Be it a weaknefs, it deferves fome praife,
We love the play-place of our early days.
The scene is touching, and the heart is stone
That feels not at that fight, and feels at none.
The wall on which we try'd our graving fkill,
The very name we carv'd fubfifting ftill,
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 pleafing spectacle at once excites
Such recollection of our own delights,
That viewing it, we feem almoft t' obtain
Our innocent fweet fimple years again.
This fond attachment to the well-known place
Whence firft we started into life's long race,
Maintains its hold with fuch unfailing sway,
We feel it ev'n in age, and at our latest 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 strokes their filver locks,
That they muft foon learn Latin, and to box;
Then turning, he regales his lift'ning wife,
With all th' adventures of his early life,
His kill in coachmanship, or driving chaife,
In bilking tavern bills, and spouting plays,
What shifts he us'd, detected in a scrape,
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 biafs all its sway,
Refolves, that where he play'd, his fons shall play,
And destines their bright genius to be fhown
Juft in the fcene where he display'd his own.
The meek and bashful boy will foon be taught
To be as bold and forward as he ought,
The rude will fcuffle 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 with 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 moft fuccefs.
They may acquire that confident addrefs,
Thofe habits of profuse and lewd expence,
That fcorn of all delights, but those of fenfe,
Which though in plain plebeians we condemn,
With fo much reafon all expect from them.
But families of lefs illuftrious fame,
Whofe chief diftinction is their fpotless name,
Whofe 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 waift,
They fee th' attentive crowds his talents draw,
They hear him fpeak-the oracle of law.
The father who defigns his babe a priest,
Dreams him epifcopally fuch at least,
And while the playful jocky fcours 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 ftrange as thefe,
Which only a parental eye forefees,
A public school shall bring to pafs with ease.
But how? refides fuch virtue in that air
As must create an appetite for pray'r?
And will it breathe into him all the zeal
That candidates for fuch a prize fhould feel,
To take the lead, and be the foremost still,
In all true worth and literary fkill?
"Ah blind to bright futurity, untaught.
"The knowledge of the world, and dull of thought!* "Church-ladders are not always mounted beft "By learned. Clerks, and Latinifts profefs'd.
«Th' exalted prize demands an upward look,
"Not to be found by poring on a book.
"Small skill in Latin, and fill lefs in Greek,
"Is more than adequate to all I feek;
"Let erudition grace him or not grace,
"I give the bawble but the fecond place,
"His wealth, fame, honors, all that I intend,
❝ Subfift and center in one point-a friend.
A friend, whate'er he studies or neglects,
"Shall give him confequence, heal all defectè,
His intercourfe with p peers, and fons of peers
"There dawns the fplendour of his future years,
"In that bright quarter his propitious fkies
Shall blush betimes, and there his glory rife. "Your Lordship, and your Grace, what fehool can teach A rhet'ric equal to thofe parts of speech? "What need of Homer's verfe, or Tully's profe, "Sweet interjections! if he learn but thofe ! "Let rev'rend churls his ignorance rebuke, "Who starve upon a dogs-ear'd Pentateuch, The parfon knows enough who knows a Duke.". Egregious purpose! worthily begun In barb'rous proftitution of your fon,
Prefs'd on his part by means that would disgrace
A fcriv'ner's clerk, or footman out of place,
And ending, if at laft its end be gain'd,
In facrilege, in God's own houfe profan'd.
It may fucceed; and if his fins should call
For more than common punishment, it shall.
The wretch fhall rife, and be the thing on earth,
Leaft qualified in honor, learning, worth,
To occupy a facred, awful poft,
In which the best and worthieft tremble most.
The royal letters are a thing of course,
A king that would, might recommend his horfe, ..
And Deans, no doubt, and Chapters, with one voice,
As bound in duty, would confirm the choice.
Behold your bishop! well he plays his part,
Christian in name, and Infidel in heart,
Ghoftly in office, earthly in his plan,
A flave at court, elsewhere a lady's man,
Dumb as a fenator, and as a priest,
A piece of mere church-furniture at beft;
To live eftrang'd from God his total scope,
And his end fure, without one glimpse of hope,
But fair although, and feasible it feem,
Depend not much upon your golden dream;
For Providence, that seems concern'd t' exempt
The hallow'd bench from abfolute contempt,
In spite of all the wrigglers into place,
Still keeps a feat or two for worth and grace,
And therefore 'tis, that, though the fight be rare,
We fometimes fee a Lowth or Bagot there.
Befides, fchool-friendfhips are not always found,
Though fair in promife, permanent and found.
The most difint'rested and virtuous minds,
In early years connected, time unbinds;
New fituations give a diff'rent cast
Of habit, inclination, temper, taste,
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