fear this vice is； in some sort； to be attributed to the fore…mentioned
vice of the fathers。
And if a man should tell me； as a lord of very good understanding once
did； that 〃he hoarded up wealth； not to extract any other fruit and use
from his parsimony； but to make himself honoured and sought after by his
relations； and that age having deprived him of all other power； it was
the only remaining remedy to maintain his authority in his family； and to
keep him from being neglected and despised by all around；〃 in truth； not
only old age； but all other imbecility； according to Aristotle； is the
promoter of avarice； that is something； but it is physic for a disease
that a man should prevent the birth of。 A father is very miserable who
has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of
his assistance； if that can be called affection； he must render himself
worthy to be respected by his virtue and wisdom； and beloved by his
kindness and the sweetness of his manners； even the very ashes of a rich
matter have their value； and we are wont to have the bones and relics of
worthy men in regard and reverence。 No old age can be so decrepid in a
man who has passed his life in honour； but it must be venerable；
especially to his children； whose soul he must have trained up to their
duty by reason； not by necessity and the need they have of him； nor by
harshness and compulsion：
〃Et errat longe mea quidem sententia
Qui imperium credat esse gravius； aut stabilius；
Vi quod fit； quam illud； quod amicitia adjungitur。〃
＇〃He wanders far from the truth； in my opinion； who thinks that
government more absolute and durable which is acquired by force than
that which is attached to friendship。Terence； Adelph。； i。 I； 40。＇
I condemn all violence in the education of a tender soul that is designed
for honour and liberty。 There is I know not what of servile in rigour
and constraint； and I am of opinion that what is not to be done by
reason； prudence； and address； is never to be affected by force。 I
myself was brought up after that manner； and they tell me that in all my
first age I never felt the rod but twice； and then very slightly。 I
practised the same method with my children； who all of them died at
nurse； except Leonora； my only daughter； and who arrived to the age of
five years and upward without other correction for her childish faults
（her mother's indulgence easily concurring） than words only； and those
very gentle； in which kind of proceeding； though my end and expectation
should be both frustrated； there are other causes enough to lay the fault
on without blaming my discipline； which I know to be natural and just；
and I should； in this； have yet been more religious towards the males； as
less born to subjection and more free； and I should have made it my
business to fill their hearts with ingenuousness and freedom。 I have
never observed other effects of whipping than to render boys more
cowardly； or more wilfully obstinate。
Do we desire to be beloved of our children？ Will we remove from them all
occasion of wishing our death though no occasion of so horrid a wish can
either be just or excusable？
〃Nullum scelus rationem habet。〃
＇〃No wickedness has reason。〃Livy； xxviii。 28＇
Let us reasonably accommodate their lives with what is in our power。 In
order to this； we should not marry so young that our age shall in a
manner be confounded with theirs； for this inconvenience plunges us into
many very great difficulties； and especially the gentry of the nation；
who are of a condition wherein they have little to do； and who live upon
their rents only： for elsewhere； with people who live by their labour；
the plurality and company of children is an increase to the common stock；
they are so many new tools and instruments wherewith to grow rich。
I married at three…and…thirty years of age； and concur in the opinion of
thirty…five； which is said to be that of Aristotle。 Plato will have
nobody marry before thirty； but he has reason to laugh at those who
undertook the work of marriage after five…and…fifty； and condemns their
offspring as unworthy of aliment and life。 Thales gave the truest
limits； who； young and being importuned by his mother to marry； answered；
〃That it was too soon；〃 and； being grown into years and urged again；
〃That it was too late。〃 A man must deny opportunity to every inopportune
action。 The ancient Gauls' looked upon it as a very horrid thing for a
man to have society with a woman before he was twenty years of age； and
strictly recommended to the men who designed themselves for war the
keeping their virginity till well grown in years； forasmuch as courage is
abated and diverted by intercourse with women：
〃Ma； or congiunto a giovinetta sposa；
E lieto omai de' figli； era invilito
Negli affetti di padre et di marito。〃
＇〃Now； married to a young wife and happy in children； he was
demoralised by his love as father and husband。〃
Tasso； Gierus。； x。 39。＇
Muley Hassam； king of Tunis； he whom the Emperor Charles V。 restored to
his kingdom； reproached the memory of his father Mahomet with the
frequentation of women； styling him loose； effeminate； and a getter of
children。＇Of whom he had thirty…four。＇ The Greek history observes of
Iccus the Tarentine； of Chryso； Astyllus； Diopompos； and others； that to
keep their bodies in order for the Olympic games and such like exercises；
they denied themselves during that preparation all commerce with Venus。
In a certain country of the Spanish Indies men were not permitted to
marry till after forty age； and yet the girls were allowed at ten。
'Tis not time for a gentleman of thirty years old to give place to his
son who is twenty； he is himself in a condition to serve both in the
expeditions of war and in the court of his prince； has need of all his
appurtenances； and yet； doubtless； he ought to surrender a share； but not
so great an one as to forget himself for others； and for such an one the
answer that fathers have ordinarily in their mouths； 〃I will not put off
my clothes； before I go to bed；〃 serves well。
But a father worn out with age and infirmities； and deprived by weakness
and want of health of the common society of men； wrongs himself and his
to amass a great heap of treasure。 He has lived long enough； if he be
wise； to have a mind to strip himself to go to bed； not to his very
shirt； I confess； but to that and a good； warm dressing…gown； the
remaining pomps； of which he has no further use； he ought voluntarily to
surrender to those； to whom by the order of nature they belong。 'Tis
reason he should refer the use of those things to them； seeing that
nature has reduced him to such a state that he cannot enjoy them himself；
otherwise there is doubtless malice and envy in the case。 The greatest
act of the Emperor Charles V。 was that when； in imitation of some of the
ancients of his own quality； confessing it but reason to strip ourselves
when our clothes encumber and grow too heavy for us； and to lie down when
our legs begin to fail us； he resigned his possessions； grandeur； and
power to his son； when he found himself failing in vigour； and steadiness
for the conduct of his affairs suitable with the glory he had therein
acquired：
〃Solve senescentem mature sanus equum； ne
Peccet ad extremum ridendus； et ilia ducat。〃
＇〃Dismiss the old horse in good time； lest； failing in the lists；
the spectators laugh。〃Horace； Epist。； i。； I； 8。＇
This fault of not perceiving betimes and of not being sensible of the
feebleness and extreme alteration that age naturally brings both upon
body and mind； which； in my opinion； is equal； if indeed the soul has not
more than half； has lost the reputation of most of the great men in the
world。 I have known in my time； and been intimately acquainted with
persons of great authority； whom one might easily discern marvellously
lapsed from the sufficiency I knew they were once endued with； by the
reputation they had acquired in their former years； whom I could
heartily； for their own sakes； have wished at home at their ease；
discharged of their public or military employments； which were now grown
too heavy for their shoulders。 I have formerly been very familiar in a
gentleman's house； a widower and very old； though healthy and cheerful
enough： this gentleman had several daughters to marry and a son already
of ripe age； which brought upon him many visitors； and a great expense；
neither of which well pleased him； not only out of consideration of
frugality； but yet more for having； by reason of his age； entered into a
course of life far differing from ours。 I told him one day a little
boldly； as I used to do； that he would do better to give us younger folk
room； and to leave his principal house （for he had but that well placed
and furnished） to his son； and himself retire to an estate he had hard
by； where nobody would trouble his repose； seeing he could not otherwise
avoid being importuned by us； the condition of his children considered。
He took my