So Serjeant Parsing said: “Dr. Faustus was a good man.”
“He whipped his,” shouted Pronoun.
“He whipped his scholars now and then. When——”
“He whipped them,” shouted Pronoun.
“When he whipped them,” continued Serjeant Parsing.
“He made them dance,” cried Pronoun.
“When he whipped them he made them dance,” repeated Serjeant Parsing, “out of England into France.”
“Ah,” said the Judge, “yes! It is certainly better so. Mr. Noun’s words are not used so often, and all parties are pleased. Then he, his, and them, are pronouns, as they stand instead of nouns. Now tell us what other words you have, Mr. Pronoun.”
“First of all, my lord, I have words which are used instead of the names of people when they are talking of themselves, such as I or me, we or us. When a person is speaking of himself he does not name his own name, but says instead, I or me. Except, indeed, very little children, who say, ‘Baby wants more,’ or, ‘Give baby milk.’ Reasonable persons say, ‘I want more,’ ‘Give me some milk.’”
“The Queen says we in speaking of herself,” remarked the Judge.