That love to keep us children! O I wish
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hat I were some great princess, I would build Far off from men a college like a man’s, 135And I would teach them all that men are taught ; _ We are twice as quick!” And here she shook asideThe hand that play’d the patron with her curls. And one said smiling : “ Pretty were the sightTf our old halls could change their sex, and flaunt 140With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans,And sweet girl-graduates in their golden hair.I think they should not wear our rusty gowns,But move as rich as Emperor-moths or RalphWho shines so in the corner ; yet I fear, 145If there were many Lilias in the brood,However deep you might embower the nest,Some boy would spy it.”At this upon the swardShe tapt her tiny silken-sandal’d foot :“That’s your light way ; but I would make it death 150For any male thing but to peep at us.” Petulant she spoke, and at herself she laugh’d ;A rosebud set with little willful thorns, 138. played the patron, rested patronizingly on her hair.140. halls, college buildings.141. dowager, the widow of a nobleman.dean, the chief disciplinary officer of a college. Notice thealliteration in 141-142. : :44, Emperor-moths, moths of magnificent coloring.
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