THE man of brains, of fair repute and birth,
Who loves high place above all else of earth--
Who loves it so, he’ll go without the power,
If he may hold the semblance but an hour;
Willing to be some sordid creature’s tool,
So he but seem a little while to rule--
On him even moral pigmies would look down;
Were prizes given for shame, he’d wear the crown.
_Richard Watson Gilder._