_Manr._ I have often heard his name, but it has escaped my memory.
_Mend._ As have the other things! But the crowd of our nobility do not follow the precept (as to the value of writing), for they think it is a fine and becoming thing not to know how to form their letters. You would say their writing was the scratching of hens, and unless you were warned beforehand whose hand it was, you would never guess.
_Manr._ And for this reason you see how thick-headed men are, how foolish, and imbued with corrupt prejudices.
_Mend._ What are the common run of people, if the nobles are so skilless? or are the classes little different from each other?
_Manr._ Because the common people are not distinguished by their clothes and possessions, they are the more separated by their life and sound judgment in their affairs.
_Mend._ Do you mean that to vindicate ourselves from the charge of vulgar ignorance we must give ourselves up to the practice of writing?
_Manr._ I don’t know how it is inborn in me to plough out my letters so distortedly, so unequally and confusedly.
_Mend._ You have this tendency from your noble birth. Practise yourself—habit will change even what you think to be inborn in you.
_Manr._ But where does he (the writing-master) live?
_Mend._ Don’t seek that from me, for I did not hear the man, nor see him, while I understood that you heard him. You would like everything to be brought to your mouth, chewed beforehand.
_Manr._ Now I remember he said he rented a house near the church of SS. Justus and Pastor.
_Mend._ So he is our neighbour. Let us go.
_Manr._ Tell him that there stand before his doors some who have come to be taught by him.
_Teacher._ Who are these boys? What do they want?
_Manr. and Mend._ We wish you health and all prosperity, teacher.
_Teacher._ And I, in my turn, wish you a happy entrance here. May Christ preserve you! What is it? What do you wish?
_Manr._ To be taught by you in that art which you profess, if only you have time and are willing.
_Teacher._ Certainly, you ought to be boys highly educated, for so you speak and desire with modest mouths. Now, so much the more since a blush has spread over your whole face. Have confidence, my boys, for that is the colour of virtue. What are your names?