She reason'd, without plodding long,
Nor ever gave her judgment wrong.
But now a sudden change was wrought:560
She minds no longer what he taught.
Cadenus was amaz'd, to find
Such marks of a distracted mind:
For, though she seem'd to listen more
To all he spoke, than e'er before,565
He found her thoughts would absent range,
Yet guess'd not whence could spring the change.
And first he modestly conjectures
His pupil might be tir'd with lectures;
Which help'd to mortify his pride,570
Yet gave him not the heart to chide:
But, in a mild dejected strain,
At last he ventur'd to complain;
Said, she should be no longer teaz'd,
Might have her freedom when she pleas'd:575
Was now convinc'd he acted wrong
To hide her from the world so long,
And in dull studies to engage
One of her tender sex and age:
That every nymph with envy own'd,580
How she might shine in the grande monde;
And every shepherd was undone
To see her cloister'd like a nun.
This was a visionary scheme:
He wak'd, and found it but a dream;585
A project far above his skill;
For nature must be nature still.
If he were bolder than became
A scholar to a courtly dame,
She might excuse a man of letters:590
Thus tutors often treat their betters:
