should be unsavory, and want applause. I distinguish it from civility called Urbanitas, and 'Surpatexia, or that is only to be seen in public meetings and assemblies: but this may shew itself within a man's private walls, or chamber, and may be used betwixt man and man. Most loath some and deformed are the manners of the stoics, who whilst in sourness of mind they seek to overcome man's nature, do exceed it, and of men they become beasts. And such manners have disgraced men of excellent ability. Coriolanus was by nature a stoic, and his roughness of manners is justly and worthily reproved by Dionys. Halicarnasseus*. Cato was both, by nature, and profession; whom, for his bitter austerity, Erasmus condemneth †. And surely I think that such rugged behaviour doth relish harshly, and is sometimes unpleasant to them who by natural inclination do favour it. Hear therefore a stoic dispraising a stoic, Cn. Piso (saith Seneca) fuit a multis vitiis integer, sed pravus, & * Dionys. Halicarnass. lib. 8.. cui placebat pro constantia rigor *. Cn. Piso was free from many faults, but yet a froward man, and was delighted with stiffness of mind instead of constancy. Florus hath noted the currishness of Romulus with a perpetual blot of infamy, Romulus ob asperitatem morum a Senatu discerptus est. Romulus for the roughness of his manners was torn in pieces by the Senate. But mildness is of that sweet and delectable nature, that it pierceth the stony hearts of barbarous people, it affecteth their eyes and ears, it bendeth the most stubborn and insolent spirits, it findeth an easy way amongst swords, it overcometh wrath, and allayeth hatred. This I commend to the student as a principle mean to gain favour, love, and good entreaty. Senec. lib. 1. de ira. +Flor. lib. 1. histor.. Valeri. Maxi. lib. 5. c. 1. CHAP. III. OF THE CHOICE WHICH A STUDENT OF THE LAW OUGHT TO MAKE IN HIS STUDY. NOW that we have shewed what qualities are convenient for him, who purposeth to gain knowledge and credit by the study of the law, it remaineth to give him some taste of that course which in pursuing his study he may not unprofitably observe. For though the way were plain, yet to them that know it not, it is hard and difficult. And as the first yoke is to the young steer heavy, not because he is not able to bear it, but because he is unacquainted with the carrying of it, so young students though they be in age and capacity mature and perfect, yet because they adventure upon a new enterprize whereof they never had trial, they are somewhat troubled at the first : yet in con tinuance of time, by labour and some direction of veterans in the art, they pierce through the thorny fence or bar of these great difficulties: but here let the student take courage unto him, and when the door is opened, let him not doubt to enter. As he must not neglect time, which is a consuming treasure, so he must make distinct choice of it, lest omitting better opportunities, he do cast himself into the straits of time and necessities, whereby he shall find much incumbrance, and his proceedings. shall be crossed by many interruptions. And surely as in all matters of moment, the place where a thing ought to be done is greatly to be regarded: so likewise the time wherein it is to be done. For the turning of all temporal affairs doth depend upon these two things, and these circumstances do either make or mar the substance of our actions. It hath been questioned of divers, whether the morning or the night be more convenient time for the study of the law, which because it is no modern doubt, but either part hath had favourers and patrons in all ages, and to the end that by some clearness of reason the truth of this matter may appear, I will bestow some pains in the opening of this point. Marsilius Ficinus a man of excellent learning and judgment doth by five reasons prove that a man should rather rise in the morning to study, than watch in the night.* His first reason is borrowed of the Astrologers, which he doth not greatly urge, because he had small regard of their vain speculations: but admitting what they say to be true, he thus reasoneth: there are three planets very favourable to students in the course of their studies, Sol, Venus, and Mercury, all which in the night are most remote from our hemisphere, and go into the twelfth house of the heavens, which is called the prison, toward the west. His second reason is this. The spirits of our bodies do follow the state and disposition of the air. Now in the morning, when the sun riseth, the air is subti *Marsilius. Ficinus, lib. de vita sana, c. 7. |