Of Education, Account
Of Education. To Maſter Samuel Hartlib.
Maſter Hartlib,
I Am long ſince perſwaded, that to ſay, ot doe ought worth memory, and imitation, no purpoſe or reſpect ſhould ſooner move us, then ſimply the love of God, and of mankinde. Nevertheleſſe to write now the reforming of Education, though it be one of the greateſt and nobleſt deſignes, that can be thought on, and for the want whereof this nation periſhes, I had not yet at this time been induc't, but by your earneſt entreaties, and ſerious conjurements; as having my minde for the preſent halfe diverted in the perſuance of ſome other aſſertions, the knowledge and the uſe of which, cannot but be a great furtherance both to the enlargement of truth, and honeſt living, with much more peace. Nor ſhould the lawes of any private friendſhip have prevail'd with me to divide thus, or tranſpoſe my former thoughts, but that I ſee thoſe aims, thoſe actions which have won you with me the eſteem of a perſon ſent hither by ſome good providence from a farre country to be the occaſion and the incitement of great good to this Iland. And, as I hear, you have obtain'd the ſame repute with men of moſt approved wiſdom, and ſome of higheſt authority among us. Not to mention the learned correſpondence which you hold in forreigne parts, and the extraordinary pains and diligence which you have uſ'd in this matter both heer, and beyond the Seas; either by the definite will of God ſo ruling, or the peculiar ſway of nature, which alſo is Gods working. Neither can I thinke that ſo reputed, and ſo valu'd as you are, you would to the forfeit of your own diſcerning ability, impoſe upon me an unfit and over ponderous argument, but that the ſatisfaction which you profeſſe to have receiv'd from thoſe incidentall diſcourſes which we have wander'd into, hath preſt & almoſt conſtrain'd you into a perſwaſion, that what you require from me in this point, I neither ought, nor can in conſcience deferre beyond this time both of ſo much need at once, and ſo much opportunity to trie what God hath determin'd. I will not reſiſt therefore, what ever it is either of divine, or humane obligement that you lay upon me; but will forthwith ſet down in writing, as you requeſt me, that voluntary Idea, which hath long in ſilence preſented it ſelf to me, of a better Education, in extent and comprehenſion farre more large, and yet of time farre ſhorter, and of attainment farre more certain, then hath been yet in practice. Briefe I ſhall endeavour to be; for that which I have to ſay, aſſuredly this nation hath extreame need ſhould be done ſooner then ſpok'n. To tell you therefore what I have benefited herein among old renowned Authors, I ſhall ſpare; and to ſearch what many modern Ianua's and Didactics more then ever I ſhall read, have projected, my inclination leads me not. But if you can accept of theſe few obſervations which have flowr'd off, and are as it were the burniſhing of many ſtudious and contemplative yeers altogether ſpent in the ſearch of religious and civil knowledge, and ſuch as pleaſ'd you ſo well in the relating, I here give you them to diſpoſe of.
The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our firſt parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the neereſt by poſſeſſing our ſouls of true vertue▪ which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the higheſt perfection. But becauſe our underſtanding cannot in this body found it ſelfe but on ſenſible things, not arrive ſo cleerly to the knowledge of God and things inviſible, as by orderly conning over the viſible and inferior creature, the ſame method is neceſſarily to be follow'd in all diſcreet teaching. And ſeeing every nation affords not experience and tradition anough for all kinde of learning, therefore we are chiefly taught the languages of thoſe people who have at any time been moſt induſtrious after wiſdom; So that language is but the inſtrument convaying to us things uſefull to be known. And though a linguiſt ſhould pride himſelfe to have all the tongues that Babel cleft the world into, yet, if he have not ſtudied the ſolid things in them as well as the words and lexicons, he were nothing ſo much to be eſteem'd a learned man, as any yeoman or tradeſman competently wiſe in his mother dialect only. Hence appear the many miſtakes which have made learning generally ſo unpleaſing and ſo unſuccesfull; firſt we do amiſſe to ſpend ſeven or eight yeers meerly in ſcraping together ſo much miſerable Latin, and Greek, as might be learnt otherwiſe eaſily and delightfully in one