§2.2.1ergo cum ad eas in studiis vires pervenerit puer, ut, quae prima esse praecepta rhetorum diximus, mente consequi possit, tradendus eius artis magistris erit; §2.2.2quorum in prinis inspici mores oportebit.
Therefore, when a boy has reached such strength in studies that he can follow in mind what we have called the first precepts of the rhetoricians, he must be handed over to the masters of that art; of whom, first of all, the character must be inspected.
quod ego non idcirco potissimum in hac parte tractare sum aggressus, quia non in ceteris quoque doctoribus idem hoc examinandum quam diligentissime putem, sicut testatus sum libro priore; sed quod magis necessariam eius rei mentionem facit aetas ipsa discentium.
I have not undertaken to treat this point in this part because I do not think that this same thing should be examined as diligently as possible in other teachers too, as I testified in the previous book, but because the very age of the learners makes the mention of this matter more necessary.
§2.2.3nam et adulti fere pueri ad hos praeceptores transferuntur et apud eos iuvenes etiam facti perseverant; ideoque maior adhibenda tum cura est, ut et teneriores annos ab iniuria sanctitas docentis custodiat et ferociores a licentia gravitas deterreat.
For almost grown-up boys are transferred to these teachers, and they remain with them even after having become young men; and therefore a greater care must be applied then, so that the purity of the teacher may guard their tenderer years from harm, and his gravity may deter the wilder ones from licentiousness.
§2.2.4neque vero sat est summam praestare abstinentiam, nisi disciplinae severitate convenientium quoque ad se mores astrinxerit.
Nor is it indeed enough to display the highest abstinence, unless by the severity of discipline he also restrains the character of those coming to him.
§2.2.5sumat igitur ante omnia parentis erga discipulos suos animum, ac succedere se in eorum locum, a quibus sibi liberi tradantur, existimet.
Let him therefore above all assume the mind of a parent toward his disciples, and think that he succeeds into the place of those by whom the children are handed over to him.
ipse nec habeat vitia nec ferat.
Let him neither have vices nor tolerate them.
non austeritas eius tristis, non dissoluta sit comitas, ne inde odium hinc contemptus oriatur.
Let his austerity not be gloomy, nor his affability loose, lest from the former hatred arise, and from the latter contempt.
plurimus ei de honesto ac bono sermo sit; nam quo saepius monuerit, hoc rarius castigabit.
Let him have very much discourse on what is honorable and good; for the more often he admonishes, the more rarely he will punish.
minime iracundus, nec tamen eorum, quae emendanda erunt, dissimulator, simplex in docendo, patiens laboris, §2.2.6assiduus potius quam immodicus.
Let him be not at all irascible, yet not a dissembler of those things that need correction, simple in teaching, patient of labor, assiduous rather than immoderate.
interrogantibus libenter respondeat, non interrogantes percontetur ultro.
Let him answer those who ask willingly, and let him question of his own accord those who do not ask.
in laudandis discipulorum dictionibus nec malignus nec effusus, quia res altera taedium laboris, §2.2.7altera securitatem parit.
In praising the speeches of his disciples, let him be neither stingy nor extravagant, because the one produces weariness of labor, and the other produces carelessness.
in emendando, quae corrigenda erunt, non acerbus minimeque contumeliosus; nam id quidem multos a proposito studendi fugat, quod quidam sic obiurgant quasi oderint.
In correcting what will need to be corrected, let him be not harsh and least of all insulting; for this indeed drives many away from their purpose of studying, because some scold as if they hate.
§2.2.8ipse aliquid immo multa cotidie dicat, quae secum auditores referant.
Let him say something, or rather many things, daily, which the hearers may carry home with them.
licet enim satis exemplorum ad imitandum ex lectione suppeditet, tamen viva illa, ut dicitur, vox alit plenius praecipueque eius praeceptoris, quem discipuli, si modo recte sunt instituti, et amant et verentur.
For although reading supplies plenty of examples for imitation from the reading yet that living voice, as they say, feeds more fully, especially that of the teacher whom the disciples, if only they are rightly educated, both love and revere.
vix autem dici potent, quanto libentius imitemur eos, quibus favemus.
It can scarcely be said how much more willingly we imitate those whom we favor.
