Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/11

PBEFACE. MALICIOUS detraction, attended with the Furies, does at this day so rage throughout the whole world, that it is unsafe to publish any book except it be defended by a guard. Although what, indeed, can be secure enough from the sting of a false accuser, who, like the adder at the voice of the charmer, stops his ear from hearing any one clearing himself, though it be ever so justly ? The first part of this work, which is mine and not mine, was published by reason of the rashness of a certain man ; which, when I perceived it was received by the students with great applause, I made use of the affection of the common people for the furtherance of studies. And so physicians themselves do not always administer the most wholesome things to their patients, but permit them to take some things because they have a very strong desire for them., So, in like manner, I thought meet to allure tender youth with enticements of this sort, who are more easily attracted with those things that are pleasant than those that are serious or the most exact. Therefore I have again corrected that which was published, and besides have added such things as may conduce to the forming of good manners, as it were insinuating into the minds of young persons, whom Aristotle accounted not to be fit auditors of moral philosophy viz., such as is delivered in serious precepts. And if any one shall cry out that it is an unseemly thing for an old man to sport himself thus childishly, I care not how childishly it be, so it be but pi-ofitably. And if the ancient teachers of children are commended who allured them with wafers, that they might be willing to learn their first rudi- ments, I think it ought not to be charged as a fault upon me, that by the like regard I allure youths either to the elegancy of the Latin tongue or to piety. And besides, it is a good part of prudence to know the foolish affections of the common people and their absurd opinions. I judge it to be much better to instruct those out of this little book, than by experience, the mistress of fools. The rules of grammar are crabbed things to many persons. Aristotle's Moral Philosophy is not fit for children. Scotus's Divinity is less fit, nor is it, indeed, of any great use to men to procure them understanding. And it is a matter of great moment early to disseminate a taste of the best things into the tender minds of children; and I cannot tell that anything is learned with better success than what is learned by play- ing; and this is in truth a very harmless sort of fraud to trick a person into his own profit. Physicians are commended for cheating their patients after this manner; and yet if I had done nothing else in this matter but trifled, they might seem to have borne with me, because besides the elegancy of the language, I have inserted some things that may prepare the mind for religion. They accuse me falsely; and as though the principles of the Christian religion were here seriously set down, they examine every syllable exactly. How