y ...she asks news of the cooks;
I'm with her in putting them equal to books;
There's some rule by coaxing and some rule by beating,
But my principle is, tempt them on with good eating.
When everything's said, isn't Sparta as dead
As many a place never heard of black bread?
And as to a lad who a tartlet refuses,--
If Cato stewed parsnips he hated the Muses!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: And at meals are they
taught to behave as they ought?

_Guardian_:
You'll be well satisfied and the Queen will have pride,
You will see every Prince use a fork with his mince,
And eating his peas like Alcibiades,
Who would sooner go mute than play on the flute
Lest it made him grimace and contorted his face.

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Oh, all that you say
delights us to-day!

We'll have good news to bring of these sons of
a king.

_Servant_: Here they are now coming.

(_Wrenboys in Princes' clothes come in awkwardly_.)

_Guardian_:
Now put out a chair.
Where these ladies may hear.
Come over, my boys ...(Now what is that noise?)
Come here, take your places, and show us your
faces,
And say out your task as these ladies will ask.
I would wish them to know how you say _Parlez-vous_,
And I'd like you to speak in original Greek
And make numeration, and add up valuation;
But to lead you with ease and on by degrees
In case you are shy in the visitors' eye
I will let you recite, as you easily might,
The kings of that Island that no longer are silent
But ask recognition and to take a position--
(Though if stories are true they ran about blue,
While we in Hy-Brasil wore our silks to a frazzle--)
So the rhymes you may say that I heard you to-day;
And the opening will fall on the youngest of all.

_Servant:_ Let you stand up now and do as you
are bid. _(Touches 5th Wrenboy_.)

_Guardian:_ Go on, my child, say out your lesson.
William the First as the Conqueror known....
_(Boy puts finger in mouth and hangs his head.)_
Ah, he is shy. Don't be affrighted, go on now;
don't you remember it?

_5th Wrenboy:_ I do not.

_Guardian:_ Try it again now. You said it off
quite well this morning.

_5th Wrenboy:_ It fails me.

_Guardian:_ Now I will give you a start: "William
the First as the Conqueror known,
At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne
..." Say that now.

_5th Wrenboy: (Nudging 4th.)_ Let you word it.

_4th Wrenboy: (To Guardian.)_ Let you word it
again, sir.

_Guardian_: "William the First as the Conqueror
known