Erasmus the Scholar

e abominated. Besides, he was of fragile health, had to be very careful in eating, was made sick by fish, and when once he arose for the night prayers and chants he found it impossible to go to sleep again. Of "Erasmus's opinion of monasticism and the light he throws upon it I shall not speak now, hoping to devote a chapter to that interesting theme. In spite of the irksomeness of the life at Stein, Erasmus was not altogether unhappy. He studied hard, and found congenial companions in two of his fellow- monks, who used to bend over their Latin classics by the hour. He came out with a thorough mastery of Latin style. And it was this which offered him a happy escape from the monastery. The Bishop of Cambrai had an ambition for the highest honor in Catholicism under the popedom, the cardinalate,and was going to Rome on this unapostolic errand. He wanted some one who would help him out with his Latin, and fortunately he struck upon Erasmus. The Bishop of Utrecht, in whose diocese Stein was situated, the general of the order, and the prior of the convent, all gave their permission, which shows that they were not so narrow-minded, after all. But the bishop had to give up his journey and the honors of the red hat. He may have found the expense too great, as these dignities come high in the Roman Church. About this time, either before or after leaving Stein, he was ordained priest by the Bishop of Utrecht, April 25, 1492. Erasmus, though an accomplished Latinist, had no ...