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ROGER ASCHAM.

FEBRUARY 20TH, 1878.

SCHOOLMASTERS, as a rule, have not been distinguished in history. It is not our purpose now to enquire why this is the case; we prefer to prove the rule by an account of a notable exception-one who, besides being remarkable as a teacher, was one of the most prominent figures in early English literature.

Roger Ascham was born in 1515, and died in 1568. He was thus living during the first ten years of Elizabeth's reign, and he was bound by many ties to the virgin queen: but it is only in a certain sense that he might be called an Elizabethan. We do not think of him as one among that band of men who have "filled the spacious times of great Elizabeth with sounds that echo still." He belonged, as it were, to a different era; his place was rather among the company of scholars and reformers who heralded the advent of the New Learning into England at the beginning of the sixteenth century than in that later, more brilliant and more complex development of the Renaissance which took place at its close. It is true that he lived late enough to see some of those who are most nearly associated with the glories of Elizabeth's reign. The sagacious Burleigh, one of England's greatest statesmen, was guiding the

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councils of the realm as chief secretary: the wary and astute Walsingham was maturing his talents as ambassador to France; the handsome and brilliant Leicester-then Robert Dudley-was high in favour at Court. But Ascham was a stranger to the grander and more distinctive features of the reign. He died before either Spenser or Shakespeare had begun to write; Drake was but on the threshold of his splendid career; Raleigh and Sidney were in their boyhood.

It is because of this singular position he occupies in history, figuring in early life in the Reformation times, and later in Elizabeth's court, that Ascham's charaeter and opinions are curious and worthy of study. The ideas of the Reformation and the ideas of the Renaissance both had their influence in moulding his views. In him-as in Spenser and Milton-we see the result of an alliance of genius and literature with the spirit of religion, instead of the unnatural divorce between intelligence and faith which took place in some continental countries. Ascham was certainly no freethinker; indeed some traits in his character would have entitled him to be called a Puritan had he lived a century later. He can find no language strong enough to express his condemnation of the habits of the young men at

"is counted

Men fawn,

Court. "To blush at nothing," he says, the chief and greatest grace of all. flatter, and lie lustily at other men's liking." He wishes to have young men brought up in some more severe discipline than commonly they be." He would banish from the court the Morte d'Arthur, which had recently been published; "the whole pleasure of which" he says "standeth in two special points, open manslaughter and bold license." "This is good stuff" cries he bitterly, "for wise men to laugh at or honest men to take pleasure at!" But it is when speaking of Italy that Ascham's latent Puritanism is most deeply stirred. It was the time when Englishmen first began to feel the magic influence of Italian scenery and literature. He tried to warn men against the "siren song," the "Circe's cup," of this "wanton and dallying dame Calypso." Englishmen visited Italy and returned "very foxes with subtle and busy heads; very wolves with cruel and malicious hearts." They lost all their religion, and took to papistry and contempt of God's word; loving factions, they strove to meddle in every man's business. They despised the marriage tie and introduced corrupt manners and licentious living. These are but a few of the charges he brings against Italianate Englishmen, whom the Italian proverb declares to be incarnate devils. His own position in religious matters was that of an earnest Protestant. He was a friend of the Reformer Bucer, and at Cambridge seems to have endured considerable obloquy for his opinions; his having spoken against the Pope nearly lost him his fellowship. Some suspicion, however, has fallen on his reforming zeal; it seems scarcely possible that he could have kept his place as Latin secretary to Queen Mary without undue complaisance.

Protestant as Ascham was, he yet shared to a certain extent the spirit of what has been called, in contrast to the Reformation, the Pagan Renaissance. He felt all the new life and vigour of the fresh birth of literature. He had the immense industry, the boundless enthusiasm for the classics, that was reremarkable in the early scholars of Italy. Erasmus is in his eyes "the honour of learning of all our time." He was no mere bookworm, but manysided, versatile a man of the world. An acute politician, in 1550, he accompanied the English ambassador on a tour to Germany, and wrote a Report of the affairs in that country, which shews his observation and

insight. He was skilled in the use of the bow, on which he wrote a treatise entitled "Toxophilus "; and resembled Milton, himself a pedagogue, in his love of music.

