n6         THE  DUTCH  AND  QUAKER  COLONIES
it was God himself that made them coats of skins. . . . How many pieces of ribband, and what feathers, lace-bands, and the like, did Adam and Eve wear in Paradise or out of it ? What rich embroideries, silks, points, etc., had Abel, Enoch, Noah, and good old Abraham ? Did Eve, Sarah, Susannah, The follies Elizabeth, and the Virgin Mary use to curl, powder, of fashion patch, paint, wear false locks of strange colours, rich points, trimmings, laced gowns, embroidered petticoats, shoes with slipslaps laced with silk or silver lace and ruffled like pigeons' feet, with several yards of ribbands? How many plays did Jesus Christ and the apostles recreate themselves at ? What poets, romances, comedies, and the like did the apostles and saints use to pass away their time withal ? . . . But if I were asked, whence came them [these follies]; I would quickly answer, from the Gentiles that knew not God, ... an effeminate Sardanapalus, ... a comical Aristophanes, a prodigal Charaxus, a luxurious Aristippus . . . [from] such women as the infamous Cly-temnestra, the painted Jezebel, the lascivious Campaspe, the most immodest Posthumia, the costly Corinthian Lais, the impudent Flora, the wanton Egyptian Cleopatra, and most insatiable Messalina; persons whose memories have stunk through all ages and carry with them a perpetual rot. These and not the holy self-denying men and women in ancient times were devoted to the like recreations and vain delights."»
Or, as concerns the use of "thou" and "thee " for "you," the modern reader needs to be reminded of the English usage in Penn's time, which made the Quaker innovation seem especially heinous. The usage in English was like that in French to-day, and analogous to the German, Italian, and Spanish usage. The singular pronoun was reserved for "Thee" solemn invocations to the Deity, or for familiar and            intercourse with the members of one's family, in-
eluding the servants; for addressing parents, however (especially the father), or social superiors or equals 1 Penn's Select Works, i. 482.