Alle Parties are striving which shall have _Erasmus_, and alle in vayn. E'en thus it was with him when he was here last,--the _Queen_ would have had him for her Preceptor, the _King_ and _Cardinall_ prest on him a royall Apartment and Salarie, _Oxford_ and _Cambridge_ contended for him, but his Saying was, "Alle these I value less than my Libertie, my Studdies, and my literarie Toyls." How much greater is he than those who woulde confer on him Greatnesse! Noe Man of Letters hath equall Reputation, or is soe much courted. _Aug. 7th._ Yester-even, after overlooking the Men playing at Loggats, _Father_ and I strayed away along _Thermopylæ_ into the Home-field; and as we sauntered together under the Elms, he sayth with a Sigh, "_Jack_ is _Jack_, and no _More_ ... he will never be anything. An' 'twere not for my beloved Wenches, I should be an unhappy Father. But what though!--My _Meg_ is better unto me than ten Sons; and it maketh no Difference at Harvest-time whether our Corn were put into the Ground by a Man or a Woman." While I was turning in my Mind what Excuse I might make for _John_, _Father_ taketh me at unawares by a sudden Change of Subject; saying, "Come, tell me, _Meg_, why canst not affect _Will Roper_?" I was a good while silent, at length made Answer, "He is so unlike alle I esteem and admire ... so unlike alle I have been taught to esteem and admire by you."-- "Have at you," he returned laughing, "I wist not I had been sharpening Weapons agaynst myself. True, he is neither _Achilles_ nor _Hector_, nor even _Paris_, but yet well enough, meseems, as Times go--smarter and comelier than either _Heron_ or _Dancey_." I, faltering, made Answer, "Good Looks affect me but little--'tis in his better Part I feel the Want. He cannot ... discourse, for instance, to one's Mind and Soul, like unto you, dear _Father_, or _Erasmus_." "I should marvel if he could," returned _Father_ gravelie, "thou art mad, my Daughter, to look, in a Youth of _Will's_ Years, for the Mind of a Man of fifty. What were _Erasmus_ and I, dost thou suppose, at _Will's_ age? Alas, _Meg_, I should not like you to know what I was! Men called me the Boy-sage, and I know not what, but in my Heart and Head was a World of Sin and Folly. Thou mightst as well expect _Will_ to have my Hair, Eyes, and Teeth, alle getting the worse for Wear, as to have the Fruits of my life-long Experience, in some Cases full dearly bought. Take him for what he is, match him by the young Minds of his owne standing: consider how long and closelie we have known him. His Parts are, surelie, not amiss: he hath more Book-lore than _Dancey_, more mother Wit than _Allington_." "But why need I to concern myself about him?" I exclaymed; "_Will_ is very well in his way: why should we cross each other's Paths? I am young, I have much to learn, I love my Studdies,--why interrupt them with other and less wise Thoughts?"