yeer. And that which caſts our proficiency therein ſo much behinde, is our time loſt partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to ſchools and Univerſities, partly in a prepoſterous exaction, forcing the empty wits of children to compoſe Theams, verſes, and Orations, which are the acts of ripeſt judgement and the finall work of a head fill'd by long reading, and obſerving, with elegant maxims, and copious invention. Theſe are not matters to be writing from poor ſtriplings, like blood out of the noſe, or the plucking of untimely fruit: beſides the all habit which they get of wretched barbarizing againſt the Latin and Greek idiom, with their untutor'd Angliciſms, odious to be read, yet not to be avoided without a well continu'd and judicious converſing among pure Authors digeſted, which they ſcarce taſte, wheras if after ſome preparatory grounds of ſpeech by their certain forms got into memory, they were led to the praxis thereof in ſome choſen ſhort book leſſon'd throughly to them, they might then forthwith proceed to l…arn the ſubſtance of good things, and Arts in due order, which would bring the whole language quickly into their power. This I take to be the moſt rationall and moſt profitable way of learning languages, and whereby we may beſt hope to give account to God of our youth ſpent herein: And for the uſuall method of teaching Arts, I deem it to be an old errour of univerſities not yet well recover'd from the Scholaſtick groſneſſe of barbarous ages, that in ſtead of beginning with Arts moſt eaſie, and thoſe be ſuch as are moſt obvious to the ſence, they preſent their young unmatriculated novices at firſt comming with the moſt intellective abſtractions of Logick & metaphyſicks: So that they having but newly left thoſe Grammatick flats & ſhallows where they ſtuck unreaſonably to learn a few words with lamentable conſtruction, and new on the ſudden tranſported under another climat to be toſt and turmoild with their unb…llaſted wits in fadomles and unquiet deeps of controverſie, do for the moſt part grow into hatred and contempt of learning, mockt and deluded all this while with ragged notions and babblements, while they expected worthy and delightfull knowledge; till poverty or youthfull yeers call them importunately their ſeverall wayes, and haſten them with the ſway of friends either to an ambitious and mercenary, or ignorantly zealous Divinity; Some aſſur'd to the trade of Law, grounding their purpoſes not on the prudent, and heavenly contemplation of juſtice and equity which was never taught them, but on the promiſing and pleaſing thoughts of litigious terms, fat contentions, and flowing ſees; others betake them to State affairs, with ſouls ſo unprincipl'd in vertue, and true generous breeding, that flattery, and court ſhifts and tyrannous aphoriſmes appear to them the higheſt points of wiſdom; inſtilling their barren hearts with a conſcientious ſlavery, if, as, I rather think, it be not fain'd. Others laſtly of a more delicious and airie ſpirit, retire themſelves knowing no better, to the enjoyments of eaſe and luxury, living out their daies in feaſt and jollity, which indeed is the wiſeſt and the ſafeſt courſe of all theſe, unleſſe they were with more integrity undertak'n. And theſe are the errours, and theſe are the fruits of miſpending our prime youth at the Schools and Univerſities as we do, either in learning meere words or ſuch things chiefly, as were better unlearnt.
I ſhall detain you now no longer in the demonſtration of what we ſhould not doe, but ſtrait conduct ye to a hill ſide, where I will point ye out the right path of a vertuous and noble Education; laborious indeed at the firſt aſcent, but elſe ſo ſmooth, ſo green, ſo full of goodly proſpect, and melodious ſounds on every ſide, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming. I doubt not but ye ſhall have more adoe to drive our dulleſt and lazieſt youth, our ſtocks and ſtubbs from the infinite deſire of ſuch a happy nurture, then we have now to hale and drag our choiſeſt and hopefulleſt wits to that aſinine feaſt of ſowthiſtles and brambles which is commonly ſet before them, as all the food and entertainment of their tendereſt and moſt docible age. I call therefore a compleate and generous Education that which fits a man to perform juſtly, skilfully and magnanimouſly all the offices both private and publike of peace and war. And how all this may be done between twelve, and one and twenty, leſſe time then is now beſtow'd in pure trifling at Grammar and Sophiſtry, is to be thus order'd.
