|
Part III
Part III
So doubtlesse he shall lesse be idle than others; for even as the paces
we bestow walking in a gallerie, although they be twice as many more, wearie
us not so much as those we spend in going a set journey: So our lesson being
past over, as it were, by chance, or way of encounter, without strict
observance of time or place, being applied to all our actions, shall be
digested, and never felt. All sports and exercises shall be a part of his
study; running, wrestling, musicke, dancing, hunting, and managing of armes
and horses. I would have the exterior demeanor or decencie, and the
disposition of his person to be fashioned together with his mind: for, it is
not a mind, it is not a body that we erect, but it is a man, and we must not
make two parts of him. And as Plato saith, They must not be erected one
without another, but equally be directed, no otherwise than a couple of horses
matched to draw in one selfe-same teeme. And to heare him, doth he not seeme
to imploy more time and care in the exercises of his bodie: and to thinke that
the minde is together with the same exercised, and not the contrarie? As for
other matters, this institution ought to be directed by a sweet-severe
mildnesse; Not as some do, who in liew of gently-bidding children to the
banquet of letters, present them with nothing but horror and crueltie. Let me
have this violence and compulsion removed, there is nothing that, in my
seeming, doth more bastardise and dizzie a welborne and gentle nature: If you
would have him stand in awe of shame and punishment, doe not so much enure him
to it: accustome him patiently to endure sweat and cold, the sharpnesse of the
wind, the heat of the sunne, and how to despise all hazards. Remove from him
all nicenesse and quaintnesse in clothing, in lying, in eating, and in
drinking: fashion him to all things, that he prove not a faire and
wantonpuling boy, but a lustie and vigorous boy: When I was a child, being a
man, and now am old, I have ever judged and believed the same. But amongst
other things, I could never away with this kind of discipline used in most of
our Colleges. It had peradventure been lesse hurtfull, if they had somewhat
inclined to mildnesse, or gentle entreatie. It is a verie prison of captivated
youth, and proves dissolute in punishing it before it be so. Come upon them
when they are going to their lesson, and you heare nothing but whipping and
brawling, both of children tormented, and masters besotted with anger and
chafing. How wide are they, which go about to allure a childs mind to go to
its booke, being yet but tender and fearefull, with a stearne-frowning
countenance, and with hands full of rods? Oh wicked and pernicious 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 himselfe in framing of his lawes
about the recreation and pastime of the youth of his Citie, and how far he
extends himselfe 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^51 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 himselfe 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 evill, neither for want of strength or knowledge, but for lacke of
will. Multum interest utrum peccare quis nolit, aut nesciat:^52 "There is a
great difference, whether one have no will, or no wit to doe amisse." I
thought to have honoured a gentleman (as great a stranger, and as far from
such riotous disorders as any is in France) by enquiring of him in verie good
companie, how many times in all his life he had bin drunke in Germanie during
the time of his abode there, about the necessarie affaires of our King; who
tooke it even as I meant it, and answered three times, telling the time and
manner how. I know some, who for want of that qualitie, have been much
perplexed when they have had occasion to converse with that nation. I have
often noted with great admiration, that wonderfull nature of Alcibiades, to
see how easilie he could sute himselfe to so divers fashions and different
humors, without prejudice unto his health; sometimes exceeding the
sumptuousnesse and pompe of the Persians, and now and then surpassing the
austeritie and frugalitie of the Lacedemonians; as reformed in Sparta, as
voluptuous in Ionia.
[Footnote 51: Vomit.]
[Footnote 52: Hor. Epist. xvii. 23.]
Omnis Aristippum decuit color, et status, et res.^53
[Footnote 53: Hor. Epist. xvii. 25.]
All colours, states, and things are fit
For courtly Artistippus wit.
Such a one would I frame my Disciple,
--- quem duplici panno patientia velat,
Mirabor, vitae via si conversa decebit.
Whom patience clothes with sutes of double kind,
I muse, if he another way will find.
Personamque feret non inconcinnus utramque.^54
[Footnote 54: Cic. Tusc. Qu. 1. iv.]
He not unfitly may,
Both parts and persons play.
