the ftrongest Impreffions; or if our Delight be confin'd to Hiftory, there are Authors of Purity that may feaft our Minds with that Science. This is what the Tutor is to find and practife on the Scholar : But above all, he muft labour not to fet his Scholar's Capacity on the Rack; or put him on lofing his Way in Livy, at an Age when he is only fit to travel through Corderius or

fop.

Nor do I think we are to waste our Youth at School only to learn the Conftruction of Greek or Latin, or any other dead Language: There is more requifite than Grammar and Syntax, Themes and Diftichs; Tam vita quam Scholæ difcere neceffe eft; we must learn Things ufeful to our Conduct, as well as to difpute methodically. When we once understand our Author's Language, let us endeavour to be Mafters of his. Spirit; enter into his Genius, Wit, Defigns, and Difpofitions of them; enquire into the Principles and Morality he advances; and if good, make them Standards for our private Imitation. Thus will Learning be useful and wholefome; our Improvement rife gradually, as our Judgments ripen; our Breasts be furnifh'd with Rules and Ideas noble and practicable, and remote from those Trifles which moft fuit the popular Humour.

We

We are not only to govern our Appetites in the Delights of Eating and Drinking, but also to enure them to a like Temperance in Reading; that while we make ufe of Authors as Food, we may purfue that which is wholefome and profitable in thofe Things which we read with most Pleafure. For as a City cannot be secure, if but one Gate be left open to receive the Enemy; though all the reft be fhut; fo neither can a Youth be fafe, though he be fufficiently fortified against the Affaults of all other Pleasures, whilft he is without any Guard against those of the Ear. And by how much the nearer the Commerce is betwixt the Delights of that Senfe, and those of the Mind and Reafon; by fo much the more, when he lies open on that Side is he apt to be debauch'd and corrupted thereby.

I defign this Caution principally in the Reading of the Poets; for though Poetry may afford fweet and wholfome Nourishment to the Minds of young Men, yet it contains likewife no lefs Matter of Difturbance and Emotion to them that want a right Conduct in the Study thereof. The Epicureans were fo particularly prejudic'd against this Science, that as they look'd on it not only as unprofitable, but hurtful, fo it was one of their Injunctions on their Difciples, Ποιήματα

C 6

Ποιήματα αγνωεῖν, ἐκ ἂν ποιεῖν, neither to read nor maké Poems. Youth therefore here must keep a Guard on itself, and be careful of being feduced to their Hurt, by that which affords them fo much Delight. For as Poetry many Times defcribes, by Imitation, foul Actions, unfeemly Manners, and Paffions, the young Student must not in fuch Defcriptions (altho' perform'd never fo artificially and commendably) believe all that is faid as true, or embrace it as good; but give it its due Commendation only fo far as it fuits the Subject treated of. For the Goodnefs of Things themfelves differs much from the Goodness of the Imitation of them: The Goodnefs of the latter, confifting only in Propriety and Aptnefs to represent the former. Now the Fiction and Reprefentation of evil Acts, when it withal acquaints us with the Shame and Damage befalling the Doers, is fo far from hurting, that it rather profits him that reads it: And Boys may be inftructed by reading the Poets as they ought, to draw even from thofe Paffages that are moft fufpected for wicked and abfurd, fomething that is ufeful and profitable; as the Bee is taught by Nature to gather the sweetest Honey from the harshest Flowers and fharpeft Thorns.

Mr. Locke in his excellent Treatife of Education, feems fo averfe to the cherishing and improving of a Poetic Vein, that he is against Boys making of Verfes at School. He thinks Parents should labour to have it ftifled and fuppreffed as much as may be; and knows not what Reafon a Father can have to with his Son a Poet, who does not defire to have him bid Defiance to all other Callings and Bufinefs. I cannot apprehend the real Danger he intimates from Verfification. Shall a Youth, because he finds fome Charms in writing an Epigram, or trying at an Elegy, inftantly shake Hands with all Thoughts and Defigns of Gravity and Moment; Poeta nafcitur non fit, is a Maxim which will always, in my Opinion, take off the Edge of this Argument: If Nature have not ftrongly turned a Youth's Genius that Way, if he be not born with the Seeds of Poetry in his Breast, he may with Security read all their Works, and try his Fancy at every diftinct Species of Verfe; yet not be injured, as to the Meafures he is to take in Life, either from his Parents Prescriptions, or his own Inclinations,

This great Man feems likewife to be of Opinion, that Latin and Language are the leaft Part of a Child's Education. I think Infancy can never be over-burden'd with

too

too many Languages, and that the utmost Care fhould be taken to teach them to Chil dren. There is no Condition of Life in which these are not useful to them, and lead them equally to the Depths of Learning, or the easier and more agreeable Parts of Knowledge. If this kind of Study, fo painful and fo laborious, is put off 'till Men are fomewhat older, and come to that Age, stiled by the Name of Youth, either they cannot make it the Object of their Choice, or if they do, they find it impoffible to perfevere in it. 'Tis to confume that Time in the Quest of Languages, which is fet apart for the Ufe which ought to be made of them; 'tis confining to the Knowledge of Words, an Age which wants already to go further, and feek for Things; 'tis, at the beft, lofing the finest and most valuable Years of one's Life.

So great and fo neceffary a Foundation can never rightly be laid, unless it be when the Soul naturally receives every Thing, and is capable of deep Impreffions; when the Memory is fresh, quick, and fit for Study; when the Mind and Heart are void of Paffions, Cares, and Defires; and when those who have a right to difpofe of us, defign us for long and painful Labours. I am perfwaded, the finall Number of true Scholars, and great Number of fuperfi