Firſt to finde out a ſp…tious houſe and ground about it fit for an Academy, and big enough to lodge a hundred and fifty perſons, whereof twenty or thereabout may be attendants, all under the government of one, who ſhall be thought of deſert ſufficient, and ability either to doe all, or wiſely to direct, and overſee it done. This place ſhould be at once both School and Univerſity, not needing a remove to any other houſe of Schollerſhip, except it be ſome peculiar Colledge of Law, or Phyſick where they mean to be practitioners; but as for thoſe generall ſtudies which take up all our time from Lilly to the commencing, as they term it, Maſter of Art, it ſhould be abſolute. After this pattern, as many edifices may be converted to this uſe, as ſhall be needfull in every City throughout this land, which would tend much to the encreaſe of learning and civility every where. This number, leſſe or more thus collected, to the convenience of a foot company, or interchangeably two troops of cavalry, ſhould divide their daies work into three parts, as it lies orderly. Their ſtudies, their exerciſe, and their diet.
For their ſtudies, Firſt they ſhould begin with the chief and neceſſary rules of ſome good Grammar, either that now uſ'd, or any better: and while this is doing, their ſpeech is to be faſhion'd to a diſtinct and cleer pronuntiation, as neer as may be to the Italian, eſpecially in the vowels. For we Engliſhmen being farre northerly, doe not open our mouthe… in the cold air, wide enough to grace a Southern tongue; but are obſerv'd by all other nations to ſpeak exceeding cloſe and inward: So that to ſmatter Latin with an engliſh mouth, is as ill a hearing as law French. Next to make them expert in the uſefulleſt points of grammar, and withall to ſeaſon them, and win them early to the love of vertue and true labour, ere any flattering ſeducement, or …m principle ſelfe them wandering, ſome eaſie and delightfull book of Education would be read to them; whereof the Greeks have ſtore as …, Plutarch, and other Socratic diſcourſes. But in Latin we have none of claſſic authoritie extant, except the two or three firſt books of Quintilian, and ſome ſelect peeces elſe where. But here the main skill and groundwork will be, to temper them ſuch lectures and explanations upon every opportunity, as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, enflam'd with the ſtudy of learning, and the admiration of vertue; ſtirr'd up with high hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy patriots, dear to God, and famous to all ages. That they may deſpiſe and ſcorn all their childiſh, and ill taught qualities, to delight in manly, and liberall exerciſes: which he who hath the Art, and proper eloquence to catch them with, what with mild and effectuall perſwaſions, and what with the intimation of ſome fear, if need be, but chiefly by his own example, might in a ſhort ſpace gain them to an incredible diligence and courage: infuſing into their young breſts ſuch an ingenuous and noble ardor, as would not fail to make many of them renowned and matchleſſe men. At the ſame time, ſome other hour of the day, might be taught them the rules of Arithmetick, and ſoon after the elements of Geometry even playing, as the old manner was. After evening repaſt, till bed time their thoughts will be beſt taken up in the eaſie grounds of Religion, and the ſtory of Scripture. The next ſtep would be to the Authors of Agriculture, Cato, Varro, and Columella, for the matter is moſt eaſie, and if the language be difficult, ſo much the better, it is not a difficultie above their yeers. And here will be an occaſion of inciting and inabling them hereafter to improve the tillage of their country, to recover the bad ſoil, and to remedy the waſt that is made of good: for this was one of Hercules praiſes. Ere halfe theſe Authors be read, which will ſoon be with plying hard, and dayly, they cannot chooſe but be maſters of any ordinary proſe. So that it will be then ſeaſonable for them to learn in any modern Author, the uſe of the Globes, and all the maps firſt with the old names; and then with the new: or they might be then capable to read any compendious method of naturall Philoſophy. And at the ſame time might be entring into the Greek tongue, after the ſame manner as was before preſcrib'd in the Latin; whereby the difficulties of Grammar being ſoon overcome, all the Hiſtoricall Phyſiology of Ariſtotle and Theophraſtus are open before them, and as I may ſay, under contribution. The like acceſſe will be to Vitruvius, to Senecas naturall queſtions, to Mela, Celsus, Pliny, or Solinus. And having thus paſt the principles of Arithmetic, Geometry, Aſtronomy, and Geography with a generall compact of Phyſicks, they may deſcend in Mathematicks to the inſtrumentall ſcience of Trigonometry, and from thence to Fortification, Architecture, Enginry, or navigation. And in naturall Philoſophy they may proceed leiſurly from the Hiſtory of Meteors, minerals, plants and living creatures as farre as Anatomy. Then alſo in courſe might be read to them out of ſome not tedious writer the inſtitution of Phyſick; that they may know the tempers, the humors, the ſeaſons, and how to manage a crudity: which he who can wiſely and timely doe, is not onelyonly a great Phyſician to himſelfe, and to his friends, but alſo may at ſome time or other, ſave an Army by this frugall, and expenceleſſe meanes only; and not let the healthy and ſtout bodies of young men rot away under him for want of this diſcipline; which is a great pitty, and no leſſe a ſhame to the commander. To ſet forward all theſe proceedings in nature & mathematicks, what hinders, but that they may procure, as oft as ſhall be needfull, the helpfull experiences of Hunters, fowlers, Fiſhermen, Shepherds, Gardeners, Apothecaries; and in the other ſciences, Architects Engineers, Mariners, Anatomiſts; who doubtleſſe would be ready ſome for reward, and ſome to favour ſuch a hopefull Seminary. And this will give them ſuch a reall tincture of naturall knowledge, as they ſhall never forget, but dayly augment with delight. Then alſo thoſe Poets which are now counted moſt hard, will be both facil and pleaſant, Orpheus, Heſiod, Theocritus, Aratus, Nicander, Oppian, Dionyſius and in Latin Lucretius, Manilius, and the rurall part of Virgil.
