By its aid, the Frogs of Aristophanes became my merry friends. With
Ulysses I wandered eagerly through Wonderland. Doctor Florret was
charmed with my progress, which was real, for now, at last, I was
studying according to the laws of common sense, understanding first,
explaining afterwards. Let Youth, that the folly of Age would imprison
in ignorance, provide itself with “Keys.”
But let me not seem to claim credit due to another. Dan it was--Dan of
the strong arm and the soft smile, Dan the wise hater of all useless
labour, sharp-witted, easy-going Dan, who made this grand discovery.
Dan followed me a term later into the Lower Fourth, but before he had
been there a week was handling Latin verse with an ease and dexterity
suggestive of unholy dealings with the Devil. In a lonely corner of
Regent's Park, first making sure no one was within earshot, he revealed
to me his magic.
“Don't tell the others,” he commanded; “or it will get out, and then
nobody will be any the better.”
“But is it right?” I asked.
“Look here, young 'un,” said Dan; “what are you here for--what's
your father paying school fees for (it was the appeal to our
conscientiousness most often employed by Dr. Florret himself), for you
to play a silly game, or to learn something?
“Because if it's only a game--we boys against the masters,” continued
Dan, “then let's play according to rule. If we're here to learn--well,
you've been in the class four months and I've just come, and I bet I
know more Ovid than you do already.” Which was true.
So I thanked Dan and shared with him his key; and all the Latin I
remember, for whatever good it may be to me, I take it I owe to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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