§2.2.9minime vero permittenda pueris, ut fit apud plerosque, adsurgendi exultandique in laudando licentia; quin etiam iuvenum modicum esse, cum audient, testimonium debet.
But by no means should the license of rising and leaping in praise, as happens among most, be permitted to boys; indeed, even the testimony of young men, when they listen, ought to be moderate.
ita fiet, ut ex iudicio praeceptoris discipulus pendeat, §2.2.10atque id se dixisse recte, quod ab eo probabitur, credat.
Thus it will happen that the disciple depends on the judgment of the teacher, and believes that he has spoken rightly what is approved by him.
illa vero vitiosissima, quae iam humanitas vocatur, invicem qualiacunque laudandi, cum est indecora et theatralis et severe institutis scholis aliena, tum studiorum perniciosissima hostis.
But that most vicious habit, which is now called "humanity," of praising each other’s performances of whatever kind they may be, is not only unseemly and theatrical and foreign to severely disciplined schools, but also the most destructive enemy of studies.
supervacua enim videntur cura ac labor, parata, quidquid effuderint, §2.2.11laude.
For care and labor seem superfluous when praise is ready, whatever they have poured out.
vultum igitur praeceptoris intueri tam, qui audiunt, debent, quam ipse qui dicit; ita enim probanda atque improbanda discernet, §2.2.12si stilo facultas continget, auditione indicium.
Therefore, those who listen ought to look at the face of the teacher as much as he who speaks; for thus they will discern what is to be approved and what is to be disapproved, if by writing capacity is attained, and by listening judgment is attained.
at nunc proni atque succincti ad omnem clausulam non exsurgunt modo uerum etiam excurrunt et cum indecora exultatione conclamant.
But now, leaning forward and ready to spring, at every clause they not only rise but even run forward, and shout with unseemly exultation.
id mutuum est et ibi declamationis fortuna.
The favor is mutual, and therein lies the fortune of declamation.
hinc tumor et vana de se persuasio usque adeo, ut illo condiscipulorum tumultu inflati, si parum a praeceptore laudentur, ipsi de illo male sentiant.
Hence comes swelling and a vain opinion of oneself, even to such a degree that, puffed up by that tumult of their fellow-students, if they are not sufficiently praised by the teacher, they themselves think ill of him.
§2.2.13sed se quoque praeceptores intente ac modeste audiri velint; non enim iudicio discipulorum dicere debet magister sed discipulus magistri.
But let the teachers also wish themselves to be listened to intently and modestly; for the master ought not to speak according to the judgment of the disciples, but the disciple according to that of the master.
quin, si fieri potest, intendendus animus in hoc quoque, ut perspiciat, quae quisque et quomodo laudet, et placere, quae bene dicet, non suo magis quam eorum nomine delectetur, qui recte iudicabunt.
Nay, if it can be done, his mind must be directed to this also, that he may perceive what each one praises and how, and let him rejoice that what he says well pleases, not so much on his own account as on account of those who will judge rightly.
§2.2.14pueros adolescentibus permixtos sedere, non placet mihi.
It does not please me that boys should sit mixed with young men.
nam etiamsi vir talis, qualem esse oportet studiis moribusque praepositum, modestam habere potest etiam iuventutem, tamen vel infirmitas a robustioribus separanda est, et carendum non solum crimine turpitudinis verum etiam suspicione.
For even if such a man, as it is proper to be set over studies and character, can keep even the youth modest, yet weakness must be separated from the more robust, and we must be free not only from the charge of baseness but also from the suspicion of it.
§2.2.15haec notanda breviter existimavi; nam ut absit ab ultimis vitiis ipse ac schola, ne praecipiendum quidem credo.
I have thought these things should be noted briefly; for that he himself and his school should be free from the worst vices, I believe does not even need to be prescribed.
ac si quis est, qui flagitia manifesta in eligendo filii praeceptore non vitet, iam hinc sciat cetera quoque, quae ad utilitatem iuventutis componere conamur, esse sibi hac parte omissa supervacua.
And if there is anyone who does not avoid manifest outrages in choosing a teacher for his son, let him know from this moment that the other things also, which we endeavor to compose for the benefit of youth, are superfluous for him, since this part has been omitted.