The Grammar School, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Of speaking Latine purely and readily.
Spoud.
I Pray you Sir, go on to the last point: in this which you hauehave said for the maner of pronuntiation, I hauehave heard nothing which I can iustly except against, it doth all sound so pleasing and likely in mine eare. When I hauehave more tryall, I shall be able to say more.
In the meane time let me craue the like, for the manner of learning to speake Latine. If you can shew me so plaine a way of it, as this seemeth to be, surely you shall make mee much more to reioyce.
For of this I may complaine yet more,Complaint of the trouble and difficulty to traine vp schollars to speake Latine. then of most of the rest; that though I hauehave laboured and striuen by Ferula, and all meanes of seuerity, yet I hauehave not beene able to make my Schollars to vtter their mindes in any tollerable manner, of ordinary things, but in very barbarous phrase, nor so much as to put it in practice amongst themselues; much lesse to vtter their minds in Latine easily, purely, and freely as it were to be wished, and as you hauehave shewed the necessity and commendation thereof.
Phil.
I my selfe hauehave had long experience of the truth and griefe of this complaint likewise, though I also hauehave done what I could continually: and yet of late time I grow to this certaine assurance, that Schollars may be brought to talke of any ordinary matter which can be required of them, both in good Latine, and also most readily and easily.
Herein hath beene a great part of my errour and hinderance,The generall errour for the time when schollars are to begin to speake Latine. that I euer thought as most doe, that children were not to be exercised to speake Latin, for feare of Barbarisme, vntill they came into the highest fourmes; as at least vntill they were in the third, fourth, or fift fourmes: and hereuppon I could neuer attaine to that which I desired.
But now I finde euidently,To learne to speake Latine, must be begun from the first entrance into construction. that this must be begun from the very first entrance into construction; their first books being principally appointed, and read to them to this end, to enter and traine them vp in speaking of Latine of ordinary matters:
As Confabulatiunculae Pueriles, Corderius, and other like Colloquiums. And therefore they should then begin to practice to vse those phrases which there they learne.
Also for the Grammar, I see no reason but it might hauehave beene all as well set downe in the English, like as the Accedence is, and learned in one halfe of the time, & with much more delight; but onelyonly or chiefly to traine vp schollars to deliuer all their Grammar rules, and matters concerning Grammar, in Latin.
Spoud.
It standeth with very great reason, that it should be as you say, that in the learning of those bookes, the right foundation of speaking Latine familiarly should be layed; and the practice begunne; and that indeede there is a generall mistaking about this: but I desire you to set downe the whole course and proceeding in it, how to bring it to perfection; and then I shall bee much better able to iudge.
Phil.
For the manner of effecting it,☞ I find it to be most easie thus:The surest course for entring young schollars to speake Latine. 1 Examining and answering eueryevery peece of a rule or sentence in Latine, to make them their owne. So in their Authours.
1 You must remember that which I said, concerning the manner of the examining both of their Grammar rules and Lectures; to pose eueryevery peece of a rule, and eueryevery part of a sentence both in English and Latine, as leasure will permit; and to cause them to answere both in English and Latine, vntill they be able to vnderstand and answere in Latine alone. And so both examining in the wordes of their Authors, and causing them to answer likewise in the very same words of the Authours, they will enter into it with great delight. For the particular manner. I referre you to the Chapter of examining in Latine, which I shewed you before at large, and set downe examples of it.
2 What they are not able to vtter in Latine,2 To vtter before them what they cannot. How the Master himselfe may do it easily before them. vtter you it euer before them; that as the childe learneth of the mother or of the nurse, to begin to speake, so they may of you and of their Authour.
If you were not able so to vtter eueryevery thing before them, as very many are to seeke this way, amongst others (I meane in this, to speake in Latine easily and purely, euen in ordinary matters);3 The daily practice of Grammaticall translations; chiefly reading bookes of Dialogues out of English into Latine, which is nothing but such talking. yet this continuall practice of daily examining and teaching your schollars to answere out of the wordes of the Authour (as the manner was set down before) and watchfulnesse to vse to speake Latine, onelyonly amongst all whom you would hauehave to learne it, shall bring you vntounto it; and much more by the meanes following.
3 I doe finde the daily practice also of those Grammaticall translations, which I hauehave so oft mentioned in reading the Latine of the Author out of the translation, to be a marueilous helpe heereunto; especially the reading of bookes of Dialogues: as of Confabulatiunculae pueriles, Corderius, &c. For if there they can presently expresse their mindes in Latine, of any such matter as is there handled; why shall they not be able to doe it likewise, of any such thing falling into their common talke.
4 As they learne these Dialogues,☜ when they hauehave construed and parsed,4 To talke together in the wordes of the Dialogues, each sentence first in English, then Latine. cause them to talke together; vttering eueryevery sentence pathetically one to another (as was shewed in our former speech of pronouncing) and first to vtter eueryevery sentence in English, as neede is, then in Latine.