By this time, yeers and good generall precepts will have furniſht them more diſtinctly with that act of reaſon which in Ethics is call'd Proa…reſis: that they may with ſome judgement contemplat upon morall good and evill. Then will be requir'd a ſpeciall reinforcement of conſtant and ſound endoctrinating to ſet them right and firm, inſtructing them more amply in the knowledge of vertue and the hatred of vice: while their young and pliant affections are led through all the morall works of Plato, Xenophon, Cicero, Plutarch, Laertius, and thoſe Locrian remnants; but ſtill to be reduc't in their nightward ſtudies wherewith they cloſe the dayes work, under the determinat ſentence of David, or Salomon, or the Evangels and Apoſtolic ſcriptures. Being perfit in the knowledge of perſonall duty, they may then begin the ſtudy of Economies. And either now, or before this, they may have eaſily learnt at any odde hour the Italian tongue. And ſoon after, but with warineſſe, and good antidote, it would be wholſome anough to let them taſt ſome choiſe comedies Greek, Latin, or Italian: Thoſe tragedies alſo that treate of houſhold matters, as Trachiniae, Alceſtis and the like. The next remove muſt be to the ſtudy of Politics; to know the beginning, end, and reaſons of politicall ſocieties; that they may not in a dangerous fit of the common-wealth be ſuch poor, ſhaken, uncertain reeds, of ſuch a tottering conſcience, as many of our great counſellers have lately ſhewn themſelves, but ſtedfaſt pillars of the State. After this they are to dive into the grounds of law, and legall juſtice; deliver'd firſt, and with beſt warrant by Moſes; and as farre as humane prudence can be truſted, in thoſe extoll'd remains of Grecian Law-givers, Lycurgus, Solon, Zaleucus, Charondas, and thence to all the Romane Edicts and tables with their …uſtinian; and ſo down to the Saxon and common laws of England, and the Statutes. Sundayes alſo and every evening may be now underſtandingly ſpent in the higheſt matters of Theology, and Church Hiſtory ancient and modern: and ere this time the Hebrew tongue at a ſet hour might have been gain'd, that the Scriptures may be now read in their own originall; whereto it would be no impoſſibility to adde the Chaldey, and the Syrian dialect. When all theſe employments are well conquer'd, then will the choiſe Hiſtories, heroic poems, and Attic tragedies of ſtatlieſt, and moſt regal argument, with all the famous Politicall orations offer themſelves; which if they were not only read; but ſome of them got by memory, and ſolemnly pronounc't with right accent, and grace, as might be taught, would endue them even with the ſpirit, and vigor of Demoſthenes or Cicere, Euripides, or Sophocles. And now laſtly will be the time to read with them thoſe organic arts which in able men to diſcourſe and write perſpicuouſly, elegantly, and according to the fitted ſtile of lofty, mean, or lowly. Logic therefore ſo much as is uſefull, is to be referr'd to this due place withall her well coucht heads and Topics, unt…ll it be time to open her contracted palm into a gracefull and ornate Rhetorick taught out of the rule of Plato, Ariſtotle, Phalereus, Cicero, Hermogenes, Longinus. To which Poetry would be made ſubſequent, or indeed rather precedent, as being leſſe ſuttle and fine, but more ſimple, ſenſuous and paſſionate. I mean not here the proſody of a verſe, which they could not but have hit▪ on before among the rudiments of grammer; but that ſublime art which in Ariſtotles poetics, in Horace, and the Italian commentaries of Caſtelvetro, Taſſo, Mazzoni, and others, teaches what the laws are of a true Epic poem, what of a Dramatic, what of a Lyric, what decorum is, which is the grand maſter peece to obſerve. This would make them ſoon perceive what deſpicable creatures our common timers and play writes be, and ſhew them, what Religious, what glorious and magnificent uſe might be made of Poetry both in divine and humane things. From hence and not till now will be the right ſeaſon of forming them to be able writers and compoſers in every excellent matter, when they ſhall be thus fraught with an univerſall inſight into things. Or