62               OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

base, acquaints them with shifts, makes them sort
with mean company, and makes them surfeit more
when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof
is best when men keep their authority towards their
children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish
manner (both parents and schoolmasters and servants)
in creating and breeding an emulation between
brothers during childhood, which many times sorteth
to discord when they are men, and dlsturbeth
families. The Italians make little difference between
children and nephews, or near kinsfolk ; 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
kinsman, more than his own parent, as the blood
happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations
and courses they mean their children should take,
for then they are most flexible. And let them not
too much apply themselves to the disposition 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  extra-