The joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears. They cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other. Children sweeten labors1; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the cares of life; but they mitigate2 the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of posterity3 is most in them, that have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses, are most indulgent towards their children; beholding4 them as the continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work; and so both children and creatures.
The difference in affection, of parents towards their several children, is many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy; especially in the mothers; as Solomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother. A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest5 respected, and the youngest made wantons; but in the midst, some that are as it were forgotten, who many times, nevertheless, prove the best. The illiberality6 of parents, in allowance towards their children, is an harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit7 more when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof is best, when men keep their authority towards the children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an emulation8 between brothers, during childhood, which many times sorteth to discord9 when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children, and nephews or near kinsfolks; but so they be of the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And, to say truth, in nature it is much a like matter; insomuch that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle, or a kinsman10, more than his own parent; as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes, the vocations11 and courses they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible; and let them not too much apply themselves to the disposition12 of their children, as thinking they will take best to that, which they have most mind to. It is true, that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it; but generally the precept13 is good, optimum elige, suave14 et facile illud faciet consuetudo. Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or never where the elder are disinherited.
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1
labors
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v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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2
mitigate
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vt.(使)减轻,(使)缓和 | |
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3
posterity
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n.后裔,子孙,后代 | |
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4
beholding
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v.看,注视( behold的现在分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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eldest
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adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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6
illiberality
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n.吝啬,小气 | |
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7
surfeit
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v.使饮食过度;n.(食物)过量,过度 | |
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8
emulation
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n.竞争;仿效 | |
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9
discord
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n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐 | |
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10
kinsman
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n.男亲属 | |
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11
vocations
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n.(认为特别适合自己的)职业( vocation的名词复数 );使命;神召;(认为某种工作或生活方式特别适合自己的)信心 | |
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12
disposition
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n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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13
precept
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n.戒律;格言 | |
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14
suave
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adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的 | |
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