"The tortoise and the hare, Tom, Set out at each his pace; The hare it was the fleeter, The tortoise won the race; And since the world's beginning This ever was the case. "Ned's genius, blithe and singing, Steps gaily o'er the ground; As steadily you trudge it, He clears it with a bound; But dulness has stout legs, Tom, And wind that's wondrous sound. "O'er fruits and flowers alike, Tom, You pass with plodding feet; You heed not one nor t'other, But onwards go your beat: While Genius stops to loiter With all that he may meet; "And ever as he wanders Will have a pretext fine For sleeping in the morning, Or loitering to dine, Or dozing in the shade, Or basking in the shine. "Your little steady eyes, Tom, Though not so bright as those That restless round about him Your flashing genius throws, Are excellently suited To look before your nose. "Thank heaven then for the blinkers It placed before your eyes; The stupidest are steadiest, The witty are not wise; O bless your good stupidity, It is your dearest prize! "And though my lands are wide, And plenty is my gold, Still better gifts from nature, My Thomas, do you hold-- A brain that's thick and heavy, A heart that's dull and cold-- "Too dull to feel depression, Too hard to heed distress, Too cold to yield to passion, Or silly tenderness. March on; your road is open To wealth, Tom, and success. "Ned sinneth in extravagance, And you in greedy lust." ("I'faith," says Ned, "our father Is less polite than just.") "In you, son Tom, I've confidence, But Ned I cannot trust. "Wherefore my lease and copyholds, My lands and tenements, My parks, my farms, and orchards, My houses and my rents; My Dutch stock and my Spanish stock, My five and three per cents.; "I leave to you, my Thomas." ("What, all?" poor Edward said; "Well, well, I should have spent them, And Tom's a prudent head.") "I leave to you, my Thomas-- To you, IN TRUST for Ned." The wrath and consternation What poet e'er could trace, That at this fatal passage Came o'er Prince Tom his face; The wonder of the company, And honest Ned's amaze! "'Tis surely some mistake," Good-naturedly cries Ned; The lawyer answered gravely, "'Tis even as I said; 'Twas thus his gracious majesty Ordained on his death-bed. "See here, the will is witnessed, here's his autograph." "In truth our father's writing," Says Edward with a laugh; "But thou shalt not be a loser, Tom, We'll share it half-and-half."