CA. They make a great merit, however, of thus voluntarily submitting to this kind of servitude.

Eu. They who do so, preach a doctrine worthy of the Pharisees. St. Paul's doctrine is a very different one; for he teaches that whoever becomes a Christian when in a state of freedom, should not willingly be made a slave: while, on the other hand, the slave who becomes a Christian, should, if an opportunity of freedom presents itself, avail himself of it. But, farther, the servitude we are speaking of is the more galling from your having to submit to more masters than one, and these, too, for the most part fools and profligates; while, in addition to this, you are kept in a state of continual uncertainty from the changes that occur amongst them from time to time. Now, answer me a question,-Do the laws release you from the authority of your parents?

CA. By no means.

Eu. Are you at liberty to buy or sell a farm against their will?

CA. Certainly not.

EU. What right, then, can you have to give yourself to I know not whom, in express opposition to the will of your parents? Are you not their most valuable possession-that which is in a peculiar sense their own?

CA. Where religion is concerned, the laws of nature cease. Eu. Religion has respect chiefly to baptism; the present question relates merely to a change of dress, and to a mode of life which in itself is neither good nor bad. Consider, also, how many advantages you part with when you lose your liberty. You are now free to read, pray, or sing, in your own chamber, as much and as long as may be agreeable to you ; or, when you become weary of the privacy of your chamber, you have it in your power to hear sacred songs, attend divine wor

ship, and listen to discourses on heavenly themes. Moreover, should you meet with any one remarkable for his piety and wisdom, or with any matron or maiden of superior virtues and endowments, you can enjoy the advantage of their conversation and instructions, for improvement in all those graces that become the female character. You are free, besides, to esteem and love the preacher who teaches in sincerity the pure doctrines of Christ. But if once you retire into a convent, all these superior opportunities of improvement in a sound and rational piety are lost to you for ever.

CA. But, in the mean time, I shall not be a nun.

Eu. Is it possible that you can still be influenced by the sound of a mere name? Consider the subject with attention. Much is said about the merit of obedience; but will there be any want of this merit if you obey those parents whom the ordinance of God himself has made it your duty to obey-if you obey also your bishop and your pastor? Or will you be deficient in the merit of poverty, where every thing belongs to your parents? In former times, indeed, holy men thought it highly praiseworthy in females, dedicated to the service of God, to be liberal towards the poor; yet I do not very well perceive how they were to exercise this virtue of liberality, if they had nothing themselves to give. Further, the jewel of your chastity can suffer no diminution in its lustre by your remaining under the same roof with your parents. In what, then, consists the superiority of the state for which you are so eager to leave your own home? truly, in nothing but a veil, a linen dress worn outside instead of inside, and a few ceremonies which of themselves make nothing for piety, and commend no one in the sight of Him with whom favour can be obtained only by purity of heart and life.

CA. You preach strange doctrine.

EU. Not the less true, however, for being strange. But, tell me, since you are not released from the authority of your parents, and you have not a right to sell either a dress or a field, how can you prove that you have a right to put yourself under the perpetual control of strangers?

CA. The authority of parents, they say, cannot prevent the claims of religion.

Eu. Did you not make profession of your faith in your baptism?

CA. Yes.

Eu. And are not they religious persons who follow the precepts of Jesus Christ?

CA. Undoubtedly.

Eu. Then what, I pray you, is this new religion which makes void what the law of nature has sanctioned,-what the ancient law has taught, what the gospel has approved, and the doctrine of the apostles established and confirmed? I tell you, that such a religion is the invention of a parcel of monks, not the decree of God.

CA. Do you then think it unlawful for me to become the spouse of Christ without the consent of my parents?

Eu. You are already espoused to Christ-we have all been espoused to him; and who, I pray you, ever thinks of being married twice to the same person? The subject in debate is merely a question of place, dress, and ceremony; and certainly I cannot think that the authority of parents is to be slighted and set at nought for things like these.

CA. But the persons I speak of affirm, that there cannot be an act of greater piety than to disregard one's parents on such an occasion.

Eu. Demand, then, of those doctors, to produce you a single passage out of the holy scriptures in which any such

CA. I have already promised not to do so.

Eu. Well then, experience has taught me what pain there is in love. Come, confess, according to your promise.

CA. To say the truth, love is the cause; but not the kind

Eu. I have done; my stock of conjecture is exhausted: and yet I will not let go this hand of thine till I wrest thy secret from thee.

CA. How violent you are!

Eu. Only confide it to me, whatever it may be.

CA. Well, since you are so very urgent about it, I will tell you. Know then, that from my tenderest years a passion of an extraordinary nature has possessed me.

Eu. What can it be? to become a nun?

CA. Just so.

Eu. Hem! I have gained a loss!

CA. What is it you say, Eubulus ?

Eu. Nothing, my love: I only coughed. Go on, I pray

you.

CA. The desire I have mentioned to you was always opposed by my parents with the greatest pertinacity.

Eu. I understand.

CA. On the other hand, I, for my part, never ceased to besiege their affection with entreaties, caresses, and tears. Eu. You surprise me.

CA. At length my perseverance in this course so far prevailed upon them that they promised that, if I should continue in the same mind upon my entering into my seventeenth year, they would then yield to my wishes: that year is now arrived; my desire remains unchanged; and yet, in opposition

to their promise they positively refuse to gratify it: this it is that troubles me. I have now disclosed to you the nature of my disease: prescribe the remedy if you have any.

Eu. In the first place, let me counsel you, sweetest maiden, to moderate your desires; and if you cannot obtain what you would, to wish for no more than what may be in your power to obtain.

CA. I shall die if I do not obtain the present object of my wishes.

EU. But what could have given rise to this fatal passion? CA. Some years ago, when quite a girl, I was taken into a convent, where they led me about and showed me every thing. I was charmed with the sweet looks of the nuns, who seemed to me like so many angels; and was delighted with the beautiful appearance of every thing in the chapel, and with the fragrance and pleasantness of gardens, dressed and cultivated with the nicest art. In short, whichever way I turned my eyes, every thing smiled upon me. Add to this, the pleasant conversation I had with the nuns themselves, some of whom I discovered to have been my playfellows during my childhood. From this period it was that I conceived the ardent desire I have to adopt the same kind of life.

Eu. It certainly is not my intention to reprobate the institution of nunneries *, though the same things are not of equal advantage to all; and yet, from my opinion of the nature of your disposition, such as it appears to me from your countenance and manners, my advice to you would be, to marry a husband of a character similar to your own, and thus give rise to a new

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#66 Mihi aliud dictabat animus, aliud scribebat calamus," is the melancholy acknowledgment which Erasmus made of his own want of courage.