134 THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



wherein it is over usual to blanch the obscure places and 



d ^^T S ^t e ce P rg the times, which in many cases give 



^^E3*Tl*l censure and judgment 

 of the authors; that men thereby may make some election 

 unto themselves what books to read. 



And the fifth is concerning the syntax and disposition of 

 studies; that men may know in what order or pursuit to 



re! (2) For pedantical knowledge, it containeth that difference 

 of tradition which is proper for youth ; whereunto appertain 

 divers considerations of great fruit. 



As first, the timing and seasoning of knowledges ; as 

 with what to initiate them, and from what for a time t 



re SndTy m the consideration where to begin with the easiest, 

 an! so proceed to the more difficult ; and in what courses 

 to press the more difficult, and then to turn them to the 

 moJe easy ; for it is one method to practise swimming 

 with bladders, and another to practise dancing with heavy 



Sh A S third is the application of learning according unto the 

 propriety of the wits; for there is no defect m the faculties 

 Fntellectlal, but seemeth to have a proper cure contained in 

 some studies: as, for example, if a child be bird-witted, that 

 isTath not the faculty of attention, the mathematics giveth a 

 remedy thereunto ; for in them, if the wit be caught away 

 buTaKDment, 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 



fourthly! the of exercises is matter of great conse- 



ntrence to hurt or help : for, as is well observed by Cicero, 

 St exercising their faculties, if they be not well advised, 

 o exercise their faults and get ill habits as well as good ; so 

 , there is a great judgment to be had in the continuance 

 rnd^missiol of exercises. It were too long to particular 

 a number of other considerations of this nature, things but of 

 mean appearance, but of singular efficacy. For as the wrong- 

 Sg or cherishing of seeds or young plants is that tnat is most 

 Sfportant to their thriving, and as it ^s noted that the first 

 six kings being in truth as tutors of the state of Rome in 



