Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/355

Rh passion, but only turning to the ambassador's retinue, said, Do you report this to the people of Athens, and then let them judge which has the greater soul of the two, I who heard this patiently or he who spoke it saucily. Where are now our monarchs who think themselves equal to the gods themselves, and for a single word spoken over a glass of wine will immediately wage war? The thirst of glory is very impetuous, and many are carried away by the violence of it. One of that number put the question to Socrates, Which was the shortest way to get a good reputation? To whom he answered, If you shall behave yourself like such an one as you would be accounted to be.

Ja. In troth, I do not know what could be said more concisely and to the purpose. A good name is not to be obtained by wishing for, but is a concomitant of virtue, as infamy is of improbity. You have been admiring of men; but the Laconian maid charmed me, who being to be sold at a sale, the person who was to buy her came to her and asked her, If I buy you, will you be honest? She answered, Yes, I will, whether you buy me or not; intimating that she retained an affection to honesty, not upon the account of any other person, but was honest of her own inclination, and upon this notion, that virtue was its own reward.

La. A very manly saying, indeed, for a maid! But after all, this, in my opinion, is an example of constancy against fortune flattering to the utmost degree, that when three extraordinary felicities were related to Philip of Macedon on the same day that he had won the prize in the Olympic Games; that his general, Parmeno, had overcome the Dardans in a battle; and that his wife Olympia was brought to bed of a son, lifting his hands up to heaven, he prayed that God would be pleased that so mighty a prosperity might be expiated by a small adversity.

Al. Now-a-days there is no prosperity so great, that any one fears the invidiousness of fortune; but is so puffed up if any good luck happens to him, as if Nemesis were either dead, or at least deaf. Well, if you like this dinner, this garden shall entertain you as often as you will, since you have consecrated it with this conversation that is no less pleasant than profitable. Ba. In short, Apitius himself could not have furnished a more dainty entertainment; so that if you like what we have brought, you may depend upon our company often, which things, indeed, are not worth your hearing, but are such as came into our minds without any premeditation; but when we have time to think beforehand, we will afford you something more exquisite. Al. You shall be so much the more welcome. 



De. How do you succeed in your studies, Erasmus? Er. But very slowly; but I should make a better proficiency if I could obtain one thing of you. De. You may obtain anything of me, provided it be for your good; do but tell me what it is. Er. I believe there is nothing of the most hidden arts but what you are acquainted with.