Loe here my lessons, wherein he that acteth them, profiteth more than he
that but knoweth them, whom, if you see, you heare, and if you heare him, you
see him. God forbid, saith some bodie in Plato, that to Philosophize, be to
learne many things, and to exercise the arts. Hanc amplissimam omnium artium
bene vivendi disciplinam, vita magis quam litteris persequnti sunt.^55 "This
discipline of living well, which is the amplest of all other arts, they
followed rather in their lives than in their learning or writing." Leo Prince
of the Phliasians, enquiring of Heraclides Ponticus, what art he professed, he
answered, "Sir, I professe neither art nor science; but I am a Philosopher."
Some reproved Diogenes, that being an ignorant man, he did neverthelesse
meddle with Philosophie, to whom he replied, "So much the more reason have I
and to greater purpose doe I meddle with it." Hegesias praid him upon a time
to reade some booke unto him: "You are a merry man," said he "As you chuse
naturall and not painted, right and not counterfeit figges to eat, why doe you
not likewise chuse, not the painted and written, but the true and naturall
exercises?" He shall not so much repeat, as act his lesson. In his actions
shall he make repetition of the same. We must observe, whether there bee
wisdome in his enterprises, integritie in his demeanor, modestie in his
jestures, justice in his actions, judgement and grace in his speech, courage
in his sicknesse, moderation in his sports, temperance in his pleasures, order
in the government of his house, and indifference in his taste, whether it be
flesh, fish, wine, or water, or whatsoever he feedeth upon. Qui disciplinam
suam non ostentationem scientiae sed legem vitae putet: quique obtemperet ipse
sibi, et decretis pareat.^56 "Who thinks his learning not an ostentation of
knowledge, but a law of life, and himselfe obayes himselfe, and doth what is
decreed."
[Footnote 55: Ib. 29.]
[Footnote 56: Ib. l. ii.]
The true mirror of our discourses is the course of our lives. Zeuxidamus
answered one that demanded of him, why the Lacedemonians did not draw into a
booke, the ordinances of prowesse, that so their yong men might read them; "it
is," saith he, "because they would rather accustome them to deeds and actions,
than to bookes and writings." Compare at the end of fifteene or sixteene
yeares one of these collegiall Latinizers, who hath imployed all that while
onely in learning how to speake, to such a one as I meane. The world is
nothing but babling and words, and I never saw man that doth not rather speake
more than he ought, than lesse. Notwithstanding halfe our age is consumed that
way. We are kept foure or five yeares learning to understand bare words, and
to joine them into clauses, then as long in proportioning a great bodie
extended into foure or five parts; and five more at least ere we can
succinctly know how to mingle, joine, and interlace them handsomly into a
subtil fashion, and into one coherent orbe. Let us leave it to those whose
profession is to doe nothing else. Being once on my journey to Orleans, it was
my chance to meet upon that plaine that lieth on this side Clery, with two
Masters of Arts, traveling toward Burdeaux, about fiftie paces one from
another; far off behind them, I descride a troupe of horsemen, their Master
riding formost, who was the Earle of Rochefocault; one of my servants
enquiring of the first of those Masters of Arts, what Gentleman he was that
followed him; supposing my servant had meant his fellow-scholler, for he had
not yet seen the Earles traine, answered pleasantly, "He is no gentleman, Sir,
but a Gramarian, and I am a Logitian." Now, we that contrariwise seek not to
frame a Gramarian, nor a Logitian, but a compleat gentleman, let us give them
leave to mispend their time; we have else-where, and somewhat else of more
import to doe. So that our Disciple be well and sufficiently stored with
matter; words will follow apace, and if they will not follow gently, he shall
hale them on perforce. I heare some excuse themselves, that they cannot
expresse their meaning, and make a semblance that their heads are so full
stuft with many goodly things, but for want of eloquence they can neither
utter nor make show of them. It is a meere fopperie. And will you know what,
in my seeming, the cause is? They are shadows and Chimeraes, proceeding of
some formelesse conceptions, which they cannot distinguish or resolve within
and by consequence are not able to produce them in asmuch as they understand
not themselves: And if you but marke their earnestnesse, and how they stammer
and labour at the point of their deliverie, you would deeme that what they go
withall, is but a conceiving, and therefore nothing neere downelying; and that
they doe but licke that imperfect and shapelesse lump of matter. As for me, I
am of opinion, and Socrates would have it so, that he who had a cleare and
lively imagination in his mind, may easilie produce and utter the same,
although it be in Bergamask^57 or Welsh, and if he be dumbe, by signes and
tokens.
[Footnote 57: A rustic dialect of the north of Italy.]
Verbaque praevisam rem non invita sequentur.^58
[Footnote 58: Hor. Art. Poet. 311.]
