Yet therein now almost is every boy's delight,
No book now in their hands, but all scripture, scripture:
Either the whole Bible or the New Testament, you may be sure.
The New Testament for them? and then too for Coll my dog![4]
This is the old proverb—to cast pearls to an hog.
Give them that which is meet for them, a racket and a ball,
Or some other trifle to busy their heads withal:
Playing at quoits or nine-holes,[5] or shooting at butts,
There let them be, a God's name, till their hearts ache and their guts!
Let us alone with divinity, which are of riper age.