“Who? what?” I cried, and thereupon the citizen began:
“Why, don’t you know? I mean, of course, the pompous Alderman!”
“He’s served you badly, eh?” said I; the citizen replied:
“Oh, yes; he has done much to wound our ancient City’s pride.
Our name of hospitality, no trace of it is left!”
And taking out his handkerchief I noticed that he wept.
“I’ve just been in the Mansion House,” said he, “and have look’d round;
’Twas really very sad indeed, the state of things I found.
There’s all our Civic Prestige gone; of National Respect,
Although I searched both high and low, I could no sign detect.