No More Learning

POOR woman, above a hundred years old, had
been in the habit of presenting herself on Holy
Thursday, among the poor women, whose feet the
Empress-Queen Maria Theresa washed on that day.
At length her infirmities prevented her from reaching
the palace, and she sent a message to the Empress,
telling her how deeply she regretted not being able to
form one at this pious ceremony, not so much from
the honour she should have received, as because she
was thus deprived of the happiness of seeing her adored
sovereign. The princess, touched at the sentiments
of the good woman, went herself to the village she in-
habited, to pay her a visit: she found her confined to
her homely couch. "You are sorry you could not go
to me," said the kind Maria Theresa: "be comforted;
I am come to see you. " The poor woman was over-
powered at such condescension: her eyes were filled
with tears: her open mouth refused to utter a word:
she clasped her hands, and looked upon her sovereign
as an angel from heaven, come to console her for her
sufferings. The Empress talked with her a long time,
and then left her a sum of money sufficient to procure
her every comfort.
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? 118
KINDNESS AND
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.
ICHAEL Schuppach, the Swiss doctor, who by
the wonderful cures he wrought on persons
who had been given up by regular physicians,
obtained so great a celebrity during the last century,
was often visited by persons of distinction and fortune,
from every country in Europe.
There were once assembled in Michael Schuppach's
laboratory, a great many distinguished persons, some
to consult him, and some out of curiosity: among them
were many French ladies and gentlemen, and a Rus-
sian Prince, with his daughter, whose singular beauty
attracted general attention. A young French Mar-
quis attempted, for the amusement of the ladies, to
display his wit on the miraculous doctor; but the
latter, though not much acquainted with the French
language, answered so cleverly, that the Marquis had
not the laugh on his side. During the conversation,
there entered an old peasant meanly dressed, with a
snow-white beard, a neighbour of Schuppach's. The
doctor directly turned away from his great company,
to his old neighbour, and hearing that his wife was ill,
set about preparing the necessary medicine for her,
without paying much attention to his more exalted
guests, whose business he did not think so pressing.
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? DELICACY OP FEELING. 119
The Marquis was now deprived of one subject of his
wit, and therefore chose to turn his jokes against the
old man, who was waiting while his neighbour, Mi-
chael, was preparing something for his old Mary.
After many silly observations upon his long white
beard, he offered a wager of twelve louis d'or, that none
of the ladies would kiss the old fellow. The Russian
Princess, hearing these words, made a sign to her at-
tendant, who brought her a salver. The Princess put
twelve louis d'or on it, and had it carried to the Mar-
quis, who, of course could not decline to add twelve
others. Then the fair Russian went up to the old
peasant, and said, "Permit me, venerable father, to
salute you after the fashion of my country. " Saying
this, she embraced him, and gave him a kiss. She
then presented him the gold which was on the salver,
with these words: "Take this as a remembrance of
me, and as a proof that the Russian girls think it
their duty to honour old age. "
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
LEXANDER the Great, during the time that
the wife, mother, and children of Darius were
his prisoners, behaved towards them with the
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? 120
KINDNESS AND
utmost delicacy, politeness, and humanity; and having
received from Macedonia a great quantity of purple
stuffs and rich habits, made after the fashion of that
country, he presented them to Sysigambis, the mother
of Darius, together with the artificers who had wrought
them. He likewise commanded the messengers to
tell her, that in case she fancied those stuffs, she might
make her grandchildren learn the art of weaving them,
by way of amusement; and to give them to whomso-
ever they should think proper. At these words, the
tears that fell from her eyes showed but too evidently
how greatly she was hurt at this proposal; the working
in wool being considered by the Persian women as
highly ignominious. Those who carried these pre-
sents, having told the king that Sysigambis was very
much dissatisfied, he thought himself obliged to make
an apology for what he had done, and administer con-
solation to her. Accordingly, he paid her a visit,
when he spoke thus: "Mother, the stuff in which you
see me clothed was not only a gift from my sisters,
but was wrought by their fingers. Hence, I beg you
to believe, that the custom of my country misled me;
and do not consider that as an insult, which was owing
entirely to ignorance. I believe I have not as yet
done any thing which I knew interfered with your man-
ners and customs. I was told, that among the Persians
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? DELICACY OF FEELING. 121
it is a sort of crime for a son to seat himself in his
mother's presence, without first obtaining her leave.