When matter we fore-know,
Words voluntarie flow.
As one said, as poetically in his prose, Cum res animum occupavere, verba
ambiunt;^59 "When matter hath possest their minds, they hunt after words"; and
another: Ipsae res verba rapiunt:^60 "Things themselves will catch and carry
words": He knowes neither Ablative, Conjunctive, Substantive, nor Gramar, no
more doth his Lackey, nor any Oyster-wife about the streets, and yet if you
have a mind to it he will intertaine you, your fill, and peradventure stumble
as little and as seldome against the rules of his tongue, as the best Master
of arts in France. He hath no skill in Rhetoricke, nor can he with a preface
fore-stall and captivate the Gentle Readers good will: nor careth he greatly
to know it. In good sooth, all this garish painting is easilie defaced, by the
lustre of an in-bred and simple truth; for these dainties and quaint devices
serve but to ammuse the vulgar sort; unapt and incapable to taste the most
solid and firme meat: as Afer verie plainly declareth in Cornelius Tacitus.
The Ambassadours of Samos being come to Cleomenes King of Sparta, prepared
with a long prolix Oration, to stir him up to war against the tyrant
Policrates, after he had listned a good while unto them, his answer was:
"Touching your Exordium or beginning I have forgotten it; the middle I
remember not; and for your conclusion I will do nothing in it." A fit, and (to
my thinking) a verie good answer; and the Orators were put to such a shift, as
they not knew what to replie. And what said another? the Athenians from out
two of their cunning Architects, were to chuse one to erect a notable great
frame; the one of them more affected and selfe presuming, presented himselfe
before them, with a smooth forepremeditated discourse, about the subject of
that piece of worke, and thereby drew the judgements of the common people unto
his liking; but the other in few words spake thus: "Lords of Athens, what this
man hath said I will performe." In the greatest earnestnesse of Ciceroes
eloquence many were drawn into a kind of admiration; But Cato jesting at it,
said, "Have we not a pleasant Consull?" A quicke cunning Argument, and a
wittie saying, whether it go before or come after, it is never out of season.
If it have no coherence with that which goeth before, nor with what commeth
after; it is good and commendable in it selfe. I am none of those that think a
good Ryme, to make a good Poeme; let him hardly (if so he please) make a short
syllable long, it is no great matter; if the invention be rare and good, and
his wit and judgement have cunningly played their part. I will say to such a
one; he is a good Poet, but an ill Versifier.
[Footnote 59: Sen. Controv. l. vii. preae.]
[Footnote 60: Cic. De Fin. l. iii. c. 5.]
Emunctae naris, durus componere versus.^61
[Footnote 61: Hor. l. i. Sat. iv.]
A man whose sense could finely pierce,
But harsh and hard to make a verse.
Let a man (saith Horace) make his worke loose all seames, measures, and
joynts.
Tempora certa modosque, et quod prius ordine verbum est,^62
Posterius facias, praeponens ultima primis:
Invenias etiam disjecti membra Poetae.^63
[Footnote 62: Ib. 58.]
[Footnote 63: Ib. 62.]
Set times and moods, make you the first word last,
The last word first, as if they were new cast:
Yet find th` unjoynted Poets joints stand fast.
