Why are we Scholars plagu'd to write, <br />On Days devoted to Delight? <br />In Honour of the King, I'd play <br />Upon his Coronation Day: <br />But as for Loyalty in Rhyme, <br />Defer that to another Time. <br /> <br />Now to excuse this to my Master-- <br />(This Want of Rhyme's a sad Disaster) <br />Sir, we confess you take great Pains, <br />And break your own, to mend our Brains. <br />You strive to make us learn'd, and wise; <br />But to what End? -- We shall not rise: <br />In vain should at Preferment aim, <br />Whilst Strangers make their happier Claim. <br />Why should we labour to excel, <br />Doom'd in Obscurity to dwell? <br />Then, since our Welfare gives you Pain, <br />(And yet your Toil may prove in vain) <br />I wish, for your, and for our Ease, <br />That all were Coronation Days.<br /><br />Mary Barber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-apology-for-my-son-to-his-master-for-not-bringing-an-exercise-on-the-coronation-day/
