A syntax-teacher, once, was mounted in a boat, Who to the skipper turned, as soon as e’er afloat, 595 And asked: “Hast studied syntax?” “No indeed,” quoth he. The teacher then: “Thy life’s half-wasted! Dost thou see?” The skipper felt heart-broken at this pert remark; But, for the moment, held his peace;--wise man’s bulwark. The wind arose; the bark was sorely tempest-tossed; The skipper then addressed the teacher, sickness-crossed: “Knowest thou the swimmer’s art, good friend? With speed reply.” “Nay,” said the teacher, “that’s an art the schools decry.” The skipper now remarked: “Thy whole life’s gone to waste. The ship must go to pieces. Water salt thou’lt taste. 600 With syncope, not syntax, now we’ll have to deal. With syncope, from water comes nor hurt, nor weal, The sea bears on its surface bodies of the dead; But living men it drowns; them sinks, as though of lead. So soon as thou’lt be dead to every human art To thee eternity its secrets will impart. Thou hitherto hast deemed us mortals asses all; Now thou thyself, as ass on ice, must have a fall. Although thou be the very Plato of the age, Thou’st still to learn that time, the world, is but a page.” 605 This tale about the syntax-teacher we’ve tacked on, To show the grammar dissolution turns upon. All syntax, grammar, jurisprudence, law, and art, Thou’lt find, my friend, of knowledge is but a small part. Our little learning is the Arab’s water-pot. In Caliph, of God’s wisdom we’ve an emblem got. We bring our pot of water to great Tigris’ stream. If we ourselves not asses call, us asses deem. The Arab of our tale excusable was,--troth; He knew not of a Tigris. Where’s the Arab doth? 610 Had he, as we, known Tigris’ stream, and all its store, His water-pot had never travelled to its shore; Had he become aware of what a Tigris meant, Arrived at Bagdād, he’d his pot to fragments sent. The Caliph, when he saw that pot, and heard that tale, The vase had filled with golden sequins, like a bale, Our Arab thus to free from poverty’s rude grasp;— A robe of honour, too; and presents for his clasp, He ordered. Then the whole unto the guards were sent, With kindliest injunctions, fruit of good intent: 615 “That all unto that Arab man be safely given, Whose journey home by Tigris’ arrowy stream be driven. By land he came; he’d travelled all the way on foot; But Tigris’ stream may bear him back a shorter route.”