"It would appear that you are wanderers, young men, and journey you know not whither. Birds seek their nests when the night falls--beasts hasten to their lairs--man bolts his door. `_Propria quae maribus_,' as Herodotus hath it; which, when translated, means, that `such is the nature of mankind.' `_Tribuuntur mascula dicas_,' `Tell me your troubles,' as Homer says." I was very much surprised at this address--my knowledge of the language told me immediately that the quotations were out of the Latin grammar, and that all his learning was pretence; still there was a novelty of style which amused me, and at the same time gave me an idea that the speaker was an uncommon personage. I gave Timothy a nudge, and then replied-- "You have guessed right, most learned sir; we are, as you say, wanderers seeking our fortunes, and trust yet to find them--still we have a weary journey before us. `_Haustus hora somni sumendum_,' as Aristotle hath it; which I need not translate to so learned a person as yourself." "Nay, indeed, there is no occasion; yet am I pleased to meet with one who hath scholarship," replied the other. "Have you also a knowledge of the Greek?" "No, I pretend not to Greek." "It is a pity that thou hast it not, for thou wouldst delight to commune with the ancients. Aesculapius hath these words--`_Asholder_--offmotton accapon--pasti--venison,'--which I will translate for thee--`We often find what we seek when we least expect it.' May it be so with you, my friend. Where have you been educated? and what has been your profession?" I thought I risked little in telling, so I replied, that I had been brought up as a surgeon and apothecary, and had been educated at a foundation school. "'Tis well," replied he; "you have then commenced your studies in my glorious profession; still, have you much to learn; years of toil, under a great master, can only enable you to benefit mankind as I have done, and years of hardship and of danger must be added thereunto, to afford you the means. There are many hidden secrets. `_Ut sunt Divorum, Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, Virorum_,'--many parts of the globe to traverse, `_Ut Cato, Virgilius, fluviorum, ut Tibris, Orontes_.' All these have I visited, and many more. Even now do I journey to obtain more of my invaluable medicine, gathered on the highest Andes, when the moon is in her perigee. There I shall remain for months among the clouds, looking down upon the great plain of Mexico, which shall appear no larger than the head of a pin, where the voice of man is heard not. `_Vocito, vocitas, vocitavi_,' bending for months towards the earth. `_As in presenti_,' suffering with the cold--`_frico quod fricui dat_,' as Eusebius hath it. Soon shall I be borne away by the howling winds towards the New World, where I can obtain more of the wonderful medicine, which I may say never yet hath failed me, and which nothing but love towards my race induces me to gather at such pains and risk."