Sayth _Father_, "Whether _Socrates_ were what _Plato_ painted him in his Dialogues, is with me a great Matter of Doubte; but it is not of Moment. When so many Contemporaries coulde distinguishe the fancifulle from the fictitious, _Plato's_ Object could never have beene to _deceive_. There is something higher in Art than gross Imitation. He who attempteth it is always the leaste successfull; and his Failure hath the Odium of a discovered Lie; whereas, to give an avowedlie fabulous Narrative a Consistence within itselfe which permitts the Reader to be, for the Time, voluntarilie deceived, is as artfulle as it is allowable. Were I to construct a Tale, I woulde, as you sayd to _Cecy_, lie with a Circumstance, but shoulde consider it noe Compliment to have my Unicorns and Hippogriffs taken for live Animals. _Amicus Plato, amicus Socrates, magis tamen amica Veritas._ Now, _Plato_ had a much higher Aim than to give a very Pattern of _Socrates_ his snub Nose. He wanted a Peg to hang his Thoughts upon----" "A Peg? A Statue by _Phidias_," interrupts _Erasmus_. "A Statue by _Phidias_, to clothe in the most beautiful Drapery," sayth _Father_; "no Matter that the Drapery was his own, he wanted to show it to the best Advantage, and to the Honour rather than Prejudice of the Statue. And, having clothed the same, he got a Spark of _Prometheus_ his Fire, and made the aforesayd Statue walk and talk, to the Glory of Gods and Men, and sate himself quietlie down in a Corner. By the Way, _Desiderius_, why shouldst thou not submitt thy Subtletie to the Rules of a Colloquy? Set _Eckius_ and _Martin Luther_ by the Ears! Ha! Man, what Sport! Heavens! if I were to compound a Tale or a Dialogue, what Crotchets and Quips of mine own woulde I not putt into my Puppets' Mouths! and then have out my Laugh behind my Vizard, as when we used to act Burlesques before _Cardinall Morton_. What rare Sporte we had, one Christmas, with a Mummery we called the 'Triall of Feasting'! _Dinner_ and _Supper_ were broughte up before my _Lord Chief Justice_, charged with Murder. Theire Accomplices were _Plum-pudding_, _Mince-pye_, _Surfeit_, _Drunkenness_, and suchlike. Being condemned to hang by the Neck, I, who was _Supper_, stuft out with I cannot tell you how manie Pillows, began to call lustilie for a Confessor, and, on his stepping forthe, commenct a List of all the Fitts, Convulsions, Spasms, Payns in the Head, and so forthe, I had inflicted on this one and t'other. 'Alas! good Father,' says I, '_King John_ layd his Death at my Door;--indeede, there's scarce a royall or noble House that hath not a Charge agaynst me; and I'm sorelie afrayd' (giving a Poke at a fat Priest that sate at my _Lord Cardinall's_ Elbow) 'I shall have the Death of _that_ holy Man to answer for.'"