The Colloquies, Volume 2 – Desiderius Erasmus
Erasmus’ services to a new way of learning took various forms. He wrote school-books, bringing out his view that boys were kept too long over grammar, and ought to begin reading some good author as soon as possible. His own “Colloquies” were meant partly as models of colloquial Latin; the book was long a standard one in education. These lively dialogues are prose idylls with an ethical purpose,—the dramatic expression of the writer’s views on the life of the day. Thus the dialogue between the Learned Lady and the Abbot depicts monastic illiteracy; that between the Soldier and the Carthusian brings out the seamy side of the military calling. Lucian has influenced the form; but the dramatic skill which blends earnestness with humour is the author’s own; there are touches here and there which might fairly be called Shakespearian. This is part two of two.
The Colloquies, Volume 2.
Format: eBook.
The Colloquies, Volume 2.
ISBN: 9783849653804.
Excerpt from “The religious pilgrimage”:
ERASMUS, GASPAR.
MENEDEMUS, OGYGIUS.
MEN. What Novelty is this? Don’t I see my old Neighbour Ogygius, that no Body has set their Eyes on this six Months? There was a Report he was dead. It is he, or I’m mightily mistaken. I’ll go up to him, and give him his Welcome. Welcome Ogygius.
Ogy. And well met, Menedemus.
Men. From what Part of the World came you? For here was a melancholy Report that you had taken a Voyage to the Stygian Shades.
Ogy. Nay, I thank God, I never was better in all my Life, than I have been ever since I saw you last.
Men. And may you live always to confute such vain Reports: But what strange Dress is this? It is all over set off with Shells scollop’d, full of Images of Lead and Tin, and Chains of Straw-Work, and the Cuffs are adorned with Snakes Eggs instead of Bracelets.
Ogy. I have been to pay a Visit to St. James at Compostella, and after that to the famous Virgin on the other Side the Water in England; and this was rather a Revisit; for I had been to see her three Years before.
Men. What! out of Curiosity, I suppose?
Ogy. Nay, upon the Score of Religion.
Men. That Religion, I suppose, the Greek Tongue taught you.
Ogy. My Wife’s Mother had bound herself by a Vow, that if her Daughter should be delivered of a live Male Child, I should go to present my Respects to St. James in Person, and thank him for it.
Men. And did you salute the Saint only in your own and your Mother-in-Law’s Name?
Ogy. Nay, in the Name of the whole Family.
Men. Truly I am persuaded your Family would have been every Whit as well, if you had never complimented him at all. But prithee, what Answer did he make you when you thanked him?
Ogy. None at all; but upon tendring my Present, he seemed to smile, and gave me a gentle Nod, with this same Scollop Shell.
Men. But why does he rather give those than any Thing else?
Ogy. Because he has plenty of them, the neighbouring Sea furnishing him with them.
Men. O gracious Saint, that is both a Midwife to Women in Labour, and hospitable to Travellers too! But what new Fashion of making Vows is this, that one who does nothing himself, shall make a Vow that another Man shall work? Put the Case that you should tie yourself up by a Vow that I should fast twice a Week, if you should succeed in such and such an Affair, do you think I’d perform what you had vowed?
Ogy. I believe you would not, altho’ you had made the Vow yourself: For you made a Joke of Fobbing the Saints off. But it was my Mother-in-Law that made the Vow, and it was my Duty to be obedient: You know the Temper of Women, and also my own Interest lay at Stake.
Men. If you had not performed the Vow, what Risque had you run?
Ogy. I don’t believe the Saint could have laid an Action at Law against me; but he might for the future have stopp’d his Ears at my Petitions, or slily have brought some Mischief or other upon my Family: You know the Humour of great Persons.
Men. Prithee tell me, how does the good Man St. James do? and what was he doing?
Ogy. Why truly, not so well by far as he used to be.
Men. What’s the Matter, is he grown old?
Ogy. Trifler! You know Saints never grow old. No, but it is this new Opinion that has been spread abroad thro’ the World, is the Occasion, that he has not so many Visits made to him as he used to have; and those that do come, give him a bare Salute, and either nothing at all, or little or nothing else; they say they can bestow their Money to better Purpose upon those that want it.
Men. An impious Opinion.
Ogy. And this is the Cause, that this great Apostle, that used to glitter with Gold and Jewels, now is brought to the very Block that he is made of, and has scarce a Tallow Candle.
Men. If this be true, the rest of the Saints are in Danger of coming to the same Pass.
Ogy. Nay, I can assure you, that there is a Letter handed about, which the Virgin Mary herself has written about this Matter.
Men. What Mary?
Ogy. She that is called Maria a Lapide.
Men. That’s up towards Basil, if I am not mistaken?
Ogy. The very same.
Men. You talk of a very stony Saint. But who did she write it to?
Ogy. The Letter tells you the Name.
Men. Who did she send it by?
Ogy. An Angel, no Doubt, who laid it down in the Pulpit, where the Preacher, to whom it was sent, took it up. And to put the Matter out of all Doubt, you shall see the original Letter.
Men. Do you know the Angel’s Hand, that is Secretary to the Virgin Mary?
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