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Of Education (From The Addition Of 1673)
Of Education (From The Addition Of 1673)
To Master Samuel Hartlib.
Mr. Hartlib,
I am long since persuaded, that to say, or do aught worth memory and
imitation, no purpose or respect^1 should sooner move us, than simply the love
of God, and of mankind. Nevertheless to write now the reforming of education,
though it be one of the greatest and noblest designs that can be thought on,
and for the want whereof this nation perishes, I had not yet at this time been
induced, but by your earnest entreaties, and serious conjurements;^2 as having
my mind for the present half diverted in the pursuance of some other
assertions,^3 the knowledge and the use of which, can not but be a great
furtherance both to the enlargement of truth, and honest living, with much
more peace. Nor should the laws of any private friendship have prevailed with
me to divide thus, or transpose^4 my former thoughts, but that I see those
aims, those actions which have won you with me the esteem^5 of a person sent
hither by some good providence from a far country to be the occasion and the
incitement of great good to this island. And, as I hear, you have obtained the
same repute with men of most approved wisdom, and some of highest authority
among us. Not to mention the learned correspondence which you hold in foreign
parts, and the extraordinary pains and diligence which you have used in this
matter both here, and beyond the seas; either by the definite will of God so
ruling, or the peculiar sway of nature, which also is God`s working. Neither
can I think that so reputed, and so valued as you are, you would to the
forfeit of your own discerning ability, impose upon me an unfit and
over-ponderous argument, but that the satisfaction which you profess to have
received from those incidental discourses which we have wandered into, hath
pressed and almost constrained you into a persuasion, that what you require
from me in this point, I neither ought, nor can in conscience defer beyond
this time both of so much need at once, and so much opportunity to try what
God hath determined. I will not resist therefore, whatever it is either of
divine, or human obligement that you lay upon me; but will forthwith set down
in writing, as you request me, that voluntary Idea, which hath long in silence
presented itself to me, of a better education, in extent and comprehension far
more large, and yet of time far shorter, and of attainment far more certain,
than hath been yet in practise.
[Footnote 1: Consideration.]
[Footnote 2: Appeals.]
[Footnote 3: As, e.g., unlicensed printing and divorce.]
[Footnote 4: Change.]
[Footnote 5: Reputation.]
Brief I shall endeavor to be; for that which I have to say, assuredly
this nation hath extreme need should be done sooner than spoken. To tell you
therefore what I have benefited herein among old renowned authors. I shall
spare; and to search what many modern Januas^6 and Didactics^6 more than ever
I shall read, have projected, my inclination leads me not. But if you can
accept of these few observations which have flowered off, and are, as it were,
the burnishing^7 of many studious and contemplative years altogether spent in
the search of religious and civil knowledge, and such as pleased you so well
in the relating, I here give you them to dispose of.
[Footnote 6: Works on education by John Amos Comenius, a great educational
reformer and a friend of Hartlib`s.]
[Footnote 7: Fragments rubbed off in polishing.]
The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by
regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to
imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of
true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the
highest perfection. But because our understanding can not in this body found
itself but on sensible^8 things, nor arrive so clearly to the knowledge of God
and things invisible, as by orderly conning over the visible and inferior
creature, the same method is necessarily to be followed in all discreet
teaching. And seeing every nation affords not experience and tradition enough
for all kind of learning, therefore we are chiefly taught the languages of
those people who have at any time been most industrious after wisdom; so that
language is but the instrument conveying to us things useful to be known. And
though a linguist should pride himself to have all the tongues that Babel
cleft the world into, yet if he have not studied the solid things in them as
well as the words and lexicons, he were nothing so much to be esteemed a
learned man, as any yoeman or tradesman competently wise in his mother dialect
only. Hence appear the many mistakes which have made learning generally so
unpleasing and so unsuccessful; first we do amiss to spend seven or eight
years merely in scraping together so much miserable Latin and Greek, as might
be learned other wise easily and delightfully in one year. And that which
casts our proficiency therein so much behind, is our time lost partly in too
oft idle vacancies^9 given both to schools and universities, partly in a
preposterous^10 exaction, forcing the empty wits of children to compose
themes, verses and orations, which are the acts of ripest judgment and the
final work of a head filled by long reading and observing, with elegant
maxims, and copious invention. These are not matters to be wrung from poor
striplings, like blood out of the nose, or the plucking of untimely fruit:
besides the ill habit which they get of wretched barbarizing against the Latin
and Greek idiom, with their untutored Anglicisms, odious to be read, yet not
to be avoided without a well continued and judicious conversing^11 among pure
authors digested, which they scarce taste, whereas, if after some preparatory
grounds of speech by their certain forms got into memory, they were led to the
praxis^12 thereof in some chosen short books lessoned throughly to them, they
might then forthwith proceed to learn the substance of good things, and arts
in due order, which would bring the whole language quickly into their power.
