woldest that I shulde shewe the those thynges that be meete for the inclinaciõ of that age, and whiche shuld by and by be taughte the lytle yongons. Fyrst the vse of tonges whych commeth to them without any greate studye, ther as olde folkes can scarse be hable to learne them wyth great labour. [Sidenote: Chyldren desyre naturally to folow & do as other do.] And here to as we sayde, moueth the chyldrẽ a certen desyre to folowe and do as they se other do: of the which thing we see a certen lyke fashion in pies and popiniayes. What is more delectable then the fabels of poetes, which wyth their swete entisynge plesures to delight childrens eares that thei profite vs very much whẽ we be olde also, not only to y^e knowledge of the tong, but also to iudgement and copye of elegant speche? What wyll a chyld hear more gladlye then Esops fabels, whyche in sporte and playe teache earnest preceptes of philosophy? and the same fruite is also in the fabels of other poetes. The chylde heareth that Vlisses felowes were turned into swyne, and other fashions of beastes. The tale is laughed at, and yet for al that he lerneth that thing that is the chiefest poynte in al morall philosophye: Those whyche be not gouerned by ryght reason, but are caried after the wyll of affeccions, not to be men, but beastes. ¶ What coulde a stoycke saye more sagely? and yet dothe a merye tale teache the same. In a thynge that is manifest I wyll not make the tarye with many exãples. [Sidenote: Bucolicall, where y^e herdmen do speke of nete and shepe.] Also what is more mery conceited thẽ the verses called Bucolicall? what is sweter then a comedie, whych standing by morall maners, deliteth bothe the vnlearned and chyldren? And heare how great a parte of philosophye is lerned by playe? Adde vnto thys the names of all thynges, in the whych it is meruell to see howe now a dayes, yea euẽ they be blind which are taken for wel lerned mẽ. Finally, shorte and mery conceited sentences, as commonly be prouerbes, and quicke shorte sayinges of noble men, in the whiche onlye in tyme paste philosophie was wonte to be taught to the people. Ther appeareth also in the very chyldren a certen peculier redines to some sciences, as vnto musicke, arithmetique, or cosmographie. For I haue proued that they whych were very dull to lerne the preceptes of grammer and rethorique, were found verye apte to lerne the subtile artes. Nature therfore must be holpen to that parte wherunto of it selfe it is inclined. And down the hyll is very litle labour, as contrary is great. Thou shalt nether do nor saye anye thynge agaynst thy naturall inclinacion. I knewe a child that could not yet speake whych had no greater pleasure, than to open a booke, and make as thoughe he read. And when he dyd that sometyme many houres, yet was he not weery. And he neuer wept so bitterli, but if you had offered hym a booke, he wolde be pleased. That thynge made hys friendes hope that in time to come he wolde be a well lerned manne.