weapon； that will hinder and wound its master； if put into an awkward and
unskilful hand：
〃Ut fuerit melius non didicisse。〃
＇〃So that it were better not to have learned。〃
Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； ii。 4。＇
And this； peradventure； is the reason why neither we nor theology require
much learning in women； and that Francis； Duke of Brittany； son of John
V。； one talking with him about his marriage with Isabella the daughter of
Scotland； and adding that she was homely bred； and without any manner of
learning； made answer； that he liked her the better； and that a woman was
wise enough； if she could distinguish her husband's shirt from his
doublet。 So that it is no so great wonder； as they make of it； that our
ancestors had letters in no greater esteem； and that even to this day
they are but rarely met with in the principal councils of princes； and if
the end and design of acquiring riches； which is the only thing we
propose to ourselves； by the means of law； physic； pedantry； and even
divinity itself； did not uphold and keep them in credit； you would； with
doubt； see them in as pitiful a condition as ever。 And what loss would
this be； if they neither instruct us to think well nor to do well？
〃Postquam docti prodierunt； boni desunt。〃
＇Seneca； Ep。； 95。 〃Since the 'savans' have made their appearance
among us； the good people have become eclipsed。〃
Rousseau； Discours sur les Lettres。＇
All other knowledge is hurtful to him who has not the science of
goodness。
But the reason I glanced upon but now； may it not also hence proceed；
that； our studies in France having almost no other aim but profit； except
as to those who； by nature born to offices and employments rather of
glory than gain； addict themselves to letters； if at all； only for so
short a time （being taken from their studies before they can come to have
any taste of them； to a profession that has nothing to do with books）；
there ordinarily remain no others to apply themselves wholly to learning；
but people of mean condition； who in that only seek the means to live；
and by such people； whose souls are； both by nature and by domestic
education and example； of the basest alloy the fruits of knowledge are
immaturely gathered and ill digested； and delivered to their recipients
quite another thing。 For it is not for knowledge to enlighten a soul
that is dark of itself； nor to make a blind man see。 Her business is not
to find a man's eyes； but to guide； govern； and direct them； provided he
have sound feet and straight legs to go upon。 Knowledge is an excellent
drug； but no drug has virtue enough to preserve itself from corruption
and decay； if the vessel be tainted and impure wherein it is put to keep。
Such a one may have a sight clear enough who looks asquint； and
consequently sees what is good； but does not follow it； and sees
knowledge； but makes no use of it。 Plato's principal institution in his
Republic is to fit his citizens with employments suitable to their
nature。 Nature can do all； and does all。 Cripples are very unfit for
exercises of the body； and lame souls for exercises of the mind。
Degenerate and vulgar souls are unworthy of philosophy。 If we see a
shoemaker with his shoes out at the toes； we say； 'tis no wonder； for；
commonly； none go worse shod than they。 In like manner； experience often
presents us a physician worse physicked； a divine less reformed； and
（constantly） a scholar of less sufficiency； than other people。
Old Aristo of Chios had reason to say that philosophers did their
auditors harm； forasmuch as most of the souls of those that heard them
were not capable of deriving benefit from instruction； which； if not
applied to good； would certainly be applied to ill：
＇〃They proceeded effeminate debauchees from the school of
Aristippus； cynics from that of Zeno。〃
Cicero； De Natura Deor。；iii。； 31。＇
In that excellent institution that Xenophon attributes to the Persians；
we find that they taught their children virtue； as other nations do
letters。 Plato tells us that the eldest son in their royal succession
was thus brought up； after his birth he was delivered； not to women； but
to eunuchs of the greatest authority about their kings for their virtue；
whose charge it was to keep his body healthful and in good plight； and
after he came to seven years of age； to teach him to ride and to go
a…hunting。 When he arrived at fourteen he was transferred into the hands
of four； the wisest； the most just； the most temperate； and most valiant
of the nation； of whom the first was to instruct him in religion； the
second to be always upright and sincere； the third to conquer his
appetites and desires； and the fourth to despise all danger。
It is a thing worthy of very great consideration； that in that excellent；
and； in truth； for its perfection； prodigious form of civil regimen set
down by Lycurgus； though so solicitous of the education of children；
as a thing of the greatest concern； and even in the very seat of the
Muses； he should make so little mention of learning； as if that generous
