truly virgins; but I wish you not to be deceived by your imagination, and take appearances for realities. Were you to remain for some time in the convent you wish to retire to, and acquire a nearer insight into what is going forward there, possibly you might not think every thing quite so correct and charming as you did at first. Take my word for it, Catharine, all are not virgins who wear a veil.

CA. Use proper language, Eubulus!

Eu. Nay, if there be propriety in truth, I do so; unless, perhaps, the praise which we have hitherto been in the habit of considering as peculiar to the Virgin Mother be transferred to other females also.

CA.

Mention not such an abomination.

Eu. In no other way, however, can the virgins you speak of be altogether such as you take them to be.

CA. No? and why not, I pray you?

EU.

Because there are more amongst them who will be found to rival Sappho in her morals, than to resemble her in her genius.

CA. I do not exactly comprehend the meaning of your words.

hear me.

Eu. My dear Catharine, I do not wish that you should; and therefore I talk in the way you CA. My wishes still point in the same direction, and I cannot but conclude that the spirit by which I am actuated on this subject comes from God, inasmuch as it has continued for so many years, and still gathers strength from day to day.

Eu. For my part, I regard this spirit of thine with no small degree of suspicion, on account of its being opposed with so much earnestness by your excellent parents. Were the object you have in view really a pious one, God would no doubt breathe into their hearts an acquiescence in your wishes. The

fact is, that the spirit you talk of took its rise from the splendid things which affected your imagination as a girl, from the soft language of the nuns, from revived affection towards your old companions, from the celebration of divine worship, the specious pomp of ceremonies, and the vile exhortations of a set of stupid monks, who court you in order that they may have the more to drink. They are well aware that your father is of a kind and liberal disposition, and that they shall either have him for their guest, (on condition that he bring with him wine enough for ten potent drinkers), or that they shall be able to carouse, as they please, at his table. Wherefore, my advice to you is, not to think any farther of venturing upon a new course of life in opposition to the wishes of your parents. Remember that the authority of our parents is that under which it is God's will that we should remain.

CA. But in a case of this kind, it is no want of piety to disregard both father and mother.

Eu. I grant that it is piety to do so on some occasions, for Christ's sake; though if a Christian have a father who is a heathen, and whose whole subsistence depends upon him, it certainly is no mark of piety in the son to desert him, and allow him to perish of hunger. Supposing that you had not already professed yourself a Christian at your baptism, and that your parents were to forbid you to be baptized, you would certainly act a pious part in preferring Christ to impious parents: or, even now, if your parents were to endeavour to force you to the commission of any loose or impious act, you would undoubtedly do right, in such a case, to disregard their authority. But what has this to do with a convent? Christ is with you equally at home. It is the dictate of nature that children should obey their parents-a dictate ratified by the approbation of God, by the exhortations of St. Paul, and by

the sanction of human laws: and will

you

then withdraw yourself from the authority of the excellent parents you possess, in order to deliver yourself up to those who can be father and mother to you only in name, or who, to speak more truly, will rule you rather as tyrants than as parents? At present, your situation with your parents is such, that they still wish you to be free; but you, of your own accord, would make yourself a slave. The merciful nature of the Christian religion has, to a great degree, abolished the ancient state of servitude, except in a few countries, in which some traces of it still remain. But now, under the pretext of religion, a new kind of servitude, according to the mode of living that at present prevails in many convents, has been invented. In these places nothing is lawful but what is commanded: whatever wealth may fall to you will accrue to the community; and should you attempt to stir a step beyond your bounds, you will be dragged back again, as if you had murdered your parents. And, that this slavery may be still more conspicuous, their proselytes are clothed in a dress different from that which was given to them by their parents, while, in imitation of the ancient custom of those who formerly made a traffic in slaves, a change also is made in the baptismal name; so that he who was baptized into the service of Christ under the name of Peter, is called Thomas on being enlisted in the service of St. Dominic. If a soldier in the army cast away the uniform given him by his commander, he is looked upon as having renounced the authority of his commander; and yet we applaud those who put on a dress not given by Christ, the Lord of all; while the punishment inflicted upon them, should they change it afterwards, is far greater than would be experienced were they to cast off, ever so frequently, the dress of their great Leader and Master-I mean, innocence of mind.

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.