Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/368

364 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. neck rather than his waist. But what can we wish bad enough to that foolish society that maintains such cattle as this is? Hi. You can scarce think of anything to wish them worse than what they bring upon themselves, for by such doings as these especially, they make themselves odious to all goad men, and bring themselves into contempt more effectually than an enemy can do. But it is not a Christian spirit to wish ill to any one ; but we ought rather to wish that the most merciful Creator and Reformer of all things who made Nebuchad- nezzar an ox of a man, and again turned him from an ox to a man, and gave the tongue of a man to Balaam's ass would amend all who are like this Merdardus, and give them understanding and utterance becoming men that profess the gospel. 

Ph. I promise my'self happiness that I have met with you, Symbulus. Sy. I wish, Philodoxus, it were in iny power to make you happy in anything. Ph. What can be more felicitous than for God to meet a man? Sy. Indeed, I should account that much more lucky than the flight of a thousand night-owls ; but what god is it you mean 1 Ph. Why, it is yourself I mean, Symbulus. Sy. What, me ! Ph. Even yourself. Sy. I always thought that those gods that did their business backwards were not worth a straw. Ph. If the proverb be true, That he is a god that helps a man, then you are a god to me. Sy. I leave the proverb to be made out by other people ; but as for me, I would do any service I 'can to my friend with all my heart. Ph. Well, Symbultis, don't be in pain, I am no't about to borrow any money of you : 'counsel is a sacred thing, only give me your assistance with that. 'Sy. That is only demanding what is your own, since this office ought to be mutual among friends, as indeed should everything else. But what is it you want my counsel in 1

Ph. I am weary of living in obscurity, I have a great mind to become famous ; prithee, tell me how I may become so. Sy. Oh, here is a short way for you imitate Erostratus, who set Diana's temple on fire; or Zoilus, who carped at Homer; or do some memorable villainy or other, and then you will be as famous as Cecrops or Nero. Ph. They that like it may get themselves a name by impiety; I am ambi- tious of a good name. Sy. Then, be such a one in fact as you would be in name. Ph. But a great many persons have been virtuous that were never famous. Sy. I question that; but, however, if it be as you say, virtue is a sufficient reward to itself. Ph. You speak very true, and mxich like a philosopher. But for all that, as times go, in my opinion glory is the chief reward belonging to virtue, which delights to be known as the sun does to shine ; for this very reason, that it may benefit a great many and draw them to an imitation of itself. And then, lastly, I do not See how parents can leave a fairer fortune to their children than the immortal memory of a good name.

Sy. Then, as I understand you, you would have glory got by Virtue. Ph. That is the very thing. Sy. Then set before you for 