youth； disdaining all other subjection but that of virtue； ought to be
supplied； instead of tutors to read to them arts and sciences； with such
masters as should only instruct them in valour； prudence； and justice；
an example that Plato has followed in his laws。 The manner of their
discipline was to propound to them questions in judgment upon men and
their actions； and if they commended or condemned this or that person or
fact； they were to give a reason for so doing； by which means they at
once sharpened their understanding； and learned what was right。
Astyages； in Xenophon； asks Cyrus to give an account of his last lesson；
and thus it was； 〃A great boy in our school； having a little short
cassock； by force took a longer from another that was not so tall as he；
and gave him his own in exchange： whereupon I； being appointed judge of
the controversy； gave judgment； that I thought it best each should keep
the coat he had； for that they both of them were better fitted with that
of one another than with their own： upon which my master told me； I had
done ill； in that I had only considered the fitness of the garments；
whereas I ought to have considered the justice of the thing； which
required that no one should have anything forcibly taken from him that is
his own。〃 And Cyrus adds that he was whipped for his pains； as we are in
our villages for forgetting the first aorist of 。
＇Cotton's version of this story commences differently； and includes
a passage which is not in any of the editions of the original before
me：
〃Mandane； in Xenophon； asking Cyrus how he would do to learn
justice； and the other virtues amongst the Medes； having left all
his masters behind him in Persia？ He made answer； that he had
learned those things long since； that his master had often made him
a judge of the differences amongst his schoolfellows； and had one
day whipped him for giving a wrong sentence。〃 W。C。H。＇
My pedant must make me a very learned oration； 'in genere demonstrativo'；
before he can persuade me that his school is like unto that。 They knew
how to go the readiest way to work； and seeing that science； when most
rightly applied and best understood； can do no more but teach us
prudence； moral honesty； and resolution； they thought fit； at first hand；
to initiate their children with the knowledge of effects； and to instruct
them； not by hearsay and rote； but by the experiment of action； in lively
forming and moulding them； not only by words and precepts； but chiefly by
works and examples； to the end it might not be a knowledge in the mind
only； but its complexion and habit： not an acquisition； but a natural
possession。 One asking to this purpose； Agesilaus； what he thought most
proper for boys to learn？ 〃What they ought to do when they come to be
men；〃 said he。＇Plutarch； Apothegms of the Lacedamonians。 Rousseau
adopts the expression in his Diswuys sur tes Lettres。＇ It is no wonder；
if such an institution produced so admirable effects。
They used to go； it is said； to the other cities of Greece； to inquire
out rhetoricians； painters； and musicians； but to Lacedaemon for
legislators； magistrates； and generals of armies； at Athens they learned
to speak well： here to do well； there to disengage themselves from a
sophistical argument； and to unravel the imposture of captious
syllogisms； here to evade the baits and allurements of pleasure； and with
a noble courage and resolution to conquer the menaces of fortune and
death； those cudgelled their brains about words； these made it their
business to inquire into things； there was an eternal babble of the
tongue； here a continual exercise of the soul。 And therefore it is
nothing strange if； when Antipater demanded of them fifty children for
hostages； they made answer； quite contrary to what we should do； that
they would rather give him twice as many full…grown men； so much did they
value the loss of their country's education。 When Agesilaus courted
Xenophon to send his children to Sparta to be bred； 〃it is not；〃 said he；
〃there to learn logic or rhetoric； but to be instructed in the noblest of
all sciences； namely； the science to obey and to command。〃 ＇Plutarch；
Life of Agesilaus； c。 7。＇
It is very pleasant to see Socrates； after his manner； rallying Hippias；
＇Plato's Dialogues： Hippias Major。＇ who recounts to him what a world
of money he has got； especially in certain little villages of Sicily； by
teaching school； and that he made never a penny at Sparta： 〃What a
sottish and stupid people；〃 said Socrates； 〃are they； without sense or
understanding； that make no account either of grammar or poetry； and only
busy themselves in studying the genealogies and successions of their
kings； the foundations； rises； and declensions of states； and such tales
of a tub！〃 After which； having made Hippias from one step to another
acknowledge the excellency of their form of public administration； and
the felicity and virtue of their private life； he leaves him to guess at
the conclusion he makes of the inutilit