Ode tribus conftat Strophis, totidémque Antiftrophis, unâ demum Epodo claufis, quas, tametfi omnes nec verfuum numero, nec certis ubique colis exactè refpondeant, ita tamen fecuimus, commodè legendi potiùs, quàm ad antiquos concinendi modos rationem fpectantes. Alioquin hoc genus rectiùs fortaffe dici monoftrophicum debuerat. Metra partim funt κατὰ σχέσιν, partim ἀπολελυμένα. Phaleucia quæ funt, Spondæum tertio loco bis admittunt, quod idem in fecundo loco Catullus ad libitum fecit. Ad CHRISTINAM Suecorum Reginam nomine Cromwelli. Ellipotens Virgo, feptem Regina Trionum, Cernis quas merui dura fub caffide rugas, Exequor et populi fortia jussa manu. 5 A OF EDUCATION. TO Mr. SAMUEL HARTLIB. Written about the Year 1650. Mr. HARTLIB, I AM long fince perfuaded, that to say, or do ought worth memory and imitation, no purpofe or refpect fhould fooner move us, than fimply the love of God, and of mankind. Nevertheless to write now the reforming of education, tho' it be one of the greatest and nobleft defigns that can be thought on, and for the want whereof this nation perishes, I had not yet at this time been induc'd, but by your earnest intreaties and ferious conjurements; as having my mind for the present half diverted in the pursuance of fome other affertions, the knowledge and the use of which cannot but be a great furtherance both to the enlargement of truth, and honest living, with much more more peace. Nor fhould the laws of any private friendship have prevail'd with me to divide thus, or tranfpofe my former thoughts, but that I fee thofe aims, thofe actions which have won you with me the esteem of a person sent hither by fome good providence from a far country, to be the occafion and the incitement of great good to this ifland. And, as I hear, you have obtain'd the fame repute with men of most approv'd wisdom, and fome of highest authority among us. Not to mention the learned correfpondence which you hold in foreign parts, and the extraordinary pains and diligence which you have us'd in this matter both here, and beyond the feas; either by the definite will of God fo ruling, or the peculiar fway of nature, which alfo is God's working. Neither can I think that, fo reputed, and fo valu'd as you are, you would, to the forfeit of your own difcerning ability, impose upon me an unfit and over-ponderous argument, but that the fatisfaction which you profefs to have receiv'd from those incidental difcourfes which we have wander'd into, hath preft and almost constrain'd you into a perfuafion that what you require from me in this point, I neither ought, nor can in confcience defer beyond this time both of so much need at once, and fo much opportunity to try what God hath determin'd. I will not resist therefore, whatever it is, either of divine or human obligement, that you lay upon me; but will forthwith fet down in writing, as you request me, that voluntary idea which hath long in filence prefented it self to me, of a better education, in extent and comprehenhion far more large, and yet of time far fhorter, and of attainment far more certain, than hath been |