THE FIRST BOOK 53 



learning, of language, or of science, modern or ancient, 

 divinity or humanity : and unto the very last year of 

 her Ufe she accustomed to appoint set hours for read- 

 ing, scarcely any young student in an university more 

 daily or more duly. As for her government, I assure 

 myself, I shall not exceed, if I do affirm that this part 

 of the island never had forty-five years of better times ; 

 and yet not through the calmness of the season, but 

 through the wisdom of her regiment. For if there be 

 considered of the one side, the truth of religion estab- 

 lished, the constant peace and security, the good 

 administration of justice, the temperate use of the 

 prerogative, not slackened, nor much strained, the 

 flourishing state of learning, sortable to so excellent 

 a patroness, the convenient estate of wealth and means, 

 both of crown and subject, the habit of obedience, and 

 the moderation of discontents ; and there be con- 

 sidered on the other side the differences of religion, 

 the troubles of neighbour countries, the ambition of 

 Spain, and opposition of Rome ; and then that she 

 was solitary and of herself : these things I say con- 

 sidered, as I could not have chosen an instance so 

 recent and so proper, so I suppose I could not have 

 chosen one more remarkable or eminent to the pur- 

 pose now in hand, which is concerning the conjunc- 

 tion of learning in the prince with felicity in the people. 



10. Neither hath learning an influence and operation 

 only upon civil merit and moral virtue, and the arts 

 or temperature of peace and peaceable government ; 

 but likewise it hath no less power and efficacy in 

 enablement towards martial and military virtue and 

 prowess ; as may be notably represented in the ex- 

 amples of Alexander the Great and Caesar the dictator, 

 mentioned before, but now in fit place to be resumed: 

 of whose virtues and acta in war there needs no note 

 or recital, having been the wonders of time in that 

 kind : but of their affections towards learning, and 

 perfections in learning, it is pertinent to say some- 

 what. 



11. Alexander was bred and taught under Aristotle 



