"Peace and good-will! Croaking is all my eye!
A young man will be wiser by-and-by,
An old man's wit should ripen ere he die.
"Patience and pluck! Fretting is fiddle-de-dee.
And youth has yet to learn to act and see,
And youth is well-advised that trusts to Me!
"Hope and good cheer! This youngster's fate who knows?
Sun, rain, and frost will greet him ere life's close;
From the great dark to the great dark he goes."
So MERLIN, riddling, answered them; but thou,