Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about Literary and Philosophical Essays.

Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about Literary and Philosophical Essays.
manner of teaching! which Quintillian hath very wel noted, that this imperious kind of authoritie, namely, this way of punishing of children, drawes many dangerous inconveniences within.  How much more decent were it to see their school-houses and formes strewed with greene boughs and flowers, than with bloudy burchen-twigs?  If it lay in me, I would doe as the Philosopher Speusippus did, who caused the pictures of Gladness and Joy, of Flora and of the Graces, to be set up round about his school-house.  Where their profit lieth, there should also be their recreation.  Those meats ought to be sugred over, that are healthful for childrens stomakes, and those made bitter that are hurtfull for them.  It is strange to see how carefull Plato sheweth him selfe in framing of his lawes about the recreation and pastime of the youth of his Citie, and how far he extends him selfe about their exercises, sports, songs, leaping, and dancing, whereof he saith, that severe antiquitie gave the conduct and patronage unto the Gods themselves, namely, to Apollo, to the Muses, and to Minerva.  Marke but how far-forth he endevoreth to give a thousand precepts to be kept in his places of exercises both of bodie and mind.  As for learned Sciences, he stands not much upon them, and seemeth in particular to commend Poesie, but for Musickes sake.  All strangenesse and selfe-particularitie in our manners and conditions, is to be shunned, as an enemie to societie and civill conversation.  Who would not be astonished at Demophons complexion, chiefe steward of Alexanders household, who was wont to sweat in the shadow, and quiver for cold in the sunne?  I have seene some to startle at the smell of an apple more than at the shot of a peece; some to be frighted with a mouse, some readie to cast their gorge [Footnote:  Vomit.] at the sight of a messe of creame, and others to be scared with seeing a fether bed shaken:  as Germanicus, who could not abide to see a cock, or heare his crowing.  There may haply be some hidden propertie of nature, which in my judgement might easilie be removed, if it were taken in time.  Institution hath gotten this upon me (I must confesse with much adoe) for, except beere, all things else that are mans food agree indifferently with my taste.  The bodie being yet souple, ought to be accommodated to all fashions and customes; and (alwaies provided, his appetites and desires be kept under) let a yong man boldly be made fit for al Nations and companies; yea, if need be, for al disorders and surfetings; let him acquaint him selfe with al fashions; That he may be able to do al things, and love to do none but those that are commendable.  Some strict Philosophers commend not, but rather blame Calisthenes, for losing the good favour of his Master Alexander, only because he would not pledge him as much as he had drunke to him.  He shall laugh, jest, dally, and debauch himselfe with his Prince.  And in his debauching, I would have him out-go al his fellowes in vigor and constancie, and that he omit not to doe
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Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.