He shall for all that, nothing gain-say himselfe, every piece will make a
good shew. To this purpose answered Menander those that chid him, the day
being at hand, in which he had promised a Comedy, and had not begun the same,
"Tut-tut," said he, "it is alreadie finished, there wanteth nothing but to
adde the verse unto it;" for, having ranged and cast the plot in his mind, he
made small accompt of feet, of measures, or cadences of verses, which indeed
are but of small import in regard of the rest. Since great Ronsarde and
learned Bellay have raised our French Poesie unto that height of honour where
it now is: I see not one of these petty ballad-makers, or prentise dogrell
rymers, that doth not bombast his labours with high-swelling and
heaven-disimbowelling words, and that doth not marshall his cadences verie
neere as they doe. Plus sonat quam valet.^64 "The sound is more than the
weight or worth." And for the vulgar sort there were never so many Poets, and
so few good: but as it hath been easie for them to represent their rymes, so
come they far short in imitating the rich descriptions of the one, and rare
inventions of the other. But what he shall doe, if he be urged with
sophisticall subtilties about a Sillogisme? A gammon of Bacon makes a man
drink, drinking quencheth a mans thirst; Ergo, a gammon of bacon quencheth a
mans thirst. Let him mock at it, it is more wittie to be mockt at than to be
answered. Let him borrow this pleasant countercraft of Aristippus; "Why shall
I unbind that, which being bound doth so much trouble me?" Some one proposed
certaine Logicall quiddities against Cleanthes, to whom Chrisippus said; use
such jugling tricks to play with children, and divert not the serious thoughts
of an aged man to such idle matters. If such foolish wiles, Contorta et
aculeata sophismata,^65 "Intricate and stinged sophismes," must perswade a
lie, it is dangerous: but if they proove void of any effect, and move him but
to laughter, I see not why he shall beware of them. Some there are so foolish
that will go a quarter of a mile out of the way to hunt after a quaint new
word, if they once get in chace; Aut qui non verba rebus aptant, sed res
extrinsecus arcessunt, quibus verba conveniant: "Or such as fit not words to
matter, but fetch matter from abroad, whereto words be fitted." And another,
Qui alicujus verbi decore placentis, vocentur ad id quod non proposuerant
scribere:^66 "Who are allured by the grace of some pleasing word, to write
what they intended not to write." I doe more willingly winde up a wittie
notable sentence, that so I may sew it upon me, than unwinde my thread to go
fetch it. Contrariwise, it is for words to serve and wait upon the matter, and
not for matter to attend upon words, and if the French tongue cannot reach
unto it, let the Gaskonie, or any other. I would have the matters to surmount,
and so fill the imagination of him that harkeneth, that he have no remembrance
at all of the words. It is a naturall, simple, and unaffected speech that I
love, so written as it is spoken, and such upon the paper, as it is in the
mouth, a pithie, sinnowie, full, strong, compendious and materiall speech, not
so delicate and affected as vehement and piercing.
[Footnote 64: Sen. Epist. xl.]
[Footnote 65: Cic. Acad. Qu. l. iv.]
[Footnote 66: Sen. Epist. liii.]
Haec demum sapiet dictio quae feriet.^67
[Footnote 67: Epitaph on Lucan, 6]
In fine, that word is wisely fit,
Which strikes the fence, the marke doth hit.
Rather difficult than tedious, void of affection, free, loose and bold,
that every member of it seeme to make a bodie; not Pedanticall, nor
Frier-like, nor Lawyer-like, but rather downe right, Souldier-like. As
Suetonius calleth that of Julius Caesar, which I see no reason wherefore he
calleth it. I have sometimes pleased myselfe in imitating that licenciousnesse
or wanton humour of our youths, in wearing of their garments; as carelessly to
let their cloaks hang downe over one shoulder; to weare their cloakes scarfe
or bawdrikewise, and their stockings loose hanging about their legs. It
represents a kind of disdainful fiercenesse of these forraine embellishings,
and neglect carelesnesse of art: But I commend it more being imployed in the
course and forme of speech. All manner of affectation, namely^68 in the
livelinesse and libertie of France, is unseemely in a Courtier. And in a
Monarchie every Gentleman ought to addresse himselfe unto^69 a Courtiers
carriage. Therefore do we well somewhat to incline to a native and carelesse
behaviours. I like not a contexture, where the seames and pieces may be seen:
As in a well compact bodie, what need a man distinguish and number all the
bones and veines severally? Quae veritati operam dat oratio, incomposita sit
et simplex.^70 Quis accurate loquitur nisi qui vult putide loqui?"^71 "The
speach that intendeth trust must be plaine and unpollisht: Who speaketh
elaborately, but he that meanes to speake unfavourably?" That eloquence
offereth injurie unto things, which altogether drawes us to observe it. As in
apparell, it is a signe of pusillanimitie for one to marke himselfe, in some
particular and unusuall fashion: so likewise in common speech, for one to hunt
after new phrases, and unaccustomed quaint words, proceedeth of a
scholasticall and childish ambition. Let me use none other than are spoken in
the hals of Paris. Aristophanes the Gramarian was somewhat out of the way,
when he reproved Epicurus, for the simplicitie of his words, and the end of
his art oratorie, which was onely perspicuitie in speech. The imitation of
speech, by reason of the facilitie of it, followeth presently a whole nation.
