IneverseriouslysettledmyselftothereadinganybookofsolidlearningbutPlutarchandSeneca;andthere，liketheDanaides，I
eternallyfill，anditasconstantlyrunsout;somethingofwhichdropsuponthispaper，butlittleornothingstayswithme。Historyismyparticulargameastomatterofreading，orelsepoetry，forwhichIhaveparticularkindnessandesteem:for，asCleanthessaid，asthevoice，forcedthroughthenarrowpassageofatrumpet，comesoutmoreforcibleandshrill:so，methinks，asentencepressedwithintheharmonyofversedartsoutmorebrisklyupontheunderstanding，andstrikesmyearandapprehensionwithasmarterandmorepleasingeffect。AstothenaturalpartsIhave，ofwhichthisistheessay，Ifindthemtobowundertheburden;myfancyandjudgmentdobutgropeinthedark，trippingandstumblingintheway;andwhenIhavegoneasfarasIcan，Iaminnodegreesatisfied;Idiscoverstillanewandgreaterextentoflandbeforeme，withatroubledandimperfectsightandwrappedupinclouds，thatIamnotabletopenetrate。Andtakinguponmetowriteindifferentlyofwhatevercomesintomyhead，andthereinmakinguseofnothingbutmyownproperandnaturalmeans，ifitbefallme，asoft—
timesitdoes，accidentallytomeetinanygoodauthor，thesameheadsandcommonplacesuponwhichIhaveattemptedtowrite（asIdidbutjustnowinPlutarch’s\"DiscourseoftheForceofImagination\"），toseemyselfsoweakandsoforlorn，soheavyandsoflat，incomparisonofthosebetterwriters，Iatoncepityordespisemyself。YetdoIpleasemyselfwiththis，thatmyopinionshaveoftenthehonourandgoodfortunetojumpwiththeirs，andthatIgointhesamepath，thoughataverygreatdistance，andcansay，\"Ah，thatisso。\"IamfarthersatisfiedtofindthatIhaveaquality，whicheveryoneisnotblessedwithal，whichis，todiscernthevastdifferencebetweenthemandme;andnotwithstandingallthat，suffermyowninventions，lowandfeebleastheyare，torunonintheircareer，withoutmendingorplasteringupthedefectsthatthiscomparisonhaslaidopentomyownview。And，inplaintruth，amanhadneedofagoodstrongbacktokeeppacewiththesepeople。Theindiscreetscribblersofourtimes，who，amongsttheirlaboriousnothings，insertwholesectionsandpagesoutofancientauthors，withadesign，bythatmeans，toillustratetheirownwritings，doquitecontrary;forthisinfinitedissimilitudeofornamentsrendersthecomplexionoftheirowncompositionssosallowanddeformed，thattheylosemuchmorethantheyget。
Thephilosophers，ChrysippusandEpicurus，wereinthisoftwoquitecontraryhumours:thefirstnotonlyinhisbooksmixedpassagesandsayingsofotherauthors，butentirepieces，and，inone，thewholeMedeaofEuripides;whichgaveApollodorusoccasiontosay，thatshouldamanpickoutofhiswritingsallthatwasnoneofhis，hewouldleavehimnothingbutblankpaper:whereasthelatter，quiteonthecontrary，inthreehundredvolumesthatheleftbehindhim，hasnotsomuchasonequotation。——[DiogenesLaertius，LivesofChyysippus，vii。181，andEpicurus，x。26。]
Ihappenedtheotherdayuponthispieceoffortune;IwasreadingaFrenchbook，whereafterIhadalongtimerundreamingoveragreatmanywords，sodull，soinsipid，sovoidofallwitorcommonsense，thatindeedtheywereonlyFrenchwords:afteralongandtedioustravel，I
cameatlasttomeetwithapiecethatwaslofty，rich，andelevatedtotheveryclouds;ofwhich，hadIfoundeitherthedeclivityeasyortheascentgradual，therehadbeensomeexcuse;butitwassoperpendicularaprecipice，andsowhollycutofffromtherestofthework，thatbythefirstsixwords，Ifoundmyselfflyingintotheotherworld，andthencediscoveredthevalewhenceIcamesodeepandlow，thatIhaveneverhadsincethehearttodescendintoitanymore。IfIshouldsetoutoneofmydiscourseswithsuchrichspoilsasthese，itwouldbuttooevidentlymanifesttheimperfectionofmyownwriting。ToreprehendthefaultinothersthatIamguiltyofmyself，appearstomenomoreunreasonable，thantocondemn，asIoftendo，thoseofothersinmyself:theyaretobeeverywherereproved，andoughttohavenosanctuaryallowedthem。