--Returning Home, the Youths being warmed with rowing, and in high Spiritts, did entertayn themselves and us with manie Jests and Playings upon Words, some of 'em forced enow, yet provocative of Laughing. Afterwards, Mr. _Gunnel_ proposed Enigmas and curious Questions. Among others, he woulde know which of the famous Women of Greece or Rome we Maidens would resemble. _Bess_ was for _Cornelia_, _Daisy_ for _Clelia_, but I for _Damo_, Daughter of _Pythagoras_, which _William Roper_ deemed stupid enow, and thoughte I mighte have found as good a Daughter, that had not died a Maid. Sayth _Erasmus_, with his sweet, inexpressible Smile, "Now I will tell you, Lads and Lasses, what manner of Man _I_ would be, if I were not _Erasmus_. I woulde step back some few Years of my Life, and be half-way 'twixt thirty and forty; I would be pious and profounde enow for the Church, albeit noe Churchman; I woulde have a blythe, stirring, English Wife, and half-a-dozen merrie Girls and Boys, an English Homestead, neither Hall nor Farm, but betweene both; neare enow to the Citie for Convenience, but away from its Noise. I woulde have a Profession, that gave me some Hours daylie of regular Businesse, that should let Men know my Parts, and court me into Publick Station, for which my Taste made me rather withdrawe. I woulde have such a private Independence, as should enable me to give and lend, rather than beg and borrow. I woulde encourage Mirthe without Buffoonerie, Ease without Negligence; my Habitt and Table shoulde be simple, and for my Looks I woulde be neither tall nor short, fat nor lean, rubicund nor sallow, but of a fayr Skin with blue Eyes, brownish Beard, and a Countenance engaging and attractive, soe that alle of my Companie coulde not choose but love me." "Why, then, you woulde be _Father_ himselfe," cries _Cecy_, clasping his Arm in bothe her Hands with a Kind of Rapture; and, indeede, the Portraiture was soe like, we coulde not but smile at the Resemblance. Arrived at the Landing, _Father_ protested he was wearie with his Ramble; and, his Foot slipping, he wrenched his Ankle, and sate for an Instante on a Barrow, the which one of the Men had left with his Garden-tools, and before he could rise or cry out, _William_, laughing, rolled him up to the House-door; which, considering _Father's_ Weight, was much for a Stripling to doe. _Father_ sayd the same, and, laying his Hand on _Will's_ Shoulder with Kindnesse, cried, "Bless thee, my Boy, but I woulde not have thee overstrayned like _Biton_ and _Cleobis_." [Illustration: More in the Barrow.] _June 20._ This Morn, hinting to _Bess_ that she was lacing herselfe too straitlie, she brisklie replyed, "One would think 'twere as great Meritt to have a thick Waiste as to be one of the earlie Christians!"