The imitation of judging and inventing comes more slow. The greater number of
Readers, because they have found one self-same kind of gowne, suppose most
falsely to holde one like bodie. Outward garments and cloakes may be borrowed,
but never the sinews and strength of the bodie. Most of those that converse
with me, speake like unto these Essayes; but I know not whether they think
alike. The Athenians (as Plato averreth) have for their part great care to be
fluent and eloquent in their speech; The Lacedemonians endevour to be short
and compendious; and those of Creet labour more to bee plentifull in conceits
than in language. And these are the best. Zeno was wont to say, "That he had
two sorts of disciples; the one he called plXoXoyous, curious to learne
things, and those were his darlings, the other he termed XoyopiXous, who
respected nothing more than the language." Yet can no man say, but that to
speake well, is most gracious and commendable, but not so excellent as some
make it: and I am grieved to see how we imploy most part of our time about
that onely. I would first know mine owne tongue perfectly, then my neighbours
with whom I have most commerce. I must needs acknowledge, that the Greeke and
Latine tongues are great ornaments in a gentleman, but they are purchased at
over-high a rate. Use it who list, I will tell you how they may be gotten
better, cheaper, and much sooner than is ordinarily used, which was tried in
myselfe. My late father, having, by all the meanes and industrie that is
possible for a man, sought amongst the wisest, and men of best understanding,
to find a most exquisite and readie way of teaching, being advised of the
inconveniences then in use; was given to understand that the lingring while,
and best part of our youth, that we imploy in learning the tongues, which cost
them nothing, is the onely cause we can never attaine to that absolute
perfection of skill and knowledge of the Greekes and Romanes. I doe not
beleeve that to be the onely cause. But so it is, the expedient my father
found out was this; that being yet at nurse, and before the first loosing of
my tongue, I was delivered to a Germane (who died since, a most excellent
Physitian in France) he being then altogether ignorant of the French tongue,
but exquisitely readie and skilfull in the Latine. This man, whom my father
had sent for of purpose, and to whom he gave verie great entertainment, had me
continually in his armes, and was mine onely overseer. There were also joyned
unto him two of his countrimen, but not so learned; whose charge was to
attend, and now and then to play with me; and all these together did never
entertaine me with other than the Latine tongue. As for others of his
household, it was an inviolable rule, that neither himselfe, nor my mother,
nor man, nor maid-servant, were suffered to speake one word in my companie,
except such Latine words as every one had learned to chat and prattle with me.
It were strange to tell how every one in the house profited therein. My Father
and my Mother learned so much Latine, that for a need they could understand
it, when they heard it spoken, even so did all the household servants, namely
such as were neerest and most about me. To be short, we were all so Latinized,
that the townes round about us had their share of it; insomuch as even at this
day, many Latine names both of workmen and of their tooles are yet in use
amongst them. And as for myselfe, I was about six years old, and could
understand no more French or Perigordine than Arabike; and that without art,
without bookes, rules, or grammer, without whipping or whining, I had gotten
as pure a Latin tongue as my Master could speake; the rather because I could
neither mingle or confound the same with other tongues. If for an Essay they
would give me a Theme, whereas the fashion in Colleges is, to give it in
French, I had it in bad Latine, to reduce the same into good. And Nicholas
Grouchy, who hath written De comitiis Romanorum, William Guerente, who hath
commented Aristotle: George Buchanan, that famous Scottish Poet, and Marke
Antonie Muret, whom (while he lived) both France and Italie to this day,
acknowledge to have been the best orator: all which have beene my familiar
tutors, have often told me, that in mine infancie I had the Latine tongue so
readie and so perfect, that themselves feared to take me in hand. And
Buchanan, who afterward I saw attending on the Marshall of Brissacke, told me,
he was about to write a treatise of the institution of children, and that he
tooke the model and patterne from mine: for at that time he had the charge and
bringing up of the young Earle of Brissack, whom since we have seene prove so
worthy and so valiant a Captaine. As for the Greeke, wherein I have but small
understanding, my father purposed to make me learne it by art; But by new and
uncustomed meanes, that is, by way of recreation and exercise. We did tosse
our declinations and conjugations to the fro, as they doe, who by way of a
certaine game at tables learne both Arithmetike and Geometrie. For, amongst
other things he had especially beene perswaded to make me taste and apprehend
the fruits of dutie and science by an unforced kinde of will, and of mine owne
choice; and without any compulsion or rigor to bring me up in all mildnesse
and libertie: yea with such kinde of superstition, that, whereas some are of
opinion that suddenly to awaken young children, and as it were by violence to
startle and fright them out of their dead sleepe in a morning (wherein they
are more heavie and deeper plunged than we) doth greatly trouble and distemper
their braines, he would every morning cause me to be awakened by the sound of
some instrument; and I was never without a servant who to that purpose
attended upon me. This example may serve to judge of the rest; as also to
commend the judgement and tender affection of so carefull and loving a father:
who is not to be blamed, though hee reaped not the fruits answerable to his
exquisite toyle and painefull manuring.^72 Two things hindered the same; first
the barrennesse and unfit soyle: for howbeit I were of a sound and strong
constitution, and of a tractable and yeelding condition, yet was I so heavie,
so sluggish, and so dull, that I could not be rouzed (yea were it to goe to
play) from out mine idle drowzinesse. What I saw, I saw it perfectly; and
under this heavy, and as it were Lethe-complexion did I breed hardie
imaginations, and opinions farre above my yeares. My spirit was very slow, and
would goe no further than it was led by others; my apprehension blockish, my
invention poore; and besides, I had a marvelous defect in my weake memorie: it
is therefore no wonder, if my father could never bring me to any perfection.