IknowverywellhowaudaciouslyImyself，ateveryturn，attempttoequalmyselftomythefts，andtomakemystylegohandinhandwiththem，notwithoutatemerarioushopeofdeceivingtheeyesofmyreaderfromdiscerningthedifference;butwithalitisasmuchbythebenefitofmyapplication，thatIhopetodoit，asbythatofmyinventionoranyforceofmyown。Besides，Idonotoffertocontendwiththewholebodyofthesechampions，norhandtohandwithanyoneofthem:’tisonlybyflightsandlittlelightattemptsthatIengagethem;Idonotgrapplewiththem，buttrytheirstrengthonly，andneverengagesofarasImakeashowtodo。IfIcouldholdtheminplay，Iwereabravefellow;forI
neverattackthem;butwheretheyaremostsinewyandstrong。Tocoveraman’sself（asIhaveseensomedo）withanotherman’sarmour，soasnottodiscoversomuchashisfingers’ends;tocarryonadesign（asitisnothardforamanthathasanythingofascholarinhim，inanordinarysubjecttodo）underoldinventionspatcheduphereandtherewithhisowntrumpery，andthentoendeavourtoconcealthetheft，andtomakeitpassforhisown，isfirstinjusticeandmeannessofspiritinthosewhodoit，whohavingnothinginthemoftheirownfittoprocurethemareputation，endeavourtodoitbyattemptingtoimposethingsupontheworldintheirownname，whichtheyhavenomanneroftitleto;andnext，aridiculousfollytocontentthemselveswithacquiringtheignorantapprobationofthevulgarbysuchapitifulcheat，atthepriceatthesametimeofdegradingthemselvesintheeyesofmenofunderstanding，whoturnuptheirnosesatallthisborrowedincrustation，yetwhosepraisealoneisworththehaving。Formyownpart，thereisnothingI
wouldnotsoonerdothanthat，neitherhaveIsaidsomuchofothers，buttogetabetteropportunitytoexplainmyself。NorinthisdoIglanceatthecomposersofcentos，whodeclarethemselvesforsuch;ofwhichsortofwritersIhaveinmytimeknownmanyveryingenious，andparticularlyoneunderthenameofCapilupus，besidestheancients。
Thesearereallymenofwit，andthatmakeitappeartheyareso，bothbythatandotherwaysofwriting;asforexample，Lipsius，inthatlearnedandlaboriouscontextureofhisPolitics。
But，beithowitwill，andhowinconsiderablesoevertheseineptitudesmaybe，IwillsayIneverintendedtoconcealthem，nomorethanmyoldbaldgrizzledlikenessbeforethem，wherethepainterhaspresentedyounotwithaperfectface，butwithmine。Forthesearemyownparticularopinionsandfancies，andIdeliverthemasonlywhatImyselfbelieve，andnotforwhatistobebelievedbyothers。Ihavenootherendinthiswriting，butonlytodiscovermyself，who，alsoshall，peradventure，beanotherthingto—morrow，ifIchancetomeetanynewinstructiontochangeme。Ihavenoauthoritytobebelieved，neitherdoIdesireit，beingtooconsciousofmyownineruditiontobeabletoinstructothers。
Someone，then，havingseentheprecedingchapter，theotherdaytoldmeatmyhouse，thatIshouldalittlefartherhaveextendedmydiscourseontheeducationofchildren。——[\"Which，howfitIamtodo，letmyfriendsflattermeiftheyplease，Ihaveinthemeantimenosuchopinionofmyowntalent，astopromisemyselfanyverygoodsuccessfrommyendeavour。\"ThispassagewouldappeartobeaninterpolationbyCotton。
Atallevents，Idonotfinditintheoriginaleditionsbeforeme，orinCoste。]——
Now，madam，ifIhadanysufficiencyinthissubject，Icouldnotpossiblybetteremployit，thantopresentmybestinstructionstothelittlemanthatthreatensyoushortlywithahappybirth（foryouaretoogeneroustobeginotherwisethanwithamale）;for，havinghadsogreatahandinthetreatyofyourmarriage，Ihaveacertainparticularrightandinterestinthegreatnessandprosperityoftheissuethatshallspringfromit;besidethat，yourhavinghadthebestofmyservicessolonginpossession，sufficientlyobligesmetodesirethehonourandadvantageofallwhereinyoushallbeconcerned。But，intruth，allI
