按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Aristotelian； that his most usual thesis was： 〃That the touchstone and
square of all solid imagination； and of all truth； was an absolute
conformity to Aristotle's doctrine； and that all besides was nothing but
inanity and chimera； for that he had seen all； and said all。〃 A position；
that for having been a little too injuriously and broadly interpreted；
brought him once and long kept him in great danger of the Inquisition at
Rome。
Let him make him examine and thoroughly sift everything he reads； and
lodge nothing in his fancy upon simple authority and upon trust。
Aristotle's principles will then be no more principles to him； than those
of Epicurus and the Stoics： let this diversity of opinions be propounded
to； and laid before him； he will himself choose； if he be able； if not；
he will remain in doubt。
〃Che non men the saver； dubbiar m' aggrata。〃
＇〃I love to doubt； as well as to know。〃Dante； Inferno； xi。 93＇
for； if he embrace the opinions of Xenophon and Plato； by his own reason；
they will no more be theirs； but become his own。 Who follows another；
follows nothing； finds nothing； nay； is inquisitive after nothing。
〃Non sumus sub rege； sibi quisque se vindicet。〃
＇〃We are under no king； let each vindicate himself。〃
Seneca； Ep。；33＇
Let him； at least； know that he knows。 It will be necessary that he
imbibe their knowledge； not that he be corrupted with their precepts；
and no matter if he forget where he had his learning； provided he know
how to apply it to his own use。 Truth and reason are common to every
one； and are no more his who spake them first； than his who speaks them
after： 'tis no more according to Plato； than according to me； since both
he and I equally see and understand them。 Bees cull their several sweets
from this flower and that blossom； here and there where they find them；
but themselves afterwards make the honey； which is all and purely their
own； and no more thyme and marjoram： so the several fragments he borrows
from others； he will transform and shuffle together to compile a work
that shall be absolutely his own； that is to say； his judgment：
his instruction； labour and study； tend to nothing else but to form that。
He is not obliged to discover whence he got the materials that have
assisted him； but only to produce what he has himself done with them。
Men that live upon pillage and borrowing； expose their purchases and
buildings to every one's view： but do not proclaim how they came by the
money。 We do not see the fees and perquisites of a gentleman of the long
robe； but we see the alliances wherewith he fortifies himself and his
family； and the titles and honours he has obtained for him and his。 No
man divulges his revenue； or； at least； which way it comes in but every
one publishes his acquisitions。 The advantages of our study are to
become better and more wise。 'Tis； says Epicharmus； the understanding
that sees and hears； 'tis the understanding that improves everything；
that orders everything； and that acts； rules； and reigns： all other
faculties are blind； and deaf； and without soul。 And certainly we render
it timorous and servile； in not allowing it the liberty and privilege to
do anything of itself。 Whoever asked his pupil what he thought of
grammar and rhetoric； or of such and such a sentence of Cicero？ Our
masters stick them； full feathered； in our memories； and there establish
them like oracles； of which the letters and syllables are of the
substance of the thing。 To know by rote； is no knowledge； and signifies
no more but only to retain what one has intrusted to our memory。 That
which a man rightly knows and understands； he is the free disposer of at
his own full liberty； without any regard to the author from whence he had
it； or fumbling over the leaves of his book。 A mere bookish learning is
a poor； paltry learning； it may serve for ornament； but there is yet no
foundation for any superstructure to be built upon it； according to the
opinion of Plato； who says； that constancy； faith； and sincerity； are the
true philosophy； and the other sciences； that are directed to other ends；
mere adulterate paint。 I could wish that Paluel or Pompey； those two
noted dancers of my time； could have taught us to cut capers； by only
seeing them do it； without stirring from our places； as these men pretend
to inform the understanding without ever setting it to work； or that we
could learn to ride； handle a pike； touch a lute； or sing without the
trouble of practice； as these attempt to make us judge and speak well；
without exercising us in judging or speaking。 Now in this initiation of
our studies in their progress； whatsoever presents itself before us is
book sufficient； a roguish trick of a page； a sottish mistake of a
servant； a jest at the table； are so many new subjects。
And for this reason； conversation with men is of very great use and
travel into foreign countries； not to bring back （as most of our young
monsieurs do） an account only of how many paces Santa Rotonda ＇The
Pantheon of Agrippa。＇ is in circuit； or of the richness of Signora
Livia's petticoats； or； as some others； how much Nero's face； in a statue
in such an old ruin； is longer and broader than that made for him on some
medal； but to be able chiefly to give an account of the humours； manners；
customs； and laws of those nations where he has been； and that we may
whet and sharpen our wits by rubbing them against those of others。 I
would that a boy should be sent abroad very young； and first； so as to
kill two birds with one stone； into those neighbouring nations whose
language is most differing from our own； and to which； if it be not
formed betimes； the tongue will grow too stiff to bend。
And also 'tis the general opinion of all； that a child should not be
brought up in his mother's lap。 Mothers are too tender； and their
natural affection is apt to make the most discreet of them all so
overfond； that they can neither find in their hearts to give them due
correction for the faults they may commit； nor suffer them to be inured
to hardships and hazards； as they ought to be。 They will not endure to
see them return all dust and sweat from their exercise； to drink cold
drink when they are hot； nor see them mount an unruly horse； nor take a
foil in hand against a rude fencer； or so much as to discharge a carbine。
And yet there is no remedy； whoever will breed a boy to be good for
anything when he comes to be a man； must by no means spare him when
young； and must very often transgress the rules of physic：
〃Vitamque sub dio； et trepidis agat
In rebus。〃
＇〃Let him live in open air； and ever in movement about something。〃
Horace； Od。 ii。； 3； 5。＇
It is not enough to fortify his soul； you are also to make his sinews
strong； for the soul will be oppressed if not assisted by the members；
and would have too hard a task to discharge two offices alone。 I know
very well to my cost； how much mine groans under the burden； from being
accommodated with a body so tender and indisposed； as eternally leans and
presses upon her； and often in my reading perceive that our masters； in
their writings； make examples pass for magnanimity and fortitude of mind；
which really are rather toughness of skin and hardness of bones； for I
have seen men； women； and children； naturally born of so hard and
insensible a constitution of body； that a sound cudgelling has been less
to them than a flirt with a finger would have been to me； and that would
neither cry out； wince； nor shrink； for a good swinging beating； and when
wrestlers counterfeit the philosophers in patience； 'tis rather strength
of nerves than stoutness of heart。 Now to be inured to undergo labour；
is to be accustomed to endure pain：
〃Labor callum obducit dolori。〃
＇〃Labour hardens us against pain。〃Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； ii。 15。＇
A boy is to be broken in to the toil and roughness of exercise； so as to
be trained up to the pain and suffering of dislocations； cholics；
cauteries； and even imprisonment and the rack itself； for he may come by
misfortune to be reduced to the worst of these； which （as this world
goes） is sometimes inflicted on the good as well as the bad。 As for
proof； in our present civil war whoever draws his sword against the laws；
threatens the honestest men with the whip and the halter。
And； moreover； by living at home； the authority of this governor； which
ought to be sovereign over the boy he has received into his charge； is
often checked and hindered by the presence of parents； to which may also
be added； that the respect the whole family pay him； as their master's
son； and the knowledge he has of the estate and greatness he is heir to；
are； in my opinion； no small inconveniences in these tender years。
And yet； even in this conversing with men I spoke of but now； I have
observed this vice； that instead of gathering observations from others；
we make it our whole business to lay ourselves open to them； and are more
concerned how to expose and set out our own commodities； than how to
increase our stock by acquiring new。 Silence； th