With this manysided culture Ascham was also something of a pedant. He was, like the early scholars of the Renaissance, emphatically a stylist. He had this superficiality in common with his great model Cicero, whom he calls "my master; whom above all others I like and love best." He had a pedantic contempt for rhyme-" our rude beggarly rhyming, brought first into Italy by Goths and Huns, and at last received into England by men of small learning and less judgment." Perhaps Milton was influenced in his opinion of rhyme by this passage. Ascham had, however, by his achievements in prose almost earned the right of depreciating rhyme. His style was uninjured by his close study of the Latin writers, and is wonderfully free, racy, and idiomatic. His Toxophilus, a book of conversations on archery, published in 1545, is one of the best specimens of the early prose literature of England. It is to be regretted that a man of his ability left so few works to posterity. There is reason to believe that he was naturally averse to business, and preferred the attractions of the cock-pit and gaming table to weightier matters.

The work on which his fame chiefly rests, the "Schoolmaster," was begun in the year 1563. One day, he tells us, "when the queen's majesty, Queen Elizabeth, lay at her castle of Windsor," the members of her Court were dining together. "Divers scholars of Eton" had lately "run away from the School for fear of beating"; the conversation turned upon education, and Ascham was invited to write what afterwards appeared as his "Schoolmaster." Its main object was to "teach children to understand, write, and speak in the Latin tongue." His system of teaching, translation, and re-translation in "paper books," comparison of idioms, &c., is even now regarded as one of the best ways of becoming acquainted with Latin. One of the most interesting passages in his book is where he describes his visit to Lady Jane Grey. "Her parents, the Duke and Duchess, with all the household, gentlemen and gentlewomen, were hunting in the park. I found her in her chamber reading Plato's Phædo in Greek, and that with as much delight as some gentlemen

would read a merry tale in Boccacio." Ascham is best remembered now as tutor to Queen Elizabeth. She was placed under his care at the age of sixteen, read with him Livy, Sophocles, Isocrates, and nearly all Cicero; and learnt to speak Latin with wonderful ease and grace. His relations with his royal pupil were not always very cordial; he was not satisfied with the pay he received; perhaps Elizabeth in this case shewed traces of that stinginess which was one of the flaws in her character. On no occasion did she show much generosity in her patronage of literature; no monarch ever received so much adulation at so small a cost. And if the queen whom our greatest poets honoured was not immaculate, so neither was Elizabethan England. "Everywhere in the country," says Ascham, "innocence is gone, bashfulness is banished; much presumption in youth, small authority in age; reverence is neglected, duties be confounded.” This would teach us that the England of Spenser and Shakespeare, though prolific of great men and great ideas, was very far from possessing that perfection which is sometimes claimed for it as the golden age of merry England.

Ο ΤΩΝ ΕΙΚΟΣΙ ΗΡΩΩΝ ΥΣΤΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΤΑΛΟΓΟΣ.

Sing, ye Muses, the last in the roll of glorious Twenties;
Time, the Destroyer, ere long will sweep them into oblivion.
First, at the head of the list, stands Boius, good at the war cry,
Tower of strength he is called, and a host in himself, by his
comrades ;

Many a wound can be shown received in the furious onset.
Next comes tall Ardens, a very right hand to his leader,
Well can he use his strength when the fight waxes hotter and
hotter.

Then there appears on the scene a tried and redoubtable hero,

Girt with a broad bright belt, the reward of his wonderful knowledge

How to propel the hard sphere of leather, Hippon is his title.
Gongylus now must I sing, than whom scarce ever a better
Flew o'er the stricken field, or more fleet-footed and wiry,
Never a mortal foe could elude that grasp as of iron.
Wary with foot or with hand is cool-headed Vallis, his
colleague,

Best after mighty Hippon to propel the hard circle of leather.
Stands forth strong l'orcellas, a hero of glorious promise.
Whose is that ponderous frame, like that of the sturdy
Colossus ?

Dragon his name among men, Earth trembles and groans at his foot-step;

Second to none is he when roused, but whenever he falleth Crashing he comes to the ground, like an avalanche rolled

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Fighting his best he bled for the cause he so nobly supported.
Great perseverance and pluck are united in sturdy Hodides.
All can tell how Bagaleius propelleth the circle of leather
Driving it high into space, or stalketh with stride elephantine.
Petnes, hardy and stout, risked life and limb for his comrades.
Brilliant renown is the meed of Bylotes, dashing and daring;
Akton, barr'd by a wound from many victorious conflicts,
Yet flies fast as the wind, nor grudges the fame of a colleague.
Martial and fierce in the fray is Porta Casactacs offspring.
There, where the fight waxes hot, may be seen the tall frame
of Wangler,

Following close in his wake Temerarior flies to the onset.
Stricken was he by the toil, Balearius. warrior chieftan.
Never for true hard work has had Radiantus an equal.
Last in the long list stands Gulielmus, stout and unflinching,
When was he know to tire, be the contest never so toilsome ?.
Reader, the roll of the heroes is ended; go and do likewise!
Σίσεμεν.

an

PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTES.

