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subjects； and that Alexandridas justly reproached him who made very good。
but too long speeches to the Ephori； when he said： 〃O stranger！ thou
speakest the things thou shouldst speak； but not as thou shouldst speak
them。〃 ＇Plutarch； Apothegms of the Lacedamonians。＇ Such as have lean
and spare bodies stuff themselves out with clothes； so they who are
defective in matter endeavour to make amends with words。
Human understanding is marvellously enlightened by daily conversation
with men； for we are； otherwise； compressed and heaped up in ourselves；
and have our sight limited to the length of our own noses。 One asking
Socrates of what country he was； he did not make answer； of Athens； but
of the world；＇Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； v。 37； Plutarch； On Exile； c。 4。＇
he whose imagination was fuller and wider； embraced the whole world for
his country； and extended his society and friendship to all mankind；
not as we do； who look no further than our feet。 When the vines of my
village are nipped with the frost； my parish priest presently concludes；
that the indignation of God has gone out against all the human race； and
that the cannibals have already got the pip。 Who is it that； seeing the
havoc of these civil wars of ours； does not cry out； that the machine of
the world is near dissolution； and that the day of judgment is at hand；
without considering； that many worse things have been seen； and that in
the meantime； people are very merry in a thousand other parts of the
earth for all this？ For my part； considering the licence and impunity
that always attend such commotions； I wonder they are so moderate； and
that there is no more mischief done。 To him who feels the hailstones
patter about his ears； the whole hemisphere appears to be in storm and
tempest； like the ridiculous Savoyard； who said very gravely； that if
that simple king of France could have managed his fortune as he should
have done； he might in time have come to have been steward of the
household to the duke his master： the fellow could not； in his shallow
imagination； conceive that there could be anything greater than a Duke of
Savoy。 And； in truth； we are all of us； insensibly； in this error； an
error of a very great weight and very pernicious consequence。 But
whoever shall represent to his fancy； as in a picture； that great image
of our mother nature； in her full majesty and lustre； whoever in her face
shall read so general and so constant a variety； whoever shall observe
himself in that figure； and not himself but a whole kingdom； no bigger
than the least touch or prick of a pencil in comparison of the whole；
that man alone is able to value things according to their true estimate
and grandeur。
This great world which some do yet multiply as several species under one
genus； is the mirror wherein we are to behold ourselves； to be able to
know ourselves as we ought to do in the true bias。 In short； I would
have this to be the book my young gentleman should study with the most
attention。 So many humours； so many sects； so many judgments； opinions；
laws； and customs； teach us to judge aright of our own； and inform our
understanding to discover its imperfection and natural infirmity； which
is no trivial speculation。 So many mutations of states and kingdoms； and
so many turns and revolutions of public fortune； will make us wise enough
to make no great wonder of our own。 So many great names； so many famous
victories and conquests drowned and swallowed in oblivion； render our
hopes ridiculous of eternising our names by the taking of half…a…score of
light horse； or a henroost； which only derives its memory from its ruin。
The pride and arrogance of so many foreign pomps； the inflated majesty of
so many courts and grandeurs； accustom and fortify our sight without
closing our eyes to behold the lustre of our own； so many trillions of
men； buried before us； encourage us not to fear to go seek such good
company in the other world： and so of the rest Pythagoras was want to
say；＇Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； v。 3。＇ that our life resembles the great
and populous assembly of the Olympic games； wherein some exercise the
body； that they may carry away the glory of the prize： others bring
merchandise to sell for profit： there are also some （and those none of
the worst sort） who pursue no other advantage than only to look on； and
consider how and why everything is done； and to be spectators of the
lives of other men； thereby the better to judge of and regulate their
own。
To examples may fitly be applied all the profitable discourses of
philosophy； to which all human actions； as to their best rule； ought to
be especially directed： a scholar shall be taught to know
〃Quid fas optare： quid asper
Utile nummus habet： patrix carisque propinquis
Quantum elargiri deceat： quern te Deus esse
Jussit； et humana qua parte locatus es in re；
Quid sumus； et quidnam victuri gignimur。〃
＇〃Learn what it is right to wish； what is the true use of coined
money； how much it becomes us to give in liberality to our country
and our dear relations； whom and what the Deity commanded thee to
be； and in what part of the human system thou art placed； what we
are ant to what purpose engendered。〃Persius； iii。 69＇
what it is to know； and what to be ignorant； what ought to be the end and
design of study； what valour； temperance； and justice are； the difference
betwixt ambition and avarice； servitude and subjection； licence and
liberty； by what token a man may know true and solid contentment； how far
death； affliction； and disgrace are to be apprehended；
〃Et quo quemque modo fugiatque feratque laborem。〃
＇〃And how you may shun or sustain every hardship。〃
Virgil； AEneid； iii。 459。＇
by what secret springs we move； and the reason of our various agitations
and irresolutions： for； methinks the first doctrine with which one should
season his understanding； ought to be that which regulates his manners
and his sense； that teaches him to know himself； and how both well to dig
and well to live。 Amongst the liberal sciences； let us begin with that
which makes us free； not that they do not all serve in some measure to
the instruction and use of life； as all other things in some sort also
do； but let us make choice of that which directly and professedly serves
to that end。 If we are once able to restrain the offices of human life
within their just and natural limits； we shall find that most of the
sciences in use are of no great use to us； and even in those that are；
that there are many very unnecessary cavities and dilatations which we
had better let alone； and； following Socrates' direction； limit the
course of our studies to those things only where is a true and real
utility：
〃Sapere aude；
Incipe； Qui recte vivendi prorogat horam；
Rusticus exspectat； dum defluat amnis； at ille
Labitur； et labetur in omne volubilis oevum。〃
＇〃Dare to be wise； begin！ he who defers the hour of living well is
like the clown； waiting till the river shall have flowed out： but
the river still flows； and will run on； with constant course； to
ages without end。〃Horace； Ep。； i。 2。＇
'Tis a great foolery to teach our children：
〃Quid moveant Pisces； animosaque signa Leonis；
Lotus et Hesperia quid Capricornus aqua；〃
＇〃What influence Pisces have； or the sign of angry Leo； or
Capricorn； washed by the Hesperian wave。〃Propertius； iv。 I； 89。＇
the knowledge of the stars and the motion of the eighth sphere before
their own：
＇〃What care I about the Pleiades or the stars of Taurus？〃
Anacreon； Ode； xvii。 10。＇
Anaximenes writing to Pythagoras； 〃 To what purpose；〃 said he； 〃should I
trouble myself in searching out the secrets of the stars； having death or
slavery continually before my eyes？〃 for the kings of Persia were at that
time preparing to invade his country。 Every one ought to say thus；
〃Being assaulted； as I am by ambition； avarice； temerity； superstition；
and having within so many other enemies of life； shall I go ponder over
the world's changes？〃
After having taught him what will make him more wise and good； you may
then entertain him with the elements of logic； physics； geometry；
rhetoric； and the science which he shall then himself most incline to；
his judgment being beforehand formed and fit to choose； he will quickly
make his own。 The way of instructing him ought to be sometimes by
discourse； and sometimes by reading； sometimes his governor shall put the
author himself； which he shall think most proper for him； into his hands；
and sometimes only the marrow and substance of it； and if himself be not
conversant enough in books to turn to all the fine discourses the books
contain for his purpose； there may some man of learning be joined to him；
that upon every occasion shall supply him with what he stands in need of；
to furnish it to his pupil。 And who can doubt but that this way of
teaching is much more easy and natural than that of Gaza；＇Theodore
Gaza； rect