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Charles Lamb - The Two Boys
Work rating: Low

I saw a boy with eager eye
Open a book upon a stall,
And read as he`d devour it all:
Which when the stall-man did espy,
Soon to the boy I heard him call,
"You, sir, you never buy a book,
Therefore in one you shall not look."
The boy passed slowly on, and with a sigh
He wished he never had been taught to read,
Then of the old churl`s books he should have had no need.


Of sufferings the poor have many,
Which never can the rich annoy.
I soon perceived another boy
Who looked as if he`d not had any
Food for that day at least, enjoy
The sight of cold meat in a tavern-larder.
This boy`s case, thought I, is surely harder,
Thus hungry longing, thus without a penny,
Beholding choice of dainty dressed meat:
No wonder if he wish he ne`er had learned to eat.
Source
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