You are sensible how cautious I have always been in
this particular, and that I never sat down till you had
first laid your commands upon me to do so. And as
the highest testimony of the veneration I have for you,
I have always called you by the tender name of
mother, though this belongs properly to Olympias
only, to whom I owe my birth. "
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? HUMANITY OR BENEVOLENCE.
"Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. '
fp^UMANITY or Mercy is the first great attribute
rnSm ? ^ Deity, "maketh his rain to fall upon
the just and upon the unjust;" and it is a signal
proof of the Divinity of the Christian Religion, that the
duty which it inculcates above all others, is Charity.
To feel for the sufferings of others, seems like an
instinct implanted in Human Nature, and we are told
that the line of Terence, which I have placed at the
head of this chapter, simple as the sentiment appears,
drew down a thunder of applause from the Roman
audience.
For the practice of this virtue, no age is too early,
and we have some pretty instances of very young
Princes, who have exhibited Benevolent Feelings.
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? HUMANITY OR BENEVOLENCE. 123
THE YOUNG PRINCES OF BRUNSWICK.
FTER the battle of Leipsic, a subscription was
set on foot throughout England, for the benefit
of the widows and orphans of those who had
fallen. The two little princes of Brunswick, then
residing near London, agreed together, to give all their
pocket-money, with the addition of a hoard of old foreign
coins, which they had been for some time accumulating,
in aid of the fund. They requested their tutor to take
them to one of the houses where subscriptions were
received, and then, to his great surprise, produced the
bag in which their treasure had been kept, and begged
the amount might be received.
NAPOLEON, KING OF ROME.
NE day, when the little king of Rome was amus-
ing himself in observing the passers-by, he saw
under the window where he was standing with
his governess, a woman in deep mourning, leading a
little boy, of three or four years old, dressed also in
black. He had in his hand a paper, which he held up
to the prince, as if he wished to give it to him.
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? 124
HUMANITY OR
"Why is that poor little boy dressed in black? "
said the King of Rome. "No doubt his papa is dead,"
replied his governess. The young prince then ex-
pressed his desire to speak to the little petitioner, and
Mad. de Montesquieu gave orders to bring in the
mother and the child. They were introduced to the son
of Napoleon, who hearing that the lady was the widow
of an officer, killed in the preceding campaign, took
upon himself to present the petition to the emperor.
The next day, when he went to pay his respects to
his father, he gave him the petition of his protege.
"Papa, this is the petition of a little boy, dressed all
in black, and whose papa died in your service: he
asks for a pension for his mamma, who is very un-
happy. " "Come," said the emperor, "you are begin-
ning to grant pensions pretty early! But, so much
the better. "
The brevet of the pension was made out in the
course of the day, with orders for the treasurer to pay
a year in advance.
THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES.
jURING the residence of the Princess Charlotte
of Wales at Bognor, an officer of long standing
in the army was arrested for a small sum, and
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? BENEVOLENCE.
125
being at a distance from his friends, and unable to pro-
cure bail, he was on the point of being torn from his
family, to be conveyed to Arundel gaol. The circum-
stance came to the knowledge of the Princess, who, in
the momentary impulse of generous feeling, exclaimed,
"I will be his bail! " Then recollecting herself, she
inquired the amount of the debt; which being told her,
"There," said she, handing a purse with more than
the sum, "take this to him: it is hard that he, who
has exposed his life in the field of battle, should ever
experience the rigours of a prison. "
THE CHILDREN OF GEORGE THE THIRD.
NE day at breakfast, whilst his Majesty George
the Third was reading the newspaper to the
Queen, one of the youngest of the Princesses
said, "Mamma, I cannot think what a prison is. "
Upon its being explained, and understanding that the
prisoners were often half-starved, the child replied,
"That is very cruel, for the prison is bad enough
without starving; but I will give all my allowance to
buy bread for the poor prisoners. " Due praise was
given for this benevolent intention, which was directed
to be put in force, together with an addition from the
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? 126 HUMANITY OR
royal parents; and many a person was relieved, with-
out knowing his benefactors.
