Whose visits I consider civil;

But ’tis, alack!—the thought is grievous—

The evil most in haste to leave us.”

’Twere proper that my readers knew,

That, by degrees, this passion grew;

Not always was the silly elf

So craving, coveting of pelf,

Though he was ever prone to hold

In high esteem pound-notes and gold:

And circumstances sometimes root