Guests who could tell him aught were welcomed warm,

Even pedlars’ news had to his mind a charm;

That like an intellectual magnet-stone

Drew truth from judgments simpler than his own.

His soul’s proud instinct sought not to enjoy

Romantic fictions, like a minstrel boy;

Truth, standing on her solid square, from youth

He worshipped—stern uncompromising truth.

His goddess kindlier smiled on him, to find

A votary of her light in land so blind;