Part I Lutetia
Borg. Whence comest thou, most delightful Scintilla?
Scin. From Lutetia.
Borg. What Lutetia is that?
Scin. Do you ask which Lutetia, as if there were many!
Borg. If there is only one, I don’t know what it is, or where it is situated.
Scin. It is the Parisian Lutetia (Lutetia Parisiorum).
Borg. I have often heard the Parisians spoken of, but never Lutetia. It is, then, that Lutetia which we call Paris? This is the reason then why, for so long, no one has seen thee at Valencia, and especially hast thou been missed at the tennis court (sphaeristerium) of the nobles.
Scin. I have seen at Lutetia other tennis courts, other gymnasia, other games, far more useful and more attractive than yours at Valencia.
Borg. What are those, pray?
Scin. There are thirty gymnasia, more or less, in that university (academia), which provides for every kind of erudition, knowledge, and wisdom; learned teachers, and most studious youths, who are thoroughly well-bred.
Borg. Forsooth, a crowd of people!
Scin. What do you call a crowd?
Borg. The dregs of the people, sons of shoemakers, weavers, barbers, fullers, and every kind of operative artificers.
Scin. I see that you people here measure the whole world by your city, and think that all Europe has the same customs which you have here. I can tell you, that the youth there very largely consists of princes, leaders of men, nobles, and the wealthiest persons, not only from France, but also from Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, marvellously devoted to the study of letters, obeying the precepts and instructions of their teachers. Their conduct is not formed through simple admonition merely, but by sharp reproof and, when it is necessary, even by punishment, by blows and lashes. All which they receive and bear with modest mind and the most collected countenance.