Tumbles from its lofty station; Hardouin's sacrilegious hand
Threatens Virgil; Shepherd scarce will let one ancient father stand.
Nay, our predecessors hearing our approach, and greatly fearing
Hurt from us, on our appearing, mostly haste to give us way;
Brewster with delight is glowing, laurels won from Newton showing;
Cuvier yields his wreath to Owen, Davy his to Faraday;
Hume does homage to Macaulay; Fielding welcomes Thackeray.
But though on the topmost story now we stand, we know our glory
Shall at best be transitory; brief our triumph is, though proud,
For, far down the mountain glancing, rays, that set for us, are dancing