46 PRÆTERITA-I

any pleasing accomplishment, or ease and tact in ordinary behaviour.

53. Lastly, and chief of evils. My judgment of right and wrong, and powers of independent action,* were left entirely undeveloped; because the bridle and blinkers were never taken off me. Children should have their times of being off duty, like soldiers; and when once the obedience, if required, is certain, the little creature should be very early put for periods of practice in complete command of itself; set on the barebacked horse of its own will, and left to break it by its own strength.¹ But the ceaseless authority exercised over my youth left me, when cast out at last into the world, unable for some time to do more than drift with its vortices.²

54. My present verdict, therefore, on the general tenor of my education at that time, must be, that it was at once too formal and too luxurious; leaving my character, at the most important moment for its construction, cramped indeed, but not disciplined; and only by protection innocent, instead of by practice virtuous. My mother saw this herself, and but too clearly, in later years; and whenever I did anything wrong, stupid, or hard-hearted,-(and I have done many things that were all three,)-always said, “It is because you were too much indulged.”

55. Thus far, with some omissions, I have merely reprinted the account of these times given in Fors: and I fear the sequel may be more trivial, because much is concentrated in the foregoing broad statement, which I have now to continue by slower steps;-and yet less amusing,

* Action, observe, I say here: in thought I was too independent, as I said above.

¹ [Here in Fors, Ruskin wrote in his copy:-

“Independence praised for once!”

-the reference being to his constant deprecation of liberty: see Vol. XX. p. 173, Vol. XXVII. p. 96, and General Index.]

² [For a further passage in Fors (not embodied in Præterita), see Vol. XXVIII. p. 352.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]