200 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [Book 



which is proper for youth, whereunto appertain divers considciations 

 of great fruit. 



As first the timing and seasoning of knowledges ; as with what to 

 initiate them, and from what, for a time, to refrain them. 



Secondly, the consideration where to begin with the easiest, and so 

 proceed to the more difficult, and in what courses to press the more 

 difficult, and then to turn them to the more easy ; for it is one method 

 to practise swimming with bladders, and another to practise dancing 

 with heavy shoes. 



A third is the application of learning according unto the propriety 

 of the wits ; for there is no defect in the faculties intellectual but 

 seemeth to have a proper cure contained in some studies : as for 

 example, if a child be bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of 

 attention, the mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto, for in them, if 

 the wit be caught away but a moment, 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 a-nd natures are most proper for what sciences. 



Fourthly, the ordering of exercises is matter of great consequence 

 to hurt or help : for, as is well observed by Cicero, men in exercising 

 their faculties, if they be not well advised, do exercise their faults, and 

 get ill habits as well as good ; so there is a great judgment to be had 

 in the continuance and intermission of exercises. It were too long to 

 particularize a number of other considerations of this nature ; things 

 but of mean appearance, but of singular efficacy : for as the wronging 

 or cherishing of seeds or young plants, is that that is most important 

 to their thriving ; and as it was noted, that the first six kings, being in 

 truth as tutors of the state of Rome in the infancy thereof, was the 

 principal cause of the immense greatness of that state which followed ; 

 so the culture and manurance of minds in youth hath such a forcible, 

 though unseen, operation, as hardly any length of time or contention 

 of labour can countervail it afterwards. And it is not amiss to observe 

 also, how small and mean faculties gotten by education, yet when they 

 fall into great men or great matters, do work great and important 

 effects ; whereof we see a notable example in Tacitus, of two stage 

 players, Percennius and Vibulenus, who by their faculty of playing put 

 the Pannonian armies into an extreme tumult and combustion ; for 

 there arising a mutiny amongst them, upon the death of Augustus 

 Caesar, Blcesus the lieutenant had committed some of the mutineers, 

 which were suddenly rescued ; whereupon Vibulenus got to be heard 

 speak, which he did in this manner : &quot; These poor innocent wretches 

 appointed to cruel death, you have restored to behold the light : but 

 who shall restore my brother to me, or life unto my brother, that was 

 sent hither in message from the legions of Germany, to treat of the 

 common cause ? And he hath murdered him this last night by some 

 of his fencers and ruffians, that he hath about him for his executioners 

 upon soldiers. Answer, Blcesus, what is done with his body? The 

 mortalest enemies do not deny burial ; when I have performed my last 



