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