The boy has virtue by his mother's side: 240 Yes, on Florello look: a father's heart Is tender, though the man's is made of stone; The truth, through such a medium seen, may make Impression deep, and fondness prove thy friend. Florello lately cast on this rude coast A helpless infant; now a heedless child; To poor Clarissa's throes, thy care succeeds; Care full of love, and yet severe as hate! O'er thy soul's joy how oft thy fondness frowns! Needful austerities his will restrain; 250 As thorns fence in the tender plant from harm. As yet, his reason cannot go alone; But asks a sterner nurse to lead it on. His little heart is often terrified; The blush of morning, in his cheek, turns pale; 255 Its pearly dewdrop trembles in his eye; His harmless eye! and drowns an angel there. Ah! what avails his innocence? The task Enjoin'd must discipline his early powers; He learns to sigh, ere he is known to sin; Guiltless, and sad! a wretch before the fall! How cruel this! more cruel to forbear. 262 Our nature such, with necessary pains, We purchase prospects of precarious peace: Though not a father, this might steal a sigh. Suppose him disciplined aright (if not, 'Twill sink our poor account to poorer still); Ripe from the tutor, proud of liberty, He leaps enclosure, bounds into the world! The world is taken, after ten years' toil, 270 Like ancient Troy; and all its joys his own. Alas! the world's a tutor more severe; Its lessons hard, and ill deserve his pains; Unteaching all his virtuous nature taught, Or books (fair Virtue's advocates!) inspired. For who receives him into public life? Men of the world, the terrae-filial breed, Welcome the modest stranger to their sphere (Which glitter'd long, at distance, in his sight), And, in their hospitable arms, enclose: 280 Men, who think nought so strong of the romance, So rank knight-errant, as a real friend: Men, that act up to Reason's golden rule, All weakness of affection quite subdued: Men, that would blush at being thought sincere, And feign, for glory, the few faults they want; That love a lie, where truth would pay as well; As if to them, Vice shone her own reward. Lorenzo! canst thou bear a shocking sight? 289 Such, for Florello's sake, 'twill now appear: See, the steel'd files of season'd veterans, Train'd to the world, in burnish'd falsehood bright; Deep in the fatal stratagems of peace; All soft sensation, in the throng, rubb'd off; All their keen purpose, in politeness, sheath'd; His friends eternal--during interest; His foes implacable--when worth their while; At war with every welfare, but their own; As wise as Lucifer; and half as good;