understandastothatparticularisonlythis，thatthegreatestandmostimportantdifficultyofhumanscienceistheeducationofchildren。Forasinagriculture，thehusbandrythatistoprecedeplanting，asalsoplantingitself，iscertain，plain，andwellknown;butafterthatwhichisplantedcomestolife，thereisagreatdealmoretobedone，morearttobeused，morecaretobetaken，andmuchmoredifficultytocultivateandbringittoperfectionsoitiswithmen;itisnohardmattertogetchildren;butaftertheyareborn，thenbeginsthetrouble，solicitude，andcarerightlytotrain，principle，andbringthemup。Thesymptomsoftheirinclinationsinthattenderagearesoobscure，andthepromisessouncertainandfallacious，thatitisveryhardtoestablishanysolidjudgmentorconjectureuponthem。LookatCimon，forexample，andThemistocles，andathousandothers，whoverymuchdeceivedtheexpectationmenhadofthem。Cubsofbearsandpuppiesreadilydiscovertheirnaturalinclination;butmen，sosoonasevertheyaregrownup，applyingthemselvestocertainhabits，engagingthemselvesincertainopinions，andconformingthemselvestoparticularlawsandcustoms，easilyalter，oratleastdisguise，theirtrueandrealdisposition;andyetitishardtoforcethepropensionofnature。Whenceitcomestopass，thatfornothavingchosentherightcourse，weoftentakeverygreatpains，andconsumeagoodpartofourtimemtrainingupchildrentothings，forwhich，bytheirnaturalconstitution，theyaretotallyunfit。Inthisdifficulty，nevertheless，Iamclearlyofopinion，thattheyoughttobeelementedinthebestandmostadvantageousstudies，withouttakingtoomuchnoticeof，orbeingtoosuperstitiousinthoselightprognosticstheygiveofthemselvesintheirtenderyears，andtowhichPlato，inhisRepublic，gives，methinks，toomuchauthority。
Madam，scienceisaverygreatornament，andathingofmarvelloususe，especiallyinpersonsraisedtothatdegreeoffortuneinwhichyouare。
And，intruth，inpersonsofmeanandlowcondition，itcannotperformitstrueandgenuineoffice，beingnaturallymoreprompttoassistintheconductofwar，inthegovernmentofpeoples，innegotiatingtheleaguesandfriendshipsofprincesandforeignnations，thaninformingasyllogisminlogic，inpleadingaprocessinlaw，orinprescribingadoseofpillsinphysic。Wherefore，madam，believingyouwillnotomitthissonecessaryfeatureintheeducationofyourchildren，whoyourselfhavetasteditssweetness，andareofalearnedextraction（forweyethavethewritingsoftheancientCountsofFoix，fromwhommylord，yourhusband，andyourself，arebothofyoudescended，andMonsieurdeCandale，youruncle，everydayobligestheworldwithothers，whichwillextendtheknowledgeofthisqualityinyourfamilyforsomanysucceedingages），Iwill，uponthisoccasion，presumetoacquaintyourladyshipwithoneparticularfancyofmyown，contrarytothecommonmethod，whichisallIamabletocontributetoyourserviceinthisaffair。
Thechargeofthetutoryoushallprovideforyourson，uponthechoiceofwhomdependsthewholesuccessofhiseducation，hasseveralothergreatandconsiderablepartsanddutiesrequiredinsoimportantatrust，besidesthatofwhichIamabouttospeak:these，however，Ishallnotmention，asbeingunabletoaddanythingofmomenttothecommonrules:
andinthis，whereinItakeuponmetoadvise，hemayfollowitsofaronlyasitshallappearadvisable。
Fora，boyofqualitythen，whopretendstolettersnotupontheaccountofprofit（forsomeananobjectisunworthyofthegraceandfavouroftheMuses，andmoreover，initamandirectshisservicetoanddependsuponothers），norsomuchforoutwardornament，asforhisownproperandpeculiaruse，andtofurnishandenrichhimselfwithin，havingratheradesiretocomeoutanaccomplishedcavalierthanamerescholarorlearnedman;forsuchaone，Isay，Iwould，also，havehisfriendssolicitoustofindhimoutatutor，whohasratherawell—madethanawell—filledhead;——[\"’Tetebienfaite’，anexpressioncreatedbyMontaigne，andwhichhasremainedapartofourlanguage。\"——Servan。]——
