nay, there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises; bowling is good for the stone and reins, shooting for the lungs and breast, gentle walking for the stomach, riding for the head and the like; so if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again; if his wit be not apt to distinguish or find difference, let him study the schoolmen, for they are _Cymini sectores_. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases: so every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.--F. BACON, LORD VERULAM. _Essays._ HOW TO SPEND OUR DAYS After some while meditation, I walk up to my masters and companions, my books: and, sitting down amongst them, with the best contentment, I dare not reach forth my hand to salute any of them till I have first looked up to heaven, and craved favour of Him to whom all my studies are duly referred, without whom I can neither profit nor labour. After this, out of no over-great variety, I call forth those which may best fit my occasions; wherein I am not too scrupulous of age: sometimes I put myself to school, to one of those ancients, whom the Church hath honoured with the name of Fathers, whose volumes I confess not to open without a secret reverence of their holiness and gravity: sometimes to those latter doctors, which want nothing but age to make them classical: always to God's Book. That day is lost whereof some hours are not improved in those divine monuments: others I turn over out of choice; these out of duty.--JOSEPH HALL. (Letter to Lord Denny.) THE CHOICE OF BOOKS In study there must be an expulsive virtue to shun all that is erroneous; and there is no science but is full of such stuff, which by direction of tutor and choice of good books must be excerned. Do not confound yourself with multiplicity of authors; two is enough upon any science, provided they be plenary and orthodox; _Philosophy_ should be your substantial food, _Poetry_ your banqueting stuff; _Philosophy_ hath more of reality in it than any Knowledge, the _Philosopher_ can fathom the deep, measure mountains, reach the stars with a staff, and bless heaven with a girdle. But among these Studies you must not forget the _unicum necessarium_; on Sundays and Holidays let _Divinity_ be the sole object of your speculation, in comparison whereof all other knowledge is but cobweb-learning.--J. HOWELL. _Familiar Letters._ CHEWING THE CUD