This I take to be the most rational and most profitable way of learning
languages, and whereby we may best hope to give account to God of our youth
spent herein: and for the usual method of teaching arts, I deem it to be an
old error of universities not yet well recovered from the scholastic grossness
of barbarous ages, that instead of beginning with arts most easy, and those be
such as are most obvious to the sense, they present their young unmatriculated
novices at first coming with the most intellective^13 abstractions of logic
and metaphysics; so that they having but newly left those grammatic flats and
shallows where they stuck unreasonably to learn a few words with lamentable
construction, and now on the sudden transported under another climate to be
tossed and turmoiled with their unballasted wits in fathomless and unquiet
deeps of controversy, do for the most part grow into hatred and contempt of
learning, mocked and deluded all this while with ragged notions and
babblements, while they expected worthy and delightful knowledge, till poverty
or youthful years call them importunately their several ways, and hasten them
with the sway^14 of friends either to an ambitious and mercenary, or
ignorantly zealous divinity; some allured to the trade of law, grounding their
purposes not on the prudent and heavenly contemplation of justice and equity
which was never taught them, but on the promising and pleasing thoughts of
litigious terms, fat contentions and flowing fees; others betake them to State
affairs, with souls so unprincipled in virtue and true generous breeding, that
flattery, and court shifts^15 and tyrannous aphorisms appear to them the
highest points of wisdom; instilling their barren hearts with a conscientious
slavery,^16 if, as I rather think, it be not feigned. Others lastly of a more
delicious and airy spirit,^17 retire themselves knowing no better, to the
enjoyments of ease and luxury, living out their days in feast and jollity;
which indeed is the wisest and the safest course of all these, unless they
were with more integrity undertaken. And these are the fruits of misspending
our prime youth at the schools and universities as we do, either in learning
mere words or such things chiefly, as were better unlearned.
[Footnote 8: Perceived by the senses.]
[Footnote 9: Holidays.]
[Footnote 10: Lit., in inverted order.]
[Footnote 11: Familiar intercourse.]
[Footnote 12: Practical application.]
[Footnote 13: Intellectual.]
[Footnote 14: Influence.]
[Footnote 15: Tricks.]
[Footnote 16: A slavery which they try to believe conscientious.]
[Footnote 17: Delicate and spiritual nature.]
I shall detain you no longer in the demonstration of what we should not
do, but straight conduct ye to a hill side where I will point ye out the right
path of a virtuous and noble education; laborious indeed at the first ascent,
but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect, and melodious
sounds on every side, that the harp of Orpheus^18 was not more charming. I
doubt not but ye shall have more ado to drive our dullest and laziest youth,
our stocks and stubs from the infinite desire of such a happy nurture, than we
have not to hale and drag our choicest and hopefulest wits to that asinine
feast of sowthistles and brambles which is commonly set before them, as all
the food and entertainment of their tenderest and most docible^19 age. I call
therefore a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform
justly, skilfully and magnanimously all the offices both private and public,
of peace and war. And how all this may be done between twelve, and one and
twenty, less time than is now bestowed in pure trifling at grammar and
sophistry, is to be thus ordered.
[Footnote 18: Which charmed even trees and stones.]
[Footnote 19: Docile.]