THE DAUPHIN, SON OF LOUIS THE SIXTEENTH.
ARTE Antoinette, with the view of inculcating
sentiments of humanity in the Dauphin, took
him to see various hospitals and charitable in-
stitutions in Paris: he was particularly interested at the
Enfans Trouves, and on his return, repeatedly said
to his Mamma: "Mamma, when shall we go again? "
He immediately began to lay by part of his pocket-
money, in a little casket that Madame Elizabeth had
given him, and with some additions from her, his little
treasure soon amounted to a considerable sum. The
king, who was not in the secret, saw him one day,
very busily employed, in counting and piling up his
pieces of money. "Why, Charles, you are saving up
your money like a miser! " Colouring at the very word,
Miser, the young prince said: "Yes, papa, I am a
miser, but it is for those poor Foundling Children:
Ah, if you could see them, you would so pity them! "
Charmed at his sensibility, the king took him into his
arms, and ended by completely filling the casket.
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? BENEVOLENCE.
127
HE little Dauphin, having one day been rather
idle, and inattentive to his lessons, his Mamma,
thought proper, as a penance, to take from him
his favourite little dog, Moufflet, and shut him up in a
dark closet. This was a sad privation to poor Moufflet
also, who was extremely fond of his young master:
he began to whine, then to growl, then to scratch
against the door, and at length to bark most terribly.
The Dauphin could bear it no longer, and ran to the
Queen's apartment. "Mamma," said he, " Moufflet is
very unhappy, yet it is not he who has been naughty.
If you will let him out, I will go into his place, and
stay as long as you please. " His proposal was acceded
to, Moufflet was set at liberty, and the Prince remained
quietly in the dark closet, till his Mamma chose to
release him.
THE DUKE DE CHARTRES, EX-KING OF THE
FRENCH.
AD. de Genlis relates the following anecdote of
her eldest pupil, the Duke de Chartres, ex-
king of the French.
"During our stay at Spa, we were advised to make
an excursion to the old castle of Franchimont, situated
on the summit of a high mountain, from which there
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? 128
HUMANITY OR
is a most splendid view: we were told, at the same
time, that many prisoners for debt were confined within
the castle. M. de Chartres cried out, in the impulse
of the moment, that if there were prisoners in the
castle, the view would not be at all beautiful to him;
and he immediately proposed to make a subscription to
deliver them. I much approved the idea, and, thanks
to the ardent zeal of the prince, the necessary sum
was soon collected, and the prisoners liberated. We
then ascended the mountain, and were indeed en-
chanted with the prospect. "
A LETTER FROM THE DUKE DE CHARTRES TO
MAD. DE GENLIS, HIS GOVERNESS.
(f (? ||j[jE me priverai de mes menus plaisirs jusqu'a`
la fin de mon e? ducation, c'est a` dire jusqu' au
premier Avril, 1790, et j'en consacrerai l'ar-
gent a` la bienfaisance. Tous les premiers du mois
nous en de? ciderons l'emploi; je vous prie d'en recevoir
ma parole d'honneur la plus sacre? e. Je pre? fe? rerais que
ceci ne fu^t que de vous a` moi; mais vous savez bien
que tous mes secrets sont et seront toujours les vo^tres. "
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? BENEVOLENCE.
129
PULCHERIA, DAUGHTER OF MAD. DE GENLIS. AD. de Genlis gives us the following beautiful
anecdote of her younger daughter, Pulcheria,
whom she educated with the princes of Orleans.
"Pulcheria possessed, what is more valuable than
the most brilliant talents, a noble and disinterested
character, and a feeling heart. When she was about
fifteen, and we inhabited Belle Chasse, I was aware
that she assisted a poor old woman who lived near us,
and I imagined that her care was confined to giving
her the greater part of her pocket-money, and the
sums that she received on her own birthday, on that
of her father, and on New Year's day. It was the
winter season, and a particularly severe one. As I
regulated every expense at Belle Chasse, I had ordered
that but three logs of wood should be taken every
morning into my daughter's room. I perceived that
every morning when she came into my apartment, she
had a chilly appearance that I had never before per-
ceived in her; she shivered, and sat almost in the fire.