seeking，indeed，boththeoneandtheother，butratherofthetwotoprefermannersandjudgmenttomerelearning，andthatthismanshouldexercisehischargeafteranewmethod。
’Tisthecustomofpedagoguestobeeternallythunderingintheirpupil’sears，astheywerepouringintoafunnel，whilstthebusinessofthepupilisonlytorepeatwhattheothershavesaid:nowIwouldhaveatutortocorrectthiserror，and，thatattheveryfirst，heshouldaccordingtothecapacityhehastodealwith，putittothetest，permittinghispupilhimselftotastethings，andofhimselftodiscernandchoosethem，sometimesopeningthewaytohim，andsometimesleavinghimtoopenitforhimself;thatis，Iwouldnothavehimalonetoinventandspeak，butthatheshouldalsohearhispupilspeakinturn。
Socrates，andsincehimArcesilaus，madefirsttheirscholarsspeak，andthentheyspoketothem——[DiogenesLaertius，iv。36。]
\"Obestplerumqueiis，quidiscerevolunt，auctoritaseorum，quidocent。\"
[\"Theauthorityofthosewhoteach，isveryoftenanimpedimenttothosewhodesiretolearn。\"——Cicero，DeNaturaDeor。，i。5。]
Itisgoodtomakehim，likeayounghorse，trotbeforehim，thathemayjudgeofhisgoing，andhowmuchheistoabateofhisownspeed，toaccommodatehimselftothevigourandcapacityoftheother。Forwantofwhichdueproportionwespoilall;whichalsotoknowhowtoadjust，andtokeepwithinanexactandduemeasure，isoneofthehardestthingsI
know，and’tistheeffectofahighandwell—temperedsoul，toknowhowtocondescendtosuchpuerilemotionsandtogovernanddirectthem。
Iwalkfirmerandmoresecureuphillthandown。
Suchas，accordingtoourcommonwayofteaching，undertake，withoneandthesamelesson，andthesamemeasureofdirection，toinstructseveralboysofdifferingandunequalcapacities，areinfinitelymistaken;and’tisnowonder，ifinawholemultitudeofscholars，therearenotfoundabovetwoorthreewhobringawayanygoodaccountoftheirtimeanddiscipline。Letthemasternotonlyexaminehimaboutthegrammaticalconstructionofthebarewordsofhislesson，butaboutthesenseandlethimjudgeoftheprofithehasmade，notbythetestimonyofhismemory，butbythatofhislife。Lethimmakehimputwhathehaslearnedintoahundredseveralforms，andaccommodateittosomanyseveralsubjects，toseeifheyetrightlycomprehendsit，andhasmadeithisown，takinginstructionofhisprogressbythepedagogicinstitutionsofPlato。’Tisasignofcrudityandindigestiontodisgorgewhatweeatinthesameconditionitwasswallowed;thestomachhasnotperformeditsofficeunlessithavealteredtheformandconditionofwhatwascommittedtoittoconcoct。Ourmindsworkonlyupontrust，whenboundandcompelledtofollowtheappetiteofanother’sfancy，enslavedandcaptivatedundertheauthorityofanother’sinstruction;wehavebeensosubjectedtothetrammel，thatwehavenofree，nornaturalpaceofourown;ourownvigourandlibertyareextinctandgone:
\"Nunquamtutelaesuaefiunt。\"
[\"Theyareeverinwardship。\"——Seneca，Ep。，33。]
IwasprivatelycarriedatPisatoseeaveryhonestman，butsogreatanAristotelian，thathismostusualthesiswas:\"Thatthetouchstoneandsquareofallsolidimagination，andofalltruth，wasanabsoluteconformitytoAristotle’sdoctrine;andthatallbesideswasnothingbutinanityandchimera;forthathehadseenall，andsaidall。\"Aposition，thatforhavingbeenalittletooinjuriouslyandbroadlyinterpreted，broughthimonceandlongkepthimingreatdangeroftheInquisitionatRome。
Lethimmakehimexamineandthoroughlysifteverythinghereads，andlodgenothinginhisfancyuponsimpleauthorityandupontrust。
Aristotle’sprincipleswillthenbenomoreprinciplestohim，thanthoseofEpicurusandtheStoics:letthisdiversityofopinionsbepropoundedto，andlaidbeforehim;hewillhimselfchoose，ifhebeable;ifnot，hewillremainindoubt。
\"Chenonmenthesaver，dubbiarm’aggrata。\"
[\"Ilovetodoubt，aswellastoknow。\"——Dante，Inferno，xi。93]
