things concealed from the view of young men. This, however, ought not to
be suffered; nor should we be led away from things themselves thus, but
rather adhere to such of them as tend to the promoting of virtue and
the well forming of our manners. It will not be altogether useless,
therefore, to treat briefly in the next place of passages of that
nature. Wherein I intend to touch only at some particulars, leaving
all longer discussion, and the trimming up and furnishing them with
a multitude of instances, to those who write more for display and
ostentation.

First, therefore, let our young man be taught to understand good and
bad manners and persons, and from thence apply his mind to the words and
deeds which the poet decently assigns to either of them. For example,
Achilles, though in some wrath, speaks to Agamemnon thus decently:--

Nor, when we take a Trojan town, can I
With thee in spoils and splendid prizes vie;
(For this and the five following quotations,
see "Iliad," i. 163; ii. 226; i. 128; ii. 231;
iv. 402 and 404.)

whereas Thersites to the same person speaks reproachfully in this
manner:--

'Tis thine whate'er the warrior's breast inflames,
The golden spoil, thine the lovely dames.
With all the wealth our wars and blood bestow,
Thy tents are crowded and thy chests o'erflow.

Again, Achilles thus:--

Whene'er, by Jove's decree, our conquering powers
Shall humble to the dust Troy's lofty towers;

but Thersites thus:--

Whom I or some Greek else as captive bring.

Again, Diomedes, when Agamemnon taking a view of the army spoke
reproachfully to him,

To his hard words forbore to make reply,
For the respect he bare to majesty;

whereas Sthenelus, a man of small note, replies on him thus:--

Sir, when you know the truth, what need to lie?
For with our fathers we for valor vie.

Now the observation of such difference will teach the young man the
decency of a modest and moderate temper, and the unbecoming nauseousness
of the contrary vices of boasting and cracking of a man's own worth. And
it is worth while also to take notice of the demeanor of Agamemnon in
the same place. For he passeth by Sthenelus unspoken to; but perceiving
Ulysses to be offended, he neglects not him, but applies himself to
answer him:--

Struck with his generous wrath, the king replies.
("Iliad," iv. 357. For the four following, see "