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XI4.2.] ‘THE SECOND BOOK. ~ 183 
As first, the timing and seasoning of knowledges; as 
with what to initiate them, and from what for a time to 
refrain them. 
Secondly, the consideration where to begin with the 
easiest, and so proceed to the more difficult; and in what 
courses to press the more difficult, and then to turn them 
to the more easy : for it is one method to practise swim- 
ming with bladders, and another to practise dancing with 
heavy shoes. 
A third is the application of learning according unto 
the propriety of the wits; for there is no defect in the 
faculties intellectual, but seemeth to have a proper cure 
contained in some studies: as, for example, if a child be 
bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, the 
mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto; for in them, if 
the wit be caught away but a moment, one is new to 
begin. And as sciences have a propriety towards faculties 
for cure and help, so faculties or powers have a sympathy 
towards sciences for excellency or speedy profiting: and 
therefore it is an inquiry of great wisdom, what kinds of 
wits and natures are most apt and proper for what sciences. 
Fourthly, the ordering of exercises is matter of great 
consequence to hurt or help: for, as is well observed by 
Cicero, men in exercising their faculties, if they be not 
well advised, do exercise their faults and get ill habits as 
well as good; so as there is a great judgement to be had 
in the continuance and intermission of exercises. It were 
too long to particularise a number of other considerations 
of this nature, things but of mean appearance, but of 
singular efficacy. For as the wronging or cherishing of 
seeds or young plants is that that is most important 
to their thriving, and as it was noted that the first six 
kings being in truth as tutors of the state of Rome in the 
