THAT VIRTUE MAY BE TAUGHT AND LEARNED
THE SUMMARY
[Plutarch, refuting here the error of those who are of opinion, that by good and diligent instruction a man cannot become the better, recommendeth sufficiently the study of virtue. And to prove this assertion of his, he sheweth that the apprentissage of that which is of small consequence in this world, witnesseth enough that a man ought to be trained from day to day to the knowledge of things that are beseeming and worthy his person: Afterwards, he declareth that as much travel should be employed to make him comprehend such things as be far distant from the capacity and excellency of his spirit: In which discourse he taxeth covertly those vain and giddy heads, who (as they say) run after their own shadow, whereas they should stay and rest upon that which is firm and permanent.]
We dispute of virtue, and put in question, whether prudence, justice, loyalty and honesty may be taught or no? And do we admire then the works of orators, sailors and shipmasters, architects, husbandmen, and an infinite number of other such which be extant? Whereas of good men we have nothing but their bare and simple names, as if they were hippo-centaurs, giants, or Cyclopes: and marvel we that of virtuous actions which be entire, perfect, and unblameable, none can be found: nor yet any manners so composed according to duty, but that they be tainted with some passions and vicious perturbations? yea, and if it happen that nature of herself bring forth some good and honest actions, the same straightways are darkened, corrupted and in a manner marred, by certain strange mixtures of contrary matters that creep into them, like as when among good com there grow up weeds and wild bushes that choke the same; or when some kind and gentle fruit is clean altered by savage nourishment.
Men learn to sing, to dance, to read and write, to till the ground, and to ride horses, they learn likewise to shoe themselves, to do on their apparel decently; they are taught to wait at cup and trencher, to give drink at the table, to season and dress meat: and none of all this can they skill to perform and
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