"
Then did Sir Thomas, in his zeal to instruct the ignorant, and so
make the lowly hold up their heads, say unto him, -
"Nay, but all the great do thus. Thou must not praise them without
leave and license. Praise unpermitted is plebeian praise. It is
presumption to suppose that thou knowest enough of the noble and the
great to discover their high qualities. They alone could manifest
them unto thee. It requireth much discernment and much time to
enucleate and bring into light their abstruse wisdom and gravely
featured virtues. Those of ordinary men lie before thee in thy
daily walks; thou mayest know them by converse at their tables, as
thou knowest the little tame squirrel that chippeth his nuts in the
open sunshine of a bowling-green. But beware how thou enterest the
awful arbours of the great, who conceal their magnanimity in the
depths of their hearts, as lions do."
He then paused; and observing the youth in deep and earnest
meditation over the fruits of his experience, as one who tasted and
who would fain digest them; he gave him encouragement, and relieved
the weight of his musings by kind interrogation.
"So, then, these verses are thine own?" The youth answered, -
"Sir, I must confess my fault.
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