The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer.
- Abram Smythe Palmer
- Date:
- [1908]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
166/542 page 150
![retail. It is noticeable that English heraldic literature says little of either ‘ gentlemen ’ or trade. The Spectator, Feb. i6, 1901. What is their [the gentry’s, temp. Chas. I] care, their dis- course, yea, their trade ; but either a hound, or a hawk ? and it is well, if no worse. And now, they so live, as if they had forgotten that there were books. Learning is for priests and pedants ; for gentlemen, pleasure. Oh, that either wealth or wit should be cast away thus basely ! that ever reason should grow so debauched, as to think anything more worthy than knowledge ! With what shame and emulation, may we look upon other nations, whose apish fashions we can take up in the channels, neglecting their imitable examples : and, with what scorn, do they look upon us ! They have their solemn academies, for all those qualities, which may accomplish gentility ; from which they return richly furnished, both for action and specu- lation. They account knowledge and ability of discourse as essential to greatness, as blood : neither are they more above the vulgar in birth, than in understanding. They travel with judgment, and return with experience : so do they follow the exercises of the body, that they neglect not the culture of the mind. From hence grows civility and power to manage affairs ; either of justice, or state : from hence, encouragement to learning, and reverence from inferiors. For those only can esteem knowledge, which have it; and the common sort frame either observance or contempt, out of the example of their leaders. Amongst them, the sons of nobles scorn not either merchandise, or learned professions ; and hate nothing so much, as to do nothing : I shame and hate to think, that our Gallants hold, there can be no disparagement but in honest callings. Bp. Hall, Works (ed. 1808), vol. vii, p. 271. There are certain epithets which so frequently occur, that they are the less considered ; and which are seldom or never examined, on account of the many opportunities of examina- tion that present themselves. Of this kind is the word Gentle- man. This word, on its first introduction, was given, I sup- pose, to freemen, in opposition to vassals ; these being the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29008529_0168.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
