They crowd each other, hustle for a chance,
Tread on their neighbor's kibes, play tricks enough!
Does Bacon, tired of waiting, swerve aside?
Up in his place jumps Barnum—'I 'm your man,
I 'll answer you for Bacon!' Try once more!'
Or else it 's—"What 's a 'medium'? He 's a means,
Good, bad, indifferent, still the only means
Spirits can speak by; he may misconceive,
Stutter and stammer,—he 's their Sludge and drudge,
Take him or leave him; they must hold their peace,