g unto me. And thus my book hath been so much my pleasure,
and bringeth daily to me more pleasure and more, that in respect of it,
all other pleasures, in very deed, be but trifles and troubles unto me."

I remember this talk gladly, both because it is so worthy of memory, and
because also it was the last talk that ever I had, and the last time
that ever I saw that noble and worthy lady.

ON STUDY AND EXERCISE

From 'Toxophilus'

Philologe--But now to our shooting, Toxophile, again; wherein I suppose
you cannot say so much for shooting to be fit for learning, as you have
spoken against music for the same. Therefore, as concerning music, I can
be content to grant you your mind; but as for shooting, surely I suppose
that you cannot persuade me, by no means, that a man can be earnest in
it, and earnest at his book too; but rather I think that a man with a
bow on his back, and shafts under his girdle, is more fit to wait upon
Robin Hood than upon Apollo or the Muses.

_Toxophile_--Over-earnest shooting surely I will not over-earnestly
defend; for I ever thought shooting should be a waiter upon learning,
not a mistress over learning. Yet this I marvel not a little at, that ye
think a man with a bow on his back is more like Robin Hood's servant
than Apollo's, seeing that Apollo himself, in Alcestis of Euripides,
which tragedy you read openly not long ago, in a manner glorieth, saying
this verse:--

"It is my wont always my bow with me to bear."

Therefore a learned man ought not too much to be ashamed to bear that
sometime, which Apollo, god of learning, himself was not ashamed always
to bear. And because ye would have a man wait upon the Muses, and not at
all meddle with shooting: I marvel that you do not remember how that the
nine Muses their self, as soon as they were born, were put to nurse to a
lady called Euphemis, which had a son named Erotus, with whom the nine
Muses for his excellent shooting kept evermore company withal, and used
daily to shoot together in the Mount Parnassus; and at last it chanced
this Erotus to die, whose death the Muses lamented greatly, and fell all
upon their knees afore Jupiter their father; and at their request,
Erotus, for shooting with the Muses on earth, was made a sign and called
Sagittarius in heaven. Therefore you see that if Apollo and the Muses
either were examples indeed, or only feigned of wise men to be examples
of learning, honest shooting may well enough be com