Secondly, as those that in some dangerous sicknesse, moved with a kind of
hopefull and greedie desire of perfect health againe, give eare to every Leach
or Emperike,^73 and follow all counsels, the good man being exceedingly
fearefull to commit any oversight, in a matter he tooke so to heart, suffered
himselfe at last to be led away by the common opinion, which like unto the
Cranes, followeth ever those that go and yeelded to custome: having those no
longer about him, that had given him his first directions, and which they had
brought out of Italie. Being but six yeares old I was sent to the College of
Guienne, then most flourishing and reputed the best in France, where it is
impossible to adde any thing to the great care he had, both to chuse the best
and most sufficient masters that could be found, to reade unto me, as also for
all other circumstances partaining to my education; wherein contrary to usuall
customes of Colleges, he observed many particular rules. But so it is, it was
ever a College. My Latin tongue was forthwith corrupted, whereof by reason of
discontinuance, I afterward lost all manner of use: which new kind of
institution stood me in no other stead, but that at my first admittance it
made me to over-skip some of the lower formes, and to be placed in the
highest. For at thirteene yeares of age, that I left the College, I had read
over the whole course of Philosophie (as they call it) but with so small
profit, that I can now make no account of it. The first taste or feeling I had
of bookes, was of the pleasure I tooke in reading the fables of Ovids
Metamorphosies; for, being but seven or eight yeares old, I would steale and
sequester my selfe from all other delights, only to reade them: Forsomuch as
the tongue wherein they were written was to me naturall; and it was the
easiest booke I knew, and by reason of the matter therein contained most
agreeing with my young age. For of King Arthur, of Lancelot du Lake, of
Amadis, of Huon of Burdeaux, and such idle time consuming and wit-besotting
trash of bookes wherein youth doth commonly ammuse it selfe, I was not so much
as acquainted with their names, and to this day know not their bodies, nor
what they containe: So exact was my discipline. Whereby I became more
carelesse to studie my other prescript lessons. And well did it fall out for
my purpose, that I had to deale with a very discreet Master, who out of his
judgement could with such dexterite winke at and second my untowardlinesse,
and such other faults that were in me. For by that meanes I read over Virgils
Aeneados, Terence, Plautus, and other Italian Comedies, allured thereunto by
the pleasantnesse of their severall subjects: Had be beene so foolishly
severe, or so severely froward as to crosse this course of mine, I thinke
verily I had never brought any thing from the College, but the hate and
contempt of Bookes, as doth the greatest part of our Nobilitie. Such was his
discretion, and so warily did he behave himselfe, that he saw and would not
see: hee would foster and increase my longing: suffering me but by stealth and
by snatches to glut my selfe with those Bookes, holding ever a gentle hand
over me, concerning other regular studies. For, the chiefest thing my father
required at their hands (unto whose charge he had committed me) was a kinde of
well conditioned mildnesse and facilitie of complexion.^74 And, to say truth,
mine had no other fault, but a certaine dull languishing and heavie
slothfulnesse. The danger was not, I should doe ill, but that I should doe
nothing.
[Footnote 68: Especially.]
[Footnote 69: Aim at.]
[Footnote 70: Sen. Epist. xl.]
[Footnote 71: lb. Epist. lxxv.]
[Footnote 72: Cultivation.]
[Footnote 73: Doctor or quack.]