for，ifheembracetheopinionsofXenophonandPlato，byhisownreason，theywillnomorebetheirs，butbecomehisown。Whofollowsanother，followsnothing，findsnothing，nay，isinquisitiveafternothing。
\"Nonsumussubrege;sibiquisquesevindicet。\"
[\"Weareundernoking;leteachvindicatehimself。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，33]
Lethim，atleast，knowthatheknows。Itwillbenecessarythatheimbibetheirknowledge，notthathebecorruptedwiththeirprecepts;
andnomatterifheforgetwherehehadhislearning，providedheknowhowtoapplyittohisownuse。Truthandreasonarecommontoeveryone，andarenomorehiswhospakethemfirst，thanhiswhospeaksthemafter:’tisnomoreaccordingtoPlato，thanaccordingtome，sincebothheandIequallyseeandunderstandthem。Beesculltheirseveralsweetsfromthisflowerandthatblossom，hereandtherewheretheyfindthem，butthemselvesafterwardsmakethehoney，whichisallandpurelytheirown，andnomorethymeandmarjoram:sotheseveralfragmentsheborrowsfromothers，hewilltransformandshuffletogethertocompileaworkthatshallbeabsolutelyhisown;thatistosay，hisjudgment:
hisinstruction，labourandstudy，tendtonothingelsebuttoformthat。
Heisnotobligedtodiscoverwhencehegotthematerialsthathaveassistedhim，butonlytoproducewhathehashimselfdonewiththem。
Menthatliveuponpillageandborrowing，exposetheirpurchasesandbuildingstoeveryone’sview:butdonotproclaimhowtheycamebythemoney。Wedonotseethefeesandperquisitesofagentlemanofthelongrobe;butweseetheallianceswherewithhefortifieshimselfandhisfamily，andthetitlesandhonourshehasobtainedforhimandhis。Nomandivulgeshisrevenue;or，atleast，whichwayitcomesinbuteveryonepublisheshisacquisitions。Theadvantagesofourstudyaretobecomebetterandmorewise。’Tis，saysEpicharmus，theunderstandingthatseesandhears，’tistheunderstandingthatimproveseverything，thatorderseverything，andthatacts，rules，andreigns:allotherfacultiesareblind，anddeaf，andwithoutsoul。Andcertainlywerenderittimorousandservile，innotallowingitthelibertyandprivilegetodoanythingofitself。Whoeveraskedhispupilwhathethoughtofgrammarandrhetoric，orofsuchandsuchasentenceofCicero？Ourmastersstickthem，fullfeathered，inourmemories，andthereestablishthemlikeoracles，ofwhichthelettersandsyllablesareofthesubstanceofthething。Toknowbyrote，isnoknowledge，andsignifiesnomorebutonlytoretainwhatonehasintrustedtoourmemory。Thatwhichamanrightlyknowsandunderstands，heisthefreedisposerofathisownfullliberty，withoutanyregardtotheauthorfromwhencehehadit，orfumblingovertheleavesofhisbook。Amerebookishlearningisapoor，paltrylearning;itmayserveforornament，butthereisyetnofoundationforanysuperstructuretobebuiltuponit，accordingtotheopinionofPlato，whosays，thatconstancy，faith，andsincerity，arethetruephilosophy，andtheothersciences，thataredirectedtootherends;
mereadulteratepaint。IcouldwishthatPaluelorPompey，thosetwonoteddancersofmytime，couldhavetaughtustocutcapers，byonlyseeingthemdoit，withoutstirringfromourplaces，asthesemenpretendtoinformtheunderstandingwithouteversettingittowork，orthatwecouldlearntoride，handleapike，touchalute，orsingwithoutthetroubleofpractice，astheseattempttomakeusjudgeandspeakwell，withoutexercisingusinjudgingorspeaking。Nowinthisinitiationofourstudiesintheirprogress，whatsoeverpresentsitselfbeforeusisbooksufficient;aroguishtrickofapage，asottishmistakeofaservant，ajestatthetable，aresomanynewsubjects。
Andforthisreason，conversationwithmenisofverygreatuseandtravelintoforeigncountries;nottobringback（asmostofouryoungmonsieursdo）anaccountonlyofhowmanypacesSantaRotonda——[ThePantheonofAgrippa。]——isincircuit;oroftherichnessofSignoraLivia’spetticoats;or，assomeothers，howmuchNero’sface，inastatueinsuchanoldruin，islongerandbroaderthanthatmadeforhimonsomemedal;buttobeablechieflytogiveanaccountofthehumours，manners，customs，andlawsofthosenationswherehehasbeen，andthatwemaywhetandsharpenourwitsbyrubbingthemagainstthoseofothers。I
