Then turning, he regales his list'ning wife 325 330 Watch, seals, and all-till all his pranks are told. That palliates deeds of folly and of shame,) He gives the local bias all its sway; Resolves that where he play'd his sons shall play, 335 Just in the scene where he display'd his own. To be as bold and forward as he ought; The rude will scuffle through with ease enough, 340 Th' event is sure; expect it, and rejoice! The pert made perter, and the tame made wild. 345 350 But families of less illustrious fame, Whose chief distinction is their spotless name, 355 Whose heirs, their honours none, their income small, Must shine by true desert, or not at all, What dream they of, that with so little care They risk their hopes, their dearest treasure there? They dream of little Charles or William grac'd 360 With wig prolix, down flowing to his waist: They see th' attentive crowds his talents draw: The father, who designs his babe a priest, Dreams him episcopally such at least ; 365 And while the playful jockey scours the room Briskly, astride upon the parlour broom, In fancy sees him more superbly ride In coach with purple lin'd, and mitres on its side. Events improbable and strange as these, 370 Which only a parental eye foresees, A publick school shall bring to pass with case. But how! Resides such virtue in that air, As must create an appetite for pray'r? 375 That candidates for such a prize should feel, In all true worth and literary skill? "Ah, blind to bright futurity, untaught The knowledge of the world, and dull of thought? 380 385 Small skill in Latin, and still less in Greck, 390 395 Your Lordship and Your Grace! what school can teach A rhet'rick equal to those parts of speech! What need of Homer's verse, or Tully's prose, Sweet interjections! if he learn but those? 400 Who starv'd upon a dog's-ear'd Pentateuch, The parson knows enough, who knows a duke." In barb'rous prostitution of your son; 405 Press'd on his part by means that would disgrace And ending, if at last its end be gain'd, In sacrilege, in God's own house profan'd! It may succeed; and, if his sins should call 410 For more than common punishment, it shall; In which the best and worthiest tremble most. 415 The royal letters are a thing of course, A king, that would, might recommend his horse; And deans, no doubt, and chapters with one voice, 420 As bound in duty, would confirm the choice. A piece of mere church furniture at best; 425 To live estrang'd from God his total scope, And his end sure, without one glimpse of hope. Depend not much upon your golden dream : For Providence, that seems concern'd t' exempt 430 In spite of all the wrigglers into place, 435 Young heads are giddy, and young hearts are warm, And make mistakes for manhood to reform. 445 Boys are at best but pretty buds unblown, Whose scent and hues are rather guess'd than known; 450 455 Our publick hives of puerile resort, 460 Ranks as a virtue, and is yet a vice; 465 Or rather a gross compound, justly tried, Of envy, hatred, jealousy, and pride Contributes most perhaps t' enhance their fame And emulation is its specious name. Boys, once on fire with that contentious zeal, 470 Each vainly magnifies his own success, 480 485 But judge, where so much evil intervenes, The end, though plausible, not worth the means. Against a heart deprav'd and temper hurt; Hurt, too, perhaps, for life; for early wrong, 490 Done to the nobler part, affects it long; And you are stanch indeed in learning's cause, 495 By selfish views, thus censur'd and cashier'd: Force not my drift beyound its just intent, 505 Few boys are born with talents that excel, But all are capable of living well; 510 Then ask not, Whether limited or large? But, Watch they strictly, or neglect their charge? |