He cuts and proves his pen, if broad or fine;

And the bold youths, to combat who incline,

Strike at the air, as trial of the game:

The dancer points his steps with practised pace;

The orator harangues with studied grace;

The gamester packs his cards the livelong day;

I thus a Sonnet, though worth nothing, trace,

Solely to exercise myself this way,

If prove the Muse propitious to my lay.

It seems to me, dear brother, that Apollo