The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-26
The Abbot and Learned Woman.
THr ARGUMENT.

TIIE ARGUMENT.
\ certain abbot, paying a visit to 4
lady, finds her reading Greek and Latin
authors. y dispute arises whence pleas
antness Of life proceeds; viz, not from
external employments, but from the
study OF wisdom. An ignorant abbot
will by no means have his monks to be
learned; nor has he himself so much as
4 single book in his closet. PiOus wOm-
en- in old times gave their minds to the
study Of Scriptures but monks that
hate learning, and give themselves up
to luxury, idienesS and hunting are pro-
voked To- apply themselves to other
kinds of studies more becoming their
profession.
ANTRONIOs-MAGDALA.
Ant. What sort Of household stuff do
| see?
Mag. Is it not that which is neat?
Ant. How neat it is | can't tell, but
Pm sure it is not very becoming either
a maid or matrOn.
Mag. Why so?
Ant. Because here are books lying
about everywhere.
Mag. What, have you lived TO this
age, and are both an abbot and a cour-
tier, and never saw any books in a lady's
apartment?
Ant. Yes, I have seen books, but
they were French; but here ] see Greek
and Latin ones.
Mag. Why! are there no other books
but French ones that teach wisdom?
Ant. But it becomes ladies to have
something that is diverting TO pass
away their leisure hours.
Mag. Must none but ladies be wise
and live pleasantly?
Ant. You very improperly connect
being wise and living pleasantly to-
gether. Women have nothing To do
with wisdom; pleasure is ladies' busi-
ness.
Mag. Ought not every one to live
well?
Ant. am of opinion they ought so
to do.
Mag. Well, can anybody live a pleas
ant life that does not live good life?
Ant. Nay, rather, how can anybody
live a pleasant life that does not live n
good life?
Mag. Why, then, do you approve of
living i'll, if it be but pleasantly?
Ant. am Of opinion that they live 4
good life that live pleasant life.
Mag. Well, but from whence does
things, or from the mind?
Ant. From outward things.
Mag. o subtitle abbot, but thick
skulled philosopher, Pray tell me in
what you suppose n pleasant life to con-
sist?
Ant. Why, i'm sleeping, and feasting,
and liberty of doing what you please, in
wealth and in honOrs.
Mag. But suppose TO all these things
God should add wisdom, should you
live pleasantly then?
Ant. What is that you call by the
name of wisdom?
Mag. This is wisdom, to know that a
man is only happy by the goods of the
mind; that wealth, honor, or descent
neither make man happier or better.
Ant. If that be wisdom, farewell TO
it for me.
Mag. suppose now that l take more
Measure in reading q good author than
YOU do i'm hunting, drinking or gaming.
won't you think l live pleasantly?
Ant. | would not live that sort OF
life.
Mag. l don't inquire what you take
most delight in, but what is 1t that
ought to be most delighted in?
Ant. l would not have my monks
mind books much.
Mag. But my husband approves very
we'll of il. But what reason have you
why YOU would not have your monks
boOkish?
Ant. Because 1 find they are not SC
ohedieut; they answer again out of the
DEGREES and decretals, out Of Peter and
Paul.
Mag. Why, then, do you command
them the contrary to what Peter and
Paul did?
Ant. | can't tell what they teach
but can't endure a monk that answers
again. Nor would l have any of my
monks wiser than L am myself.
Mag. You might prevent that well
enough, if you did but lay yourself out
TO get as much wisdom rs you can.