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Cicero directeth Herennius, first to place the exposition or the thing to be proved; Secondly the Reason or Reasons; Thirdly the Approbation: Fourthly the exornation or illustration, from the Contrary, or from Example, Similitude, Testimony or Sen∣tences &c. Fistly the Complexon in which all is summed up, this is the most easie way, and most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for extemporary spee∣ches.
Let the proposition be: A little knavery and wantoness doth not hurt a youth. The Reasons. Because they cannot presently be thereupon accounted bad. For a man can∣not be alwayes good; And the clearest day hath some clouds: The Approbation. And those who are now old men, were wanton when they were young. The Exornation from Testimony: A certain Poet said, He depri∣veth the year of the Spring, who would not permit a youth to be wanton. From Sentences; And every age ought to have that behaviour, which is most agreeable thereunto. From the Contrary. It is unseemly for an old man to behave himself like a youth: Therefore it is also unseemly for a youth to behave himself like an old man. From Similitude; For if Ale be not mad when it is new, it is never good when it is stale. This you may handle Rhetorically thus.
Exposition. What great matter is it if a youth be somewhat waggish, for a little while? The Reasons: Do the Spaniards therefore drink water, because they tempet their Wine? or doth one fair day, make a Sum∣mer?
And what man is wise at all times? The clearest day hath ever had some clouds. Why do we then so scrutinously reprehend the very least fault in a youth, and (if I may speek freely) all that le••dness in them, which in our selves we called but wagge∣ry. What if they Crown the streets with their friendly concourse, or pull one ano∣ther by the hair in jest; or weary their armes with a kind Wrestling, and are not alwayes among the prophets, not alwayes toiling at their bookes, but sometimes give themselves to dancing, laughing, and jest∣ing; what other things, I say, are these but the sports of youth; and keeping them∣selves in action, till age and experience, lead them to more noble imployments. Unless then they disguise their faces like melancholy persons, unless their eyes be for ever condemned to the Earth that they may there tell all the stones and atoms of dust, unless they hang their heads upon their shoulders, and become devoti∣onary ghosts; they must be thought worthy of banishment to Gyarus and T••ale.
Oh rigid Catos, fit to be Judges of Man∣lius's laws, either you have forgotten, your own youth, or you might from the
former indulgencies of your own folly, learn to connive for a while at ours; neither durst you by violating the priviledges of our youth accuse nature when (as the Poet saith well) to deprive youth of their maggery, is to deprive the year of its spring.
Every age hath its proper limits; and it is as necessary that the behaviour of per∣sons should be suiteable to their years, as for garments to be fitted for the body.
And if we may deride a youthfull old man, why may we not by the same rule ••etest the behaviour of the aged in those that are young? And what cruelty is it in the morning of age to exact the noondaies gravity, and when the twilight of wise∣dome doth scarcely appeare, you require the sageness of the perfect day. You give your Horses, and Bullocks liberty, to ex∣ercise their irregular caperings; and are you so blind, that what you see to be natu∣rall in other creatures, you cannot see to be so in your owne children. And (that I may speak with all mildness) be pleased at least to take a sober draught of this truth,
even out of a Barrel of Ale; unless the Ale when it is new do fill the Aire, the Cel∣lar, the barrell, with a malepert hurly burly; it will when it is old be neither healthful for the bodie, nor pleasing to the Palate. And hence an exhortation might be made, to take well and beare with the wanton∣ness of youth.