Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/417

CONFLICT BETWEEN TH1LIA AND BARBARISM. 413 Th. Yes, I have something to say against it : yon knew Cacus ? Ba. Who does not know Cacus? Th. That Cacus whom Virgil speaks of. Ba. I knew him. Th. I believe you did, for he was* a famous fellow; and as he was famous, just so are you. And then again, whei-eas you take it to your praise that the world follows you, I interpret it rather to your dishonour; for everything that is scarce is valuable. There is nothing valuable that is common to the vulgar. Although my admirers are but few, yet they are persons of figure and gravity. But, pray, what great reputation is it to you that you are admired by the ignorant mobility 1 Ba. Silly wench ! the thinw is quite different, for I do not leave those persons unlearned that I find so; but I rather improve them and instruct them, and make them persons of learning and gravity. Th. Ha, ha, ha, loaded with books, but not with science. Ba. You are a poor scrub, and I am as well able to make my followers leai-ned as you are yours. Th. Yes like yourself; for, being barbarous yourself, you make barbarians of them too : what can you do else 1

Ba. Now I find by experience the character is true that I heard of you long ago, that you are a prating, impertinent baggage. Leave off, simpleton, you know nothing at all; this I am sure off, that if you knew but half I know, you would not have the impudence to talk at this rate. In my academy at Zwoll, what glory, discipline, and im- provement is there ! If 1 should but begin to enumerate you would burst with envy. Th. Yes, forsooth; and so I believe you would make the very post and pillars burst with your braggadocia talking But, hoAvever, begin and burst me if you can. Ba. It is too loner. Th. Well, make short of it then, you know how. Ba. Well, then, I will speak in brief as to what 1 was saying before : nobody is able to number the great confluence of students that flock from all parts of the spacious world to that famous school. Th. Phoo; what, does that great ass at Zwoll (I mean the great bell of the school) bray so loud as to call them together in crowds 1 Ba. Silly ton, forbear railing, and hear what is said to you. They are there instructed and rendered learned in a trice. Th. Wonderfully learned, indeed ! Ba. In the best glosses, vocabularies, arguments, and innumerable other notable matters. Th. That is rightly spoken.

Ba. What do you grin at ? I improve them to that degree that there is nothing they are ignorant of. Th. Ay, of nothing that is novelty. Ba. As they grow in statui-e so they do in experience ; and being become perfect masters they are made instructoi-s of others : then I discharge them that they may live happily and die blessedly. Th. Ha, ha, ha, I envy them so much, I can hardly forbear bursting my sides with laughing. Ba> Fool, what do you laugh at? Do you think what I say deserves to be laughed at ? Th. I can give you a better account of the matter. Ba. What, you? Th. Yes, I; and if you please you shall hear it too. Ba. Well, begin then. Th. As to the number of your followers, I grant it; and if they have learned anything right in schools before, they must be forced to unlearn it again. And then, as to thos3 dispensations (of which you have reckoned up a great many), they are not so much instructed as confounded by them, till at last they know nothing at all : you im- prove them till they do not know so much as themselves. Their horns