From the House to the new Building, the Chapel and Gallery, and thence to visitt all the dumb Kinde, from the great horned Owls to _Cecy's_ pet Dormice. _Erasmus_ was amused at some of theire Names, but doubted whether _Duns Scotus_ and the _Venerable Bede_ would have thoughte themselves complimented in being made Name-fathers to a couple of Owls; though he admitted that _Argus_ and _Juno_ were goode Cognomens for Peacocks. _Will Roper_ hath broughte Mother a pretty little forayn Animal called a Marmot, but she sayd she had noe Time for suchlike Playthings, and bade him give it to his little Wife. Methinks, I being neare sixteen and he close upon twenty, we are too old for those childish Names now, nor am I much flattered at a Present not intended for me; however, I shall be kind to the little Creature, and, perhaps, grow fond of it, as 'tis both harmlesse and diverting. [Illustration: Erasmus and the Peacocks.] To return, howbeit, to _Erasmus_; _Cecy_, who had hold of his Gown, and had alreadie, through his familiar Kindnesse and her own childish Heedlessness, somewhat transgrest Bounds, began now in her Mirthe to fabricate a Dialogue, she pretended to have overhearde, between _Argus_ and _Juno_ as they stoode pearcht on a stone Parapet. _Erasmus_ was entertayned with her Garrulitie for a while, but at length gentlie checkt her, with "Love the Truth, little Mayd, love the Truth, or, if thou liest, let it be with a Circumstance," a Qualification which made _Mother_ stare and _Father_ laugh. Sayth _Erasmus_, "There is no Harm in a Fabella, Apologus, or Parabola, so long as its Character be distinctlie recognised for such, but contrariwise, much Goode; and the same hath been sanctioned, not only by the wiser Heads of _Greece_ and _Rome_, but by our deare Lord Himself. Therefore, _Cecilie_, whom I love exceedinglie, be not abasht, Child, at my Reproof, for thy Dialogue between the two Peacocks was innocent no less than ingenious, till thou wouldst have insisted that they, in sooth, sayd Something like what thou didst invent. Therein thou didst Violence to the Truth, which St. _Paul_ hath typified by a Girdle, to be worn next the Heart, and that not only confineth within due Limits, but addeth Strength. So now be Friends; wert thou more than eleven and I no Priest, thou shouldst be my little Wife, and darn my Hose, and make me sweet Marchpane, such as thou and I love. But, oh! this pretty _Chelsea_! What Daisies! what Buttercups! what joviall Swarms of Gnats! The Country all about is as nice and flat as _Rotterdam_." Anon, we sit down to rest and talk in the Pavilion. Sayth _Erasmus_ to my _Father_, "I marvel you have never entered into the King's Service in some publick Capacitie, wherein your Learning and Knowledge, bothe of Men and Things, would not onlie serve your own Interest, but that of your Friends and the Publick."