Yet keep his Father’s dignity alive;
For ev’n Nathaniel fears, and might offend,
If too severe, the farmer, now his friend;
Or her, that farmer’s lady, who well knows
Her boy is bright, and needs nor threats nor blows.
This seem’d to Peter hard; and he was loth,
T’ obey and rule, and have the cares of both— 60
To miss the master’s dignity, and yet,
No portion of the school-boy’s play to get.
To him the Fiend, as once to Launcelot, cried,