First to find out a spacious house and ground about it fit for an
academy, and big enough to lodge a hundred and fifty persons, whereof twenty
or thereabout may be attendants, all under the government of one, who shall
be thought of desert sufficient, and ability either to do all, or wisely to
direct, and oversee it done. This place should be at once both school and
university, not heeding a remove to any other house of scholarship, except it
be some peculiar College of Law, or Physic, where they mean to be
practitioners; but as for those general studies which take up all our time
from Lilly^20 to the commencing,^21 as they term it, Master of Art, it should
be absolute. After this pattern, as many Edifices may be converted to this
use, as shall be needful in every city throughout this land, which would tend
much to the increase of learning and civility everywhere. This number, less or
more thus collected, to the convenience of a foot company, or interchangeably
two troops of cavalry, should divide their day`s work into three parts, as it
lies orderly. Their studies, their exercise, and their diet.
[Footnote 20: Lilly`s "Latin Primer."]
[Footnote 21: Graduation.]
For the studies, first they should begin with the chief and necessary
rules of some good grammar, either that now used, or any better: and while
this is doing, their speech is to be fashioned to a distinct and clear
pronunciation, as near as may be to the Italian, especially in the vowels. For
we Englishmen being far northerly, do not open our mouths in the cold air,
wide enough to grace a southern tongue; but are observed by all other nations
to speak exceeding close and inward: So that to smatter Latin with an English
mouth, is as ill a hearing as Law-French. Next to make them expert in the
usefulest points of grammar, and withal to season^22 them, and win them early
to the love of virtue and true labor, ere any flattering seducement, or vain
principle seize them wandering, some easy and delightful book of education
would be read to them; whereof the Greeks have store, as Cebes,^23
Plutarch,^24 and other Socratic discourses. But in Latin we have none of
classic authority extant, except the two or three first books of
Quintilian,^25 and some select pieces elsewhere. But here the main skill and
groundwork will be, to temper^26 them such lectures and explanations upon
every opportunity as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, inflamed
with the study of learning, and the admiration of virtue; stirred up with high
hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy patriots, dear to God, and famous
to all ages. That they may despise and scorn all their childish, and
ill-taught qualities, to delight in manly, and liberal exercises: which he
who hath the art, and proper eloquence to catch them with, what with mild and
effectual persuasions, and what with the intimation of some fear, if need be,
but chiefly by his own example, might in a short space gain them to an
incredible diligence and courage: infusing into their young breasts such an
ingenuous and noble ardor, as would not fail to make many of them renowned and
matchless men. At the same time, some other hour of the day, might be taught
them the rules of arithmetic, and soon after the elements of geometry even
playing, as the old manner was. After evening repast, till bed-time their
thoughts will be best taken up in the easy grounds of religion, and the story
of Scripture. The next step would be to the authors on agriculture, Cato,
Varro, and Columella, for the matter is most easy, and if the language be
difficult, so much the better, it is not a difficulty above their years. And
here will be an occasion of inciting and enabling them hereafter to improve
the tillage of their country, to recover the bad soil, and to remedy the waste
that is made of good; for this was one of Hercules` praises. Ere half these
authors be read (which will soon be with plying^27 hard, and daily) they can
not choose but be masters of any ordinary prose.^28 So that it will be then
seasonable for them to learn in any modern author, the use of the globes, and
all the maps; first with the old names, and then with the new: or they might
be then capable to read any compendious method of natural philosophy. And at
the same time might be entering into the Greek tongue, after the same manner
as was before prescribed in the Latin: whereby the difficulties of grammar
being soon overcome, all the historical physiology of Aristotle and
Theophrastus^29 are open before them, and as I may say, under contribution.
The like access will be to Vitruvius,^30 to Seneca`s natural questions,^31 to
Mela,^32 Celsus,^33 Pliny,^34 or Solinus.^35. And having thus passed the
principles of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and geography with a general
compact of physics, they may descend in mathematics to the instrumental
science of trigonometry and from thence to fortification, architecture,
engineering, or navigation. And in natural philosophy they may proceed
leisurely from the history of meteors, minerals, plants and living creatures
as far as anatomy. Then also in course might be read to them out of some not
tedious writer the institution of physic; that they may know the tempers,^36
the humors,^36 the seasons, and how to manage a crudity;^37 which he who can
wisely and timely do, is not only a great physician to himself, and to his
friends, but also may at some time or other, save an army by this frugal and
expenseless means only; and not let the healthy and stout bodies of young men
rot away under him for want of this discipline; which is a great pity, and no
less a shame to the commander. To set forward all these proceedings in nature
and mathematics, what hinders, but that they may procure, as often as shall
be needful, the helpful experiences of hunters, fowlers, fisherman,
shepherds, gardeners, apothecaries; and in the other sciences, architects,
engineers, mariners, anatomists; who doubtless would be ready some for
reward, and some to favor such a hopeful seminary. And this will give them
such a real tincture of natural knowledge, as they shall never forget, but
daily augment with delight. Then also those poets which are now counted most
hard, will be both facile and pleasant, Orpheus, Hesiod, Theocritus, Aratus,
Nicander, Oppian, Dionysius, and in Latin Lucretius, Manilius, and the rural
part of Virgil.
