Lo! proud ambitious gutters hurry past,

To rival Thames in full continuous flow;

The inner temple claims attention now,

That Golgotha of thick and thread-bare skulls,

Where modest merit pines in chambers low,

And impudence his oar in triumph pulls

Along the stream of wealth, and snares its rich sea-gulls.

*  *  *  *  *

19.

Thus mused the Childe as thoughtful he drew near