Games which dirty School-boys are so much delighted
with. It may easily be imagined, how such a
pretty Society, conversing with none beneath themselves,
and sometimes admitted as perhaps not unentertaining
Parties amongst better Company, commended and caressed
for their little Performances, and turned by such
Conversations to a certain Gallantry of Soul, might
be brought early acquainted with some of the most
polite English Writers. This having given
them some tolerable Taste of Books, they would make
themselves Masters of the Latin Tongue by
Methods far easier than those in Lilly, with
as little Difficulty or Reluctance as young Ladies
learn to speak French, or to sing Italian
Operas. When they had advanced thus far, it would
be time to form their Taste something more exactly:
One that had any true Relish of fine Writing, might,
with great Pleasure both to himself and them, run
over together with them the best Roman Historians,
Poets, and Orators, and point out their more remarkable
Beauties; give them a short Scheme of Chronology,
a little View of Geography, Medals, Astronomy, or
what else might best feed the busy inquisitive Humour
so natural to that Age. Such of them as had
the least Spark of Genius, when it was once awakened
by the shining Thoughts and great Sentiments of
those admired Writers, could not, I believe, be easily
withheld from attempting that more difficult Sister
Language, whose exalted Beauties they would have
heard so often celebrated as the Pride and Wonder
of the whole Learned World. In the mean while,
it would be requisite to exercise their Style in
Writing any light Pieces that ask more of Fancy
than of Judgment: and that frequently in their
Native Language, which every one methinks should
be most concerned to cultivate, especially Letters,
in which a Gentleman must have so frequent Occasions
to distinguish himself. A Set of genteel good-natured
Youths fallen into such a Manner of Life, would form
almost a little Academy, and doubtless prove no such
contemptible Companions, as might not often tempt
a wiser Man to mingle himself in their Diversions,
and draw them into such serious Sports as might prove
nothing less instructing than the gravest Lessons.
I doubt not but it might be made some of their Favourite
Plays, to contend which of them should recite a
beautiful Part of a Poem or Oration most gracefully,
or sometimes to join in acting a Scene of Terence,
Sophocles, or our own Shakespear.
The Cause of Milo might again be pleaded
before more favourable Judges, Caesar a second
time be taught to tremble, and another Race of Athenians
be afresh enraged at the Ambition of another Philip.
Amidst these noble Amusements, we could hope to
see the early Dawnings of their Imagination daily
brighten into Sense, their Innocence improve into
Virtue, and their unexperienced Good-nature directed
to a generous Love of their Country.
I am, &c.