Pagina 33 [33]
OCR
2 Erasmus some sport with The Praise of Folly. But who the Devil put that in thy head? you’l say. The first thing was your sirname of More, which comes so near the word Morie (Folly) as you are far from the thing. And that you are so, all the world will clear you. In the next place, I conceiv’d this exercise of wit would not be least approv’d by you; inasmuch as you are wont to be delighted with such kind of mirth, that is to say, neither unlearned, if I am not mistaken, nor altogether insipid, and in the whole course of your life have play’d the part of a Democritus. And though such is the excellence of your Judgement that ’twas ever contrary to that of the people’s, yet such is your incredible affability and sweetness of temper that you both can and delight to carry your self to all men a man of all hours. Wherefore you will not only with good will accept this small Declamation, but take upon you the defence of ’t, forasmuch as being dedicated to you, it is now no longer mine but yours. But perhaps there will not be wanting some wranglers that may cavil and charge me, partly that these toyes are lighter than may become a Divine,
