion, it will be the best way for every one to give her vote viva voce. Co. But it will be a difficult matter to number the votes. And then too, great care ought to be taken that it be not