Down the street as I was drifting with the city's human tide,Came a ghost,and for a moment walked in silence by my side --Now my heart was hard and bitter,and a bitter spirit he,So I felt no great aversion to his ghostly company.
Said the Shade:`At finer feelings let your lip in scorn be curled,`Self and Pelf',my friend,has ever been the motto for the world.'
And he said:`If you'd be happy,you must clip your fancy's wings,Stretch your conscience at the edges to the size of earthly things;Never fight another's battle,for a friend can never know When he'll gladly fly for succour to the bosom of the foe.
At the power of truth and friendship let your lip in scorn be curled --`Self and Pelf',my friend,remember,is the motto of the world.
`Where Society is mighty,always truckle to her rule;Never send an `i'undotted to the teacher of a school;Only fight a wrong or falsehood when the crowd is at your back,And,till Charity repay you,shut the purse,and let her pack;At the fools who would do other let your lip in scorn be curled,`Self and Pelf',my friend,remember,that's the motto of the world.
`Ne'er assail the shaky ladders Fame has from her niches hung,Lest unfriendly heels above you grind your fingers from the rung;Or the fools who idle under,envious of your fair renown,Heedless of the pain you suffer,do their worst to shake you down.
At the praise of men,or censure,let your lip in scorn be curled,`Self and Pelf',my friend,remember,is the motto of the world.
`Flowing founts of inspiration leave their sources parched and dry,Scalding tears of indignation sear the hearts that beat too high;Chilly waters thrown upon it drown the fire that's in the bard;And the banter of the critic hurts his heart till it grows hard.