THE SCHOOLMASTER. 45 



Again, advises the philosopher, choose those men for 

 masters who both know how to teach and really wish to 

 do it 1 ; for great are the weariness and labour that attend 

 the task. Flatter not the pupils; above all, flatter not 

 the teacher; do not flatter, but reward him solidly 2 . The 

 expense of a good teacher is not light, but there is nothing 

 better than to incur it if you would train up good youths, 

 and sound. Children should be trained to take written 

 notes of what is taught them, and to answer questions in- 

 stantly. The manner of teaching should be pleasant, 

 mixed with jests that must not pass the bounds of decency. 

 All things may be taught merrily, says Jerome, except 

 Greek and Latin 3 . And, after all, he inclines most to 

 believe that kindness in the teacher will do more than 

 force, and that in using force blows are to be avoided. 

 For, he says, though by the aid of these the children may 

 be made to learn, yet, the brain being filled with lacrymal 

 matter, they are apt to turn out fools or rascals 4 . 



It is evident that he sways curiously between two 

 opinions. By nature, Cardan was very kind, and shrank 



* "Eos eligas qui sciant docere, et qui hoc velint: magnus enim 

 labor, tsediumque majus." Loc. cit. 



* "Absint denique blanditiae omnes, et maxime ab educatoribliB. 

 Eorum loco perpetua sint benefacta." 



3 De Ut. Adr. Cap. p. 251. Proxenata, p. 695. 



4 Proxenata, p. 696. " Meliores sunt in universum blanditiae yi, et 

 in vi fugere oportet verbera: nam etsi perficiant ex his, ubi defecerit 

 aetas, impleto cerebro lacrymali materia, stulti ant improbi evadunt." 



