IV.

Too soon they are Parents to themselves: for what Are Tutors, Guardians, and so forth, compared With Nature's genial Genitors? so that A child of Chancery, that Star-Chamber ward, (I'll take the likeness I can first come at,) Is like--a duckling by Dame Partlett reared, And frights--especially if 'tis a daughter, Th' old Hen--by running headlong to the water.