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itude. I am of Plutarch’s opinion, that Aristotle did not so much occupy the time of his famous pupil in the skill of constructing syllogisms, or in the principles of geometry, as in teaching him wise precepts concerning valour, prowess, nobleness of character, and temperance, and the courage to fear nothing; and with this preparation he sent him forth, when still a child, to subjugate the empiry of the world with only 30,000 foot-soldiers, 4000 horse, and 42,000 crowns.^[1] The other arts and branches of knowledge,^[2] he says, Alexander held in high esteem, and praised their excellence and charm; but, as for himself taking pleasure in them, it was not easy to surprise him in the desire to practise them.

(c) It is as Epicurus said at the beginning of his letter to Meniceus: "Let not the youngest shun philosophy, nor the oldest weary of it. He who does otherwise seems to say either that it is not yet the time to live happily, or that it is no longer the time." ^[4]

(a) For all that, I would not have the boy confined.^[5] I would not have him given over to the brooding melancholy of a passionate schoolmaster. I would not spoil his mind by keeping it in torture and at work, as others do, fourteen or fifteen hours a day, like a porter. (¢) Nor should I think it well, if, from an unsocial and pensive disposition, he were addicted to an unwise application to the study of books,^[6] that he should be encouraged therein; it unfits boys for social intercourse and diverts them from better occupations.