Vivere si recte nescis, discede peritis;
of all which I presume, as I said, to offer my own experience, as the shortest and most convincing demonstration.”
DR. MORE.
The subject, I confess, is fairly delivered, and nothing can be juster than this appeal to experience, provided you do not attempt to delude yourself or me by throwing false colours upon it.
MR. WALLER.
It will be your business to remonstrate against these arts, if you discover any such. My intention is to proceed in the way of a direct and simple recital.
“I was born, as you know, of a good family, and to the inheritance of this paternal seat[17], with the easy fortune that belongs to it. To this, I succeeded but too soon by the untimely loss of an excellent father. His death, however, did not deprive me of those advantages which are thought to arise from a strict and virtuous education. This care devolved on my mother, a woman of great prudence, who provided for my instruction in letters and every other accomplishment. I was, of myself, enough inclined to books, and was supposed to have some parts which deserved cultivation. I was accordingly trained in the study of those writings, which are the admiration of men of elegant minds and refined morals. I was a tolerable master of the languages, in which they are composed; and, I may venture to say, was at least imbued with their notions and principles, if I was not able at that time to catch the spirit of their composition: all which was confirmed in me, by the constant attendance and admonitions of the best tutors, and the strict discipline of your colleges. I mention these things to shew you, that I was not turned loose into the world, as your complaint of men of business generally is, unprincipled and uninstructed; and that what austere men might afterwards take for some degree of libertinism in my conduct, is not to be charged on the want of a sober or even learned education.”
DR. MORE.
I understand you mean to take no advantage of that plea, if what follows be not answerable to so high expectations.