[Footnote 22: Imbue.]
[Footnote 23: A disciple of Socrates, to whom was ascribed a book on the
cultivation of virtue.]
[Footnote 24: Author of the famous "Lives." He lived about 100 A.D.]
[Footnote 25: The Latin rhetorician, b. 42 A.D.]
[Footnote 26: Adept.]
[Footnote 27: Applying themselves.]
[Footnote 28: l.e., Latin prose.]
[Footnote 29: A pupil of Aristotle`s.]
[Footnote 30: On architecture.]
[Footnote 31: On physics.]
[Footnote 32: On geography.]
[Footnote 33: On medicine.]
[Footnote 34: On natural history.]
[Footnote 35: An abridgement of Pliny.]
[Footnote 36: The temperament was supposed to be due to the predominance of
one of the four humors in the body.]
[Footnote 37: Indigestion.]
By this time, years and good general precepts will have furnished them
more distinctly with that act of reason which in ethics is called
proairesis^38 that they may with some judgment contemplate upon moral good
and evil. Then will be required a special reenforcement of constant and sound
indoctrinating to set them right and firm, instructing them more amply in the
knowledge of virtue and the hatred of vice: while their young and pliant
affections are led through all the moral works of Plato, Xenophon, Cicero,
Plutarch, Laertius^39 and those Locrian remnants;^40 but still to be
reduced^41 in their nightward studies wherewith they close the day`s work,
under the determinate^42 sentence of David or Solomon, or the evanges^43 and
apostolic scriptures. Being perfect in the knowledge of personal duty, they
may then begin the study of economics. And either now, or before this, they
may have easily learned at any odd hour the Italian tongue. And soon after,
but with wariness and good antidote, it would be wholesome enough to let them
taste some choice comedies, Greek, Latin, or Italian: Those tragedies also
that treat of household matters, as Trachiniae,^44 Alcestis^45 and the like.
The next remove must be to the study of politics; to know the beginning, end,
and reasons of political societies; that they may not in a dangerous fit of
the commonwealth be such poor, shaken, uncertain reeds, of such a tottering
conscience, as many of our great counselors have lately shown themselves,
but steadfast pillars of the state. After this they are to dive into the
ground of law and legal justice; delivered first, and with best warrant by
Moses; and as far as human prudence can be trusted, in those extolled remains
of Grecian lawgivers, Lycurgus, Solon, Zaleucus, Charondas,^46 and thence to
all the Roman edicts and tables with their Justinian; and so down to the
Saxon and common laws of England, and the statutes. Sundays also and every
evening may be now understandingly spent in the highest matters of theology,
and church history ancient and modern: and ere this time the Hebrew tongue at
a set hour might have been gained, that the Scriptures may be now read in
their own original; whereto it would be no impossibility to add the
Chaldey,^47 and the Syrian^48 dialect. When all these employments are well
conquered, then will the choice histories, heroic poems, and Attic tragedies
of stateliest and most regal argument, with all the famous political orations
offer themselves; which if they were not only read; but some of them got by
memory, and solemnly pronounced with right accent, and grace, as might be
taught, would endow them even with the spirit and vigor of Demosthenes, or
Cicero, Euripides, or Sophocles. And now lastly will be the time to read
with them those organic^49 arts which enable men to discourse and write
perspicuously, elegantly, and according to the fitted style of lofty, mean
or lowly. Logic therefore so much as is useful, is to be referred to this due
place with all her well couched^50 heads and topics, until to be time to open
her contracted palm into a graceful and ornate rhetoric taught out of the rule
of Plato, Aristotle, Phalereus, Cicero, Hermogenes, Longinus. To which poetry
would be made subsequent, or indeed rather precedent, as being less subtle
and fine, but more simple, sensuous and passionate. I mean not here the
prosody of a verse, which they could not have hit on before among the
rudiments of grammar; but that sublime art which in Aristotle`s Poetics, in
Horace, and the Italian commentaries of Castelvetro, Tasso, Mazzoni, and
others, teaches what the laws are of a true epic poem, what of a dramatic,
what of a lyric, what decorum is, which is the grand masterpiece to observe.
