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THE SECOND BOOKE 75
and that age having bereaved him of all other forces, it
was the onely remedy he had left to maintaine himselfe in
authority with his houshold, and keepe him from
falling into contempt and disdaine of all the world.
And truly according to Aristotle, not only old-age, but
each imbecillity, is the promoter, and motive of
covetousnesse. That is something, but it is a remedy
for an evill, whereof the birth should have beene hindered
and breeding avoyded. That father may truly be
said miserable that holdeth the affection of his children
tied unto him by no other meanes than by the need
they have of his helpe, or want of his assistance, if that
may be termed affection: A man should yeeld himselfe
respectable by virtue and sufficiency, and amiable by
his.goodnesse, and gentlenesse of manners. The very
cinders of so rich a matter have their value : so have
the bones and relics of honourable men, whom we hold
in respect and reverence. No age can be so crazed and
drooping in a man that hath lived honourably, but,
must needs prove venerable, and especially unto his
children, whose minds ought so to be directed by the'
parents, that reason and wisdome, not necessity and'
need, nor rudenesse and compulsion, may make them
know and performe their dutie.
——• et errat longe, mea quidem sententxa,
Qui imperium credat esse gravius aut stabilius,
Vi quod fit, quam illud quod amicitia adjungitur, 1
In mine opinion he doth much mistake.
Who, that command more grave, more firme doth take,
Which force doth get, than that which friendships make.
I utterly condemne all manner of violence in the
education of a young spirit, brought up to honour and
libertie. There is a kind of slavishnesse in churlish
rigour, and servility in compulsion ; and I hold that that
which cannot be compassed by reason, wisdome, and
discretion, can never be attained by force and constraint
So was I brought up : they tell me that in all
my youth I never felt rod but twice, and that very
¹ TER. Adelph. act i, sC I, 39.