wouldthataboyshouldbesentabroadveryyoung，andfirst，soastokilltwobirdswithonestone，intothoseneighbouringnationswhoselanguageismostdifferingfromourown，andtowhich，ifitbenotformedbetimes，thetonguewillgrowtoostifftobend。
Andalso’tisthegeneralopinionofall，thatachildshouldnotbebroughtupinhismother’slap。Mothersaretootender，andtheirnaturalaffectionisapttomakethemostdiscreetofthemallsooverfond，thattheycanneitherfindintheirheartstogivethemduecorrectionforthefaultstheymaycommit，norsufferthemtobeinuredtohardshipsandhazards，astheyoughttobe。Theywillnotenduretoseethemreturnalldustandsweatfromtheirexercise，todrinkcolddrinkwhentheyarehot，norseethemmountanunrulyhorse，nortakeafoilinhandagainstarudefencer，orsomuchastodischargeacarbine。
Andyetthereisnoremedy;whoeverwillbreedaboytobegoodforanythingwhenhecomestobeaman，mustbynomeanssparehimwhenyoung，andmustveryoftentransgresstherulesofphysic:
\"Vitamquesubdio，ettrepidisagatInrebus。\"
[\"Lethimliveinopenair，andeverinmovementaboutsomething。\"
——Horace，Od。ii。，3，5。]
Itisnotenoughtofortifyhissoul;youarealsotomakehissinewsstrong;forthesoulwillbeoppressedifnotassistedbythemembers，andwouldhavetoohardatasktodischargetwoofficesalone。Iknowverywelltomycost，howmuchminegroansundertheburden，frombeingaccommodatedwithabodysotenderandindisposed，aseternallyleansandpressesuponher;andofteninmyreadingperceivethatourmasters，intheirwritings，makeexamplespassformagnanimityandfortitudeofmind，whichreallyarerathertoughnessofskinandhardnessofbones;forI
haveseenmen，women，andchildren，naturallybornofsohardandinsensibleaconstitutionofbody，thatasoundcudgellinghasbeenlesstothemthanaflirtwithafingerwouldhavebeentome，andthatwouldneithercryout，wince，norshrink，foragoodswingingbeating;andwhenwrestlerscounterfeitthephilosophersinpatience，’tisratherstrengthofnervesthanstoutnessofheart。Nowtobeinuredtoundergolabour，istobeaccustomedtoendurepain:
\"Laborcallumobducitdolori。\"
[\"Labourhardensusagainstpain。\"——Cicero，Tusc。Quaes。，ii。15。]
Aboyistobebrokenintothetoilandroughnessofexercise，soastobetraineduptothepainandsufferingofdislocations，cholics，cauteries，andevenimprisonmentandtherackitself;forhemaycomebymisfortunetobereducedtotheworstofthese，which（asthisworldgoes）issometimesinflictedonthegoodaswellasthebad。Asforproof，inourpresentcivilwarwhoeverdrawshisswordagainstthelaws，threatensthehonestestmenwiththewhipandthehalter。
And，moreover，bylivingathome，theauthorityofthisgovernor，whichoughttobesovereignovertheboyhehasreceivedintohischarge，isoftencheckedandhinderedbythepresenceofparents;towhichmayalsobeadded，thattherespectthewholefamilypayhim，astheirmaster’sson，andtheknowledgehehasoftheestateandgreatnessheisheirto，are，inmyopinion，nosmallinconveniencesinthesetenderyears。
Andyet，eveninthisconversingwithmenIspokeofbutnow，Ihaveobservedthisvice，thatinsteadofgatheringobservationsfromothers，wemakeitourwholebusinesstolayourselvesopentothem，andaremoreconcernedhowtoexposeandsetoutourowncommodities，thanhowtoincreaseourstockbyacquiringnew。Silence，therefore，andmodestyareveryadvantageousqualitiesinconversation。Oneshould，therefore，trainupthisboytobesparingandanhusbandofhisknowledgewhenhehasacquiredit;andtoforbeartakingexceptionsatorreprovingeveryidlesayingorridiculousstorythatissaidortoldinhispresence;foritisaveryunbecomingrudenesstocarpateverythingthatisnotagreeabletoourownpalate。Lethimbesatisfiedwithcorrectinghimself，andnotseemtocondemneverythinginanotherhewouldnotdohimself，nordisputeitasagainstcommoncustoms。
