Ay, mark him well! the schemer's subtle eye, The stage-mime's plastic lip your search defy-- He, like Lysander, never deems it sin To eke the lion's with the fox's skin; Vain every mesh this Proteus to enthrall, He breaks no statute, and he creeps through all;-- First to the mass that valiant truth to tell, "Rebellion's art is never to rebel,-- Elude all danger but defy all laws,"-- He stands himself the Safe Sublime he draws! In him behold all contrasts which belong To minds abased, but passions roused, by wrong; The blood all fervour, and the brain all guile, The patriot's bluntness, and the bondsman's wile. One after one the lords of time advance,-- Here Stanley meets,--how Stanley scorns, the glance! The brilliant chief, irregularly great, Frank, haughty, rash,--the Rupert of Debate; Nor gout, nor toil, his freshness can destroy, And Time still leaves all Eton in the boy;-- First in the class, and keenest in the ring, He saps like Gladstone, and he fights like Spring; Ev'n at the feast, his pluck pervades the board, And dauntless game-cocks symbolize their lord. Lo where atilt at friend--if barr'd from foe-- He scours the ground, and volunteers the blow, And, tired with conquest over Dan and Snob, Plants a sly bruiser on the nose of Bob; Decorous Bob, too friendly to reprove, Suggests fresh fighting in the next remove, And prompts his chum, in hopes the vein to cool, To the prim benches of the Upper School: Yet who not listens, with delighted smile, To the pure Saxon of that silver style; In the clear style a heart as clear is seen, Prompt to the rash--revolting from the mean. Next cool, and all unconscious of reproach, Comes the calm "Johnny who upset the coach."[H] How form'd to lead, if not too proud to please,-- His fame would fire you, but his manners freeze. Like or dislike, he does not care a jot; He wants your vote, but your affection not; Yet human hearts need sun, as well as oats, So cold a climate plays the deuce with votes.-- And while his doctrines ripen day by day, His frost-nipp'd party pines itself away;-- From the starved wretch its own loved child we steal-- And "Free Trade" chirrups on the lap of Peel![I]-- But see our statesman when the steam is on, And languid Johnny glows to glorious John! When Hampden's thought, by Falkland's muses dress'd, Lights the pale cheek, and swells the generous breast; When the pent heat expands the quickening soul,-- And foremost in the race the wheels of genius roll! VII.