Page:The Famous History of the Learned Friar Bacon.djvu/4

 could teach him no Farther; and luring about to send him home with commendations to his father, young Bacon, fearing the worst, he besought his schoolmaster to prevail with his father, if possible, that fee might be sent to the University, where he had a great desire to learn the liberal arts and sciences.

His schoolmaster did not deny his request; and coming home with him, he took the old man aside, and told him, he had taught his son as far as he was able, and that he took it extremely well, and was desirous to improve it at the University; and he was really persuaded he would be but little cost to him, as he would soon become so great a proficient as must advance him to an eminent station.

The old man heard this with some indignation, but hid his anger until the school-master was gone; then taking his son to task, said, How now, sirrah, have I not been at cost enough already, that you are itching to put me to more? Methinks I have given you learning enough to enable you to be constable or churchwarden of the parish, and far outdo those in that office, who can neither read nor write; let that suffice, the rest of your business for the future must be to learn horse language and whistle well; that you may dextrously