there was really more in him than one would think. --Was there ever Aniething soe perverse, unluckie, and downrighte disagreeable? We hurried our Afternoone Tasks, to goe on the Water with my _Father_; and, meaning to give Mr. _Gunnel_ my _Latin_ Traduction, which is in a Booke like unto this, I never knew he had my Journalle insteade, untill that he burst out a laughing. "Soe this is the famous _Libellus_," quoth he.... I never waited for another Word, but snatcht it out of his Hand; which he, for soe strict a Man, bore well enow. I do not believe he could have read a Dozen Lines, and they were towards the Beginning; but I should hugelie like to know which Dozen Lines they were. Hum! I have a Mind never to write another Word. That will be punishing myselfe, though, insteade of _Gunnel_. And he bade me not take it to Heart like the late _Bishop of Durham_, to whom a like Accident befel, which soe annoyed him that he died of Chagrin. I will never again, howbeit, write Aniething savouring ever soe little of Levitie or Absurditie. The Saints keepe me to it! And, to know it from my Exercise Book, I will henceforthe bind a blue Ribbon round it. Furthermore, I will knit the sayd Ribbon in soe close a Knot, that it shall be worth no one else's Payns to pick it out. Lastlie, and for entire Securitie, I will carry the Same in my Pouch, which will hold bigger Matters than this. _22nd._ This Daye, at Dinner, Mr. _Clement_ tooke the Pistoller's Place at the Reading-desk; and, insteade of continuing the Subject in Hand, read a Paraphrase of the 103rde Psalm; the Faithfulnesse and elegant Turne of which, _Erasmus_ highlie commended, though he took Exceptions to the Phrase "renewing thy Youth like that of the Phoenix," whose fabulous Story he believed to have beene unknowne to the Psalmist, and, therefore, however poeticall, unfitt to be introduced. A deepe Blush on sweet _Mercy's_ Face ledd to the Detection of the Paraphrast, and drew on her some deserved Commendations. _Erasmus_, turning to my _Father_, exclaymed with Animation, "I woulde call this House the Academy of _Plato_, were it not Injustice to compare it to a Place where the usuall Disputations concerning Figures and Numbers were onlie occasionallie intersperst with Disquisitions concerning the moral Virtues." Then, in a graver Mood, he added, "One mighte envie you, but that your precious Privileges are bound up with soe paynfulle Anxieties. How manie Pledges have you given to Fortune!" "If my Children are to die out of the Course of Nature, before theire Parents," _Father_ firmly replyed, "I would rather they died well-instructed than ignorant." "You remind me," rejoyns _Erasmus_, "of _Phocion_; whose Wife, when he was aboute to drink the fatal Cup, exclaimed, 'Ah, my Husband! you die innocent.' 'And woulde you, my Wife,' he returned, 'have me die guilty?'"