02 THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND. totes of summer and winter in their country; and when they told him of water growing so hard in their rivers, that men, and horses, and laden carriages passed over it., and that rain some- times fell down almost as white and light as feathers, and some- times almost as liard as stones, he would not believe a syllable they said : for ice, snow, and hail, where names and things ut- terly unknown to him, and to his subjects in that hot climate : he renounced all traffic with such shameful liars, and would not suffer them to trade with his people. See here the natural effects of gross ignorance. Conversation with foreigners on various occasions, has a happy influence to enlarge our minds, and to set them free from many errors and gross prejudices we are ready to imbibe con- cerning them. Domicillus has never travelled five miles from his mother's chimney, and he imagines all outlandish men are Papishes, and worship nothing but a cross. Tityrus the shep- herd, was bred up all his life in the country, and never saw Rome ; lie fancied it to be only a huge village, and was therefore infinitely surprised to find such palaces, such streets, such glit- teeing treasures and gay magnificence as his first journey to the pity shewed him, and with wonder he confesses his folly and mistake. So Virgil introduces a poor shepherd, U bemquern dicunt Romam Meliboee, futavi Slultusego huit post, ae similem, quo soepe sotems: Pastoresoaium teneros depeltere foetus, 8{'c. Thus Fnglished : Fool that. I was, I thought imperial Rome Like market-towns, waere once a week we come, And thither drive oar tender lambs from borne. Conversation would have given Tityrus a better notion of Rome, though he had never happened to travel thither. V. let mixed company among acquaintance and strangers endeavour to learn something from all. Be swift to hear, but be cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance, and perhaps offend some of those who are present too. The serip- ture severely censures those who speak evil of the things they know not. Acquaint yourself therefore sometimes with persons And parties which are far distant from your common life and customs: this is a way whereby you may form a wiser opinion of men and things. Prove all things and holdfast that which is good, is a divine rule, and it comes from the Father of light and truth. But young persons should practise it indeed with due limitation and under the eye of their elders. VI. Be not frightened nor provoked at opinions different from your own. Some persons are soconfident they are in the right, that they will not come within the hearing of any notions
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