According to Plato, this education turned the Athenian boy from being "the most unmanageable of animals" into "the most amiable and divine of living beings." This change had not taken place without many a punishment of the boy, and it was a proverb that "he that is not flogged cannot be taught." Not long ago an old Greek papyrus was discovered which gives a vivid account of the discipline that was thought necessary by both parents and teachers, for the schoolboy who preferred, as he probably often did, to play games instead of learning his lessons. A mother brought her truant boy, Cottalus, to his schoolmaster, Lampriscus, to receive a flogging for his misdeeds, and she said: _Mother_. Flog him Lampriscus, Across the shoulders, till his wicked soul Is all but out of him. He's spent my all In playing odd and even; knuckle bones Are nothing to him. Why, he hardly knows The door of the Letter School. And yet the thirtieth Comes round and I must pay--tears no excuse. His writing tablet which I take the trouble {229} To wax anew each month lies unregarded In the corner. If by chance he deigns to touch it He scowls like Hades, then puts nothing right But smears it out and out. He doesn't know A letter till you scream it twenty times. * * * * Yet he knows The seventh and the twentieth of the month, Whole holidays, as if he reads the stars, He lies awake o' nights dreaming of them. But, so may yonder Muses prosper you, Give him in stripes no less than-- _Lampriscus_ (briskly). Right you are. Here, boys, hoist him Upon your backs. I like your goings on, My boy! I'll teach you manners! Where's my strap, With the stinging cow's tail? _Cottalus_ (_in terror_). By the Muses, Sir,--Not with the stinger. _Lampriscus_. Then you shouldn't be so naughty. _Cott._ O how many will you give me? _Lamp._ Your mother fixes that. _Cott._ How many, mother? _Mother._ As many as your wicked hide can bear (_They proceed with the flogging_). _Cott._ Stop!--That's enough! Stop! _Lamp._ You should stop your ways. _Cott._ I'll never do it more, I promise you. _Lamp._ Don't talk so much, or else I'll bring a gag. _Cott._ I won't talk,--only do not kill me,--please. {230} _Lamp._ (_at length relenting_). Let him down, boys. _Mother._ No, leather him till sunset. _Lamp._ Why, he's as mottled as a water snake. _Mother._ Well, when he's done his reading, good or bad, Give him a trifle more, say twenty strokes.[8] Children were not always well behaved in other ways, it seems, and complaints were made by their parents that the children contradicted them and did not always rise when their elders came into the room, that they chattered too much before company, crossed their legs when they sat down, and completely tyrannized over their pedagogues.