Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/404

400 FAMILlAn COLLOQUIES. Cu. Why is a lean roan heavier than a fat man, supposing them both of an equal size? AL Because bones are more solid than flesh, and therefore the more weighty. Cu. Why is the same man heavier when he is fasting than after lie has ate his dinner, and so added a weight to his body. AL Because by meat and drink the spiiits are increased, and they add a lightness to the body ; and hence it is that a merry man is heavier than a sorrowful one, and a dead man than a living one. Cu. But how is it that the same man can make himself heavier or lighter when he pleases? Al. By holding, in his breath he makes himself lighter, and by breathing it out heavier ; so a bladder when blown, and close tied, swims ; but when it is burst, sinks. But when will Curio have done asking questions ?

"Cu. I will leave off if you will tell me but a few things more ? Is the heaven heavy or light? Al. I cannot tell whether it be light or no, but I am sure it cannot be heavy, it being of the nature of fire. Cu. What then does the old proverb mean, What if the sky should fall? Al. Because the ignorant ancients, following Homer, believed the heaven to be made of iron ; but Homer called it iron from the similitude of colour, not of weight, as we call that ashy that is of the colour of ashes. Cu. Is there any colour in the sky? Al. There is not really any colour in it; but it appears so to us, because of the air and water that is betwixt us and it ; as the sun sometimes appears to us to be red, sometimes yellow, sometimes white, when of itself it admits of no such mutations. In like manner the colours of the rain- bow are not in the sky but in the moist air.

Cu. But to make an end ; you confess there is nothing higher than the heaven, which way soever it covers the orb of the earth* Al. I do confess so. Cu. And nothing deeper than the centre of the earth. A L No. Cu. Of all things in the world what is the heaviest? Al. Gold, in my opinion. [Cu. I differ very much from you in this point. Al. Why, do you know of anything that is heavier than gold ? Cu. Yes, I do, and by many degrees too. Al. Then now do you take your turn and teach me ; for I profess I do not know anything that is. Cu. Must not that needs be the heaviest thing in the world that forced down the fiery spirits from the very vortex of heaven to the bottom of hell ? and that (you know) is placed in the centre of the earth. Al. I confess it ; but what is that? Cu. Sin, which plunges the souls of men> that Virgil calls sparks of pure ether, to the same place. Al. If you have a mind to pass to that sort of philosophy, I confess both gold and lead to be as light as feathers compared to it. Cu. How then can they that are laden with this sort of luggage mount up to heaven? Al. In truth I cannot tell. Cu. They that prepare themselves for running or leaping do not only lay aside all heavy things, but make themselves light by holding in their breath; when as to the race and leap that we take to heaven we do not endeavour to throw aside that which is heavier than stone or lead. Al. Ay, but we should do it if we had but one grain of sound judgment.