whether they be to ſpeak in Parliament or counſell, honour and attention would be waiting on their lips. There would then alſo appear in Pulpits other viſages, other geſtures, and ſtuffe otherwiſe wrought then what we now ſit under, oft times to as great a triall of our patience as any other that they preach to us. Theſe are the ſtudies wherein our noble and our gentle youth ought to beſtow their time in a diſciplinary way from twelve to one and twenty; unleſſe they rely more upon their anceſtors dead, then upon themſelves living. In which methodicall courſe it is ſo ſuppoſ'd they muſt proceed by the ſteddy pace of learning onward, as at convenient times for memories ſake to retire back into the middle ward, and ſometimes into the rear of what they have been taught, untill they have confirm'd, and ſolidly united the whole body of their perfited knowledge, like the laſt embattelling of a Romane legion. Now will be worth the ſeeing what exerciſes, and what recreations may beſt agree, and become theſe ſtudies.
Their Exerciſe.
The courſe of ſtudy hitherto briefly deſcrib'd, is, what I can gueſſe by reading, likeſt to thoſe ancient and famous ſchools of Pythagoras, Plato, Iſocrates, Ariſtotle and ſuch others, out of which were bred up ſuch a number of renowned Philoſophers, orators, Hiſtorians, Poets and Princes all over Greece, Italy, and Aſia, beſides the flouriſhing ſtudies of Cyrene and Alexandria. But herein it ſhall exceed them, and ſupply a defect as great as that which Plato noted in the common-wealth of Sparta; whereas that City train'd up their youth moſt for warre, and theſe in their Academies and Lycaeum, all for the gown, this inſtitution of breeding which I here delineate, ſhall be equally good both for Peace and warre. Therefore about an hour and a halfe ere they eat at noon ſhould be allow'd them for exerciſe and due reſt afterwards: But the time for this may be enlarg'd at pleaſure, according as their riſing in the morning ſhall be early. The exerciſe which I commend firſt, is the exact uſe of their weapon; to guard and to ſtrike ſafely with edge, or point; this will keep them healthy nimble, ſtrong, and well in breath, is alſo the likelieſt meanes to make them grow large, and tall, and to inſpire them with a gallant and fearleſſe courage, which being temper'd with ſeaſonable lectures and precepts to them of true fortitude, and patience, will turn into a native and heroick valour, and make them hate the cowardiſe of doing wrong. They muſt be alſo practiz'd in all the locks and gripes of wraſtling, wherein Engliſh men were wont to excell, as need may often be in fight to tugge, to grapple, and to cloſe. And this perhaps will be anough, wherein to prove and heat their ſingle ſtrength. The interim of …ſwearing themſelves regularly, and convenient reſt before meat may both with profit and delight be taken up in recreating and compoſing their travail'd ſpirits with the ſolemn and divine harmonies of muſick heard, or learnt; other while the skilfull Organiſt plies his grave and fancied deſcant, in lofty fugues, or the whole Symphony with artfull and unimaginable touches adorn and grace the well ſtudied cords of ſome choiſe compoſer; ſome times the Lute, or ſoft organ ſtop w…ting on elegant voices either to Religious, martiall, or civill ditties; which if wiſe men & prophets be not extreamly out, have a great power over diſpoſitions and manners, to ſmooth and make them gentle from ruſtick harſhneſſe and diſtemper'd paſſions. The like alſo would not be unexpedient after meat to aſſiſt and cheriſh nature in her firſt concoction, and ſend their mindes backe to ſtudy in good tune and ſatisfaction. Where having follow'd it cloſe under vigilant eyes till about two hours before ſupper, they are by a ſudden alarum or watch word, to be call'd out to their military motions, under skie or covert, according to the ſeaſon, as was the Romane wont; firſt on foot, then as their age permits, on horſe back, to all the art of cavalry; That having in ſport, but with much exactneſſe, and dayly muſter, ſerv'd out the rudiments of their Souldierſhip in all the skill of embattailing, marching, encamping, fortifying, beſeiging