Po. What have we to do, but to set down this holy Man’s Name in the Calendar of Saints?

Br. I should have done that if the Franciscan had seen nothing at all of this, and in Gold Letters too, I’ll assure you, next to St. Jerome himself.

Po. And let me die if I don’t put him down in my Book so too.

Br. And besides that, I’ll set him in Gold in my little Chapel, among the choicest of my Saints.

Po. And if I had a Fortune to my Mind, I’d have him in Diamonds.

Br. He shall stand in my Library, the very next to St. Jerome.

Po. And I’ll have him in mine too.

Br. If they were grateful, every one who loves Learning and Languages, especially, the holy Tongues, would do so too.

Po. Truly it is no more than he deserves.  But han’t you some Scruple upon your Mind, in as much as he is not yet canoniz’d by the Authority of the Bishop of Rome?

Br. Why, pray, who canoniz’d (for that’s the Word) St. Jerome?  Who canoniz’d St. Paul, or the Virgin Mary?  Pray tell me whose Memory is most sacred among all good Men?  Those that by their eminent Piety, and the Monuments of their Learning and good Life, have entitled themselves to the Veneration of all Men; or Catherine of Sien, that was sainted by Pius the Second, in favour of the Order and the City?

Po. You say true:  That’s the right Worship, that by the Will of Heaven, is paid to the Merits of the Dead, whose Benefits are always sensibly felt.

Br. And can you then deplore the Death of this Man?  If long Life be a Blessing, he enjoyed it.  He has left behind him immortal Monuments of his Vertue, and by his good Works, consecrated his Name to Immortality.  He is now in Heaven, out of the Reach of Misfortunes, conversing with St. Jerome himself.

Po. But he suffer’d a great Deal tho’ in his Life.

Br. But yet St. Jerome suffered more.  It is a Blessing to be persecuted by wicked Men for being good.

Po. I confess so, and St. Jerome suffer’d many unworthy Things from the worst of Men, for the best of Deeds.

Br. That which Satan did formerly by the Scribes and Pharisees against the Lord Jesus, he continues still to do by Pharisaical Men, against good Men, who have deserved well from the World by their Studies.  He now reaps the blessed Harvest of the Seed he has been sowing.  In the mean Time, it will be our Duty, to preserve his Memory sacred; to honour his Name, and to address him often in some such Manner as follows. O holy Soul, be thou propitious to Languages, and to those that cultivate them:  Favour the holy Tongues, and destroy evil Tongues that are infected with the Poison of Hell.

Po. I’ll do’t myself, and earnestly persuade all my Friends to do it.  I make no Question but there will be those that will desire to have some little Form of Prayer, according to Custom, to celebrate the Memory of this most holy Hero.