THE FIRST BOOK. 19 



And for meanness of employment, that which is most 

 traduced to contempt is that the government of youth is 

 commonly allotted "to them ; which age, because it is the 

 age of least authority, it is transferred to the disesteeming 

 of those employments wherein youth is conversant, and 

 which are conversant about youth. But how unjust this 

 traducement is (if you will reduce things from popularity 

 of opinion to measure of reason) may appear in that, we 

 see men are more curious what they put into a new vessel, 

 than into a vessel seasoned ; and what mould they lay 10 

 about a young plant, than about a plant corroborate ; 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 ? Tour young men 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 of pedants hath been scorned upon 

 theatres, as the ape of tyranny ; and that the modern 

 looseness or negligence hath taken no due regard to the 20 

 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 dis 

 cipline hath been in some sort revived of late times by 

 the colleges of the Jesuits ; of whom, although in regard 

 of their superstition I may say, Quo meliores, eo deteriores, 

 [The better they are the worse they are;] yet in regard of this, 

 and some other points concerning human learning and 

 moral matters, I may say, as Agesilaus said to his enemy 30 

 Pharnabazus, Talis quum sis, utinam noster esses, [ You are so 

 good that I wish you were on our side.] And thus much 

 touching the discredits drawn from the fortunes of learned 

 men. 



As touching the manners of learned men, it is a thing 

 personal and individual : and no doubt there be amongst 



