THe making , or marring of mankinde , as of other creatures , is , especially , in their first age . In Trees , the sprigs , whilest they are tender , will yeild with ease , to the grafters hand , and grow by his direction , either straight , or crooked . Soe , the mindes of infants , by their Parents skill , no lesse , then their bodies , by the Midwiues hand , may with ease be moalded into such a fashion as will be durable in after-ages . The seedes espeicially , and fundamentall parts of vertue , are by an early , and strong perswasion , to bee soe engrafted into them , that they need not know , whither nature or praecept were the teachers of them . To be dutifull to their parents , and obedient to their counsels ; to abhorre intemperance , lying , and deceite , as prodigies and things vnusuall ; to adore especially the power of God , and sometimes by mercy , sometimes by iudgement , to consider of it . These things must bee taught them , without trouble or seuerity ; for what euer wee follow for feare of punishment , from the same things with a sad loathing wee vse to bee auerse , and the hatred conceiued in our youth , I know not by what custome of horrour , wee oft nourish in our old age . The must daily bee seasoned with instructions concerning the excellency and rewards of vert●● ; and vices in a shamefull and disdainefull manner , must be named to them , to make them altogether ignorant , that such vices are now often in publike practised , and without infamy . Being thus brought vp in such gentle rudiments , they will hate vices , and learne not to feare vertue as too rigid , and harsh a mistresse . They will easily bee brought to these beginnings of right discipline , by the guidance of their parents and teachers , whose opinions , like diuine Oracles , will altogether sway their minds yet weake , and not troubled with the ambition of iudging . Besides this , they cannot be allured , by the fiattering promises of any vice , whose age as yet , is not onely vnexperienced of pleasure , but vtterly incapable of it : they will therefore easily condemne that thing , which in the iudgement of their friends , is dishonest , and commended to themselues , by noe temptation . Nor , would we here initiate their childhood in any such torment , as superstitious , and anxious piety ; but manly , and wary vertue ; for since the mindes of men , by an inbred waight , bend heauily downward to the worst things ; wee had neede to bow them , while yet they are tender , quite contrary ; that by this meanes when their naturall force shall bring them backe , they may yet retaine a happy meane betwixt their nature , and education . But in this discipline of tender youth , as soone as their mindes are sensible of praise , the desire of it is to bee kindled in them , that they may then learne , and accustome themselues to affect honour ; and in all exercises , either in schooles , or abroad at play , they may labour with delight to excell their equals . Besides , when their age encreasing , shall bring them by degrees as it were , out of bondage , soe that both the awe of their parents may not too sensibly decrease in them , and they not wanton it , through a suddaine , and vnexpected encrease of liberty : we must leaue their childhood to those delights which are proper to that age , least we should seeme to accuse nature , which hath ordained that age to bee weake and feeble ; and vnseasonable sowing of wisedome in them , corrupt their natures , not yet ripe for such instructions . Let harmelesse wantonnesse be freely allowed them ; let them gently be taught learning , rather as a change of recreation then a loathsome burthen ; and rather feare , then feele , the correction of their parents : let them lastly , enioy that freedome which nature in pity hath bestowed on them ; nor bee forced to endure the punishment of humane cares , before they haue deserued them ; vnlesse we thinke , it may 〈◊〉 accounted among the least of mischiefes , when children altogether restrained from playing , are ( like the wife of that Stolen ) terrified at all noyse of ●ods ; and doe exhibite to themselues , and reuolue wisedome , in the shape of an Hobgoblin , whose sowre , and sharpe documents they are not yet capable of .

