"He of Blackfriars Road who hymn'd thy downfall

In loud hosannahs, and who prophesied

That flames, like those from prostrate Solyma,

Would scorch the hand that ventured to rebuild thee,

Has proved a lying prophet." From that hour,

As leisure offer'd, close to Mr. Spring's

Box-office door, I've stood and eyed the builders.

They had a plan to render less their labours;

Workmen in elder times would mount a ladder

With hodded heads, but these stretch'd forth a pole