[37] “Nec mirum si, in plateis & foro rerum venalium, fictus Ariolus stultorum verberet nates.” Lib. II. adv. Juv. Cap. XIX. & Lib. I. Apolog. adv. Austin. Cap. IV.—Reverà, non nates, sed nares (subjungit Author noster) legendum estimaverunt Erasmus & M. V. Reatinus; sed ex Codicibus Manuscriptis, nares in nates, denuò emendaverunt Grævius, & doctissimus Jesuita H. Rosveidus.
[38] Nùm obsecro, num Ariolus qui ipsus se verberat?
[39] Immò potius ii videntur fuisse qui flagris cædebant.
[40] “Quoties post cibum obdormisceret, quod ei ferè quotidiè accidebat, olearum & palmularum ossibus incessebatur: interdùm ferulâ flagrove velut per ludum excitabatur à Copreis.”
[41] This Superanus, who considered whipping as a necessary circumstance to make a complete education, has been followed in that opinion by no less a man than the celebrated Loyola, the Founder of the Order of the Jesuits. Ignatius of Loyola, after having led a military life, took it into his head, though past thirty years of age, to begin his studies; and in order to render his course of learning as complete as possible, he insisted, on a certain occasion, on the Master inflicting the correction of the School upon him, in the presence of all the Boys. Some Writers have advanced, that Loyola was thirty-three years old, when he underwent the above flagellation; while others say, he was thirty-seven. On the other hand, certain Protestant Authors, in order to rob the Saint of the praise of humility he acquired on that occasion, pretend, that when he desired to undergo the above correction, he knew that the Professor had, of himself, resolved to inflict it upon him. The question is also examined in Bayle’s Dictionary, whether Ignatius of Loyola was served in the manner above-recited, at Bayonne, or in the Montaigu School, at Paris.
Molière, in his Bourgeois Gentilhomme, introduces just such another character as Superanus and Loyola. M. Jourdain, though a Man of a middle age, and without education, takes it into his head to be on a sudden a learned Man and a fine Gentleman: and in consequence of this fancy, fills his house with Fencing Masters, Dancing Masters, Masters of Music, Masters of Philosophy, and Masters of every kind. His Wife and Maid Servant, being very angry to see their apartments full of dust, and their floors covered with dirt, take him to task on that account, and the Wife, who is a sort of blunt, vulgar Woman, among other peevish expressions of her displeasure, asks him, “Do you mean, at your age, to get yourself whipped, one of these days?”—To which Mr. Jourdain, like a true Superanus, answers, “Why not? Would to God I were whipped this very instant before all the world, and knew what is to be learnt at School.”
Madame Jourdain.
N’irez vous point un de ces jours vous faire donner le fouët, à votre âge?
M. Jourdain.
Pourquoi non? Plût à Dieu d’avoir tout à l’heure le fouët, devant tout le monde, & savoir ce qu’on apprend au Collège.