had my journalle
instead, untill that he burst out a laughing. "Soe this is y'e famous
_libellus_," quoth he,... I never waited for another word, but snatcht
it out of his hand; which he, for soe strict a man, bore well enow. I do
not believe he c'd have read a dozen lines, and they were toward y'e
beginning; but I s'd hugelie like to know which dozen lines they were.

Hum! I have a mind never to write another word. That will be punishing
myselfe, though, insteade of Gunnel. And he bade me not take it to heart
like y'e late Bishop of Durham, to whom a like accident befel, which
soe annoyed him that he died of chagrin. I will never again, howbeit,
write aniething savouring ever soe little of levitie or absurditie. The
saints keepe me to it! And, to know it from my exercise book, I will
henceforthe bind a blue ribbon round it. Furthermore, I will knit y'e
sayd ribbon in soe close a knot, that it shall be worth noe one else's
payns to pick it out. Lastlie, and for entire securitie, I will carry
the same in my pouch, which will hold bigger matters than this.

* * * * *

This daye, at dinner, Mr. Clement took y'e Pistoller's place at y'e
reading-desk; and insteade of continuing y'e subject in hand, read a
paraphrase of y'e 103rde Psalm; ye faithfullenesse and elegant turne
of which, Erasmus highlie commended, though he took exceptions to y'e
phrase "renewing thy youth like that of y'e Phoenix," whose fabulous
story he believed to have been unknown to y'e Psalmist, and,
therefore, however poeticall, was unfitt to be introduced. A deepe blush
on sweet Mercy's face ledd to y'e detection of y'e paraphrast, and
drew on her some deserved commendations. Erasmus, turning to my father,
exclaymed with animation, "I woulde call this house the academy of
Plato, were it not injustice to compare it to a place where the usuall
disputations concerning figures and numbers were onlie oocasionallie
intersperst with disquisitions concerning y'e moral virtues." Then, in
a graver mood, he added, "One mighte envie you, but that your precious
privileges are bound up with soe paynfulle anxieties. How manie pledges
have you given to fortune!"

"If my children are to die out of y'e course of nature, before theire
parents," father firmly replyed, "I w'd rather they died
well-instructed than ignorant."

"You remind me," rejoyns Erasmus, "of Phocion; whose wife, when he was
aboute to drink y'e fatal cup, exclaimed, 'A