That sense of misery which is most cruelly exquisite , is most incident to that age : whilst their tender mindes doe want ability to gouerne their feare , and iudge of miseries , which yet they know not , worse then they are . And as men , whom fortune hath broken with great calamities , how large so euer their capacities are , will fill them all with the sense , and contemplation of their owne miseries : euen soe in children , when that happens which they feare the worst , all their ability of fearing , and grieuing is spent vpon it . A man , which by chance had escaped the hands of theeues , who threatned to hange him ; being asked , with what minde he expected death ; with the same ( quoth hee ) that , when I was a boy , I expected whipping . Moreouer , the bitternesse of perpetuall feare in childrens mindes , consumeth that moisture , which nature intendeth to make abundant , for the spreading of their limmes , and growth of their bodies . For the stomacke we see , doth then want his naturall vigour , when the heate , and spirits are called from thence , to aide the di●●ressed braine ; nor is the blood strongly diffused vpon promise of ioy , being too much consumed with the interruptions of sadnesse . Therefore such dispositions in the bondage of seuere custody , the abilities of their mindes , either frighted , or wasted , will stand at soe vnhappie a stay , that those , who were wise aboue their Childhood , do afterwards want the ordinary wisedome required at Mans estate . To Colts , and young Cattell , we freely allow an vncurbed wantonnesse , least their first strength , which is then growing , should bee hindered by a fearefull apprehension of future bondage ; and are wee soe blinded in minde , that what wee behold in other creatures , we eyther neglect , or will not vnderstand in our owne children ? Neither yet is this age of Infancy to bee let loose to an in finite liberty ; let them with moderation bee kept in awe , taught to reuerence their parents highly , and bee euer ignorant , how much liberty is permitted to them . For if the nature of a child be too malapert and full of fiercenesse , these pracepts of lenity belong not to him ; that swelling , which the vice of nature has engendred in him , and which often the parents too much gentlenesse hath ripened , and brought to a perfect vlcer , may bee easily lanced , and taken away ▪ whilest yet it is greene , and of easie growth . After this manner , their delighted childhood shal be freely left , both to their own , and their parents pleasure ; & after they haue fulfilled the folly of their harmlesse concupiscence , age it selfe will by little and little , change their desires ; and the rootes of vertue will spring vp in them , which they will loue , not soe much by heat of nature , as iudgment . Then they will bring to their first youth , and twilight of wisdome , a minde free , altogether quiet , which by the vertue of their education , is ille ●sily embrace the beauty of that light .

But as euery meane is directly opposed to two extreame vices more contrary to each other , then to the middle vertue ; ●oe those that would call the raw mindes of children to too hasty a ripenesse of studies , may well bee accus●●s ignorant of the strength , which na●ure hath bestowed vpon that age . For besides , that some children haue rath ripe wits , as Papyrius Childhood was iudged worthy of the Romane Senate . There is also a naturall dowry , and wealth bestowed vpon those yeares , a strength of capacious , and easy memory , which is euer greatest in the time of their childhood , and with an obstinate felicity able to retaine what euer it hath then learned : but as age encreaseth , the memory by little and little decayeth ; like to a Dew of soueraigne Medicine to the body of man , which in the hot countries falls vpon the leaues of Hol●ey ; vnlesse it be gathered at the breake of day , it will afterwards vanish at the sun - 〈◊〉 Therefore with many , and often discourses with much reading of profitable Hi●●otry , let their mindes bee filled , that children vnwittingly may receiue such good things as will afterwards grow vp in them , whither they will or noe . The variety also of Languages , which is gotten by vs , with much expence of time , will be easily taught our growing children by often discoursing , and conuersing with them ; so that these things of little labour and noe iudgement , will easily be attained vnto , by that age , which is neither strong for labour , nor ripe for iudgement . But if wee shall suffer this easie , and most memory , to grow emptily dry ; those very things must be afterwards learned with long and wearisome labour , which in our infancy , had bin better and with lesse wearisomnes stored vp : for what is more miserable , then to bee enforced to spend that time of mans estate , which nature hath or damed a time of wisedome ( though too to short for soe many Artes and Sciences ) in such things , as our empty childhood , if well nurtured , had stored vp safely in the closets of our memories .

