Being but a poor artificer of Smyrna,

Where many years I wrought, and ye shall see

Not without skill, in silver and in gold.

But happiness hath wrecked me, and I say

’Tis ill to marry young; for from that joy

I gat a son, who as the time went on,

Grew to be old and gray and wise as I;

And bettering much the art which I had taught him

Longed to be master in my place, for which

He grew unkind, and his sons hated me: