Shortly after his arrival, happening to dine with the lord-mayor, Erasmus noticed on the other side of the table a young man of nineteen, slender, fresh-coloured, with blue eyes, coarse hands, and the right shoulder somewhat higher than the other. His features indicated affability and gaiety, and pleasant jests were continually dropping from his lips. If he could not find a joke in English, he would in French, and even in Latin or Greek. A literary contest soon ensued between Erasmus and the English youth. The former, astonished at meeting with any one that could hold his own against him, exclaimed: _Aut tu es Morus aut nullus!_ (you are either More or nobody); and his companion, who had not learnt the stranger's name, quickly replied: _Aut tu es Erasmus aut diabolus!_ (you are either the devil or Erasmus).[220] More flung himself into the arms of Erasmus, and they became inseparable friends. More was continually joking, even with women, teasing the young maidens, and making fun of the dull, though without any tinge of ill-nature in his jests.[221] But under this sportive exterior he concealed a deep understanding. He was at that time lecturing on Augustine's '_City of God_' before a numerous audience composed of priests and aged men. The thought of eternity had seized him: and being ignorant of that internal discipline of the Holy Ghost, which is the only true discipline, he had recourse to the scourge on every Friday. Thomas More is the ideal of the catholicism of this period. He had, like the Romish system, two poles--worldliness and asceticism; which, although contrary, often meet together. In fact, asceticism makes a sacrifice of _self_, only to preserve it; just as a traveller attacked by robbers will readily give up a portion of his treasures to save the rest. This was the case with More, if we rightly understand his character. He sacrificed the accessories of his fallen nature to save that same nature. He submitted to fasts and vigils, wore a shirt of hair-cloth, mortified his body by small chains next his skin--in a word, he immolated every thing in order to preserve that _self_ which a real regeneration alone can sacrifice. [220] Life of More by his Great-grandson, (1828), p. 93. [221] Cum mulieribus fere atque etiam cum uxore nonnisi lusus jocos ne tractat. Erasm. Ep. i. p. 536. [Sidenote: A ROYAL SCHOOL-ROOM.]