OF AN HOLY WAR. 129 



spent, they agreed to defer it till the next morning. 

 Only Pollio said ; 



POLLIO. You take me right, Eupolis, for I am of 

 opinion, that except you could hray Christendom in 

 a mortar, and mould it into a new paste, there is no 

 possibility of an holy war. And I was ever of opinion, 

 that the philosophers stone, and an holy war, were 

 but the rendezvous of cracked brains, that wore their 

 feather in their head instead of their hat. Neverthe 

 less, believe me of courtesy, that if you five shall be 

 of another mind, especially after you have heard 

 what I can say, I shall be ready to certify with Hip 

 pocrates, that Athens is mad, and Democritus is only 

 sober. And, lest you shall take me for altogether 

 adverse, I will frankly contribute to the business 

 now at first. Ye, no doubt, will amongst you devise 

 and discourse many solemn matters : but do as I 

 shall tell you. This pope is decrepit, and the bell goeth 

 for him. Take order, that when he is dead, there 

 be chosen a pope of fresh years, between fifty and 

 three-score ; and see that he take the name of Urban, 

 because a pope of that name did first institute the 

 croisado, and, as with an holy trumpet, did stir up 

 the voyage for the Holy Land. EUPOLIS. You say 

 well ; but be, I pray you, a little more serious in 

 this conference. 



The next day the same persons met as they had 

 appointed ; and after they were set, and that there 

 had parsed some sporting speeches from Pollio, how 

 the war was already begun ; for that, he said, he had 

 dreamt of nothing but Janizaries, and Tartars, and 



VOL. VII. K 



