At six, I said, he was a charming child,

At twelve he was a fine, but quiet boy;

Although in infancy a little wild,

They tamed him down amongst them: to destroy

His natural spirit not in vain they toil'd,

At least it seem'd so; and his mother's joy

Was to declare how sage, and still, and steady,

Her young philosopher was grown already.

再說六歲惹人憐
長至十二漸篤然
稚齡雖曾也刁蠻
桀驁百馴今就範
馴驁雖則路唯艱
而今成效似斐然
至少其母常誇讚
先哲焉有我兒賢！