_Father_ smiled and made Answer, "I am better and happier as I am. As for my Friends, I alreadie do for them alle I can, soe as they can hardlie consider me in their Debt; and, for myself, the yielding to theire Solicitations that I would putt myself forward for the Benefit of the World in generall, would be like printing a Book at Request of Friends, that the Publick may be charmed with what, in Fact, it values at a Doit. The Cardinall offered me a Pension, as retaining Fee to the King a little while back, but I tolde him I did not care to be a mathematical Point, to have Position without Magnitude." _Erasmus_ laught and sayd, "I woulde not have you the Slave of anie King; howbeit, you mighte assist him and be useful to him." "The Change of the Word," sayth _Father_, "does not alter the Matter; I should _be_ a Slave, as completely as if I had a Collar rounde my Neck." "But would not increased Usefulnesse," says _Erasmus_, "make you happier?" "Happier?" says _Father_, somewhat heating; "how can that be compassed in a Way so abhorrent to my Genius? At present, I live as I will, to which very few Courtiers can pretend. Half-a-dozen blue-coated Serving-Men answer my Turn in the House, Garden, Field, and on the River: I have a few strong Horses for Work, none for Show, plenty of plain Food for a healthy Family, and enough, with a hearty Welcome, for a score of Guests that are not dainty. The lengthe of my Wife's Train infringeth not the Statute; and, for myself, I soe hate Bravery, that my Motto is, 'Of those whom you see in Scarlet, not one is happy.' I have a regular Profession, which supports my House, and enables me to promote Peace and Justice; I have Leisure to chat with my Wife, and sport with my Children; I have Hours for Devotion, and Hours for Philosophie and the liberall Arts, which are absolutelie medicinall to me, as Antidotes to the sharpe but contracted Habitts of Mind engendered by the Law. If there be aniething in a Court Life which can compensate for the Losse of anie of these Blessings, deare _Desiderius_, pray tell me what it is, for I confesse I know not." "You are a comicall Genius," says _Erasmus_. "As for you," retorted _Father_, "you are at your olde Trick of arguing on the wrong Side, as you did the firste Time we mett. Nay, don't we know you can declaime backward and forwarde on the same Argument, as you did on the _Venetian_ War?" _Erasmus_ smiled quietlie, and sayd, "What coulde I do? The _Pope_ changed his holy Mind." Whereat _Father_ smiled too.