It was in vain I scolded her, she never answered, but
on the following day the same thing took place, and
this went on for six weeks. At length my faithful
Florian, who had always an eye to the interests of the
E
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? 130
HUMANITY OR
house, told me he had discovered that a little scullion,
named Albinori, carried away every morning very
early, a certain quantity of wood; and that, when
taken in the fact, he had insolently refused to enter
into any explanation. I sent for Albinori, and ques-
tioned him with great severity, which did not seem to
frighten him: he declared that he had acted by the
orders of Mad"! de Genlis, who went without fire in
order to give all her wood to her poor old woman, and
Albinori, in confiding this to me, with all the import-
ance of an ambassador, charged with an honourable
mission, begged me not to say a word to Mad"? de
Genlis, as she had made him promise to keep it a great
secret. Inexpressible indeed was my pleasure at this
discovery.
"I sent a load of wood to the poor woman, on con-
dition that Pulcheria should make use of her own three
logs. To endure bodily suffering for the sake of doing
good, is certainly the most rare and most affecting
kind of charity, and a few days afterwards, Pulcheria
made a charming observation to me, when I asked her
whether she was not pleased to have her fire again,
while she was dressing; 'Mamma,' said she, 'I have
lost the habit of enjoying a fire in my chamber. '"
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? BENEVOLENCE.
131
MARIA THERESA, EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA. ARIA Theresa was admitted by her father, the
Emperor Charles the Sixth, at the early age of
fourteen, to be present at the sittings of the
council. She always sat silent, but it was observed
that, however protracted the deliberations, she never
betrayed any signs of weariness, but listened with the
most eager attention to all she could, and all she could
not understand. The only use she made of her new
privilege was to be the bearer of petitions in behalf of
those who prevailed on her benevolence or her youthful
inexperience to intercede for them. The emperor, be-
coming at length impatient at the increasing number
of these petitions, said to her on one occasion, "You
seem to think a sovereign has nothing to do but to
grant favours! " "I see nothing else that can make a
crown supportable," replied his daughter: she was then
about fifteen.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, GRANDSON OF
LOUIS THE FIFTEENTH.
ANY clever preceptors, many excellent fathers,
induce their young people to give money to the
poor; but these gifts, says King Stanislaus,
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? 132
HUMANITY OR
seldom have the effects that are expected from them,
because they are not always the fruit of personal sacri-
fice and privation. Louis, Duke of Burgundy, of whom
I have already spoken, was accustomed to perform
charitable and generous actions, but always at his own
expense.
He had long desired to have a little park of artil-
lery, and a very complete one was offered to him, at
the price of a hundred louis d'or. The money was
ready, and the prince was on the point of making the
purchase, when he heard a brave officer spoken of, who
was ruined by an unexpected change in some military
arrangements. Having asked the particulars, and
learned that this brave soldier, full of honour and pro-
bity, was reduced to sleep in a garret, and possessed
nothing but the clothes he wore, "Come," said he,
"no artillery and he sent the hundred louis d'or to
the poor and virtuous captain.
GETA, SON OF THE EMPEROR SEVERUS.
HE Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, after his
victories over the generals Niger and Albinus, returned in triumph to Rome, where he exer-
cised great severities, and condemned to death twenty-
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? BENEVOLENCE.
133
nine senators, whom he accused of having favoured his
enemies, but whose guilt was never proved.
His younger son, Geta, was only eight years old
when this occurred, but he appeared so deeply afflicted
when he heard Severus order so many executions, that
the emperor perceived it, and said to him, "My child,
it is so many enemies from whom I am delivering
you. "
The little prince then, in a low tone, asked his
attendants whether these unfortunate persons had not
children, relations, and friends, and as they were
obliged to tell him that they had many, " There will
be, then," said he, "more persons to weep at our vic-
tory, than to rejoice with us. "
Such a reflection, from a child of eight years old,
made a great impression upon the emperor, who would
perhaps have pardoned his victims, had he not been
incited to persevere in his cruel intentions, by Cara-
calla, his elder son.
