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3. the practice of virtue may begin before the Theory of it is known; they will serve like antidotes against that Poison which examples will be apt to insinuate as soon as Children begin to observe what passes about them. Nay the worst of these examples may be turned in minds thus prepared to a very good purpose: the Horror of Vice may be contrasted on every occasion with the beauty of Virtue. On such foundations as these the Character of a good man must be laid, and the Character of a good Prince can be laid on no other than that of a good man.

It may be thought a great improvement to add the wisdom of the Antients to this Philosophy; and therefore the languages in which they writ, the Greek and Latin particularly, are taught as soon as Children are able to learn. These writings may be of some use no doubt, though they are not of that importance which they who are able to teach nothing else represent them to be,

Physics, among the Antients were a wild chaos of Hypotheses; and in their Ethics though much truth be contained it is truth easily known without them. Their Histories indeed, contain many great Examples and many wise Reflections; and both their Histories and their Poetry may contribute to elevate the sentiments with the love of Virtue, of that particularly which consists in the love of our Country.

If these antient Languages therefore, the Latin especially, can be rendered familiar to Children during the first period of their Education, and before they become capable of applying to something better than words, as I think they might be, no time nor advantage will be lost by this Discipline: but if they are kept poring over Grammars and turning over the leaves of Dictionaries, when the sense of the present world begins to open to