The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-26

haS- w nat Not ~ iSiS"iV " ~
wise?
Ant. No.
Mag. Pray what hinders you?
Ant. Long prayers, the affairs of my
household, hunting, looking after my
horses, attending ut court.
Mag. Well, and do you think these
things are better than wisdom?
Ant. Custom has made it so.
Mag. Well, but now answer me this
one thing: Suppose that God should
grant YOU this power, to be able TO turn
yourself and your monks into any sort
OF animals that you had mind, would
you turn them into hogs and yourself
into horse?
Ant. No, by no means.
Mag. BY so doing you might prevent
any OF them from being wiser than
yourself
Ant. 1t is not much matter to me
what sort Of animals my monks are, II
am but 4 man myself
Mag. Well, and do you look upon
him to be man that neither has wis
dom, nor desires to have it.
Ant. | am wise enough for myself.
Mag. And so are hogs wise enough
Tor themselves.
Ant. You seem to be a sophistress,
YOU argue so Smartly.
Mag. ! won't tell you what you seem
TO me to be. But why does this house
hold stuff displease you?
Ant. Because q spinning-wheel is a
wOman's weapon.
Mag. Is it not a wOman's business to
mind the affairs of her family and to in
struct her children?
Ant. Nes, il is.
Mag. And do you think so weighty
an Office can be executed without wis
dom
Ant. believe not.
Mag. This wisdom / learn from
books.
Ant. have three score and two
monks in my cloister, and you will not
see one book in my chamber
Mag. The monks are finely looked
after all this while.
Ant. / could dispense with books
but ! can't bear Latin books.
Mag. Why so?
Amt Because that tongue is not fit
for woman.
Mag. | want to know the reason.
Ant Because it contributes nothing
towards the defense of their chastity.
Mag. Why, then, do French books
that are stuffed with the most trifling
ubNtlS EOlitIlbutt 10 tllaSlltN
Ant. But there is another reason.
Mag Let il be what it will, tell me
it plainly.
Ant. They are more secure from the
priests, if they do not understand
Latin.
Mag. Nay, there's the least danger
from that quarteraccording to your way
I of working; because you take all the
pains YOU can TO know ANYTHING of
/ Latin.
Ant. The common people are of my
mind, because ii is such rare, unusual
thing for a woman To understand Latin.
/ Mag. What do YOU tell me of the
common people for, who are the worst
examples in the world that can be fol-
{ lowed? What have | to do with Gus
tom that is the mistress of all evil prac-
/ tices? We ought to accustom ourselves
/ to the best things; and by that means
l that which was uncustOmaTy would be-
come customary, and that which was
unpleasant would become pleasant, and
that which seemed unbecOming would
seem becoming.
Aut. | hear you.
Mag. Is it not becoming 4 German
woman to learn to speak French?
Ant. Yes, it Is.
Mag Why is it?
Ant. Because then she will be able
to converse with those that Speal
French.
Mag Aud why then Is it unbecOm.
ing in me TO learn Latin, that | may b,
able daily 10 have conversation with 81
many eloquent, learned, and wise au
thOrs and faithful counsellers?
Ant. Books destroy wOmen's brains
who have little enough of themselves.
Mag. What quantity of brains yOJ
have left ! cannot tell; and as fOrmyself
let me have never so little, ! had rathe
spend them in study than in prayer
mumbled over without my heart gOine
along with then, or sitting whole night.
i'm quafling of bumpers.
Ant. BOOkishness makes fools mad
Mag. And does not the rattle of you
p1t-companiOns, your banterers, an,
drOlls make YOU mad?
Ant. No, they pass the time away.
Mag. How can it be, then, that sucl
pleasant companions should make m,
mad?
Ant. That's the common saying.
Mag. But I by experience find quit,
the contrary. How many more do W,
see grow mad by hard drinking, Unsea
sonable feasting and sitting up all nigh
tippling, which destroys the cOnstitu
ton and senses, and has made peopl,
mad
Ant. BY my faith, I would not have
a learned wife.
Mag. But bless my life, that hav,
gotten husband who is not like your
self. Learning both endears him to mt
and me to him.
Ant. Learning costs a great deal o
pains TO get, and after all we must die
Mag. Notable Sir, pray tell me, sup
r pose YOU We're to die tomorrow, had yOI
rather die a fool or a wise man?
Ant. Why, wise man, if / cOulC
come at it without taking pains.
Mag. But there is nothing to be at
/ tained in this life without pains; anC
yet, let us get what we will, and wha
pains sOever we are at to attain it, W,
must leave il behind us; why thel
should we think it much to be at som
pains for the most precious thing of all
the fruit Of which will bear us e0mpan,
unto another life.
Ant. have often heard it said tina
a wise woman is twice fool.
) Mag. That indeed has been Ofte
/ said, but it was by fools. y woman VIII
Is truly wise, does not think herself SC
: but on the contrary, one who know
nothing thinks herself to be wise, an
/ that is being twice a fool
2 Ant. ] can't well tell how it is, tina
t as panniers don't well become an OK, 5
. neither does learning become a woman
Mag. But l suppose you can't den
but panniers look better upon an on
e than mitTe upon an ass or a SOW
I What think you of the Virgin Mary?
, Ant. Very highly.
Mag. Was not she boOkish?
8 nj W. Lrt nj q. 10. .llnL Lnnl.a n