Forsaking one, he found no second creed, But reading doubted, doubting what to read. Still, though reproof had brought some present pain, 360 The gain he made was fair and honest gain; He laid his wares indeed in public view, But that all traders claim a right to do. By means like these, he saw his wealth increase, And felt his consequence, and dwelt in peace. Our hero’s age was threescore years and five, When he exclaim’d, “Why longer should I strive? Why more amass, who never must behold A young John Dighton to make glad the old?” (The sons he had to early graves were gone, 370 And girls were burdens to the mind of John.) “Had I [a] boy, he would our name sustain, That now to nothing must return again; But what are all my profits, credit, trade, And parish-honours?--folly and parade.” Thus Dighton thought, and in his looks appear’d Sadness, increased by much he saw and heard. The brethren often at the shop would stay, And make their comments ere they walk’d away; They mark’d the window, fill’d in every pane 380 With lawless prints of reputations slain; Distorted forms of men with honours graced, And our chief rulers in derision placed: Amazed they stood, remembering well the days, When to be humble was their brother’s praise; When at the dwelling of their friend they stopp’d To drop a word, or to receive it dropp’d; Where they beheld the prints of men renown’d, And far-famed preachers pasted all around; (Such mouths! eyes! hair! so prim! so fierce! so sleek! 390 They look’d as speaking what is wo to speak): On these the passing brethren loved to dwell-- How long they spake! how strongly! warmly! well! What power had each to dive in mysteries deep, To warm the cold, to make the harden’d weep; To lure, to fright, to soothe, to awe the soul, And list’ning flocks to lead and to control! But now discoursing, as they linger’d near, They tempted John (whom they accused) to hear Their weighty charge--“And can the lost-one feel, 400 As in the time of duty, love, and zeal: When all were summon’d at the rising sun, And he was ready with his friends to run; When he, partaking with a chosen few, Felt the great change, sensation rich and new? No! all is lost, her favours Fortune shower’d Upon the man, and he is overpower’d; The world has won him with its tempting store Of needless wealth, and that has made him poor. Success undoes him; he has risen to fall, 410 Has gain’d a fortune, and has lost his all; Gone back from Sion, he will find his age Loth to commence a second pilgrimage; He has retreated from the chosen track; And now must ever bear the burden on his back.” Hurt by such censure, John began to find Fresh revolutions working in his mind;