( ir 4 ) 



they get up to the next river or lake, where they re- 

 main a great part of the day playing, in the lame 

 manner we fee fifties do in good weather, near the 

 fur face of the water. Nothing is more proper 

 than this exercife to render the body active. 



They take care likewifc to put the bow and arrow 

 into their hands betimes ; and in order to excite in 

 them that emulation which is the bed miftrefs of 

 the arts, there is no necemty of placing their break- 

 fad on the top of a tree, as was formerly done to 

 the Lacedemonian youth ; they are all born with 

 fo drong a paffion for glory, as to have no need of 

 a fpur ; thus they moot their arrows with wonder- 

 ful exactnefs, and it fcarce cods them any trouble 

 to arrive at a like dexterity in the ufe of our fire- 

 arms. They alfo caufe them wreftle together, ancl 

 fo keen are they in this exercife, that they would 

 often kill one another, were they not feparated in 

 time ; thofe who come off with the word, are fo 

 mortified at it that they can never be at reft till 

 they have had their revenge. 



We may in general fay, that fathers and mothers 

 neglect nothing, in order to infpire their children 

 with certain principles of honour which they pre- 

 ferve their whole lives, but which are often ill 

 enough applied *, and in this confifts all the edu- 

 cation that is given them. They take care always 

 to communicate their inftructions on this head, 

 in an indirect manner. The mod common way is 

 by rehearfing to them the famous exploits of their 

 anceftors or countrymen : the youth take fire at; 

 thefe recitals, and figh for an opportunity of imi- 

 tating what they have thus been made to admire, 

 Sometimes in order to correct their faults they em-- 

 ploy tears and entreaties, but never threats ; thefe 



would 



