uardian_: And I've seen young princes not
far from your age, go chasing beasts on a winter day,
And carted home with a broken bone, and a
yard of a doctor's bill to pay;
Or going to sail in the teeth of a gale, when the
waves were rising mountains high,
Or fall from a height that was near out of sight,
robbing rooks from their nest in a poplar tree.

_5th Prince: (To another_.) But that never
happened to you or me.

_Guardian_: Or travelling far to a distant war,
with battles and banners rilling their mind,
And creeping back like a crumpled sack, content
if they'd left no limbs behind.

_1st Prince_: But we'll have nothing to do with
that, but stop at home with an easy mind.

_Guardian: (Sitting down.)_ That's right. And
now I would wish you to say over some of your
tasks, to make ready for the Dowager Messengers,
that they may bring back a good report to the
Queen, your Godmother.

_1st Prince_: We'll do that. We would wish to be
a credit to you, sir, and to our teachers.

_Guardian_: Say out now some little piece of
Latin; that one that is my favourite.

_1st Prince_:

Aere sub gelido nullus rosa fundit odores,
Ut placeat tellus, sole calesce Dei.

_Guardian_: Say out the translation.

_2nd Prince_: Beneath a chilly blast the rose,
loses its sweet, and scentless blows;

If you would have earth keep its charm, stop
in the sunshine and keep warm.

_Guardian_: Very good. Now your history book;
you were learning of late some genealogies of kings,
might suit your Godmother.

_3rd Prince_:

William the First as the Conqueror known
At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne,
His Acts were all made in the Norman tongue
And at eight every evening the curfew was rung
When each English subject by royal desire

Extinguished his candle and put out his fire.
He bridled the kingdom with forts round the Border
And the Tower of London was built by his order.

_2nd Prince_:

William called Rufus from having red hair,
Of virtues possessed but a moderate share,
But though he was one whom we covetous call,
He built the famed structure called Westminster Hall.
Walter Tyrrell his favourite, when hunting one day,
Attempted a deer with an arrow to slay,
But missing his aim, shot the King to the heart
And the body was carried away in a cart.

_Guardian_: That will do. You have that very
well in your memory. Now let me hear the
grammar lesson.

_3rd Prince_:

A no