The Rossalian begins by lamenting the loss of their viee-Master-Mr. Phillips-after 24 years spent at Rossall, and expresses the deep regret of present, as well as old, Rossalians, at his departure. There is article upon "The Modern Drama" which opposes the wholesale manner in which "The degeneracy of the Modern Drama" is blazed abroad, and reviews a recently published work "The Stage," by the Dean of Carlisle,-in which the ancient drama is spoken of as corrupt, and the early English as pitiable and profane. A mid-winter night's dream comes next: it is a description of a dream, or rather night mare, in which all the horrors of cube and square root, classical and mathematical problems, take a part: the dreamer awoke at a critical moment to find that he had been suffering from the effects of Christmas pudding. As regards football, the School were successful in their match against the Rev. H. P. Owen's team, by one rouge. They were also successful against the Preston Grasshoppers by one rouge, but in this match their opponents laboured under the disadvantage of knowing little of the School rules. In the match, Present v. Old Rossalians, only seven O.B.'s turned up, and of these only five could be induced to play. Their side had therefore to be reinforced by substitutes from the Masters and School. The match resulted in a victory for the School by one goal to nothing. The Concert was not a complete success, but allowances must be made for the shortness of time for preparation. The singing on the part of the School of the Carmen Rossaliense, is said to be violent. There are two

pieces of poetry, entitled respectively "The Last Levée" and "Joan of Aro at Domremy." A correspondent suggests that it would be beneficial to parents and boys, if all were made to change for football, and adds that quite half the School play football on the dirtiest of days, and on the dirtiest of grounds (viz., that at Rossall), in their every-day clothes.

The Eton Chronicle commences by enumerating the amusements offered to the School this term. They include fives, racquets, the Beagles and Rifle Corps ; while a few members of the School may be seen on the river, or training for the mile. The Rifle Corps. is in a flourishing condition, but needs recruits, who come in very slowly. The Beagles are decidedly successful, many of last year's hounds still remain : they are hunted by E. K. Douglas as master. Among the runs which are recorded, there is one of 2 hours, and two others of 1 hour and 10 minutes, and 1 hour and 50 minutes, respectively, though not after the same hare. On February 14th the question, "Is the character of Victor Emmanuel to be admired," was debated. The large majority were in favour of Victor Emmanuel. On Monday, February 11th, the question was discussed, "Is the conduct of the Government at the present moment satisfactory ?" Only one speech was delivered, when owing to the lateness of the hour the meeting was adjourned. Professor Ruskin delivered a lecture on the "Streams of Westmoreland" before the Literary Society, on December 8th. The lecture lecture was greatly appreciated. A correspondent has written to observe that in the present day a boy may leave Eton with less instruction than a boy has in an ordinary humble School: and mentions that there is nothing now to distinguish the Eton Chronicle, which was formerly noted for Scholarship and wit, from a river-side waterman or acrobat. It is pointed out in an Editorial note that in this last sentence their correspondent is taxing the powers of the English language rather heavily.

The Wellingtonian contains three articles entitled "Life in the Australian Bush," "A visit to a coal mine," and "English Lakes." A vigorous discussion appears to be going on respecting the separation of two dormitories that some time ago were amalgamated, being too weak separately to play with any chance of

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the dormitories to the position of " Cock" at football, and now a cry is raised that they ought again to be The separated as they are becoming too strong. question appears to be whether 42 fellows, which is the number of the amalgamated dormitories, should play 30, or whether, in case they were separated, 21 should play 30. The concert appears to have been a complete success. There are two pieces of poetry,

the one a lament over the Peruvian Indians, who fell before the Spaniards, while the other, called "Line to an Album," takes the form of a sonnet. A lecture was delivered on Nov. 23rd, by the Rev. H. Huleatt, who gave his own experiences of the Crimean war. There is a considerable amount of correspondence, which is principally devoted to questions regarding the system of football-playing at present in vogue.

The Elizabethan contains an article upon "Fiction and its Abuses," which draws attention to the increased craving for "sensation," and attributes the tone of present literature to the fact that so many works are those of women; in conclusion, it recommends those who read novels not to look on them merely as offering amusement, but also instruction. There is an article on Epigrams which contains some amusing examples. The School notes begin with a notice, with the spirit of which, if not with the wording, all Editors will agree -"Verily the chair of an Editor is a bed of thorns," are the opening words. But the reason why the chair of the Elizabethan editors in particular is rendered so uncomfortable, is that a correspondent has written a letter, which, after praising the paper as "clever and amusing," follows this statement up by remarking that it is "unreadable" and "uninteresting." It is such contradictions as these which render the life of an editor burdensome. In football, Westminster has been successful against the old Harrovians and South Norwood, but was beaten by South Norwood and the Clapham Rovers, as well as by the Wanderers. The annual tale play at Westminster is a relic of the old customs that have now so generally fallen into disuse. The play this Christmas was the Adelphi of Terence. The interest of the Adelphi lies in its portrayal of two very different characters, viz., the brothers Demea and Micio. Demea is the stern parent of the old school, who rules his house and his children with a rod of iron. Micio is a good-natured, easy-going bachelor, who