But in the childhood , there are often presages of future vertues , or vices ; nature beginning to build a foundation fit for their following abilities . Cyrus , that first founded the Persian Monarchy , was then beleeued to bee a shepheards child , when there appeared in him that great spirit , which afterward put a yoake vpon the neckes of the whole Ea●t . when he was a Boy , hee played among Boyes of his owne age ; and being chosen King by the chance of play , hee truly exercised the regall power ouer his play fellowes : those that were stubborne , with a high and confident ( if not too proud ) a Maiesty hee seuerely punished . The fathers of those children , whom Cyrus had beaten , complained of it to King Astyages : the King commanded Cyrus to bee brought to him ; who was nothing daunted , nor expressed any childish , or low feare , at sight of the Throne , and royall Diadem ; hee sayd , hee was chosen King among the Boyes , and had done nothing but the office of a King . Astyages suspecting from this some greater matters then the present fortunes of the Boy perswaded , enquired more narrowly of his birth , and parentage ; and at last found him to be his owne grandchilde , his daughters sonne . That Cato , who was afterwards called Vticensis , from the City of Vtica , where he killed himselfe ; was in his infancy more then a child . When he La●me Emballadours were come to Rome , as suitors for the endenization of their country , they went to the house of Liuius Dr●●us , Catoes vncle , who brought him vp : There the Embassado●rs asking the child in iest , if he would entreat , his vncle for them , hee answered not a word , but looked vpon them with a fierce countenance . The Embassadours wondering at the stubbornesse of soe young a boy , began to fiatter , & and afterward to threaten him but could not extort a word from him , at last , lifting him out , of the window in a high chamber , they made him beleeue , they would throw him downe ; but hee scorning to feare at all , knit his browrs , and looked more fiercely on them , then he did before ; ap●esage , or beginning as it were , of that awfall seuerity , which his whole life did afterward expresse . But they are often 〈◊〉 , who by the beha●● of children , will iudge too 〈◊〉 of their future disposition . For it must be some great 〈…〉 which must be brought as an 〈◊〉 argument to iudge of the inclination of the future , and flexible yeares . There is one presage , which seldome , or neuer deceiuer h●s , the easy shedding of teares in a child . For those children , which at the first appresion of griefe can truely weepe , are of a softer nature , and moulded , as it were , for humanity and loue . Some other children you shall see , though they cry aloud , yet maugre the threatning , or beating of their parents , are dry eyed : those , when they grow vp , are of fierce natures ; or else , their dissembling and darke bosomes , doe neuer entertaine , eyther true affections , or iust feares .

At their first entrance into mans estate , the heare of blood , and too great an apprehension of their owne strength , doth breede in them a wonderfull change , and carry away their mindes , as it were with a tide of inconsiderate confidence , and vaine security . That age , is the first that is s●●ted entertaine delight ; and reioyces not more in the tast of pleasures , then in the firedome and liberty , which they haue , to enioy them . They know not how to bee prouident for after-times , for their strengths yet raw , cannot consider how ●●oxious they are to the turnes 〈◊〉 fortune ; and the many obiects of pleasure , and delight , haue soe possessed their ●●les , they haue left noe roome , nor leisure , to 〈◊〉 feare wisedome , which at the first view doth feare troublesome . Then indeed , doth nature not strongly carry euery disposition ( not with a vaine , or dissembled desire ) to his owne sudies , for which especially 〈◊〉 was first formed . For then 〈◊〉 , whom an humble fancy doth inuite to low maechanicall trades , doe by the guidance of fate , embrace those Arts , which , were ordained for them : Some are addicted to the discipline of warre : others by the vigour and ability of wit , are carried to the Muses , or publike businesse ; and euery kinde of humane dispositions , by the conduct of Nature , is thus adopted into his owne tribe . For if Nature doe not ioyne certaine desire , and sweetenesse , to the profit of those labours , which shee do●h prescribe , certainely youth , which is ●ca●ce gouerned by any reason , nor apt to entertaine any thing vnpleasant , might almost bee excused , though it went astray .

Moreouer , that naturall vigour , and inuitation of industry will shew it selfe , euen in those are lesse lines , which are altogether sequestred from labour and businesse , like the Seedes of grasse , which in spight of stones that oppose their growth , will shoote out their tops , through little cranyes ; to shew ( at the least ) that their growth is killed . For when young men haue lost themselues , either by sloth , ●iot , or a mad desire of too much society , and wearied with their sports , and pleasures , they retire sometimes to a shew of labour , and slightly busie themselues in it , onely to serue them as a change of delight ; they will fall especially vpon that busines , which Nature had giuen them in fit minde and Genius to follow with industrie . Soe that those motions to certaine actions infused by fate into eueryman , can neuer be wholy exting●ished or p●●sh .

