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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| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD. The Dance of Life |  |
Granny, who thought that much good sense
Prevail'd in his rough eloquence;
And conscious it would be in vain
To reason with him, or complain;
Most wisely finish'd the debate,
And left the bus'ness to its fate.
—For right or wrong, it was agreed,
And honour had confirm'd the deed;
My Lady and Sir William, both
Had form'd the purpose, nothing loth,
That she alone the reins should hold,
Till Harry was full ten years old;
And then this hopeful Child and Heir
Was to become the Father's care.
—Thus Granny had to play a game
Between the Doctor and the Dame.
She let the Tutor have his way;
She brib'd the Pupil to obey;
And did a cunning scheme pursue,
By which she brib'd the Doctor too:
For she found out, with keen discerning,
That next to his high pride of Learning;
Next to the feeding of his brain,
He did more secretly maintain
'Twas good his appetite to treat
With what was nice to drink and eat;
And though no gormandising sinner,
He would leave Horace for a dinner.
Prevail'd in his rough eloquence;
And conscious it would be in vain
To reason with him, or complain;
Most wisely finish'd the debate,
And left the bus'ness to its fate.
—For right or wrong, it was agreed,
And honour had confirm'd the deed;
My Lady and Sir William, both
Had form'd the purpose, nothing loth,
That she alone the reins should hold,
Till Harry was full ten years old;
And then this hopeful Child and Heir
Was to become the Father's care.
—Thus Granny had to play a game
Between the Doctor and the Dame.
She let the Tutor have his way;
She brib'd the Pupil to obey;
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By which she brib'd the Doctor too:
For she found out, with keen discerning,
That next to his high pride of Learning;
Next to the feeding of his brain,
He did more secretly maintain
'Twas good his appetite to treat
With what was nice to drink and eat;
And though no gormandising sinner,
He would leave Horace for a dinner.
| CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD. The Dance of Life | |