g, and many such irregular
courses, that in the end they rue it, curse their parents, and mischief
themselves. Too much indulgence causeth the like, [2128]_inepta patris
lenitas et facilitas prava_, when as Mitio-like, with too much liberty and
too great allowance, they feed their children's humours, let them revel,
wench, riot, swagger, and do what they will themselves, and then punish
them with a noise of musicians;

[2129] "Obsonet, potet, oleat unguenta de meo;
Amat? dabitur a me argentum ubi erit commodum.
Fores effregit? restituentur: descidit
Vestem? resarcietur.--Faciat quod lubet,
Sumat, consumat, perdat, decretum est pati."

But as Demeo told him, _tu illum corrumpi sinis_, your lenity will be his
undoing, _praevidere videor jam diem, illum, quum hic egens profugiet
aliquo militatum_, I foresee his ruin. So parents often err, many fond
mothers especially, dote so much upon their children, like [2130]Aesop's
ape, till in the end they crush them to death, _Corporum nutrices animarum
novercae_, pampering up their bodies to the undoing of their souls: they
will not let them be [2131]corrected or controlled, but still soothed up in
everything they do, that in conclusion "they bring sorrow, shame, heaviness
to their parents" (Ecclus. cap. xxx. 8, 9), "become wanton, stubborn,
wilful, and disobedient;" rude, untaught, headstrong, incorrigible, and
graceless; "they love them so foolishly," saith [2132]Cardan, "that they
rather seem to hate them, bringing them not up to virtue but injury, not to
learning but to riot, not to sober life and conversation, but to all
pleasure and licentious behaviour." Who is he of so little experience that
knows not this of Fabius to be true? [2133]"Education is another nature,
altering the mind and will, and I would to God" (saith he) "we ourselves
did not spoil our children's manners, by our overmuch cockering and nice
education, and weaken the strength of their bodies and minds, that causeth
custom, custom nature," &c. For these causes Plutarch in his book _de lib.
educ._ and Hierom. _epist. lib. 1. epist. 17. to Laeta de institut.
filiae_, gives a most especial charge to all parents, and many good
cautions about bringing up of children, that they be not committed to
indiscreet, passionate, bedlam tutors, light, giddy-headed, or covetous
persons, and spare for no cost, that they may be well nurtured and taught,
it being a matter of so great consequence.