Martin Bucer on Education 343 of Bucer's desire to do away with sloth by the teaching of trades. It is in harmony with Milton's advice in Of Education, for he wishes the boys of whom he writes to be instructed in all the useful professions and trades. Like Bucer, he dwells especially on agriculture. The pupils of Milton should under- stand farming because they are to be men of power and influence in the state, and able to improve the conditions of tillage in the land, just as Bucer hoped a properly educated nobility would do it. Milton's desire that his pupils should know something of agriculture, and especially of architecture, reminds us of what we have seen of Sturm's theory and practice. The poet was also at one with Bucer and Sturm in his approval of gymnastics and military training, both theoreti- cal and applied. Sturm wished his pupils Ho go out from the city, to see fields and gardens, to dig herbs, to ask their names, to taste them, and to dissect them, for it is doubtful whether this sort of play has more pleasure or use in it.' 71 Milton wished his pupils to travel on horseback, to see the riches of nature, 'and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.' On these excursions they might also be 'learning and observing all places of strength, all commodities of building and of soil, for towns and tillage, harbors and ports for trade.' We may remember that Milton would also have practical men, such as gardeners and apothecaries, assist in the instruction of his pupils. Like Bucer, and for similar reasons, he believed in the study of the natural sciences, writing that 'our understanding cannot in this body found itself but on sensible things, nor arrive so clearly to the knowledge of God and things invisible, as by orderly conning over the visible and inferior creature.' And in Paradise Lost Raphael speaks to Adam thus : Heaven Is as the book of God before thee set, Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years. 72 Milton is also at one with Sturm and Bucer in giving an impor- tant place to music. Also like them, he would make use of 71 Classical Epistles, Book 3, No. 2 (Vormbaum, p. 708).
Paradise Lost 8, 66-9.