But as 〈◊〉 out of strength and plenty of how nourishment doe grow too ra●cly , and spred themselues into vnnecessary branches , but when that r●n●●nesse is better ●●pened , and conco●ted , they prosper with happy fruit : soe , a young man of a hot , and high soule , after his first freedome is ouerpast , may well take vp , in such a moderation , as is fit to entertaine the best wisedome . But i● from the beginning of his youth , hee haue alwayes shewed a nature and sober streng●h o● minde ; bee will 〈…〉 in vnprofitable 〈◊〉 before his did age . But his specially is a great token of future 〈◊〉 , if amongst all his pleasures and delights he loue with with eagernesse any one thing ; and follow that delight ( whatsoeuer it be ) with too seemingly vehement and fierce an appetite . For this hot desire of his , at the least declares , that hee is able to entertaine a true and laborious 〈◊〉 of those studies , which he ●ff●cts ; without which disposition no man can truely eyther follow vertue , or dedicate himselfe to glory .

But although the counsels of old age bee sometimes distastfull to the freedome of youth ; yet the opinion , which young men haue , that their owne wisdome will ●et encrease , begets in them a high esteeme of old men as thinking that they , which haue already trauelled through the paths of youth , are able to direct those , which are now in it . The minde of man , in this age , is wondrously ambitious of praise , and glory ; impatient of disgrace ; not long persisting in the same resolutions ; much selfe-admiting not able enough to choose friends , not to resist that loathing , which may afterwards grow . But for any exploit , which by a suddaine strength , and ability of minde , may be inuented , or done , noe age of mortality is fitter , then the heate of youth . Soe , that we might iudge that the office of Childhood is to learne , and retaine by a strong memory , the deedes , & speeches of their Ancestours : of Youth , to inuent , act , and speake things altogether new ; and lastly , of Middle age to moderate it selfe by uations from both the former .

The next , is the Middle age of ma● , equally distant from the dangerous giddynesse of youth , ●nd the burden of old age : in which , the minde and body doe both soe flourish , that then onely you would thinke them to be truely men , and that all the life which man enioyes , may seeme ●o bee giuen him , for this ages ●●ke . The body , and minde , are ●oth exceedingly changed from what in youth they were : as ●heir choise of meates , and plea●res , are not the same ; soe , ●heir manners , and all their de●es , are much different , and ●●oulded ( as it were a new ) . The ●inde is strong , enlightned , and ●larged , ( as it were from the ●arke mists of youth ) it begins 〈◊〉 censure with much rigour , the trespassed errours of the same , and wonder at it selfe , ●hat before , soe improudently it could goe astray . From thence , arises a profitable repentance , and diligence , to repaire the ruines , which youth has made .

They are great seekers of wealth , and honour , and soe greedily labour to acquire the ornaments , and supporters of life , as if they thought , their life were endlesse . Noe age is more cunning , then this Middle age , in dissembling friendshipp , and gouerning their affections . They then begin , to be truely valiant , moderating , not extinguishing that heate of courage , by which youth was rash●● carried vpon reuenge and fury . The iudgement then is sound , and perfect , nor carried ha●tily by the torrent of youth , nor suffering vnder the infirmities of a craz●d body . They are wary in their vices , and loue not vertue , ( for the most part ) without hope of reward . But , old age by little and little , like a tide , ouerflowing this happy middle estate of mans life , doth benumme his blood , and afterward his vnderstanding . This age differing in habit , affections , & manners , doth partly encrease the vertues of the former ages , and partly make them degenerate into vices . Feare especially , is the companion of that age , & disturbeth the minde , a seat otherwise fit , to containe wisedome . For old men , destitute of that heate of minde , which inspireth fortitude , and through many courses both of their owne , and other mens dangers , hauing arriued at that age are vsually too much pe●p●exed , in consideration of those euills , which eyther themselues haue escaped , or others haue beene ruined by . From hence it happens , that the strength of counsell , and wisedome , the greatest endowment of old age , is often corrupted by too much feare , whilest it looketh too watily , euen into the safest things , and had rather haue wounds vnhappily concealed , then come in other venturous danger of a cure .

