His heart, now passive, yields to thy command; 885
Secure it thine, its key is in thine hand.
If thou desert thy charge, and throw it wide,
Nor heed what guest there enter and abide,
Complain not if attachments lewd and base
Supplant thee in it, and usurp thy place:

890
But, if thou guard its sacred chambers sure
From vicious inmates and delights impure,
Either his gratitude shall hold him fast,
And keep him warm and filial to the last;
Or, if he prove unkind, (as who can say

895 But, being man, and therefore frail he may?) Qne comfort yet shall cheer thine aged heart, Howe'er he slight thee, thou hast done thy part.

O barb'rous! wouldst thou with a Gothick hand Pull down the schools-- what!-allth’schools i'th' land; Or throw them up to liv'ry nags and grooms,

901 Or turn them into shops and auction rooms? A captious question, sir, (and yours is one,) Deserve an

an answer similar or none. Wouldst thou, possessor of a flock, employ, 905 (Appris'd that he is such,) a careless boy, And feed him well, and give him handsome pay, Merely to sleep, and let them run astray? Survey our schools and colleges, and see A sight not much unlike my simile.

910 From education, as the leading cause, The publick character its colour draws; Thence the prevailing manners take their cast, Extravagant or sober, loose or chaste. And, though I would not advertise them yet, 915 Nor write on each—This building to be let, Unless the world were all prepar'd t' embrace A plan well worthy to supply their place; Yet, backward as they are, and long have been, To cultivate and keep the morals clean,

920 (Forgive the crime,) I wish them, I confess, Or better manag'd, or encourag'd less.

(END.)