So you shall be sure that they shall not goe by rote (as we tearme it) and as they may do soone, if they only repeate the Latine so talking together. And moreouer, euer thus with the English, the Latine will easily come to their remembrance, so often as they hauehave occasion to vse the same.
5 The practice mentioned of turning eueryevery morning a peece of their Accedence into Latin,5 Translating and vttering eueryevery morning a peece of their Accedence in Latine. for their exercise, shall much prepare them to parse and speake in Latine.
6 Accustome them to parse wholly in Latine, by that time that they hauehave bin a yeare or two at the most, in construction,6 Custome to parse wholly in Latine, and how to doe it. and are well acquainted with the manner of parsidg in English, as we aduised before. This they will do very readily, if you traine them vp well in their Accedence, and in the former kindes of examining and exercises, which I spake of euen now; and more specially by the right & continuall apposing of their Grammar rules in Latine.
Moreouer, the Dialogues in the end of the first booke of Corderius Dialogues,Corderius lib. …. Colloq. 69 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. will much further them in this parsing, because they are principally written to this purpose; as all his foure bookes are very sweete and pleasant for all ordinary schollars talke.
7 Next vntounto these I finde the daily practice of disputing or opposing in Latine (following the order,7 Daily practice of disputing. and vsing the helpe of M. Stockwood) to be marueilously profitable, for witty and sweet speech.
8 VntoUnto these you may adde the practice of varying of a phrase,8 Practice of varying a phrase into diue…s …oimes. according to the manner of Erasmus, Riuius, or Macropedius, de copia verborum: as the wayes of varying the first Supine, of the Imperatiue moode, the future tense, the Superlatiue degree, and the like. But these onelyonly as leasure will suffer not hindering the most necessary exercises.
9 So also for copie of the purest phrases and Synonimaes,9 Copie of Synonimaes, & the …urest phrases, & how to get them. This noted before. besides the daily helpes of all their Authours,Manutius or Master Draxe his phrases, to see how many wayes they can vtter any thing in good phrase; and so to turne to any phrase when they hauehave occasion. And more specially for that practice of the reading them ou… of the Grammaticall Translations in propriety (as was shewed before of the Dialogues) any shall finde to be most easie, to furnish with store of the purest phrase for any purpose.
10 Besides,☞ for the Master to vse oft, at taking or saying Lectures or exercises,10 Exercising the schollars oft to giuegive variety for eueryevery difficult matter. or at their pronouncing or shewing exercises, to cause them to giuegive variety for anything; who is able to giuegive a better word or phrase, or to giuegive the greatest copie to expresse their mindes, and where they hauehave read the wordes or phrase.
11 Where none can giuegive a fit word,11 Holyokes Dictionary, describing things by Periphrasis or circumlocution. there to turne their Dictionaries, as to Holyokes Dictionary, and then to furnish them; or to describe the thing by some Periphrasis or circumlocution of words or the phrases mentioned.
12 But to the end to hauehave copie of proper wordes, besides all other helpes spoken of,12 To giuegive dai…y certaine proper wordes, and where they hauehave read them. it were not vnprofitable to hauehave daily some few wordes to be repeated first in the morning; as out of Adrianus …unius his Nomenclator; or out of the Latine Primitiues, or the Greeke Radices; the vse whereof I shall shew hereafter: and euer for those wordes which they hauehave learned (any one who can soonest) to name where they hauehave learned them.
Thus by all meanes they should be furnished with propriety and copie of the best words; which is a wonderfull helpe to all kinde of learning, especially to the knowledge of the tongues.
13 To all these may be added for them who hauehave leasure enough the reading ouer and ouer of Erasmus Colloquium,13 Reading ouer Erasmus Colloquium. Castalions Dialogues, or the like.
14 Lastly when you hauehave layed a sound foundation that they may be sure to hauehave warrantable and pure phrase,14 Continuall practice, when they hauehave learned a pure phrase. by these means or the best of them, and all other their schoole exercises; then continuall practice of speaking shall vndoubtedly accomplish your desire to cause them to speake truely, purely, properly, and readily; Practice in a good way being here, as in all the rest, that which doth all.
Spoud.
These things, or but the best of them, being constantly practiced cannot but effect marueilous much, and very surely; chiefly if we could bring them to speake Latine continually, from that time that they beginne to parse in Latine:Difficulty to cause schollar… to practice speaking Latine amongst themselues. but this I hauehave had too much experience of, that without great seuerity they will not be brought vntounto: but they will speake English, and one will winke at another, if they be out of the Masters hearing.
Phil.
It is indeed exceeding hard, to cause this to bee practiced constantly amongst schollars. That is a vsuall custome in Schooles to appoint Custodes, ☜or Asini (as they are tearmed in some places) to obserue and catch them who speake English in each fourme,Inconueniences of Custode…. or whom they see idle, to giuegive them the Ferula, and to make them Custodes if they cannot answere a question which they aske.
