A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Heresies; Education 569
be cancelled and let those things only abide with Universal
. 1 ! \ 1 1 • 1 1 1 (• 1 a. letter by
(Catholic) observance, which our ever memorable father the emperor
and we ourselves ha^'e ordered as destined to live forever
Rescript was
fr'^uenT
^
with equally specific command. f° °{
^ -^ ^ legislaUon.
XII.
Miseries of the Schoolboy
O God, my God, what miseries I suffered there, and how The
I was made a subject of mockery, seeing that the end set
is painful,
before my boyhood was to obey my teachers that I might g^ Augusprosper
in the world, by learning to excel in those wordy
^^?^' Confesarts
which lead to honor among men, and serve to gain
those riches which are not true wealth. To that end I
was put to school that I might learn my letters, in which
I, poor wTetch, could see no manner of use. But if I was
slow in learning them I was whipped. For this was the
way approved by our ancestors. For many, going through
this life before us, had built up the toilsome ways through
which we were compelled to pass with the labor and pain
which have been multiplied upon the sons of Adam. Meanwhile
I came in contact with some who prayed to Thee,
and I learned something from them, and thought of Thee
as best I could, as some great One, who though we could
not see or touch Thee, couldst hear and help us. As a
boy accordingly I began to pray to Thee, who art my
refuge and my help. I taught my stammering tongue
to cry to Thee, and besought Thee, small as I was, with
no little earnestness that I might not be whipped at school.
And when Thou didst not answer my prayer—though
it was not Thy purpose to put me to confusion— my
whippings were matter for mirth to my seniors, even to
my parents, who certainly wished no ill to befall me,
though these punishments were a great and grave ill to
me. . . ,