[Sidenote: CALVIN'S MISSIONARY ZEAL.] Calvin did not, however, fail completely at Meaux: 'You have given me prompt and effectual aid,' he wrote to Daniel; 'you have opened me a window, and have thus given me the privilege of being in future an indiscreet petitioner.'[158] He took advantage of this opening to propagate the Gospel. 'I will do it,' he said, 'without imprudence or precipitation.' And, calling to mind that 'the doctrine of Christ is like old wine, which has ceased working, but which nevertheless gives nourishment to the body,'[159] he busied himself in filling vessels with this precious drink: 'I will take care,' he wrote to Daniel, 'that the inside shall be well filled with wine.'[160] He ended his letter by saying: 'I want the _Odyssey_ of Homer which I lent Sucquet: pray tell him so.'[161] Luther took Plautus and Terence into the convent with him; Calvin asked for Homer. He soon returned to Paris, which opened a wider field of labour to him. On the 15th of January, 1530, he wrote Daniel a letter which he dated from the _Acropolis_, as if Paris were to him the citadel of catholicism or the Parthenon of France.[162] He was always trying to save some lost sheep, and such a desire filled his mind on the 15th of January. On that day he expected two friends to dinner. One of them, Robert Daniel, brother to the advocate of Orleans, an enthusiastic young man, was burning with desire to see the world. Calvin, who had already done all in his power to win him over, flattered himself that he would succeed that day; but the giddy young fellow, suspecting perhaps what awaited him, did not come. Calvin sent a messenger to Robert's lodging. 'He has decamped,' said the landlord; 'he has left for Italy.' At Meaux Calvin had desired to win over a great personage; at Paris he had hoped to win over a young adventurer: in both cases he failed. 'Alas!' he said, 'I am but a dry and useless log!' And once more he sought fresh strength in Christ. [Sidenote: BEDA ATTACKS THE PROFESSORS.]