CHAPTER XXII. P. I.
Τὸν δ᾿ ἀπαμειβόμενος.
| O felice colui, che intender puote Le cagion de le cose di natura, Che al piu di que' che vivon sono ignote; E sotto il piè si mette ogni paura De fati, e de la morte, ch'è si trista, Ne di vulgo gli cal, nè d'altro ha cura. TANSILLO. |
The elder Daniel had listened to this dialogue in his usual quiet way, smiling sometimes at his brother William's observations. He now stroked his forehead, and looking mildly but seriously at the boy addressed him thus.
“My son, many things appear strange or silly in themselves if they are presented to us simply, without any notice when and where they were done, and upon what occasion. If any strangers for example had seen thee washing thy hands in an empty basin, without knowing the philosophy of the matter, they would have taken thee for an innocent, and thy master and me for little better; or they might have supposed some conjuring was going on. The things which the old Philosophers said and did, would appear, I dare say, as wise to us as they did to the people of their own times, if we knew why and in what circumstances they were done and said.
“Daniel, there are two sorts of men in all ranks and ways of life, the wise and the foolish; and there are a great many degrees between them. That some foolish people have called themselves Philosophers, and some wicked ones, and some who were out of their wits, is just as certain as that persons of all these descriptions are to be found among all conditions of men.
“Philosophy, Daniel, is of two kinds: that which relates to conduct, and that which relates to knowledge. The first teaches us to value all things at their real worth, to be contented with little, modest in prosperity, patient in trouble, equal-minded at all times. It teaches us our duty to our neighbour and ourselves. It is that wisdom of which King Solomon speaks in our rhyme-book. Reach me the volume!” Then turning to the passage in his favourite Du Bartas he read these lines:
| “She's God's own mirror; she's a light whose glance Springs from the lightening of his countenance. She's mildest heaven's most sacred influence; Never decays her beauties' excellence, Aye like herself; and she doth always trace Not only the same path but the same pace. Without her honor, health and wealth would prove Three poisons to me. Wisdom from above Is the only moderatrix, spring and guide Organ and honor of all gifts beside.” |