Even strength itself has its disadvantages; for whilst robust and vigorous young men devote themselves to study with unbridled ardour, the power of the soul, being rous’d and strongly stimulating the whole system, so increases the action of the solids, that there arise diseases occasion’d by too violent a motion, such as inflammations and malignant fevers; and when these disorders are once begun, they return for some years, till the strength being entirely broken, chronical disorders succeed, according to the common fate of mankind.
A great deal depends upon the age, with regard to which we should not be so indiscreet as to bear too hard upon youth, nor exact from them over great tasks; for nothing so totally exhausts and destroys the strength. I have often found boys of a penetrating genius, tinctured with learning beyond what could be expected from their years, and always with some concern, as I saw how it would end; because our youthful days should be consecrated to exercise, and to acquiring strength by its means, and not to severe study, which obstructs both vigour and growth.
There have been examples of boys, who before they had pass’d their sixth year, appear’d by their sudden growth to be men: the last example of this sort, we meet with in the memoirs of the French academy: but listen to the sequel: the understanding continued that of a child in a well set body, and, the strength being so soon exhausted, could scarce support a life of twelve years. Whilst the powers of the mind, or in other words, the strength of the brain surpass the age, nature, which is unequal to many tasks, forgets the body; the whole machine is overwhelm’d with languor, the fibres want strength, and severe disorders bring on an untimely death. John Philip Barathier lately afforded us an illustrious and well known example of the truth of this observation. You all lament another Philip, whom you knew, and whom I regret not having known more intimately, who being from his early infancy endowed with a penetrating genius, and addicted to study at that time of life, which nature intended should be dedicated to strengthening the body, was attack’d by the severest disorders, and could recover his health only by the most abstemious diet, and by totally relinquishing his studies: but soon, unmindful of his weakness, he by an untimely death paid for his premature learning. May a better fate be reserv’d for Le Fancois, a youth of fourteen, who, as I hear, has acquir’d a high reputation amongst the French, by his genius and extraordinary erudition.
I have often seen with concern the children of peasants loaded with labour above their age and strength, but a still worse error is committed, when the mind of a child is forc’d to apply before the time, and beyond its abilities; and this is generally productive of the worst consequences, for the powers of the mind brought to maturity by a pernicious art, are short-liv’d, and soon grow old: and who has not with grief seen children of the brightest hopes, hardly give proofs of common understanding, when grown up? The earth is a long time prepar’d to admit seed, and before it is sown, receives that strength, which afterwards impregnates it with fertility from the sun, the air, and the plough; then the grain springs up, vegetates, flourishes, and brings good fruits to maturity.
But if early studies are hurtful, it is no less dangerous to attach oneself to study in an advanc’d age; for habit becomes gradually a second nature when we begin from our tender age; but at an advanc’d period it is no longer susceptible of new habits; and the fibres of the brain accustom’d to rest, are torn before they can receive new and regular motions. I not long since with difficulty cur’d a native of this country, who in his fortieth year laying aside mercantile business, to pore night and day over the works of Newton, Clarke and Locke, had totally disorder’d his brain. He recovered his health by remedies, by a cessation of study, and amusing conversation; but the joy was but short-liv’d, for by again dipping into the sublime, geometry, and metaphysical abstractions, he once more lost his senses[36].
Nor is it less laborious to continue our accustom’d studies too long, when old age approaches. The soul that animates our bodies, is indeed immortal; but so long as it is connected with a feeble frame, it must be influenc’d by its nature.
Gigni pariter cum corpore, & una