In hope or fear alike for ever pale.
And thus from year to year, through hope and fear,
With many a curse and many a secret tear,
Striving in vain his cloud of debt to clear,
At last
He woke to find his foolish dreaming past,
Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey
Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile array
That line the way,
From thieving statesman down to petty knave;