66 LORD CLARENDON-SIR MATTHEW HALE.

and he who doth nothing but think, had as good do nothing at all. The mind that is unexercised, that takes not the air, that it may know the minds of other men, contracts the same aches and cramps in the faculties of the understanding that the body labours with by the want of exercising its limbs; and he that resolves to sit still, can never come to the other end of his journey by other men's running never so fast. There is evidence, by the observation and experience of every man, enough to convince him of the great advantages which attend upon an active life, above what waits upon pure contemplation; that there is a great difference between the abilities of that man who hath contracted himself to any one study, though he excels in it, and him who hath with much less labour attained to a general experimental knowledge of things and persons; and so the greatest divine who hath read all the school men, and all the fathers, and is as wise as most of them were, will be sooner deceived in the market, and pay more for his clothes and for his meat, than his groom will do, who understands that and his horse too. -An Essay on an Active and Contemplative Life; and why the one should be preferred before the other.

SIR MATTHEW HALE.

1609-1676.

Read the Bible reverently and attentively, set your heart upon it, and lay it up in your memory, and make it the direction of your life: it will make you a wise and good man. I have been acquainted somewhat with men and books, and have had long experience in learning, and in the world: there is no book like the

Bible for excellent learning, wisdom, and use; and it is want of understanding in them that think or speak otherwise.

calling.

Be diligent in study and in your

It will be your wisdom and benefit.

It will be a good expense of time, and a prevention from a thousand inconveniences and temptations that otherwise will befall on man.-Counsels of a Father to one of His Sons, recovering from the Small Pox.

FRANCIS OSBORNE. d. 1659.

A few books well studied, and thoroughly digested, nourish the understanding more than hundreds but gargled in the mouth. Company, if good, is a better refiner of the spirits, than ordinary books. The more you seem to have borrowed from books, the poorer you proclaim your natural parts, which only can properly be called yours.

Much reading, like a too great repletion, stops up, through a concourse of diverse, sometimes, contrary opinions, the access of a nearer, newer and quicker invention of your own.-Advice to a Son. 2 Parts. 1656-8.

BENJAMIN WHICHCOTE.

1610-1683.

The Improvement of a little Time may be a gain to all Eternity.

A good Booke may be a Benefactor representing God Himself.

A man is twice his own in those Things that come to him by Studie, if he has the Power to use and enjoy them.-Sermons.

SAMUEL SORBIERE.

1610-1670.

To appreciate literary toil justly, we should consider what is the value of the subjects on which it is employed; it is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which is valuable. A glass of water may be as full as the same glass of the most precious fluid. A person may walk as much in a small space, in a course of time, as if in the same period he had marched over the world. In a fleet of ships we value those higher which carry the most precious wares, not the most numerous.-Sorberiana.

OWEN FELTHAM.

1610-1678.

All endeavours aspire to eminency: all eminencies do beget an admiration. And this makes me believe that contemplative admiration is a large part of the worship of the Deity. Nothing can carry us so near to God and heaven as this. The mind can walk beyond the sight of the eye; and (though in a cloud) can lift us into heaven while we live. Meditation is the soul's perspective glass: whereby, in her long remove, she discerneth God, as if He were nearer hand. I persuade no man to make it his whole life's business. We have bodies, as well as souls. And even this world, while we are in it, ought somewhat to be cared for: contemplation generates; action propagates. St. Bernard compares contemplation to Rachel, which was the more fair; but action to Leah, which was the more fruitful. I will neither always be busy and doing, nor ever shut up in nothing but

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EARLY ENGLISH WRITER-MÉNAGE.

thoughts. Yet, that which some would call idleness, I will call the sweetest part of my life: and that ismy thinking.-Resolves.

EARLY ENGLISH WRITER (UNKNOWN).

The philosopher Zeno, being demanded on a time by what means a man might attain to happiness, made answer: By resorting to the dead, and having familiar conversation with them. Intimating thereby the reading of Ancient and Modern Histories, and endeavouring to have such good instructors, as have been observed in our predecessors. A question also was moved by great King Ptolemy, to one of the wise learned Interpreters: In what occasions a King should exercise himself? Whereto this he replyed. To know those things which formerly have been done; and to read Books of those matters which offer themselves daily, or are fittest for our instant office. . . . Such as are ignorant of things done and past, before themselves had any being; continue still in the estate of children, able to speak or behave themselves no otherwise, and even within the bounds of their Native Countries (in respect of knowledge or manly capacity) they are no more than well seeming dumb Images.-Preface to First English Translation of Boccacio. 1620-1625.

GILLES MENAGE. 1613--1692.

The following sentence from Ménage ("Ménagiana,” vol. IV.) is copied from David Garrick's book-plate, in the possession of the compiler:

La prémière chose qu'on doit faire quand on a emprunté un Livre, c'est de le lire, afin de pouvoir le rendre plûtôt.

Trans. The first thing one ought to do, after having borrowed a book, is to read it, so as to be able to return it as soon as possible.

In the "Ménagiana" is a good pendant to the above:

M. Toinard dit que la raison pour laquelle on rend si peu les livres prétéz : c'est qu'il est plus aisé de les rétenir que ce qui est dedans.

Trans. M. Toinard says that the reason why borrowed books are seldom returned, is that it is easier to retain the books themselves than what is inside of them.

JEREMY TAYLOR.

1613-1667.

It conduces much to our content, if we pass by those things which happen to our trouble, and consider that which is pleasing and prosperous; that by the representation of the better, the worse may be blotted out.

It may be thou art entered into the cloud which will bring a gentle shower to refresh thy sorrows.

I am fallen into the hands of publicans and sequestrators, and they have taken all from me: what now? let me look about me. They have left me the sun and moon, fire and water, a loving wife, and many friends to pity me, and some to relieve me, and I can still discourse; and, unless I list, they have not taken away my merry countenance, and my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they still have left me the providence of God, and all the promises of the gospel,