Who, told of all his patron’s merit, sigh’d, 120 I know not why, in sorrow or in pride; And would, with vex’d and troubled spirit, cry, ‘I am not happy; let your envy die.’ Him left I with you; who, perhaps, can tell If fortune bless’d him, or what fate befell. I yet remember how the idlers ran To see the carriage of the godlike man, When pride restrain’d me; yet I thought the deed Was noble, too--and how did it succeed?” Jacques answer’d not till he had backward cast 130 His view, and dwelt upon the evil past; Then, as he sigh’d, he smil’d;--from folly rise Such smiles, and misery will create such sighs. And Richard now from his abstraction broke, Listening attentive as the rector spoke. * * * * * “This noble lord was one disposed to try And weigh the worth of each new luxury; Now, at a certain time, in pleasant mood, He tried the luxury of doing good. For this he chose a widow’s handsome boy, 140 Whom he would first improve, and then employ. The boy was gentle, modest, civil, kind, But not for bustling through the world design’d; Reserved in manner, with a little gloom, Apt to retire, but never to assume; Possess’d of pride that he could not subdue, Although he kept his origin in view. Him sent my lord to school, and this became A theme for praise, and gave his lordship fame; But when the boy was told how great his debt, 150 He proudly ask’d, ‘is it contracted yet?’ “With care he studied, and with some success; His patience great, but his acquirements less: Yet when he heard that Charles would not excel, His lordship answer’d, with a smile, ‘’tis well; Let him proceed, and do the best he can, I want no pedant, but a useful man.’ “The speech was heard, and praise was amply dealt, His lordship felt it, and he said he felt-- ‘It is delightful,’ he observed, ‘to raise 160 And foster merit--it is more than praise.’ “Five years at school th’ industrious boy had past, ‘And what,’ was whisper’d, ‘will be done at last?’ “My lord was troubled, for he did not mean To have his bounty watch’d and overseen; Bounty that sleeps when men applaud no more The generous act that waked their praise before; The deed was pleasant while the praise was new, But none the progress would with wonder view. It was a debt contracted; he who pays 170 A debt is just, but must not look for praise: The deed that once had fame must still proceed, Though fame no more proclaims ‘how great the deed!’ The boy is taken from his mother’s side, And he who took him must be now his guide. But this, alas! instead of bringing fame, A tax, a trouble, to my lord became. “‘The boy is dull, you say,--why then by trade,