Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

of

grammar, and withall to feason them, and win them early to the love of vertue and true labour, ere any flattering feducement, or vain principle feife them wandering, fome eafie and delightfull book of education would be read to them; whereof the Greeks have store, as Cebes, Plutarch, and other Socratic difcourfes. But in Latin we have none of claffic authoritie extant, except the two or three first books of Quintilian, and fome felect peeces elsewhere. But here the main fkill and groundwork will be, to temper them fuch lectures and explanations upon every opportunity, as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, enflam'd with the ftudy of learning, and the admiration of vertue, ftirr'd

[blocks in formation]

up with high hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy patriots, dear to GOD, and famous to all ages. That they may defpife and fcorn all their childish, and ill-taught qualities, to delight in manly, and liberal exercifes: which he who hath the art, and proper eloquence to catch them with, what with mild and effectuall perfwafions, and what with the intimation of some fear, if need be, but chiefly by his own example, might in a fhort space gain them to an incredible diligence and courage: infufing into their young brefts fuch an ingenuous and noble ardor, as would not fail to make many of them renowned and matchleffe men. At the fame time, some other hour of the day, might be taught

them the rules of Arithmetick, and foon after the elements of geometry even playing, as the old manner was. After evening repaft, till bed time their thoughts will be best taken up in the eafie grounds of religion, and the ftory of feripture. The next step would be to the Authors of Agriculture, Cato, Varro, and Colummella, for the matter is most eafic, and if the language be difficult, fo much the better, it is not a difficultie above their veers. And here will be an occafion of inciting and inabling them hereafter to improve the tillage of their country, to recover the bad foil, and to remedy the waft that is made of good; for this was one of Hercules praifes. Ere halfe thefe Authors be read, which will feon be with plying

N 2

plying hard, and dayly, they cannot choofe but be mafters of any ordinary profe. So that it will be then seasonable for them to learn in any modern Author, the use of the globes, and all the maps firft with the old names; and then with the new or they might be then capable to read any compendious method of naturall philofophy. And at the fame time might be entring into the Greek tongue, after the fame manner as was before prescrib'd in the Latin; whereby the difficulties of grammar being foon overcome, all the Hiftoricall Phyfiology of Ariftotle and Theophraftus are open before them, and as I may fay, under contribution. The like acceffe will be to Vitruvius, to Senecas naturall quef

tions, to Mela, Celfus, Pliny, or Solinus. And having thus paft the principles of Arithmetic, Geometry, Aftronomy, and Geography, with a general compact of Phyficks, they may defcend in Mathematicks to the inftrumentall fcience of Trigonometry, and fr m thence to Fortification, Architecture, Enginry, or Navigation. And in naturall Philofophy they may proceed leifurly from the Hiftory of Meteors, minerals, plants, and living creatures as farre as anatomy. Then alfo in course might be read to them out of fome not tedious writer the inftitution of Phyfick; that they may know the tempers, the humors, the feafons, and how to manage a crudity: which he who can wifely and timely doe, is not only

[ocr errors]

N 3

« VorigeDoorgaan »