as it wants nothing of the Conveniences of Life.  There are many that seldom stir out of the City in which they were born, which if they were prohibited from going out, would be very uneasy, and would be wonderfully desirous to do it.  This is a common Humour, that I am not troubled with.  I fancy this Place to be the whole World to me, and this Map represents the whole Globe of the Earth, which I can travel over in Thought with more Delight and Security than he that sails to the new-found Islands.

Sol. What you say as to this, comes pretty near the Truth.

Cart. You can’t blame me for shaving my Head, who voluntarily have your own Hair clipp’d, for Conveniency Sake.  Shaving, to me, if it does nothing else, certainly keeps my Head more clean, and perhaps more healthful too.  How many Noblemen at Venice shave their Heads all over?  What has my Garment in it that is monstrous?  Does it not cover my Body?  Our Garments are for two Uses, to defend us from the Inclemency of the Weather, and to cover our Nakedness.  Does not this Garment answer both these Ends?  But perhaps the Colour offends you.  What Colour is more becoming Christians than that which was given to all in Baptism?  It has been said also, Take a white Garment; so that this Garment puts me in Mind of what I promised in Baptism, that is, the perpetual Study of Innocency.  And besides, if you call that Solitude which is only a retiring from the Crowd, we have for this the Example, not only of our own, but of the ancient Prophets, the Ethnick Philosophers, and all that had any Regard to the keeping a good Conscience.  Nay, Poets, Astrologers, and Persons devoted to such-like Arts, whensoever they take in Hand any Thing that’s great and beyond the Sphere of the common People, commonly betake themselves to a Retreat.  But why should you call this Kind of Life Solitude?  The Conversation of one single Friend drives away the Taedium of Solitude.  I have here more than sixteen Companions, fit for all Manner of Conversation.  And besides, I have Friends who come to visit me oftner than I would have them, or is convenient Do I then, in your Opinion, live melancholy?

Sol. But you cannot always have these to talk with.

Cart. Nor is it always expedient:  For Conversation is the pleasanter, for being something interrupted.

Sol. You don’t think amiss; for even to me myself, Flesh relishes much better after Lent.

Cart. And more than that, when I seem to be most alone, I don’t want Companions, which are by far more delightful and entertaining than those common Jesters.

Sol. Where are they?