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? FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.
"To err is human, to forgive, divine. "--Pope.
HIS is the first and greatest of Christian virtues,
and this precept alone would set the Christian
Religion above all human Institutions: no an-
cient legislator, no mere moral philosopher, ever
imagined the putting of such a principle as this into
the human mind.
Our Saviour himself is our greatest and most touch-
ing example of the practice of it: "Lord, forgive them,
for they know not what they do I" In the martyrs of
old, and in other truly Christian persons, who have
suffered persecution to the death, we have proofs of the
softening and calming power of this principle upon the
mind. Charles the First of England, and Louis the
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? FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES. 135
Sixteenth of France, both very religious princes, de-
prived by popular fury of their crown, and of their
life, pardoned their enemies with their latest breath.
If we are wanting in instances of young princes, who
have acted upon this precept, it is not that we fail in
examples of illustrious children, who have been early
impressed with truly Christian principles, but that the
active exertion of this virtue can seldom be called forth
in them: who can offend, who can injure a little Prince,
protected and overshadowed by the Throne, near
which he stands! I have, however, one instance, and
one so beautiful, that it well deserves to stand alone.
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? 136 FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.
LOUIS THE SEVENTEENTH.
"Since the birth of Cain, the first male child,
To him that did but yesterday suspire,
There was not such a gracious creature born. " Shakspeare.
FTER the execution of Louis the Sixteenth, the
unfortunate Dauphin, then become Louis the
Seventeenth, was torn from the arms of his
mother, and placed in the charge of the brutal Simon,
formerly a low shoemaker.
The tender age, the innocence, the angelic counte-
nance, the delicate health of the royal child, had no
effect in softening the manners of this ferocious guar-
dian. He made use of the most horrid language in
his presence, disturbed him from his sleep, often
threatened to knock him down, and once, as a last
refinement in cruelty, obliged the descendant of sixty
kings to wait upon him at table.
"Capet," said Simon one day to him, when the war
of La Vendee seemed for a time to turn in favour of
the Royalists, "If these Vendeans should deliver you,
what would you do? " "I would forgive you," replied
the young king.
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? FRIENDSHIP.
"Judge before Friendship, then confide till death. "--Young.
HE pleasures of equal and disinterested Friend-
ship are, as I formerly observed, but rarely to be
enjoyed by Princes. Still, instances are not
wanting, of illustrious persons who have had the happi-
ness to find the bosom friend, the more than brother,
where difference of rank has been lost sight of on both
sides, by a sympathy of sentiments and pursuits.
Holy Writ furnishes us with the example of David
and Jonathan: the ancient poets tell us of Theseus
and Pirithous, Orestes and Pylades, iEneas and Acha-
tes: in the Grecian history we have Pelopidas and
Epaminondas, Alexander and Hephsestion; and are
also told, that the tyrant Dionysius desired to be taken
into the tie that bound Damon and Pythias. The
Roman history presents us the example of Scipio and
Laelius; and in our own country we have the noble one
of Sir Philip Sydney, and Fulk Greville, Lord Brook.
Great indeed is the privilege that that man en-
joys, who is the bosom friend of a brave and great
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? 138
FRIENDSHIP.
man; and how highly Lord Brook appreciated this
distinction, may be judged by the Inscription, which
he himself ordered to be placed upon his monument:
FULK GREVILLE,
SERVANT TO QUEEN ELIZABETH,
COUNSELLOR TO KING JAMES,
AND FRIEND TO SIR PHILIP SYDNEY.
HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES, SON OF JAMES
THE FIRST.
ENRY, Prince of Wales, son of James the First,
is one of the happy few, among persons of ex-
alted rank, who have possessed a disinterested
and affectionate friend.
Of the young noblemen, who frequented the Prince's
court, Sir John Harrington deservedly enjoyed the
principal share of his Highness's favour, and even
friendship, being indeed in all respects one of the
most virtuous and accomplished youths of his time,
and an example to those of his rank in all ages. He
was created Knight of the Bath, with the Duke of
York and others, in January, 1603, and was, as soon
as he came to years of discretion, remarkable for his
strict observance of the duties of piety both in public
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? FRIENDSHIP.
