A contemporary of Shakespeare, Nicholas Breton wrote poetry, satires, dialogues, and essays. An olde mans lesson and a young mans love is a fictional dialogue between an old man and his son, who has returned home after a long period of travel. Through a series of dialogues, Chremis (the father) is able to verify that his son, Pamphilus, has spent his time away from home wisely by acquiring knowledge on many topics, including the nature of evil, the virtues and vices of different countries and cities, and the moral qualities of animals.—ME
An olde mans lesson, and a young mans loue. By Nicholas Breton, London : Imprinted [by E. Allde] for Edward VVhite, and are to bee solde at his shop neere the little north-doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gun, 1605.
STC 3674
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Title Page
Part 1: The Nature of Evil
Part 2: Different Countries
Part 3: Animals
Teacher Ideas
Marianne Eismann / Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, NJ / English
In the dialogue on cities, Pamphilus explains why he thinks Italy is best country and Venice the best city. Students reading The Merchant of Venice can use Breton's work to help them understand how some of Shakespeare's contemporaries viewed Venice and its citizens. How might these points of view have influenced Shakespeare's description of Venice?
In addition, the dialogue on animals sheds light upon the many scenes and speeches in Shakespeare that include animal imagery. Some particularly rich examples are:
Henry VI, Part 1 1.5.21–31
King Lear 3.4.90–149
The Merchant of Venice 1.3.86–107, 4.1.130–140
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.2.1–30
Timon of Athens 4.3.201–218
Troilus and Cressida 1.2.24–35
These speeches are self-contained and do not require a full reading of the play.
Have students compare Shakespeare's animal imagery to Breton's descriptions. They may also consult The Historie of foure-footed beastes and The Aberdeen Bestiary Project.
Gina Savino / Smithtown High School, Smithtown, NY / English
Have students compare Breton's descriptions of the qualities of the animals with the qualities of the characters in a Shakespeare play. Once they identify an animal with a character, have them design an emblem for the character that incorporates the animal and shows how that animal's qualities are reflected in the character.
Jen Breen / Brookline High School, Brookline, MA / English
Have students draw, paint, or sculpt a visual representation of Pamphilus' description of evil (covetousness = root, pride = head, gluttony and drunkenness = arms, etc.), found in the dialogue on the nature of evil.