Happy was that delayer , who closely encamped kept off , ( as it were with a shield , or bucklet ) the fury of Hanniball , from the wine of Italy , that Fabius , the chiefe preseruer of the Romane Empire ; yet how neare was it , that this Fabius , by too to fearefull , and 〈◊〉 an opinion , had auerted againe from Rome , her felicity , which was then returning . Publius Scipro had layed the proiect , of carrying the warre into Africke ; by that meanes onely , was Hanniball to be remooued , and drawne out of the bowells of Italy , to relieue the distresse of his owne country . Fabius Maximan too fearefully weighing all the dangers of soe great an expedit ●on , ( when to his owne too much delaying nature , old age was added ) had almost interuented this whose some proiest of soe braue a Generall , and in that , the safety of the Romane Empire . But this one blemish in old men , their other vertues may well excuse ; especially , their wisedome in coniecturing of things to come . Which wisedome confirmed in them , by the remembrance of times past , the lesse it is obged to the organs of the body , with the greater purity , and consulting , as it were , with heauen it selfe , ) it fores●eth all things .

How many Cities , and Empires , by their wisedome , haue beene preserued ; how many benefits priuate men , which haue followed the counsell of the aged , haue reaped thereby ; as ancient histories haue all recorded , soe daily experience may well instruct vs . And from hence , ( perhaps ) proceedes , that great , and vnwearied desire of talking in old men ; as if it were a spurre , giuen by Nature , for feare it should be wearisome to those men , to teach and instruct , who of all others are most able to doe it .

But many of them in this matter , can seldome obserue a moderation , but in an infinite discourse ( when young men apply themselves vnto them ) relate all needlesse passages , and actions whatsoeuer , of their former liues ; and not contented ( which is most 〈◊〉 blesome ) with one vexation , as they light vpon the same young man , they will either find , or make an occasion for the same discourse ; and the m●●e patient , or shamefast the young man is , whom they haue gotten to this torture of hearing , the more cruelly they will bee sure to punish him . Nor , ●oe they loue onely to bee ●●ard ; but when their c●unsel●●s asked in any thing or they of their owne accords doe giue counsell , they are too imperious in enioying beliefe , and prescribing euery thing , after their owne way ; vrging men against their wills , and supposing themselues to bee then neglected , when they in all things are not ruled by them : the counsels and a ●●ous of youths , and men , they behold , and censure with great scorne , being placed , ( as it we●e ) in the higher seate . Doe thou therefore , ( i● thou wouldst truely deserue , that young men hereafter should excuse the errours of thy old age ) endeauour to please them , and suffer them in an harmelesse delight , to applaud themselues . Heare them with gentlenesse , and seeme ( at least with a pleased countenance ) ioyfully to accept whatsoeuer they deliuer . For what lesse reuerence can bee at any time shewed to that great age , which deserueth a fatherly respect and honour , then to seeme to like and approoue their sayings ? and with a gentle obsequiousnesse ( which cannot disparage vs ) suffer soe venerable an age as that , ●o enioy a delight which is proper to it .

But the long experience or worldly affaires , which hath followed them to this age and the sad examples of other men , which haue fallen into pouerty , doth commonly breede an extreame couetousnesse in old men . What a strange prodigy , or mockery of men kinde is it , at that time with greatest greediness to a 〈◊〉 wealth , when wee can neither keepe it long , nor enioy at all the delights of wealth , by reason of the decay of strength ? but this mischeiuous affection is still fostered in those drie brests , and Nature decaying , is then most fearefull to fall into pouerty , when shee is least able , by reason of weaknesse , to relieue her selfe .

But as for those old men , whose wisedome has auoyded such rockes , as before we mentioned ; there are none more beneficiall to humane society , then they are : They are happy in gouernment , both of publike states , and priuate families : they can vanquish those ill affections , which transport younger minds with vnaduis●d fury : they can aduise young men and forgiue 〈…〉 not forgetting what themselues once were , and what then they thought : lastly , their graue wisedome has made them worthy , long to enioy that old age , and compose the affaires of the whole world with that excellent philosophy , which experience has taught them .