§1.2.1sed nobis iam paulatim adcrescere puer et exire de gremio et discere serio incipiat.
But now let the boy begin to grow up by degrees, and to leave the lap, and to learn in earnest.
hoc igitur potissimum loco tractanda quaestio est, utiliusne sit domi atque intra privatos parietes studentem continere an frequentiae scholarum et velut publicis praeceptoribus tradere.
In this place, therefore, above all, the question must be treated, whether it is more useful to keep the student at home and within private walls, or to hand him over to the crowd of schools and, as it were, to public teachers.
§1.2.2quod quidem cum iis, a quibus clarissimarum civitatium mores sunt instituti, tum eminentissimis auctoribus video placuisse.
This indeed I see was pleasing both to those by whom the customs of the most famous states were established, and to the most eminent authors.
non est tamen dissimulandum, esse nonnullos, qui ab hoc prope publico more privata quadam persuasione dissentiant.
It must not, however, be concealed that there are some who dissent from this almost public custom by a certain private persuasion.
hi duas praecipue rationes sequi videntur: unam, quod moribus magis consulant fugiendo turbam hominum eius aetatis, quae sit ad vitia maxime prona, unde causas turpium factorum saepe extitisse utinam falso iactaretur; alteram, quod, quisquis futurus est ille praeceptor, liberalius tempora sua impensurus uni videtur, quam si eadem in plures partiatur.
These seem to follow two reasons especially: one, because they consult more for morals by avoiding the crowd of people of that age, which is most prone to vices, from which would that it were falsely rumored that the causes of shameful deeds have often arisen; the other, because, whoever that teacher is to be, he seems likely to bestow his time more liberally on one than if he divides the same among many.
§1.2.3prior causa prorsus gravis.
The former cause is indeed serious.
nam si studiis quidem scholas prodesse, moribus autem nocere constaret, potior mihi ratio vivendi honeste quam vel optime dicendi videretur.
For if it were established that schools profit studies indeed, but harm morals, the choice of living honestly would seem more preferable to me than even speaking best.
sed mea quidem sententia iuncta ista atque indiscreta sunt.
But in my opinion, indeed, those are joined and inseparable.
neque enim esse oratorem nisi bonum virum iudico, et fieri etiamsi potest nolo.
For I do not judge anyone to be an orator unless he is a good man, and even if it is possible, I do not wish him to become one.
de hac re igitur prius.
Therefore, of this matter first.
§1.2.4corrumpi mores in scholis putant; nam et corrumpuntur interim, sed domi quoque, et sunt multa eius rei exempla tam hercule quam conservatae sanctissime utrobique opinionis.
They think that morals are corrupted in schools; for indeed they are corrupted sometimes, but also at home, and there are many examples of this matter, by Hercules, as well as of reputation preserved most sacredly in both places.
natura cuiusque totum curaque distat.
The nature of each and care makes all the difference.
da mentem ad peiora facilem, da negligentiam formandi custodiendique in aetate prima pudoris: non minorem flagitiis occasionem secreta praebuerint.
Assume a mind easy to worse things, assume negligence of forming and guarding modesty in the first age: retirement will have offered no less opportunity for crimes.
nam et potest turpis esse domesticus ille praeceptor, nec tutior inter servos malos quam ingenuos parum modestos conversatio est.
For both that domestic teacher can be shameful, and association among bad slaves is no safer than among freeborn youths who have too little modesty.
§1.2.5at si bona ipsius indoles, si non caeca ac sopita parentum socordia est, et praeceptorem eligere sanctissimum quemque (cuius rei praecipua prudentibus cura est) et disciplinam, quae maxime severa fuerit, licet, et nihilominus amicum gravem virum aut fidelem libertum lateri filii sui adiungere, cuius assiduus comitatus etiam illos meliores faciat, qui timebantur.
But if his own disposition is good, if the parents' negligence is not blind and dormant, it is allowed both to choose the most upright teacher (which care is paramount for the prudent) and the discipline which has been most severe, and nonetheless to join to their son's side a grave man as a friend or a faithful freedman, whose constant companionship may make even those better who were feared.
§1.2.6facile erat huius metus remedium.
The remedy for this fear was easy.
utinam liberorum nostrorum mores non ipsi perderemus.
Would that we ourselves did not ruin the morals of our children!
infantiam statim deliciis solvimus.
We immediately relax infancy with luxuries.
mollis illa educatio, quam indulgentiam vocamus, nervos omnes mentis et corporis frangit.
That soft education, which we call indulgence, breaks all the nerves of mind and body.
quid non adultus concupiscet, qui in purpuris repit? nondum prima verba exprimit, iam coccum intelligit, iam conchylium poscit.
What will he not desire when grown up, who crawls in purple? He does not yet express his first words, and already he understands scarlet, already he demands purple dye.
ante palatum eorum quam os instituimus.
We train their palate before their mouth.
§1.2.7in lecticis crescunt; si terram attigerint, e manibus utrinque sustinentium pendent.
They grow up in litters; if they touch the ground, they hang from the hands of supporters on both sides.
gaudemus, si quid licentius dixerint: verba ne Alexandrinis quidem permittenda deliciis risu et osculo excipimus.
We rejoice if they say anything too licentious: words not to be permitted even to Alexandrian luxuries we receive with laughter and a kiss.
nec mirum: nos docuimus, ex nobis audiunt.
Nor is it strange: we have taught them, they hear them from us.
§1.2.8nostras amicas, nostros concubinos vident, omne convivium obscenis canticis strepit, pudenda dictu spectantur.
They see our mistresses, our male concubines; every banquet resounds with obscene songs, things shameful to speak of are beheld.
fit ex his consuetudo, inde natura.
From these things habit is formed, and then nature.
discunt haec miseri, antequam sciant vitia esse; inde soluti ac fluentes non accipiunt ex scholis mala ista sed in scholas adferunt.
The miserable children learn these before they know they are vices; hence, relaxed and flowing, they do not receive those evils from schools but bring them into schools.