III. 3.] THE FIRST BOOK. 21 



they lay about a young plant than about a plant cor 

 roborate ; so as the weakest terms and times of all things 

 use to have the best applications and helps. And will 

 you hearken to the Hebrew rabbins ? Your young me?i 

 shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams ; say 

 they youth is the worthier age, for that visions are nearer 

 apparitions of God than dreams ? And let it be noted, 

 that howsoever the condition of life o& pedantes hath been 

 scorned upon theatres, as the ape of tyranny; and that 

 the modern looseness or negligence hath taken no due 

 regard to the choice of schoolmasters and tutors ; yet the 

 ancient wisdom of the best times did always make a just 

 complaint, that states were too busy with their laws and 

 too negligent in point of education : which excellent part 

 of ancient discipline hath been in some sort revived of 

 late times by the colleges of the Jesuits; of whom, al 

 though in regard of their superstition I may say, Quo 

 meh ores, eo deter ior es ; yet in regard to this, and some 

 other points concerning human learning and moral mat 

 ters, I may say, as Agesilaus said to his enemy Pharna- 

 bazus, Talis quum sis, utinam nosier esses. And thus 

 much touching the discredits drawn from the fortunes of 

 learned men. 



4. As touching the manners of learned men, it is a 

 thing personal and individual : and no doubt there be 

 amongst them, as in other professions, of all tempera 

 tures : but yet so as it is not without truth which is said, 

 that Aleunt studia in mores, studies have an influence and 

 operation upon the manners of those that are conversant 

 in them. 



5. But upon an attentive and indifferent review, I for 

 my part cannot find any disgrace to learning can pro 

 ceed from the manners of learned men ; not inherent 



