Page:The Journal of English and Germanic Philology Volume 18.djvu/348

 344 Gilbert dramatic representations. He would not have used the mystery plays, which, because of their moral value, Bucer preferred, at least for the populace, to plays of greater poetical worth, but would give his select youths, then approaching the end of their course, 'choice histories, heroic poems, and Attic tragedies of stateliest and most regal argument, with all the famous political orations. . . which if they were not only read, but some of them got by memory, and solemnly pronounced with right accent and grace, as might be taught, would endue them even with the spirit and vigor of Demosthenes or Cicero, Euripides or Sophocles.' We observe that he does not advise the Latin comedies of which Sturm's pupils gave representa- tions. Milton, like Bucer, was less concerned than was Sturm about learning the Latin tongue as an end in itself; he thought more of the higher ends of study of the drama and of oratory. It appears, then, that his ideas on education have in them much of the spirit that animated Bucer. Indeed Bucer, with his power to influence his pupils, and his devotion to religion and learning, might have appeared to Milton the teacher who, 'chiefly by his own example, might in a short space gain [his pupils] to an incredible diligence and courage.' There seem to be no further definite suggestions on Bucer's influence as an educator. However, because of the renown and influence of the man on the continent and in England, and his life-long efforts for education, it must have been considerable. Many other men besides Sturm obtained from him inspiration and council for their efforts, or learned from his lips the neces- sity of universal enlightenment in a well governed state. His writings also had their influence. There were at least four editions of De Regno Christi, two in Latin, one (or two) in German, and one in French; 73 hence it reached a considerable circle of readers. It appears to have been taken seriously in high places in England before it was printed, for the Discourse on the Reformation of Abuses, issued in 1551 in the name of King Edward VI, shows traces of its influence. 74 We may also 73 Baum, op. cit., p. 610. Milton translated into English only the parts on divorce. I deal with his translation in a paper entitled, Milton on the Position of Woman, soon to appear in the Modern Language Review. 74 A. Edward Harvey, Martin Bucer in England) Marburg, 1906, p. 80.