merchandize as we have, than to ingrosse and purchase
new commodities. Silence and modestie are qualities
very convenient to civil conversation. It is also
necessary that a young man be rather taught to be discreetly-sparing
and close-handed, than prodigally-wastfull and lavish
in his expences, and moderate in husbanding his wealth
when he shall come to possesse it. And not to
take pepper in the nose for every foolish tale that
shall be spoken in his presence, because it is an uncivil
importunity to contradict whatsoever is not agreeing
to our humour: let him be pleased to correct
himselfe. And let him not seeme to blame that
in others which he refuseth to doe himselfe, nor goe
about to withstand common fashions, Licet sapere sine
pompa, sine invidia: [Footnote: Sen.
Epist. ciii. f.] “A man may bee wise without
ostentation, without envie.” Let him avoid
those imperious images of the world, those uncivil
behaviours and childish ambition wherewith, God wot,
too-too many are possest: that is, to make a
faire shew of that which is not in him: endevouring
to be reputed other than indeed he is; and as if reprehension
and new devices were hard to come by, he would by
that meane acquire into himselfe the name of some
peculiar vertue. As it pertaineth but to great
Poets to use the libertie of arts; so is it tolerable
but in noble minds and great spirits to have a preheminence
above ordinarie fashions. Si quid Socrates et
Aristippus contra morem et consuetudinem fecerunt,
idem sibi ne arbitretur licere: Magis enim illi
et divinis bonis hanc licentiam assequebantur:
[Footnote: Cic. Off. 1. i.] “If
Socrates and Aristippus have done ought against custome
or good manner, let not a man thinke he may doe the
same: for they obtained this licence by their
great and excellent good parts:” He shall
be taught not to enter rashly into discourse or contesting,
but when he shall encounter with a Champion worthie
his strength; And then would I not have him imploy
all the tricks that may fit his turne, but only such
as may stand him in most stead. That he be taught
to be curious in making choice of his reasons, loving
pertinency, and by consequence brevitie. That
above all, he be instructed to yeeld, yea to quit
his weapons unto truth, as soone as he shall discerne
the same, whether it proceed from his adversarie,
or upon better advice from himselfe; for he shall
not be preferred to any place of eminencie above others,
for repeating of a prescript [Footnote: Fixed
beforehand.] part; and he is not engaged to defend
any cause, further than he may approove it; nor shall
he bee of that trade where the libertie for a man
to repent and re-advise himselfe is sold for readie
money, Neque, ut omnia, que praescripta et imperata
sint, defendat, necessitate ulla cogitur: [Footnote:
Cic. Acad. Qu. I. iv.] “Nor
is he inforced by any necessitie to defend and make
good all that is prescribed and commanded him.”
If his tutor agree with my humour, he shall frame