Milton, John / 2008-07-07 00:00:00
1645
AT A VACATION EXERCISE IN THE COLLEDGE
by John Milton
At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge, part Latin, part English.
The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began
Anno Aetatis 19.
HAIL native Language, that by sinews weak
Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to speak,
And mad'st imperfect words with childish tripps,
Half unpronounc't, slide through my infant-lipps,
Driving dum silence from the portal dore,
Where he had mutely sate two years before:
Here I salute thee and thy pardon ask,
That now I use thee in my latter task:
Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee,
I know my tongue but little Grace can do thee:
Thou needst not be ambitious to be first,
Believe me I have thither packt the worst:
And, if it happen as I did forecast,
The daintest dishes shall be serv'd up last.
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