_Ba._ I have drank plentifully out of _Scotus"s_ Fountain.
_Al._ But that is not the Fountain of the Muses, but a Lake of Frogs.
_Ba._ But can"t you do something to make me see this Sight, as well as you?
_Al._ I could if I had a Laurel-Branch here, for Water out of a clear Spring, sprinkled upon one with a Laurel Bough, makes the Eyes capable of such Sights as these.
_Ba._ Why, see here is a Laurel and a Fountain too.
_Al._ Is there? That"s clever, I vow.
_Ba._ But prithee, sprinkle me with it.
_Al._ Now look, do you see now?
_Ba._ As much as I did before. Sprinkle me again.
_Al._ Well, now do you see?
_Ba._ Just as much; sprinkle me plentifully.
_Al._ I believe you can"t but see now.
_Ba._ Now I can scarce see you.
_Al._ Ah poor Man, how total a Darkness has seized your Eyes! This Art would open even the Eyes of an old Coachman: But however, don"t plague yourself about it, perhaps "tis better for you not to see it, lest you should come off as ill by seeing the Muses, as _Actaeon_ did by seeing _Diana_: For you"d perhaps be in Danger of being turn"d either into a Hedgehog, or a wild Boar, a Swine, a Camel, a Frog, or a Jackdaw. But however, if you can"t see, I"ll make you hear "em, if you don"t make a Noise; they are just a-coming this Way. Let"s meet "em. Hail, most welcome G.o.ddesses.
_Mu._ And you heartily, Lover of the Muses.
_Al._ What makes you pull me so?
_Ba._ You an"t as good as your Word.
_Al._ Why don"t you hear "em?
_Ba._ I hear somewhat, but I don"t know what it is.
_Al._ Well, I"ll speak _Latin_ to "em then. Whither are you going so fine and so brisk? Are you going to _Louvain_ to see the University?
_Mu._ No, we a.s.sure you, we won"t go thither.
_Al._ Why not?
_Mu._ What Place is for us, where so many Hogs are grunting, Camels and a.s.ses braying, Jackdaws cawing, and Magpies chattering?
_Al._ But for all that, there are some there that are your Admirers.
_Mu._ We know that, and therefore we"ll go thither a few Years hence.
The successive Period of Ages has not yet brought on that Time; for there will be one, that will build us a pleasant House there, or a Temple rather, such a one, as there scarce is a finer or more sacred any where else.
_Al._ Mayn"t a Body know who it will be, that shall do so much Honour to our Country?
_Mu._ You may know it, that are one of our Priests. There"s no doubt, but you have heard the Name of the _Buslidians_, famous all the World over.
_Al._ You have mention"d a n.o.ble Family truly, born to grace the Palaces of the greatest Princes in the Universe. For who does not revere the great _Francis Buslidius_, the Bishop of the Church of _Bezancon_, who has approv"d himself more than a single _Nestor_, to _Philip_ the Son of _Maximilian_ the Great, the Father of _Charles_, who will also be a greater Man than his Father?
_Mu._ O how happy had we been, if the Fates had not envy"d the Earth the Happiness of so great a Man, What a Patron was he to all liberal Studies! How candid a Favourer of Ingenuity! But he has left two brothers, _Giles_ a Man of admirable Judgment and Wisdom, and _Jerome_.
_Al._ We know very well that _Jerome_ is singularly well accomplish"d with all Manner of Literature, and adorn"d with every Kind of Virtue.
_Mu._ But the Destinies won"t suffer him to be long-liv"d neither, though no Man in the World better deserves to be immortaliz"d.
_Al._ How do you know that?
_Mu._ We had it from _Apollo_.
_Al._ How envious are the Destinies, to take from us all desirable Things so hastily!
_Mu._ We must not talk of that at this Time; but this _Jerome_, dying with great Applause, will leave his whole Estate for the building of a College at _Louvain_, in which most learned Men shall profess and teach publickly, and gratis, the three Languages. These Things will bring a great Ornament to Learning, and Glory to _Charles_ himself: Then we"ll reside at _Louvain_, with all our Hearts.
_Al._ But whither are you going now?
_Mu._ To _Antwerp_.
_Al._ What, the Muses and Graces going to a Fair?
_Mu._ No, we a.s.sure you, we are not going to a Fair; but to a Wedding.
_Al._ What have Virgins to do at Weddings?
_Mu._ "Tis no indecent Thing at all, for Virgins to be at such a Wedding as this is.
_Al._ Pray what Sort of a Marriage is it?
_Mu._ A holy, undefiled, and chaste Marriage, such a one as _Pallas_ herself need not be asham"d to be at: Nay, more than that, we believe she will be at it.
_Al._ Mayn"t a Body know the Bride and Bridegroom"s Name?
_Mu._ We believe you must needs know that most courteous and accomplish"d Youth in all Kinds of polite Learning, _Peter aegidius_.
_Al._ You have named an Angel, not a Man.
_Mu._ The pretty Maid _Cornelia_, a fit Match for _Apollo_ himself, is going to be married to _aegidius_.
_Al._ Indeed he has been a great Admirer of you, even from his Infancy.
_Mu._ We are going to sing him an Epithalamium.