This would make them soon perceive what despicable creatures our common
rimers and playwriters be, and show them, what religious, what glorious and
magnificent use might be made of poetry both in divine and human things. From
hence and not till now will be the right season of forming them to be able
writers and composers in every excellent matter, when they shall be thus
fraught with an universal insight into things. Or whether they be to speak in
Parliament or council, honor and attention would be waiting on their lips.
There would then also appear in pulpits other visages, other gestures, and
stuff otherwise wrought than what we now sit under, ofttimes to as great a
trial of our patience as any other that they preach to us. These are the
studies wherein our noble and our gentle youth ought to bestow their time in
a disciplinary way from twelve to one and twenty; unless they rely more upon
their ancestors dead, than upon themselves living. In which methodical course
it is so supposed they must proceed by the steady pace of learning onward, as
at convenient times for memories` sake to retire back into the middle
ward,^51 and sometimes into the rear of what they have been taught, until
they have confirmed, and solidly united the whole body of their perfected
knowledge, like the last embattling of a Roman legion. Now will be worth the
seeing what exercises and recreations may best agree, and become these
studies.
[Footnote 38: The choice between good and evil.]
[Footnote 39: Diogenes Laertius, who wrote a history of philosophy.]
[Footnote 40: Ascribed to Timaeus.]
[Footnote 41: Brought back.]
[Footnote 42: Authoritative.]
[Footnote 43: Gospels.]
[Footnote 44: By Sophocles.]
[Footnote 45: By Euripides.]
[Footnote 46: Lawgivers respectively to Sparta, Athens, the Locrians in
southern Italy, and certain cities in Sicily.]
[Footnote 47: Chaldean, a language akin to Hebrew.]
[Footnote 48: Aramaic, the language of Palestine in the time of Christ.]
[Footnote 49: Practical.]
[Footnote 50: Arranged.]
[Footnote 51: Center.]
Their Exercise.
The course of study hitherto briefly described, is, what I can guess
by reading, likest to those ancient and famous schools of Pythagoras, Plato,
Isocrates, Aristotle and such others, out of which were bred up such a
number of renowned philosophers, orators, historians, poets and princes all
over Greece, Italy, and Asia, besides the flourishing studies of Cyrene and
Alexandria. But herein it shall exceed them, and supply a defect as great as
that which Plato noted in the commonwealth of Sparta, whereas that city
trained up their youth most for war, and these in their Academies and Lycaeum,
all for the gown,^52 this institution of breeding which I here delineate,
shall be equally good both for peace and war. Therefore about an hour and
a half ere they eat at noon should be allowed them for exercise and due rest
afterward: but the time for this may be enlarged at pleasure, according as
their rising in the morning shall be early. The exercise which I commend
first, is the exact use of their weapon, to guard and to strike safely with
edge, or point; this will keep them healthy, nimble, strong, and well in
breath, is also the likeliest means to make them grow large and tall, and
to inspire them with a gallant and fearless courage, which being tempered
with seasonable lectures and precepts to them of true fortitude and patience,
will turn into a native and heroic valor, and make them hate the cowardice
of doing wrong. They must be also practised in all the locks and grips of
wrestling, wherein Englishmen were wont to excel, as need may often be in
fight to tug or grapple, and to close. And this perhaps will be enough,
wherein to prove and heat their single strength. The interim of unsweating^53
themselves regularly, and convenient rest before meat may both with profit
and delight be taken up in recreating and composing their travailed^54
spirits with the solemn and divine harmonies of music heard or learned;
either while the skilful organist plies his grave and fancied descant, in
lofty fugues, or the whole symphony with artful and unimaginable touches
adorn and grace the well studied chords of some choice composer, sometimes
the lute, or soft organ stop waiting on elegant voices either to religious,
martial, or civil ditties; which if wise men and prophets be not extremely
out,^55 have a great power over dispositions and manners, to smooth and make
them gentle from rustic harshness and distempered passions. The like also
would not be unexpedient after meat to assist and cherish Nature in her first
concoction,^56 and send their minds back to study in good tune and
satisfaction. Where having followed it closer under vigilant eyes till about
two hours before supper, they are by a sudden alarum or watchword, to be
