EARLY I.TTF.RATTTRF. OF THF. CFRMAXS. 7 



and the Reformation, and rendered the great canse of trnlli and piety no 

 small service in his native land. In his character were united an unbend- 

 ing integrity and a straight-forward frankness and sincerity, with the 

 most beautiful and unassuming simplicity: a healthy philanthropy, a. 

 genuine brotherly love, with an unaffected cheerfulness, and a rich vein 

 of artless humor, that never forgot the respect due to tltc true and the good. 



Among his numerous writings, that of which the title stands at the 

 head of this article, is strongly illustrative of the simplicity, and artless 

 naivete of his own character. The subject seems to have been a favor- 

 ite one with him, for he treated it, no less than three several times, in 

 as many different ways : first in 1553, in the moral drama : "How the 

 Lord blesses Eve's children : " next in 1553 in " the comedy of the un- 

 like children of Eve," and lastly, in 1558 in " the Amusing History of 

 the unlike children of Eve." His manner of treating this ancient myth 

 is, in every instance, happy — but most so in the History last mentioned. — 

 He returned to it again and again, evidently desiring to give it a form as 

 perfect as possible. Let none of my readers be oflended at this mode 

 of treating such a subject. Let them remember that we speak of the 

 age of "Moralities," of dramatic representations based upon Scripture- 

 histories : let them remember that the design of tliis " History " is a 

 serious one, viz. to teach, that God is the Author of the distinctions in 

 human society, and none will be either offended, or excited to ridiciile, 

 who can bring to the contemplation of this graphic picture, the pure and 

 exalted, and reverent simplicity, with which the artist drew it. The fol- 

 lowing is a translation of the " Amusing History. " 



"When Adam and Eve had been expelled from Paradise, they culti- 

 vated the earth, which no longer brought forth spontaneously ; and they 

 had a great number of children. After a long time the Almighty God 

 sent them word, by an angel, that he intended to visit them, and to in- 

 spect their domestic arrangements. Then Eve was glad of God's good- 

 ness towards them ; she swept her whole house, adorned it with green 

 herbs and flowers, and began to wash and comb her handsomest chil- 

 dren, and to plait their hair; she clothed them in newly-washed raiment 

 exhorted and taught them how they should bow politely, to the Lord, 

 on his arrival, offer him their hands, and conduct themselves with pro- 

 priety. Her ugly children, on the contrary, she concealed under the 

 straw and hay, or in the oven, fearing lest the Lord should express dis- 

 pleasure at sight of them. When now the Lord entered her abode, tlie 

 comely children all stood in a row to receive him, bowed respectfully, 

 offered him their hands, and knelt down before him. But the Lord be- 

 gan to bless them, and laid his hands on the first boy's head, saying ; — 