\"Licetsaperesinepompa，sineinvidia。\"
[\"Letusbewisewithoutostentation，withoutenvy。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，103。
Lethimavoidthesevainanduncivilimagesofauthority，thischildishambitionofcovetingtoappearbetterbredandmoreaccomplished，thanhereallywill，bysuchcarriage，discoverhimselftobe。And，asifopportunitiesofinterruptingandreprehendingwerenottobeomitted，todesirethencetoderivethereputationofsomethingmorethanordinary。
Forasitbecomesnonebutgreatpoetstomakeuseofthepoeticallicence，soitisintolerableforanybutmenofgreatandillustrioussoulstoassumeprivilegeabovetheauthorityofcustom:
\"SiquidSocratesantAristippuscontramoremetconsuetudinemfecerunt，idemsibinearbitreturlicere:magnisenimillietdivinisbonishanclicentiamassequebantur。\"
[\"IfSocratesandAristippushavecommittedanyactagainstmannersandcustom，lethimnotthinkthatheisallowedtodothesame;foritwasbygreatanddivinebenefitsthattheyobtainedthisprivilege。\"——Cicero，De0ffic。，i。41。]
Lethimbeinstructednottoengageindiscourseordisputebutwithachampionworthyofhim，and，eventhere，nottomakeuseofallthelittlesubtletiesthatmayseempatforhispurpose，butonlysuchargumentsasmaybestservehim。Lethimbetaughttobecuriousintheelectionandchoiceofhisreasons，toabominateimpertinence，andconsequently，toaffectbrevity;but，aboveall，lethimbelessonedtoacquiesceandsubmittotruthsosoonaseverheshalldiscoverit，whetherinhisopponent’sargument，oruponbetterconsiderationofhisown;forheshallneverbepreferredtothechairforamereclatterofwordsandsyllogisms，andisnofurtherengagedtoanyargumentwhatever，thanasheshallinhisownjudgmentapproveit:noryetisarguingatrade，wherethelibertyofrecantationandgettingoffuponbetterthoughts，aretobesoldforreadymoney:
\"Neque，utomnia，quxpraescriptaetimperatasint，defendat，necessitateullacogitur。\"
[\"Neitheristheiranynecessityuponhim，thatheshoulddefendallthingsthatareprescribedandenjoinedhim。\"
——Cicero，Acad。，ii。3。]
Ifhisgovernorbeofmyhumour，hewillformhiswilltobeaverygoodandloyalsubjecttohisprince，veryaffectionatetohisperson，andverystoutinhisquarrel;butwithalhewillcoolinhimthedesireofhavinganyothertietohisservicethanpublicduty。Besidesseveralotherinconveniencesthatareinconsistentwiththelibertyeveryhonestmanoughttohave，aman’sjudgment，beingbribedandprepossessedbytheseparticularobligations，iseitherblindedandlessfreetoexerciseitsfunction，orisblemishedwithingratitudeandindiscretion。Amanthatispurelyacourtier，canneitherhavepowernorwilltospeakorthinkotherwisethanfavourablyandwellofamaster，who，amongstsomanymillionsofothersubjects，haspickedouthimwithhisownhandtonourishandadvance;thisfavour，andtheprofitflowingfromit，mustneeds，andnotwithoutsomeshowofreason，corrupthisfreedomanddazzlehim;andwecommonlyseethesepeoplespeakinanotherkindofphrasethanisordinarilyspokenbyothersofthesamenation，thoughwhattheysayinthatcourtlylanguageisnotmuchtobebelieved。
Lethisconscienceandvirtuebeeminentlymanifestinhisspeaking，andhaveonlyreasonfortheirguide。Makehimunderstand，thattoacknowledgetheerrorheshalldiscoverinhisownargument，thoughonlyfoundoutbyhimself，isaneffectofjudgmentandsincerity，whicharetheprincipalthingsheistoseekafter;thatobstinacyandcontentionarecommonqualities，mostappearinginmeansouls;thattoreviseandcorrecthimself，toforsakeanunjustargumentintheheightandheatofdispute，arerare，great，andphilosophicalqualities。
