"But you said I had been trying to practice it."
"Well, it seems like it from what you say, for the dwellers in 'Nowhere'—More's grand republic—must all have set to work in your way, and tried to do to others as they would be done by."
"But, man alive, that is not in the 'Utopia,' but in the New Testament, and one of the commands of Christ Himself," said Miles, quickly. "That is why it would be such a good thing if we could get the New Testament translated into English, that men may learn what the mind of Christ is in such matters. That was why Dean Colet was so anxious that all Oxford students should study Greek—that each might find for himself a rational and practical basis for religion—one fit to help a man in the every-day concerns of life, and not for a monastery. Monasteries might have been all very well a few hundred years ago, but we want a religion for farmers, and landlords, and workpeople, in this year of grace and new light 1520."
"So you've begun the practice of it as a landlord's son," said one of his friends, a little derisively. "I think I should have done my father's bidding, and let him take the responsibility," he added.
"But none could take that for me when I had once learned the truth of the Gospel in such matters," answered Miles. "It is my father who cannot take the responsibility, because he has not learned what I have. The light of the new learning had not dawned when he was at Oxford, and so he can but walk in the old darkness, as it seems to me. But for me to follow, because the light makes my path a little harder, is to brand myself as a coward, and unworthy of the new learning. Could I be a true Grecian, do you think, and not do what I can to save the poor from further wretchedness?"
"Oh! you are one of More's Utopians. I will bring you the book and let you read it," he said, laughing, "if you can condescend to read anything so simple as English."
Miles felt a little disturbed by this talk with his friend, for there was a touch of irony in his tone, and a want of sympathy that hurt the lad's sensitiveness, and he wondered whether his tutor would pour ridicule on his proposed plan to help himself.
But before going to see this older and more experienced friend he went in search of Reuben, whom he found still at the hostelry. But Rankin had been too impatient to go in search of work, to stay longer than was necessary to make himself look more like a decent workman.
"Well, you must abide here to-night, and then set off on your journey to Woodstock early in the morning. It may be you will find travellers going in the same direction, and who will be glad for you to join them. My father will be angry over the loss of the horses, I am sure, but you must do what you can to smooth matters for me, Reuben. And for the rest, tell my father I was very sorry to depart from home in such haste, but his commands left me no choice. If he will send me such moneys to Oxford as I need, to pay the cost of my learning, I shall be truly thankful; but if he will not, then I must seek such employment as I can get, to enable me to finish that which has been well begun. Give my reverent love to my mother, and assure her that I shall not do anything to disgrace the name of my father and mother. If you can obtain speech of my sister, or her maid, ask her to send me somewhat from her store, by the hand of any faithful messenger, that I may be able to pay your score here, for the rogues left me without a penny, and I shall have to sell some of my books to supply my own wants until I can earn a little money."
He bade Reuben farewell, rather ruefully, and then decided to walk round the town, and see how the new college was progressing.