The Dance of Life A Poem, by the author of "Doctor Syntax;%" [i.e. William Combe] Illustrated with coloured engravings, by Thomas Rowlandson |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD. The Dance of Life |  |
Poor Granny was struck dumb with awe,
When first the Tutor grim she saw,
And heard his clear and nervous sense,
Display'd in solemn eloquence,
When, in firm tone, He told his plan,
To turn her Boy into a Man;—
While frighten'd Harry strove to squeeze
His trembling form 'twixt Granny's knees.
—She was alarm'd, for well she knew
This surly teaching would not do:
But the grave Doctor would not yield;
And seem'd resolv'd to keep the field.
Doctor.
“You've had your way, and I'll have mine;
“Your cakes I'll turn to discipline;
“For, be assur'd, the Boy I'll make
“Learning pursue, for Learning's sake.
“Oh, let him sing, and dance, and play;
“Indulge him,—but when I'm away;
“For if I give the task to-day,
“I shall expect it done to-morrow,
“Or he and I shall meet in sorrow.”
Granny.
“Don't make him cry—or Lady Grace
“Will put on such a rueful face:
“'Twere better she with smiles should meet you,
“And not with solemn chidings greet you;
“For, my good Doctor, much I fear
“Things will go wrong, if you're severe.
“Begin, at least, with accents mild;
“At first, you may indulge the child:
“It were as well, that's if you please,
“To practice rigour by degrees.”
Doctor.
“I mind not Mother's whims, not I,
“Though Mother and the Boy should cry:
“He's six years old, and ought to know
“That all his happiness or woe
“Depend, as he will one day find,
“Upon the structure of his mind.
“I'll not relax—no supple tool
“To please Mamma, and play the fool;
“And if my well-weigh'd mode don't suit her,
“E'en let her find another Tutor.
“—I am well paid—a generous heart
“Beyond my hopes has done its part;
“But, if I never did deny
“The Teacher's toilsome Industry,
“When meagre Charity alone
“Repaid me for my Labour done;
“My present duty has a claim
“To my endeavour's highest aim,
“When this dear, darling child and heir
“Of Wealth and Title, is my care.
“—If I have ever strove to wrest
“Its evils from the poor Boy's breast;
“If I by force have planted good,
“In characters of humble brood;
“If I have never spar'd the rod
“For him whose Father till'd the sod;
“If I have made his sloth to feel
“Whose Mother turn'd the spinning-wheel;
“I must betray sage Learning's trust,
“And cease to think of what is just,
“If I a sense of Duty smother,
“And spoil a child to please its mother;
“Or let him share the Dunce's fate,
“Because he's born to proud estate.
“My good, old Lady, it is true,
“The plan that I now have in view,
“And which I shall, in truth, pursue,
“May not at first so pleasing be
“As one mixt up with Flattery,
“With sugar'd promises to please,
“Or fretful temper to appease.
“I shall not teach the humour'd Boy
“To play with Learning as a toy:
“With me his Book he soon must find
“A pastime only for the mind;
“And strict obedience must declare
“That he is worthy of my care.
“Beyond his strength I shall not try,
“Nor tempt his half-fledg'd wings to fly:
“I first shall study him—and he
“Shall then be taught to study me.
“Whene'er he trifles, I shall blame,
“And strive to wake a sense of shame;—
“Though, when he's good, with praise I'll cheer,
“Such as he is not us'd to hear.
“But if, when I hold tight the rein,
“The wayward Urchin should complain;
“If to Mamma with plaintive cry
“He sobs forth my severity;
“And Mamma should begin to preach—
“Should tell me how I ought to teach,
“All future trouble I shall spare,
“And leave him to some other care.”
When first the Tutor grim she saw,
And heard his clear and nervous sense,
Display'd in solemn eloquence,
When, in firm tone, He told his plan,
To turn her Boy into a Man;—
While frighten'd Harry strove to squeeze
His trembling form 'twixt Granny's knees.
—She was alarm'd, for well she knew
This surly teaching would not do:
But the grave Doctor would not yield;
And seem'd resolv'd to keep the field.
84
“You've had your way, and I'll have mine;
“Your cakes I'll turn to discipline;
“For, be assur'd, the Boy I'll make
“Learning pursue, for Learning's sake.
“Oh, let him sing, and dance, and play;
“Indulge him,—but when I'm away;
“For if I give the task to-day,
“I shall expect it done to-morrow,
“Or he and I shall meet in sorrow.”
Granny.
“Don't make him cry—or Lady Grace
“Will put on such a rueful face:
“'Twere better she with smiles should meet you,
“And not with solemn chidings greet you;
“For, my good Doctor, much I fear
“Things will go wrong, if you're severe.
“Begin, at least, with accents mild;
“At first, you may indulge the child:
85
“To practice rigour by degrees.”
Doctor.
“I mind not Mother's whims, not I,
“Though Mother and the Boy should cry:
“He's six years old, and ought to know
“That all his happiness or woe
“Depend, as he will one day find,
“Upon the structure of his mind.
“I'll not relax—no supple tool
“To please Mamma, and play the fool;
“And if my well-weigh'd mode don't suit her,
“E'en let her find another Tutor.
“—I am well paid—a generous heart
“Beyond my hopes has done its part;
“But, if I never did deny
“The Teacher's toilsome Industry,
“When meagre Charity alone
“Repaid me for my Labour done;
“My present duty has a claim
“To my endeavour's highest aim,
86
“Of Wealth and Title, is my care.
“—If I have ever strove to wrest
“Its evils from the poor Boy's breast;
“If I by force have planted good,
“In characters of humble brood;
“If I have never spar'd the rod
“For him whose Father till'd the sod;
“If I have made his sloth to feel
“Whose Mother turn'd the spinning-wheel;
“I must betray sage Learning's trust,
“And cease to think of what is just,
“If I a sense of Duty smother,
“And spoil a child to please its mother;
“Or let him share the Dunce's fate,
“Because he's born to proud estate.
“My good, old Lady, it is true,
“The plan that I now have in view,
“And which I shall, in truth, pursue,
“May not at first so pleasing be
“As one mixt up with Flattery,
87
“Or fretful temper to appease.
“I shall not teach the humour'd Boy
“To play with Learning as a toy:
“With me his Book he soon must find
“A pastime only for the mind;
“And strict obedience must declare
“That he is worthy of my care.
“Beyond his strength I shall not try,
“Nor tempt his half-fledg'd wings to fly:
“I first shall study him—and he
“Shall then be taught to study me.
“Whene'er he trifles, I shall blame,
“And strive to wake a sense of shame;—
“Though, when he's good, with praise I'll cheer,
“Such as he is not us'd to hear.
“But if, when I hold tight the rein,
“The wayward Urchin should complain;
“If to Mamma with plaintive cry
“He sobs forth my severity;
“And Mamma should begin to preach—
“Should tell me how I ought to teach,
88
“And leave him to some other care.”
| CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD. The Dance of Life | |