Gl. Well, and what after this?

Pa. My Mind was inflamed with the Love of Holiness; nor yet had I met with any Thing that could satisfy it.  At last, as I was walking up and down, I fell in among some Cross-Bearers.  This Badge pleas’d me at first Sight; but the Variety hindered me from chusing which to take to.  Some carried a white Cross, some a red Cross, some a green Cross, some a party-colour’d Cross, some a single Cross, some a double one, some a quadruple, and others some of one Form, and some of another; and I, that I might leave nothing untry’d, I carried some of every Sort.  But I found in reality, that there was a great Difference between carrying a Cross on a Gown or a Coat, and carrying it in the Heart.  At last, being tired with Enquiry, it came into my Mind, that to arrive at universal Holiness all at once, I would take a Journey to the holy Land, and so would return Home with a Back-Load of Sanctimony.

Po. And did you go thither?

Pa. Yes.

Po. Where did you get Money to bear your Charges?

Pa. I wonder it never came into your Head, to ask that before now, and not to have enquir’d after that a great While ago:  But you know the old Proverb; a Man of Art will live any where.

Gl. What Art do you carry with you?

Pa. Palmistry.

Gl. Where did you learn it?

Pa. What signifies that?

Gl. Who was your Master?

Pa. My Belly, the great Master of all Arts:  I foretold Things past, present, and to come.

Gl. And did you know any Thing of the Matter?

Pa. Nothing at all; but I made bold Guesses, and run no Risque neither, having got my Money first.

Po. And was so ridiculous an Art sufficient to maintain you?

Pa. It was, and two Servants too:  There is every where such a Number of foolish young Fellows and Wenches.  However, when I came to Jerusalem, I put myself into the Train of a rich Nobleman, who being seventy Years of Age, said he could never have died in Peace, unless he had first visited Jerusalem.

Eu. What, did he leave a Wife at Home?

Pa. Yes, and six Children.

Eu. O impious, pious, old Man!  Well, and did you come back holy from thence?

Pa. Shall I tell you the Truth?  Somewhat worse than I went.

Eu. So, as I hear, your Religion was grown cool.

Pa. Nay, it grew more hot:  So I went back into Italy, and enter’d into the Army.

Eu. What, then, did you look for Religion in the Camp.  Than which, what is there that can be more impious?

Pa. It was a holy War.

Eu. Perhaps against the Turks.

Pa. Nay, more holy than that, as they indeed gave out at that Time.