But I hauehave obserued so much inconuenience in it, as I cannot tell what to say in this case: for oft-times, he who is the Custos will hardly attend his own worke, for harkening to heare others to speake English.
Also there falleth our amongst them oft-times so much w…angling about the questions, or defending themselues, that they did not speake English, or were not idle, that all the whole fourme is troubled. So likewise when the Custodes are called for, before breaking vp at dinner and at night, there will be so much contention amongst them, as is a disquieting and trouble to the Master. Moreouer, this I hauehave obserued, that euer if there be any one simple in a fourme or harder of learning then the rest, they will make him a right Asinus, causing such to be the Custodes continually, or for the most part, if they cannot answere: and to this end will be alwayes watching them; wherby many such are not only notably abused, but very much discouraged for being schollars, when they see themselues so baited at by all: some others are made ouer malipart thereby.
Besides all these,☞ I doe not see any great fitnesse, that one schollar should smite another with the Ferula;Of one schollar smiting another with the Ferula. because much malicing one another, with grudges and quarrels do arise thereupon. So that the discommodities that follow the Custodes, seem to me to be many moe then the benefits can be; chiefly in losse of time, and hindering more in other learning, then can be gotten in that.
Spoud.
I my selfe hauehave had experience of most of these inconueniences: but what way will you take then, to cause your schollars to speake Latine continually?
Phil.
This is the best way that yet I can finde,The best means & to auoid the former inconueniences;☞ First, to appoint the two Seniors in each fourm (of whom we shall speake after) as to look to all other matters in the fourme,1 Seniours of each fourme to looke to the whole. so to this more specially, that none speake English nor barbarous Latin: & if they be found partiall or negligent, then to preferre others into their places; besides the other censures to be inflicted vponupon them which I shall mention to you, when we shall come to speake of punishments; & so to hauehave their due rewards, being found carefull.☞ Secondly, the Masters owne eye & eare in the Schoole,2 The Masters eye and eare. to be continuall Custodes so much as may be,☞ both for Monitors and others. Thirdly, if they do vse to parse in Latin (& therefore must needs exercise themselues in that against that time that their Master doth come to hearethem) & secondly,3 Parsing in Latine. if they be kept in their places, and strictly looked vntounto for performing all exercises; I doe not see but they may be made to speake Latin in the schoole at schooletimes; neyther that they shall hauehave any great occasions of the contrary. Fourthly,4 Weekely Monitours abroad. for speaking Latin in all other places, it must only be by Monitours appointed weekly, as we shall hauehave occasion to speak more after, and some seuerely corrected who are found most carelesse herein.
Spoud
But if any one alone,☜ who hath some vnderstanding of Latine,How any one may by himself alone attaine to speake Latine of ordinary matters. would learne to speake of familiar matters, to be able to talke with others, what course doe you thinke the speediest?
Phil.
Euen the same which I would vse to help a whole Schoole: which if I should take a course for a wager, amongst others, I would vse specially, to cause them daily to spend some quarter, or halfe an howre, each in his order, reading Corderius first out of Latine into English, after out of English into Latine, eueryevery one a little peece; where one failes another to helpe; and the booke or Master where all faile: and also the Master to cause them to vary each hard phrase (and chiefly all which are of most common vse) so many waies as they can, trying who can doe best; himselfe to adde moe where they faile. After Corderius gone ouer, to do the like in other easie Authors, as Terence, or Terentius Christianus, and the like. So I would hauehave the priuate learner to practice daily the same, reading Corderius first out of Latine into English, by help of the translation; after trying how he can read it out of English into Latine, and euer where he fails, to vse the help of the Latine book lying by him. The continual exercise in this, if they labor to be perfect in the examples of Nowns & Verbs, and somwhat in knowing the Rules of the Accedence, as was shewed, shal most speedily effect this desire. For thus may any one soon learne to vtter all that booke: And in it is the substance of most things falling out in ordinary speech. After this, hee may do the like in other easie books by the same helpe of translations. And lastly, practicing to translate other books of dialogues (as, Erasmus Colloquium, or the like) and afterwards reading them forth of English into Latine againe, any one may come on very fast.
Spoud.
This stands vponupon the former grounds. These seuerall points which you hauehave gone thorough, seeme to me very sufficient (and to neede no addition) for training vp schollars to attain to so good perfection in the Latin tong.
Phil.
These are but an entrance, meet for the Grammar schooles; but to attaine to the perfection of the Latine tongue, for propriety, choise, elegancy, puritie, will require much and long reading, and exercise in the Vniuersities.
☞For further direction thereunto, I refer you to Gocleninius his obseruations of the Latine tongue:Goclenius his obseruations for them who seeke to come to puritie and ripenesse in the Latine tongue. whom I take to be worthy the diligent reading of all schollars who are of iudgement, and who doe desire to come to the puritie and ripenesse of the Latine.