Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/358

 320 Readings in European History can so greatly contribute to this end as to implant the true fear of God so early in the young heart that it shall take root and bear fruit in the time when there is no longer any guidance or oversight. For other men are guided toward virtue and away from evil by the rewards and punishments dealt out by those who are set above them, but the prince must rely on the fear of God alone, iince he is subject to no human law, punishment, or reward. My son and all his attendants shall say their prayers on their knees both morning and evening, and after prayers shall read a chapter from the Bible. He shall be kept away from operas, comedies, and other worldly amusements and, as far as possible, be given a dis- taste for them. He must be taught to pay proper respect and submission to his parents, but without slavishness. His tutors must use every means they can devise to re- strain him from puffed-up pride and insolence and to train him in good management, economy, and modesty. And since nothing is so harmful as flattery, all those who are about the person of my son are forbidden to indulge in it on pain of my extreme displeasure. As to the further studies that become a prince, his prog- ress must depend upon his years and growth, but it must be looked to that he is taught the most important things first, and all without inspiring distaste or disgust. As this will depend largely on the adroitness of his preceptor, Duhan, the latter must consult from time to time with the head tutor as to the course to be pursued, which must then be presented to me for my approval. As for the Latin language, he is not to learn it, and I desire that no one shall even speak to me on this subject ; but his tutors shall see to it that he acquires a terse and ele- gant style in writing French as well as German. Arithmetic, mathematics, artillery, and agriculture he must be taught thor- oughly, ancient history only superficially, but that of our own time and of the last one hundred and fifty years as accu- rately as possible. He must have a thorough knowledge of law, of international law, of geography, and of what is most