Stretched forth their necks to catch a sight

Of one so spruce and so polite.

“There goes the charming man,” they cry;

And then they laugh, I know not why!

And then, all wonder and amaze,

At him and at each other gaze.

The thing’s confirm’d beyond a doubt,

Although the cause is not found out,—

The modest ninny thinks his worth

Has not his parallel on earth;