called out to their military motions, under sky or covert, according to the
season, as was the Roman wont: first on foot, then as their age permits, on
horseback, to all the art of cavalry; that having in sport, but with much
exactness, and daily muster, served out the rudiments of their soldiership in
all the skill of embattling, marching, encamping, fortifying, besieging and
battering, with all the helps of ancient and modern stratagems, tactics and
warlike maxims, they may as it were out of a long war come forth renowned and
perfect commanders in the service of their country. They would not then, if
they were trusted with fair and hopeful armies, suffer them for want of just
and wise discipline to shed away from about them like sick feathers, though
they never so oft supplied: they would not suffer their empty and
unrecruitable^57 colonels of twenty men in a company to quaff out,^58 or
convey,^59 into secret hoards, the wages of a delusive list, and a miserable
remnant: yet in the meanwhile to be overmastered with a score or two of
drunkards, the only soldiery left about them, or else to comply with all
rapines and violences. No certainly, if they knew aught of that knowledge
that belongs to good men or good governors, they would not suffer these
things. But to return to our own institute, besides these constant exercises
at home, there is another opportunity of gaining experience to be won from
pleasure itself abroad; in those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is
calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go
out, and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.
I should not therefore be a persuader to them of studying much then, after
two or three years that they have well laid their grounds, but to ride out
in companies with prudent and staid guides, to all the quarters of the land:
learning and observing all places of strength, all commodities^60 of
building and of soil, for towns and tillage, harbors and ports for trade.
Sometimes taking sea as far as to our navy, to learn there also what they can
in the practical knowledge of sailing and of sea-fight. These ways would try
all their peculiar gifts of nature, and if there were any secret excellence
among them, would fetch it out, and give it fair opportunities to advance
itself by, which could not but mightily redound to the good of this nation,
and bring into fashion again those old admired virtues and excellencies,
with far more advantage now in this purity of Christian knowledge. Nor shall
we then need the monsieurs of Paris, to take our hopeful youth into their
slight^61 and prodigal custodies and send them over back again transformed
into mimics, apes, and kickshaws. But if they desire to see other countries
at three or four and twenty years of age, not to learn principles but to
enlarge experience, and make wise observation, they will by that time be such
as shall deserve the regard and honor of all men where they pass, and the
society and friendship of those in all places who are best and most eminent.
And perhaps then other nations will be glad to visit us for their breeding,
or else to imitate us in their own country.
[Footnote 52: Civil life.]
[Footnote 53: Cooling off.]
[Footnote 54: Tired with exercise.]
[Footnote 55: Mistaken.]
[Footnote 56: Digestion.]
[Footnote 57: Unable to enlist recruits.]
[Footnote 58: Spend in drinking.]
[Footnote 59: Steal.]
[Footnote 60: Advantages.]
[Footnote 61: Evil.]
Now lastly for their diet there can not be much to say, save only that it
would be best in the same house; for much time else would be lost abroad, and
many ill habits got; and that it should be plain, healthful, and moderate I
suppose is out of controversy. Thus Mr. Hartlib, you have a general view in
writing, as your desire was, of that which at several times I had discoursed
with you concerning the best and noblest way of education; not beginning as
some have done from the cradle, which yet might be worth many considerations,
if brevity had not been my scope, many other circumstances also I could have
mentioned, but this to such as have the worth in them to make trial, for
light and direction may be enough. Only I believe that this is not a bow for
every man to shoot in that counts himself a teacher; but will require sinews
almost equal to those which Homer gave Ulysses, yet I am withal persuaded
that it may prove much more easy in the assay,^62 than it now seems at
distance, and much more illustrious: howbeit not more difficult than I
imagine, and that imagination presents me with nothing but very happy and
very possible according to best wishes; if God have so decreed, and this age
have spirit and capacity enough to apprehend.
[Footnote 62: Attempt.]
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