Lethimbeadvised，beingincompany，tohavehiseyeandearineverycorner;forIfindthattheplacesofgreatesthonourarecommonlyseizeduponbymenthathaveleastinthem，andthatthegreatestfortunesareseldomaccompaniedwiththeablestparts。Ihavebeenpresentwhen，whilsttheyattheupperendofthechamberhavebeenonlycommentingthebeautyofthearras，ortheflavourofthewine，manythingsthathavebeenveryfinelysaidatthelowerendofthetablehavebeenlostandthrownaway。Lethimexamineeveryman’stalent;apeasant，abricklayer，apassenger:onemaylearnsomethingfromeveryoneoftheseintheirseveralcapacities，andsomethingwillbepickedoutoftheirdiscoursewhereofsomeusemaybemadeatonetimeoranother;nay，eventhefollyandimpertinenceofotherswillcontributetohisinstruction。
Byobservingthegracesandmannersofallhesees，hewillcreatetohimselfanemulationofthegood，andacontemptofthebad。
Letanhonestcuriositybesuggestedtohisfancyofbeinginquisitiveaftereverything;whateverthereissingularandrareneartheplacewhereheis，lethimgoandseeit;afinehouse，anoblefountain，aneminentman，theplacewhereabattlehasbeenancientlyfought，thepassagesofCaesarandCharlemagne:
\"Quxtellussitlentagelu，quaeputrisabaestu，VentusinItaliamquisbenevelaferat。\"
[\"Whatcountryisboundinfrost，whatlandisfriablewithheat，whatwindservesfairestforItaly。\"——Propertius，iv。3，39。]
Lethiminquireintothemanners，revenues，andalliancesofprinces，thingsinthemselvesverypleasanttolearn，andveryusefultoknow。
Inthisconversingwithmen，Imeanalso，andprincipally，thosewhoonlyliveintherecordsofhistory;heshall，byreadingthosebooks，conversewiththegreatandheroicsoulsofthebestages。’Tisanidleandvainstudytothosewhomakeitsobydoingitafteranegligentmanner，buttothosewhodoitwithcareandobservation，’tisastudyofinestimablefruitandvalue;andtheonlystudy，asPlatoreports，thattheLacedaemoniansreservedtothemselves。Whatprofitshallhenotreapastothebusinessofmen，byreadingtheLivesofPlutarch？But，withal，letmygovernorremembertowhatendhisinstructionsareprincipallydirected，andthathedonotsomuchimprintinhispupil’smemorythedateoftheruinofCarthage，asthemannersofHannibalandScipio;norsomuchwhereMarcellusdied，aswhyitwasunworthyofhisdutythathediedthere。Lethimnotteachhimsomuchthenarrativepartsofhistoryastojudgethem;thereadingofthem，inmyopinion，isathingthatofallothersweapplyourselvesuntowiththemostdifferingmeasure。IhavereadahundredthingsinLivythatanotherhasnot，ornottakennoticeofatleast;andPlutarchhasreadahundredmoretherethaneverIcouldfind，orthan，peradventure，thatauthoreverwrote;tosomeitismerelyagrammarstudy，tootherstheveryanatomyofphilosophy，bywhichthemostabstrusepartsofourhumannaturepenetrate。ThereareinPlutarchmanylongdiscoursesveryworthytobecarefullyreadandobserved，forheis，inmyopinion，ofallothersthegreatestmasterinthatkindofwriting;butthereareathousandotherswhichhehasonlytouchedandglancedupon，whereheonlypointswithhisfingertodirectuswhichwaywemaygoifwewill，andcontentshimselfsometimeswithgivingonlyonebriskhitinthenicestarticleofthequestion，whencewearetogropeouttherest。As，forexample，wherehesays’——[IntheEssayonFalseShame。]——thattheinhabitantsofAsiacametobevassalstooneonly，fornothavingbeenabletopronounceonesyllable，whichisNo。WhichsayingofhisgaveperhapsmatterandoccasiontoLaBoetietowritehis\"VoluntaryServitude。\"Onlytoseehimpickoutalightactioninaman’slife，oramerewordthatdoesnotseemtoamounteventothat，isitselfawholediscourse。’Tistoourprejudicethatmenofunderstandingshouldsoimmoderatelyaffectbrevity;nodoubttheirreputationisthebetterbyit，butinthemeantimewearetheworse。Plutarchhadratherweshouldapplaudhisjudgmentthancommendhisknowledge，andhadratherleaveuswithanappetitetoreadmore，thangluttedwiththatwehavealreadyread。Heknewverywell，thatamanmaysaytoomuchevenuponthebestsubjects，andthatAlexandridasjustlyreproachedhimwhomadeverygood。