allows his adopted son as much liberty as he likes. The son of Demea is Ctesipho who has fallen in love with a slave girl belonging to a dealer called Sannio. Aeschinus, the adopted son of Micio, is betrothed to a girl called Pamphyla, daughter of a widow called Sostrata. Ctesipho, fearing his father's anger, prevails on Aeschinus to carry off the slave girl for him by force. Sannio resents this and has to be bought off by Syrus, a confidential slave of Aeschinus. In the meantime the slave of Pamphyla seeing Aeschinus with the slave girl concludes that he has deserted his betrothed wife, and various complications ensue. Demea is furious on hearing about Ctesipho's connection with so scandalous an affair, and it is only through Syrus' well timed and persistent lying that a meeting with his son is avoided. The play concluded by a general reconciliation; the slave-girl is by rights an Attic citizen and Ctesipho is to be allowed to marry her; Aeschinus is allowed to marry his betrothed. But not content with this, so completely is Demea altered by these occurrences, that his churlishness gives way to an extravagance of courtesy and indulgence, and nothing will satisfy him, except bis brother Micio, the bachelor, marry the widow Sostrata, the mother of his adopted son's wife. This Micio is at length prevailed upon to do, with much reluctance; the slaves are rewarded and so ends the play. All the actors seem to have supported their parts well, and the play was a decided

success.

Occasional Notes.

ALL O.M's wishing to play in the Old Fellows' Cricket Match, fixed for June 21st and 22nd, are requested to communicate either with A. G. Steel, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, or with J. R. Napier, the College, Marlborough.

THE Editor of the Marlborough College Register would be glad to receive from Old Marlburians any information about themselves or their contemporaries, which might be serviceable for the forthcoming edition of the Register. Those who have left the School recently are invited to communicate with him, no less than Old Marlburians of an earlier date. The Editor hopes that the new edition may be in the printer's hands next year.

In the Eagle, edited by St. John's College, Cambridge, will be found an article on Marlborough, the first of a series of papers on Public Schools.

ON Tuesday, the 12th instant, Dr. Pick gave the first of a course of six lectures on "Memory," to be delivered in the Bradleian on successive Tuesdays, to a voluntary class. Dr. Pick began by exhibiting a wonderful feat of memory with reference to numbers, and proceeded to give a short explanation of his theory of memory and also of his system for improving it, his two principal means being "concentration" and "comparison." By the latter of these methods, he got his audience to repeat, after a single hearing, lists of words, by simply connecting the first with the second and so on. His lecture was very well received, and it is expected that a large number will attend during the rest of the course.

On Saturday last a Penny Reading was held in the Bradleian: a full account will be found in another column.

We observe with pleasure that W. H. Churchill, O.M., was playing for Cambridge University v. the Old Harrovians in the recent tie for the Association Challenge Cup.

THE following O.M's were successful in the qualifying examination at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, held in December, 1877, for commissions in the Cavalry and Infantry. Passed with honours: G. T. P. Cambridge (5th place). Passed: S. F. Grosvenor (52nd place); A. H. K. Ward (59th place); E. J. P. Warden (118th place).

THE new member for Marlborough has not neglected the tradition which has existed so long, that a half-holiday should be given to the School in honour of his election, and in accordance with his request, Friday, the 8th, was a half-holiday.

Ir has been decided to present Mr. Voss, in accordance with his own request, with a copy of Dr. Farrar's Life of Christ, and to send him the rest of the money collected, in a purse.

THE drawing for the first ties of House-Fives has resulted as follows: Horner's (Cross Arrows) v. Cotton House. Way's (Crescent) v. Upcott's (Maltese Cross). Sharp's (Mitre) v. Sankey's (Star). Preshute v. Littlefield. Baker's (Fleur de Lys) the bye. And in the final ties of Houre Racquets, Baker's (Fleur de Lys) are to play Preshute.

MR. JOHN NEATE, of the High-street, Marlborough, has presented to the College, to be placed in the Adderley Library, a very interesting and valuable Book. It is a folio volume handsomely bound, containing about 120 numbers of the old Marlborough

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