_2nd Prince_: The time pa.s.ses so quietly and peaceably it does not feel like a year and a day since they came here before.

_Servant_: No wonder the time to pa.s.s easy and quiet where you are, with comfort all around you, and nothing to mark its course, and every season feeling the same as another, within the gla.s.s walls and the crystal roof of this place. And the old Queen, your G.o.dmother, sending her own Chamberlain to take charge of you, and to be your Guardian, and Governor of the Island. Sure, the wind itself must slacken coming to this sheltered place.

_3rd Prince_: That is a great thing. I would not wish the rough wind to be blowing upon me.

_4th Prince_: Or the dust to be rising and coming in among us to spoil our suits.

_5th Prince_: Or to be walking out on the hard roads, or climbing over stone walls, or tearing ourselves in hedges.

_1st Prince_: That is the reason we were sent here by the Queen, our G.o.dmother, in place of being sent to any school. To be kept safe and secure.

_2nd Prince_: Not to be running here and there like our own poor five first cousins, that used to be slipping out and rambling in their young youth, till they were swallowed up by the sea.

_3rd Prince_: It was maybe by some big fish of the sea.

_2nd Prince_: It might be they were brought away by sea-robbers coming in a ship.

_3rd Prince_: Foolish they were and very foolish not to stay in peace and comfort in the house where they were safe.

_Servant_: There is no fear of _ye_ stirring from where you are, having every whole thing ye can wish.

_4th Prince_: Here is the Guardian coming!

(_They all rise_.)

_Guardian_: (_A very old man, much enc.u.mbered with wraps, coming slowly in_.) Are you all here, all the five of you?

_All_: We are here!

_Guardian_: (_Standing, leaning on a stick, to address them_.) It's a pity that these being holidays, your teachers and tutors are far away.

Gone off afloat in a cedar boat to a College of Learning out in Cathay.

_1st Prince_: It's a pity indeed they're not here to-day.

_Guardian_: For it's likely you looked in your almanacs, or judged by the shape of the lessening moon, That your G.o.dmother's Dowager Messengers are due to arrive this afternoon.

_2nd Prince_: We did and we think they'll be here very soon.

_Guardian_: But I know they'll be glad that each royal lad, put under my rule in place of a school, Can fashion his life without trouble or strife, and be shielded from care in a nice easy chair.

_3rd Prince_: As we always are and we always were.

_Guardian_: It is part of my knowledge that lads in a college, and made play one and all with a bat and a ball, Come often to harm with a knock on the arm, and their hands get as hard as the hands of a clown.

_4th Prince_: But ours are as soft as thistledown.

_Guardian_: And I've seen young princes not far from your age, go chasing beasts on a winter day, And carted home with a broken bone, and a yard of a doctor's bill to pay; Or going to sail in the teeth of a gale, when the waves were rising mountains high, Or fall from a height that was near out of sight, robbing rooks from their nest in a poplar tree.

_5th Prince: (To another_.) But that never happened to you or me.

_Guardian_: Or travelling far to a distant war, with battles and banners rilling their mind, And creeping back like a crumpled sack, content if they'd left no limbs behind.

_1st Prince_: But we'll have nothing to do with that, but stop at home with an easy mind.

_Guardian: (Sitting down.)_ That's right. And now I would wish you to say over some of your tasks, to make ready for the Dowager Messengers, that they may bring back a good report to the Queen, your G.o.dmother.

_1st Prince_: We'll do that. We would wish to be a credit to you, sir, and to our teachers.

_Guardian_: Say out now some little piece of Latin; that one that is my favourite.

_1st Prince_:

Aere sub gelido nullus rosa fundit odores, Ut placeat tellus, sole calesce Dei.

_Guardian_: Say out the translation.

_2nd Prince_: Beneath a chilly blast the rose, loses its sweet, and scentless blows;

If you would have earth keep its charm, stop in the sunshine and keep warm.

_Guardian_: Very good. Now your history book; you were learning of late some genealogies of kings, might suit your G.o.dmother.

_3rd Prince_:

William the First as the Conqueror known At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne, His Acts were all made in the Norman tongue And at eight every evening the curfew was rung When each English subject by royal desire

Extinguished his candle and put out his fire.

He bridled the kingdom with forts round the Border And the Tower of London was built by his order.

_2nd Prince_:

William called Rufus from having red hair, Of virtues possessed but a moderate share, But though he was one whom we covetous call, He built the famed structure called Westminster Hall.

Walter Tyrrell his favourite, when hunting one day, Attempted a deer with an arrow to slay, But missing his aim, shot the King to the heart And the body was carried away in a cart.

_Guardian_: That will do. You have that very well in your memory. Now let me hear the grammar lesson.

_3rd Prince_:

A noun's the name of anything As school or garden, hoop or swing.

_Guardian_: Very good, go on.

_4th Prince_:

Adjectives tell the kind of noun As strong or pretty, white or brown.

_5th Prince_: