Eu. What was that?

Pa. Pope Julius the Second made War upon the French.  And the Experience of many Things that it gives a Man, made me fancy a Soldier’s Life.

Eu. Of many Things indeed; but wicked ones.

Pa. So I found afterwards:  But however, I liv’d harder here, than I did in the Monasteries.

Eu. And what did you do after this?

Pa. Now my Mind began to be wavering, whether I should return to my Business of a Merchant, that I had laid aside, or press forward in Pursuit of Religion that fled before me.  In the mean Time it came into my Mind, that I might follow both together.

Eu. What, be a Merchant and a Monk both together?

Pa. Why not?  There is nothing more religious than the Orders of Mendicants, and there is nothing more like to Trading.  They fly over Sea and Land, they see many Things, they hear many Things, they enter into the Houses of common People, Noblemen, and Kings.

Eu. Ay, but they don’t Trade for Gain.

Pa. Very often, with better Success than we do.

Eu. Which of these Orders did you make Choice of?

Pa. I try’d them all.

Eu. Did none of them please you?

Pa. I lik’d them all well enough, if I might but presently have gone to Trading; but I consider’d in my Mind, I must labour a long Time in the Choir, before I could be qualified for the Trust:  So now I began to think how I might get to be made an Abbot:  But, I thought with myself, Kissing goes by Favour, and it will be a tedious Pursuit:  So having spent eight Years after this Manner, hearing of my Father’s Death, I return’d Home, and by my Mother’s Advice, I marry’d, and betook myself to my old Business of Traffick.

Gl. Prithee tell me, when you chang’d your Habit so often, and were transform’d, as it were, into another Sort of Creature, how could you behave yourself with a proper Decorum?

Pa. Why not, as well as those who in the same Comedy act several Parts?

Eu. Tell us now in good earnest, you that have try’d every Sort of Life, which you most approve of.

Pa.  So many Men, so many Minds: I like none better than this which I follow.

Eu. But there are a great many Inconveniences attend it.

Pa. There are so.  But seeing there is no State of Life, that is entirely free from Incommodities, this being my Lot, I make the best on’t:  But now here is Eusebius still, I hope he will not think much to acquaint his Friends with some Scenes of his Course of Life.

Eu. Nay, with the whole Play of it, if you please to hear it, for it does not consist of many Acts.

Gl. It will be a very great Favour.

Eu. When I return’d to my own Country, I took a Year to deliberate what Way of Living to chuse, and examin’d myself, to what Employment my Inclination led me, and I was fit for.  In the mean Time a Prebendary was offered me, as they call it; it was a good fat Benefice, and I accepted it.