139
and private, and his application to the study of polite
learning. At the close of every week he examined
himself, what progress he had made in virtue and
goodness, and what fault he had committed during
the course of it; and kept an exact diary of his life.
His liberality to the distressed was no less remarkable
than his humanity and affability to all. The friend-
ship between the Prince and Sir John Harrington was
cultivated by a correspondence of letters during their
absence from each other, especially while the latter
was on his travels abroad: they are in Latin, and are
still extant.
Soon after Sir John left England, he wrote to the
Prince, regretting his absence from him in strong terms;
adding, that his grief was mitigated in some measure by
these considerations; first, that by his travels in other
countries, and the experience which he might gain by
it, he should some time or other be more qualified to
execute his Highness's commands, which were and
always should be sacred to him. Next that he had op-
portunities of doing justice to the virtues of his High-
ness at the courts of other Princes: he promised to be
careful to keep an exact journal of his travels for the
amusement of his Highness; concluding, that he car-
ried about him day and night in his bosom, and should
for ever do so, and often kissed, that ring, which the
Prince had presented to him, and which he esteemed
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? 140
FRIENDSHIP.
as a mark of his Highness's singular favour, in which
he placed the height of all his fortunes.
In another letter, he takes notice, that having now
in the space of seven weeks, travelled through great
part of the Low Countries, and seen three courts of
princes, and as many universities, together with seve-
ral large cities, fortified towns, and strong castles and
forts, he had set down in Latin, as well as he was
able, such observations as he could make, relating to
politics, men eminent for authority, prudence, or
learning, war, the present state of affairs, and the
manners of the people; in order at a proper time to
give an account how he had employed every day, to
his Highness, to whom he devoted both himself and
all his studies. For though he was thoroughly con-
scious of the slenderness of his own abilities, yet he
was unwilling to be one of those, who travel only to
indulge themselves in a shameful pursuit of pleasures,
or with a view of merely gratifying their eyes with
novelties. On the contrary, he assured the prince of
his own resolution to exert his utmost endeavours to
improve himself by experience, that he might be able
to serve his Highness with more dignity and ability.
This alone was the sum of his hopes, and a sufficient
incitement to him to go through all labours and fatigues.
This promising young nobleman survived the Prince,
his patron and friend, but by three months.
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? SECRECY.
"Dost thou so young
Know when to speak, and when to hold thy tongue? "
Dryden.
HE success of many undertakings depends upon
the Secrecy used in their commencement, and
therefore the faculty of retaining within the
mind, matters communicated in confidence, is very im-
portant in little Princes, and is by no means inconsist-
ent with that open frankness in the general conduct,
which is the great charm of youth.
Fenelon, a very wise and experienced man, who
wrote the poem of Telemaque, expressly for the
guidance of the prince his pupil, makes Telemachus
say: "The friends of my father took care to exercise
me early in keeping secrets: from my very childhood,
they confided to me all their anxieties, and conversed
with me upon the most important affairs. I was
enchanted that they should have this confidence in
me; it made me think myself already a man, and
never did I abuse it; never did the slightest word
escape me, that could betray a secret. " The bio-
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? 142
SECRECY.
graphers also, of two excellent young princes, Henry,
Prince of Wales, and Louis, Duke of Burgundy, of
both of whom I have related some anecdotes, mention
as a promising trait in their childhood, their power of
retaining the secrets confided to them.
PAPIRIUS PRiETEXTATUS.
APIRIUS Prsetextatus obtained that surname in
commemoration of an action of his, that gave
great satisfaction to the Roman Senate, during
the time that he still wore the Praetexta, a certain
gown appropriated to young men. His father carried
him to the senate-house, where affairs of the greatest
importance were then in debate. On his return, his
mother questioned him as to what had passed, when he
told her that it was a secret matter, which it was not
proper for him to disclose. This only excited the
lady's curiosity the more, and she pressed the lad so
hard, that in order to get rid of her importunities,
he invented a subject of discussion, and told her, that
the senate were debating, whether it would be more
advantageous to the republic to decree, that one
husband should have two wives, or that one wife
should have two husbands. The mother of Papirius
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? SECRECY.