“In my halcyon days there appeared before me one ’neas, who was great of piety, which he laid at my feet, soliciting only a smile.  After him came Hector, whom I condoled for his misfortunes.  Upon the head of Achilles, who sought the smallest favor, I placed a garland.  Eurylas, a man of large friendship; and Alexander, who was known among the nations for his liberality; and C‘sar, who had some valor; and Trajan, whose probity no one doubted; and Topirus, a man of great fidelity; and Cato, of whom it was said that he had some wisdom-these came, and in humility bowed before me and accepted my offering.  For the delight and instruction of future generations, I have had their names written on the pages of history, which is the world’s gift.  And this was an age of the past.

“Then the age of modern poetry and oratory came in with one Shakspeare, and a friend of his of the name of Bacon.  And it went out with Sheridan, and one Pitt, and a queer man of the name of Byron, whose name I have written in letters of gold, and have placed where envious bishops cannot take it down, though they build ladders of lawn.  I will watch over it, and it shall be bright when kings and bishops are forgotten.

“Then there came the age of Washington; which was a new age, in a new world, with new glories and new men, whose names I have enshrined for the study of the young, the old, the great, and the good.  On Jefferson’s brow I laid a laurel that shall be green in all coming time; and the memories of Webster, Clay, and Calhoun shall long wear my mantle, for they won it worthily.

“Latterly, I have been much annoyed by one Benton, who, being a man of much light and shade, climbs my ladder only to break it down, and is for ever mounting dragons he cannot ride.  If I shake him from my skirts to-day, he will to-morrow meet me upon the highway, and charge me with ingratitude.  Dancing-girls and politicians beset me on all sides, reminding me that, without them, the world would go to ruin.  Political parsons and milliners daily make war upon me.  And singing women, and critics who herald their virtues for pennies, threaten to plunder me of my glories.  And, though I am not a vain dame, many of these think me as cheaply bought as their own praise.

“I would not have you mourn over the age of poetry and oratory, for that also is of the past.  You must not forget that it is become fashionable for men to give themselves to the getting of gold, which they pursue with an avidity I fear will end in the devil getting all their souls.  You, son of a fisherman, shall be the object of my solicitude.  Go out upon the world; be just to all, nor withhold your generosity from those who are worthy of it.  Be sure, too, that you make the objects of your pursuit in all cases square with justice.  Let your purposes be unvarying, nor be presumptuous to your equals.  Beware lest you fall into the company of boisterous talking and strong drinking men, such as aspire to the control of the nation at this day; and, though they may not have been many months in the country, kindly condescend to teach us how to live.  Also let those who most busy themselves with making presidents for us keep other company than yours, for their trade is a snare many a good man has been caught in to his sorrow.”