The Fifth Day 205 



your first colour be thoroughly dry before you lay 

 on a second. 



Well, Scholar, having now taught you to paint 

 your rod, and we having still a mile to Tottenham 

 High-Cross, I will, as we walk towards it in 'the 

 cool shade of this sweet honeysuckle hedge, mention 

 . to you some of the thoughts and joys that have 

 possessed my soul since we two met together. And 

 these thoughts shall be told you, that you also may 

 join with me in thankfulness to the Giver of every 

 good and perfect gift, for our happiness. And that 

 our present happiness may appear to be the greater, 

 and we the more thankful for it, I will beg you to 

 consider with me how many do, even at this very 

 time, lie under the torment of the stone, the gout, 

 and tooth-ache; and this we are free from. And 

 every misery that I miss is a new mercy; and 

 therefore let us be thankful. There have been, 

 since we met, others that have met disasters or 

 broken limbs ; some have been blasted, others 

 thunder-strucken : and we have been freed from 

 these, and all those many other miseries that 

 threaten human nature ; let us therefore rejoice and 

 be thankful. Nay, which is a far greater mercy, 

 we are free from the insupportable burthen of an 

 accusing tormenting conscience ; a misery that 

 none can bear : and therefore let us praise Him for 

 His preventing grace, and say, Every misery that I 

 miss is a new mercy. Nay, let me tell you, there be 

 many that have forty times our estates, that would 

 give the greatest part of it to be healthful and 

 cheerful like us, who, with the expense of a little 

 money, have eat and drunk, and laughed, and 

 angled, and sung, and slept securely ; and rose next 

 day and cast away care, and sung, and laughed, and 

 angled again ; which are blessings rich men cannot 

 purchase with all their money. Let me tell you, 



