Like one well studied in a sad ostent, To please his grandam. _Merchant of Venice_, Act II. Scene 2. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. _As You Like It_, Act II. Scene 7. He is a better scholar than I thought he was.--He [is] a good sprag memory. _Merry Wives of Windsor_, Act IV. Scene 1. One that feeds On objects, arts, and imitations, Which, out of use, and stal’d by other men, Begin his fashion. _Julius Cæsar,_ Act IV. Scene 1. Oh! torture me no more--I will confess. 2 _Henry VI._ Act III. Scene 3. TALE XXI. _THE LEARNED BOY._ An honest man was Farmer Jones, and true; He did by all as all by him should do; Grave, cautious, careful, fond of gain was he, Yet famed for rustic hospitality. Left with his children in a widow’d state, The quiet man submitted to his fate; Though prudent matrons waited for his call, With cool forbearance he avoided all; Though each profess’d a pure maternal joy, By kind attention to his feeble boy. 10 And--though a friendly widow knew no rest, Whilst neighbour Jones was lonely and distress’d, Nay, though the maidens spoke in tender tone Their hearts’ concern to see him left alone-- Jones still persisted in that cheerless life, As if t’were sin to take a second wife. Oh! ’tis a precious thing, when wives are dead, To find such numbers who will serve instead; And, in whatever state a man be thrown, ’Tis that precisely they would wish their own. 20 Left the departed infants--then their joy Is to sustain each lovely girl and boy; Whatever calling his, whatever trade, To that their chief attention has been paid; His happy taste in all things they approve, His friends they honour, and his food they love; His wish for order, prudence in affairs, And equal temper, (thank their stars!) are theirs; In fact, it seem’d to be a thing decreed, And fix’d as fate, that marriage must succeed. 30 Yet some, like Jones, with stubborn hearts and hard, Can hear such claims, and show them no regard. Soon as our farmer, like a general, found By what strong foes he was encompass’d round-- Engage he dared not, and he could not fly, But saw his hope in gentle parley lie; With looks of kindness then, and trembling heart, He met the foe, and art opposed to art. Now spoke that foe insidious--gentle tones, And gentle looks, assumed for Farmer Jones: 40 “Three girls,” the widow cried, “a lively three To govern well--indeed it cannot be.” “Yes,” he replied, “it calls for pains and care;