Politeuphuia VVits common wealth.

Of Youth.

Defi. Youth is the fourth age of man, then doe men grow in body, in strength, and reason, in vice and vertue; and at that age the na∣ture of a man is knowne, and wherevnto hee bendeth his minde, which before could not be discerned, by reason of the ignorance of his age.

YOuth that heeretofore delighted to try theyr vertues in hard Armors, take nowe theyr whole delight and content in delicate and effeminate amors.

VVantonnesse, libertie, youth, and riches, are alwayes enemies to honestie.

The deeds that men commit in their youth were neuer yet found so vpright and honest, but it was thought more praise-worthy to a∣mend them then declare them.

Youth going to warres, ought to feare no∣thing but good and euill renowne. Eurip.

In the old time there were certaine persons chosen out of diuers good Townes, which they called Sophronists, who had a continuall charge and care, to controle moderate, and rule the manners of youth.

It is very requisite, that youth bee brought vp in that part of learning which is called hu∣militie.

A man followeth all his life long his first ad∣dressing in his youth; as if a tree blossom not in the spring, it will hardly beare fruite in au∣tumne.

As the Cipres tree, the more it is vvatered, the more it withereth, & the oftener it is lop∣ped, the sooner it dyeth; so vnbridled youth, the more it is by graue aduise counsayled, or due corrections controled, the sooner it fal∣leth to confusion.

VVhere vice is imbraced in youth, there commonly vertue is neglected in age.

Youth for the most part followeth wanton vvit too vvilfully, neuer preuenting perrils while they are past, nor dreadeth dangers vn∣till they be halfe drowned.

Youth fiereth his fancie vvith the flame of lust, and old age fixeth his affections with the heate of loue.

Young yeeres make their account onely of the glistering shew of beauty, but gray haires respect onely the perfect substance of vertue.

The minde of a young man is momentarie, his fancie fading, his affections fickle, his loue vncertaine, & his liking as light as the winde;

his fancie fiered with euery new face, and his minde moued with a thousand sundry moti∣ons, lothing that which of late hee did loue, and liking that for which his longing minde doth lust, frying at the first, and freezing at the last.

The follies that men cōmit in their youth, are causes of repentance in old age.

Cupid alloweth none in his court, but young men that can serue, fresh & beautifull to de∣light, wise that can talke, secrete to keepe si∣lence, faithfull to gratifie, and valiant to re∣uenge his mistresse iniuries.

It is not loue, but sorrow, not mirth, but dis∣pleasure, not tast, but torment, not delight, but despight, not ioy, but annoy, not recrea∣tion, but confusion, when in a louer there is not both youth and libertie.

The prime of youth, is as the flowers of the Pine tree, which are glorious in sight, & vn∣sauorie in the smell.

Youth, if it blush not at beautie, and carrie antidots of wisedome against flatterie, follie will be the next hauen he shall harbor in.

He that in youth guideth his life by reason, shall in age finde the ready foote-path from ruine. Theopom.

There is nothing sweeter then youth, nor

swifter decreasing while it is increasing.

Young VVillowes bende easily, and greene vvitts are intangled suddainly.

So tutor youth, that the sinnes of age bee not imputed to thee. Pythag.

Impardonable are theyr offences, that for heaping vp of riches, forget to bring vp their youth in honest manners.

Youth well instructed, maketh age well dis∣posed.

Hee is most perfit, which adometh youth with vertues. Hermes.

Noble wits corrupted in theyr youth vvith vice, are more vngracious then pesants that are borne barbarous.

The better that a child is by byrth, the bet∣ter ought he in his youth to be instructed.

The impression of good doctrine stampt in youth, no age nor fortune can out-weare.

Examples are the best lessons for youth.

VVhen young men will sport and recreate themselues, let them beware of ryot, and re∣member modestie.

The humor of youth is, neuer to think that good, whose goodnes he seeth not. S. P. S.

The death of youth is a shypwrack.

Youth ought to vse pleasure and recreati∣on, but as naturall ease and rest.

The instructions which are giuen to youth, ought not to be teadious; for beeing pithie and short, they will the sooner heare them, & the better keepe them.

Young men are no lesse bound to their Tu∣tors for the vertues they teach them, then to theyr parents for the lyfe they gaue them.

It is most requisite, that Princes prouide vertuous Tutors to instruct theyr chyldren in theyr youth, that they may be after them the better able to gouerne their kingdoms.

Semper magno ingenio adolescentes refraenan∣di potius á gloria quam inuitandi sunt, amputan∣da sunt plura illi aetati, siquidem efflorescit inge∣rij laudibus.

Vicina est lapsibus iuuentus quia variarū aestus cupiditatum feruore calentis aetatis inflammatur.