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THE SECOND DIALOGVE which is called the office of the dead.
THeophilus. You did erewhile complayne bicause that in speaking of Purgatory wée were so affectioned after it, that it hav al∣most made vs to forgette our dinner: But now I doe feare very much the contrary, that the dinner doth make vs forget purga∣tory, and the residue which yet remained to be thought on.
You know very well that the Priestes haue ac∣customed to breake their fast, and to eate the soppe in the wyne in the middest of their Masse. Wherefore it were good reason that we did pause a lyttle in the middes of our Masse, for to breathe our selues. For we haue sayd and sunge inough for the dead for to drinke once: And yet wée are more beneficiall vnto them then the Priestes. For wée haue not dronken vppon their costes and expences.
Therefore you are so much the soberer. For me thinkes that you haue not druncke very much according to that that you say you were a thirst.
I toke that which sufficed me and no more, and was content. For it doth to me more good, then all that which the Priestes and Moonkes haue eaten and dronken in the name of the dead; doth profite the dead. It is already longe since that I would haue brought in for you that, but I doe alwayes wayte when that Eusebius would beginne. But I know very well that the dinner hath a lyttle abated his choler, and that the aduice and counsayle of Seneca is good, who counsayleth those that are subiecte to ire & choler not to fast nor to take in hande any wayghty matter, if they do finde themselues by experience to be more enclyned to wrath be∣fore they haue eaten then after, bicause that hunger increa∣seth it the more.