The First Book 17 



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 about a 

 young plant than about a plant corroborate; so as the 

 weakest terms and times of all things use to have the 

 best apphcations and helps. And will you hearken to the 

 Hebrew rabbins? Your 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 Hfe of Pedantes hath been scorned upon 

 theatres, as the ape of tyranny ; and that the modern loose- i 

 ness 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 discipUne 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 ; yet in regard of this, 

 and some other points concerning human learning and 

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

 Phamabazus. Talis quum sis, utinam noster 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 temperatures : but yet so 

 as it is not without truth, which is said, that Abeunt 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 proceed 



» Joel ii. 28. 



• Edition 1629 and 1633 read " say the." 



•Edition 1605 reads " conditions . . . hath," 1633 reads " con- 

 ditions . . . have." 



• Conference of Agesilaus and Phamabazus. Plut. Vit. Ages. 

 •Ovid, Ep. XV. 83. 



