Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/414

410 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. to his generosity to let none of them go away without some Loon ; thei'efore he bid Tantalus ask what he pleased, and it should be granted. And Tantalus being so foolish as to measure man's happiness by the pleasures of gluttony, wished that he might all his lifetime sit at a table so plentifully furnished. Jupiter consented, and granted him what he desired. Tantalus sits at a table furnished with all sorts of dainties : nectar is set before him ; neither roses nor odours are wanting, such as may delight the noses of the gods themselves ; Gany- mede stands by him to be his cup-bearer, or somebody like him ; the Muses stand about him singing sweetly; Silenus dances before him with ridiculous gestures, and likewise there are good store of jesters ; and, in short, there is whatsoever may delight the senses of a man. But in the midst of all these he sits melancholy, sighing and anxious, neither being moved by their merriment nor touching the provision i efore him. Sp. What is the reason of that ?

He. Because a great stone hangs over his head as he sits at supper, ready to fall upon him every moment. Sp. I would get away from such a table. He. But what he wished for is made necessary to him. Nor is Jupiter so placable as our God is, who rescinds the hurtful wishes of mortals if they repent of them. But the same stone that hinders Tantalus from feeding, frightens him from going away ; for he is afraid if he offer to stir lest the stone should fall upon him and crush him to pieces. Sp. A ridiculous story !

He. But now hear what you will not laugh at : the common people se^k for a pleasant life from external things, when nothing will produce that but a good conscience ; for a heavier stone hangs over the heads of those that have a guilty conscience than hangs over the head of Tan- talus himself ; nay, it does not only hang over their heads, but vexes and presses their minds ; nor is their mind tormented with a vain fear, but expects every hour when they shall be cast into hell. Pray, what can there be so pleasant in earthly things that can possibly cheer a mind that is pressed down with such a stone 1 Sp. Nay, nothing in the world but madness or incredulity. He. If youth did but consider this, who, being bewitched with pleasures like the cup of Circe, embrace sweetened poisons instead of things truly pleasant, how carefully would they beware lest by incogitancy they should do that which would perplex their mind all their lifetime ? What would they not do that they might provide this viaticum against old age which is drawing on, a good conscience and an untainted reputation ? What can be more miserable than that old age which, when it looks back, sees with great horror what beautiful things it has neglected, and what foul things it lias embraced 1 And again, when it looks forward, sees the last day hanging over its head, and immediately upon this the torments of hell.

Sp. I think they are the happiest men who have preserved the first part of their age undefiled, and improving in the study of piety have arrived to the goal of old age. He. And the next place is due to those who have early repented of their juvenile follies. Sp. But what advice will you give to that wretched old man 1 He. While there is life there is hope ; I would bid him fly to the arms of mercy. Sp. But by how much the longer a man has continued in an evil course of life, by so much a greater mass of iniquities is heaped up, that exceeds even the sands on the sea-shore. He. But then the mercies of God exceed