and battering, with all the helps of ancient and modern ſtratagems, Tactiks and warlike maxims, they may as it were out of a long warre come forth renowned and perfect Commanders in the ſervice of their country. They would not then, if they were truſted with fair and hopefull armies, ſuffer them for want of juſt and wiſe diſcipline to ſhed away from about them like ſick feathers, though they be never ſo oft ſuppli'd: they would not ſuffer their empty & unrecrutible Colonells of twenty men in a company, to quafle out, or convay into ſecret hoards, the wages of a deluſive liſt, and a miſerable remnant: yet in the mean while to be overmaſter'd with a ſcore or two of drunkards, the only ſouldiery left about them, or elſe to comply with all rapines and violences. no certainly, if they knew ought of that knowledge that belongs to good men or good governours, they would not ſuffer theſe things But to return to our own in…tit…te, beſides theſe conſtant exerciſes at home, there is another opportunity of gaining experience to be won from pleaſure it ſelfe abroad; In thoſe vernal ſeaſons of the yeer, when the air is calm and pleaſant, it were an injury and ſullenneſſe againſt nature not to go out, and ſee her riches, and partake in her rejoycing with heaven and earth. I ſhould not therefore be a perſwader to them of ſtudying much then, after two or three yeer that they have well laid their grounds, but to ride out in companies with prudent and ſtaid guides, to all the quarters of the land: learning and obſerving all places of ſtrength, all commodities of building and of ſoil, for towns and tillage, harbours and Ports for trade, Somtimes taking ſea as farre as to our Navy, to learn there alſo what they can in the practical knowledge of ſailing and of ſea fight. Theſe waves would trie all their peculiar gifts of nature, and if there were any ſecret excellence among them, would fetch it out, and give it fair opportunities to advance it ſelfe by, which could not but mightily redound to the good of this nation, and bring into faſhion again thoſe old admired vertues and excellencies, with farre more advantage now in this puritie of Chriſtian knowledge. Nor ſhall we then need the Mounſieurs of Paris to take our hopefull youth into thir ſlight and prodigall cuſtodies and ſend them over back again tranſform'd into mimics, apes & Kicſhoes. But if they deſire to ſee other countries at three or four and twenty yeers of age, not to learn principles, but to enlarge experience, and make wiſe obſervation, they will by that time be ſuch as ſhall deſerve the regard and honour of all men where they paſſe, and the ſociety and friendſhip of thoſe in all places who are beſt and moſt eminent. And perhaps then other Nations will be glad to viſit us for their breeding, or elſe to imitate us in their own Country.
Now laſtly for their diet there cannot be much to ſay, ſave only that it would be beſt in the ſame houſe; for much time elſe would be loſt abroad, and many ill habits got; and that it ſhould be plain, healthfull, and moderat I ſuppoſe is out of controverſie. Thus Maſter Hartlib, you have a generall view in writing, as your deſire was, of that which at ſeverall times I had diſcourſt with you concerning the beſt and Nobleſt way of Education; not beginning, as ſome have done from the cradle, which yet might be worth many conſiderations, if brevity had not been my ſcope, many other circumſtances alſo I could have mention'd, but this to ſuch as have the worth in them to make triall, for light and direction may be anough. Only I believe that this is not a bow for every man to ſhoot in that counts himſelfe a teacher; but will require ſinews almoſt equall to thoſe which Homer gave Ulyſſes, yet I am withall perſwaded that it may prove much more eaſie in the aſſay, then it now ſeems at diſtance, and much more illuſtrious: howbeit not more difficult then I imagine, and that imagination preſents me with nothing but very happy and very poſſible according to beſt wiſhes; if God have ſo decreed, and this age have ſpirit and capacity anough to apprehend.
The end.
End of the text · John Milton, Of Education (1644)