2
8o
A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN
LITERATURE
a
'
'
!
is
is
is
it
'
is
it is
is
'
I
I
I
it,
another ' Write ! ' another ' Plough ! ' another ' Learn ! ' another ' Dig ! ' another ' Judge ! ' yet another ' Fight ! ' and so forth. Impudence said to me : ' Here vocations and work are distributed, and according to this distribution every one has to fulfil his task in the world. He who distributes the lots is called Fate, and from him in this fashion every one who enters the world must receive his instructions.' " Then Falsehood nudged me at my other side, thus giving me notice that I also should stretch out my hand. I begged not to be obliged to take any one lot directly without first examining nor to intrust myself to blind fortune. But was told that without the permission of the Lord Regent Fate this could not be. Then stepping up to him, modestly brought forward my request, saying that had arrived with the intention of seeing everything for myself, and only then choosing what pleased me. " He answered My son, you see that others do not this, but what given or offered them they take. HowThen he wrote on well ever, as you desire this, to say, Look round Speculare,' that scrap of paper, to me and left me." you or inquire,' gave The pilgrim and his two companions now enter the city, and proceed first to the street of the married people. Here Komensky gives us what, for one who was married not known to have been unhappy in three times, and marriage, seems an intensely gloomy and pessimistic view of married life. He dilates on the uncertainty of choice in marriage, on the trouble caused by children, on the disappointment felt by the childless, on all that unlovely in love. The pilgrim then proceeds to the street of the tradesmen, and the many troubles, anxieties, and disappointments to which commerce exposed are