Left pow'r exerted, but without fuccefs,
Should make the little ye retain ftill less.
Ye once were juftly fam'd for bringing forth
Undoubted scholarship and genuine worth;
And in the firmament of fame ftill fhines
A glory, bright as that of all the figns,

Of poets rais'd by you, and statesmen, and divines.
Peace to them all! those brilliant times are fled,
And no fuch lights are kindling in their stead.
Our striplings shine, indeed, but with fuch rays
As fet the midnight riot in a blaze;

And feem, if judg'd by their expreffive looks,
Deeper in none than in their furgeons' books.

Say, muse, (for, education made the song,
No muse can hesitate or linger long)
What causes move us, knowing, as we must,
That these menageries all fail their trust,

To send our fons to scout and fcamper there,
While colts and puppies cost us so much care?

6

Be it a weakness, it deserves fome praise; We love the play-place of our early daysThe scene is touching, and the heart is stone That feels not at that fight, and feels at none. The wall on which we tried our graving skill, The very name we carv'd, fubfifting still;

The bench on which we fat while deep employ'd,
Though mangled, hack'd, and hew'd, not yet deftroy'd:
The little ones, unbutton'd, glowing hot,

Playing our games, and on the very spot;
As happy as we once, to kneel and draw
The chalky ring, and knuckle down at taw;
To pitch the ball into the grounded hat,
Or drive it devious with a dext'rous pat-
The pleasing spectacle at once excites
Such recollection of our own delights,

That, viewing it, we feem almost t' obtain
Our innocent sweet fimple years again.

This fond attachment to the well-known place,
Whence first we started into life's long race,

J

Maintains its hold with fuch unfailing fway,

We feel it ev'n in age, and at our lateft day.
Hark! how the fire of chits, whofe future fhare
Of claffic food begins to be his care,
With his own likeness plac'd on either knee,
Indulges all a father's heart-felt glee;

And tells them, as he ftrokes their filver locks,
That they must foon learn Latin, and to box;
Then, turning, he regales his lift'ning wife
With all th' adventures of his early life;
His skill in coachmanship, or driving chaise,
In bilking tavern bills, and spouting plays;
What fhifts he us'd, detected in a fcrape,
How he was flogg'd, or had the luck t' ́escape;
What fums he loft at play, and how he fold
Watch, feals, and all-till all his pranks are told.
Retracing thus his frolics, ('tis a name

That palliates deeds of folly and of fhame)

He gives the local bias all its fway;

Refolves that where he play'd his fons shall play,

And destines their bright genius to be shown Juft in the scene where he difplay'd' his own." The meek and bashful boy will foon be taught To be as bold and forward as he ought;

The rude will scuffle through with ease enough,
Great fchools fuit beft the sturdy and the rough.
Ah, happy defignation, prudent choice,

Th' event is fure; expect it, and rejoice!
Soon fee your wish fulfill'd in either child-

The pert made perter, and the tame made wild.

The great, indeed, by titles, riches, birth, Excus'd th' incumbrance of more folid worth, Are beft difpos'd of where with most success They may acquire that confident address, Those habits of profuse and lewd expenfe, That fcorn of all delights but those of sense, Which, though in plain plebeians we condemn, With fo much reafon all expect from them.

But families of lefs illuftrious fame,

Whose chief diftinction is their spotless name,

Whose heirs, their honours none, their income small, Muft fhine by true defert, or not at all—

What dream they of, that with fo little care

They risk their hopes, their dearest treasure, there?
They dream of little Charles or William grac'd
With wig prolix, down-flowing to his waist;
They fee th' attentive crowds his talents draw,
They hear him speak-the oracle of law!

The father, who defigns his babe a priest,
Dreams him episcopally fuch at least ;

And, while the playful jockey scours the room
Brifkly, aftride upon the parlour broom,

In fancy fees him more fuperbly ride

In coach with purple lin'd, and mitres on its fide. Events improbable and strange as these,

Which only a parental eye forefees,

A public school shall bring to pass with ease.