The Colloquies of Erasmus - LightNovelsOnl.com
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The ARGUMENT.
_This Colloquy treats of scholastic Studies, and School Plays, I. The Boys going into the School. The striking of a Clock. A whipping Master. Of saying a Lesson. Fear hurts the Memory. 2. Of Writing, the Paper sinks. Of making a Pen. Of a hard Nip. A soft Nip. Of writing quick, well._
SYLVIUS, JOHN.
_Sy._ What makes you run so, _John?_
_Jo._ What makes a Hare run before the Dogs, as they use to say?
_Sy._ What Proverb is this?
_Jo._ Because unless I am there in Time, before the Bill is called over, I am sure to be whipp'd.
_Sy._ You need not be afraid of that, it is but a little past five: Look upon the Clock, the Hand is not come to the half Hour Point yet.
_Jo._ Ay, but I can scarce trust to Clocks, they go wrong sometimes.
_Sy._ But trust me then, I heard the Clock strike.
_Jo._ What did that strike?
_Sy._ Five.
_Jo._ But there is something else that I am more afraid of than that, I must say by Heart a good long Lesson for Yesterday, and I am afraid I can't say it.
_Sy._ I am in the same Case with you; for I myself have hardly got mine as it should be.
_Jo._ And you know the Master's Severity. Every Fault is a Capital one with him: He has no more Mercy of our Breeches, than if they were made of a Bull's Hide.
_Sy._ But he won't be in the School.
_Jo._ Who has he appointed in his Place?
_Sy. Cornelius._
_Jo._ That squint-ey'd Fellow! Wo to our Back-Sides, he's a greater Whip-Master than _Busby_ himself.
_Sy._ You say very true, and for that Reason I have often wish'd he had a Palsy in his Arm.
_Jo._ It is not pious to wish ill to ones Master: it is our Business rather to take Care not to fall under the Tyrant's Hands.
_Sy._ Let us say one to another, one repeating and the other looking in the Book.
_Jo._ That's well thought on.
_Sy._ Come, be of good Heart; for Fear spoils the Memory.
_Jo._ I could easily lay aside Fear, if I were out of Danger; but who can be at Ease in his Mind, that is in so much Danger.
_Sy._ I confess so; but we are not in Danger of our Heads, but of our Tails.
2. _Of Writing._
CORNELIUS, ANDREW.
_Co._ You write finely, but your Paper sinks. Your Paper is damp, and the Ink sinks through it.
_An._ Pray make me a Pen of this.
_Co._ I have not a Pen-knife.
_An._ Here is one for you.
_Co._ Out on't, how blunt it is!
_An._ Take the Hoan.
_Co._ Do you love to write with a hard-nip'd Pen, or a soft?
_An._ Make it fit for your own Hand.
_Co._ I use to write with a soft Nip.
_An._ Pray write me out the Alphabet.
_Co._ Greek or Latin?
_An._ Write me the Latin first; I'll try to imitate it.
_Co._ Give me some Paper then.
_An._ Take some.
_Co._ But my Ink is too thin, by often pouring in of Water.
_An._ But my Cotton is quite dry.
_Co._ Squeeze it, or else p.i.s.s in it.
_An._ I had rather get some Body to give me some.
_Co._ It is better to have of one's own, than to borrow.
_An._ What's a Scholar without Pen and Ink?
_Co._ The same that a Soldier is without s.h.i.+eld or Sword.
