At some wild hazard, or by weakening drains

Poured from thee; or when, striving for the meed

Of place, thou failest, and the lesser man

By each ignoble method wins thy due;

When the injustice of the social world

Environs thee; when ruthless public scorn,

Black slander, and the meannesses of friends

Have made the bustling practice of the world

To thee a discord and a mockery;

Or even if that last extremest pang