Esty VI 1 joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears: they cannot utter the one, nor they will not atter the other. Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter: they inthe cares of life, but they mitigate the retance of death. The perpetuity by generacion mmon to beasts; but memory merit, and noble "ks are proper to mer and surely a man shall the noblest works and foundations Have proeded from childless men, which have sought to p.ess the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed: so the care of pesrety is most in then the have no posterity. They that are the first runs of ther houses or indulgent twoich their children; bcnot only of our of theu ; and so both children den as the com differer ce in aff.ction of pants towards ral diet is many times unequal, and erthy, especially in the mother; as Salomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother. A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons; but in the midst some that are as it were forgotten, who many times nevertheless prove the best. The illiberality of parents in allowance towards their children is an harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty and therefore the proof is best, when men keep their authority towards their children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an emulation between brothers during childhood, which many times sorteth to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children and nephews or near kinsfolks; but so they be of the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And, to say truth, in nature it is much a like matter; insomuch that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle or a kinsman more than his own parent; as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations and courses they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible; and let them not too much apply themselves Essay VII. Of Parents and Children to the disposition of their children, as thinking they will take best to that which they have most mind to. It is true, that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, Optimum elige, suave et facile illud faciet consuetudo. Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or never where the elder are disinherited. |