With magisterial look, and solemn step,

Appears my school-master, tremendous wight!

Dreaded by truant boys; how can I ’scape

The expected punishment for task ungot,

Aghast I stand, nor fly to covert bench,

Or corner dark, to hide my hapless head;

So great my terror, that it quite bereaves,

My limbs the power to fly, slow he ascends

The appointed seat, and on his right-hand lies

The bushy rod compos’d of numerous twigs,