[Footnote 74: Easiness of disposition.]
No man did ever suspect I would prove a bad, but an unprofitable man:
foreseeing in me rather a kind of idlenesse than a voluntary craftinesse. I am
not so selfe-conceited but I perceive what hath followed. The complaints
that are daily buzzed in mine eares are these; that I am idle, cold, and
negligent in offices of friendship, and dutie to my parents and kinsfolkes;
and touching publike offices, that I am over singular and disdainfull. And
those that are most injurious cannot aske, wherefore I have taken, and why I
have not paied? but may rather demand, why I doe not quit, and wherefore I doe
not give? I would take it as a favour, they should wish such effects of
supererogation in me. But they are unjust and over partiall, that will goe
about to exact that from me which I owe not, with more vigour than they will
exact from themselves that which they owe; wherein if they condemne me, they
utterly cancell both the gratifying of the action, and the gratitude, which
thereby would be due to me. Whereas the active well doing should be of more
consequence, proceeding from my hand, in regard I have no passive at all.
Wherefore I may so much the more freely dispose of my fortune, by how much
more it is mine, and of my selfe that am most mine owne. Notwithstanding, if I
were a great blazoner of mine owne actions, I might peradventure barre such
reproches, and justly upraid some, that they are not so much offended, because
I doe not enough, as for that I may, and it lies in my power to doe much more
than I doe. Yet my minde ceased not at the same time to have peculiar unto it
selfe well setled motions, true and open judgements concerning the objects
which it knew; which alone, and without any helpe or communication it would
digest. And amongst other things, I verily beleeve it would have proved
altogether incapable and unfit to yeeld unto force, or stoope unto violence.
Shall I account or relate this qualitie of my nnfancie, which was, a kinde of
boldnesse in my lookes, and gentle softness in my voice, and affabilitie in my
gestures, and a dexterite in conforming my selfe to the parts I undertooke?
for before the age of the
Alter ab undecimo tum me vix ceperat annus.^75
[Footnote 75: Virg. Buc. Ecl. viii. 39.]
Yeares had I (to make even)
Scarce two above eleven.
I have under-gone and represented the chiefest part in the Latin Tragedies
of Buchanan, Guerente, and of Muret; which in great state were acted and plaid
in our College of Guienne: wherein Andreas Goveanus our Rector principall; who
as in all other parts belonging to his charge, was without comparison the
chiefest Rector of France, and my selfe (without ostentation be it spoken) was
reputed, if not a chiefe-master, yet a principall Actor in them. It is an
exercise I rather commend than disalow in young Gentlemen: and have seene some
of our Princes (in imitation of some of former ages) both commendably and
honestly, in their proper persons act and play some parts in Tragedies. It
hath heretofore been esteemed a lawfull exercise, and a tolerable profession
in men of honor, namely in Greece: Aristoni tragico actori rem aperit: huic et
genus et fortuna honesta erant: nec ars, quia nihil tale apud Graecos pudori
est, ea deformabat:^76 "He imparts the matter to Ariston a Player of
tragedies, whose progenie and fortune were both honest; nor did his profession
disgrace them, because no such matter is a disparagement amongst the
Grecians."
[Footnote 76: Liv. Deo. iii. 1. iv.]
And I have ever accused them of impertinencie, that condemne and disalow
such kindes of recreations, and blame those of injustice, that refuse good and
honest Comedians, or (as we call them) Players, to enter our good townes, and
grudge the common people such publike sports. Politike and wel ordered
commonwealths endevour rather carefully to unite and assemble their Citizens
together; as in serious offices of devotion, so in honest exercises of
recreation. Common societie and loving friendship is thereby cherished and
increased. And besides, they cannot have more formal and regular pastimes
allowed them, than such as are acted and represented in open view of all, and
in the presence of the magistrates themselves: And if I might beare sway, I
would thinke it reasonable, that Princes should sometimes, at their proper
charges, gratifie the common people with them, as an argument of a fatherly
affection, and loving goodnesse towards them: and that in populous and
frequented cities, there should be Theatres and places appointed for such
spectacles; as a diverting of worse inconveniences, and secret actions. But to
come to my intended purpose there is no better way to allure the affection,
and to entice the appetite: otherwise a man shall breed but asses laden with
Bookes. With jerks of rods they have their satchels full of learning given
them to keepe. Which to doe well, one must not only harbor in himselfe, but
wed and marry the same with his minde.
|
