10. 
‘Or,’ cried he, a grave look collecting,
’Is it my genius, like the moon,
Sets those who stand her face inspecting, 505
That face within their brain reflecting,
Like a crazed bell-chime, out of tune?’

11. 
For Peter did not know the town,
But thought, as country readers do,
For half a guinea or a crown, 510
He bought oblivion or renown
From God’s own voice (1) in a review.

12. 
All Peter did on this occasion
Was, writing some sad stuff in prose. 
It is a dangerous invasion 515
When poets criticize; their station
Is to delight, not pose.

13. 
The Devil then sent to Leipsic fair
For Born’s translation of Kant’s book;
A world of words, tail foremost, where 520
Right—­wrong—­false—­true—­and foul—­and fair
As in a lottery-wheel are shook.

14. 
Five thousand crammed octavo pages
Of German psychologics,—­he
Who his furor verborum assuages 525
Thereon, deserves just seven months’ wages
More than will e’er be due to me.

15. 
I looked on them nine several days,
And then I saw that they were bad;
A friend, too, spoke in their dispraise,—­ 530
He never read them;—­with amaze
I found Sir William Drummond had.

16. 
When the book came, the Devil sent
It to P. Verbovale (2), Esquire,
With a brief note of compliment, 535
By that night’s Carlisle mail.  It went,
And set his soul on fire.

17. 
Fire, which ex luce praebens fumum,
Made him beyond the bottom see
Of truth’s clear well—­when I and you, Ma’am, 540
Go, as we shall do, subter humum,
We may know more than he.

18. 
Now Peter ran to seed in soul
Into a walking paradox;
For he was neither part nor whole, 545
Nor good, nor bad—­nor knave nor fool;
—­Among the woods and rocks

19. 
Furious he rode, where late he ran,
Lashing and spurring his tame hobby;
Turned to a formal puritan, 550
A solemn and unsexual man,—­
He half believed “White Obi”.

20. 
This steed in vision he would ride,
High trotting over nine-inch bridges,
With Flibbertigibbet, imp of pride, 555
Mocking and mowing by his side—­
A mad-brained goblin for a guide—­
Over corn-fields, gates, and hedges.

21. 
After these ghastly rides, he came
Home to his heart, and found from thence 560
Much stolen of its accustomed flame;
His thoughts grew weak, drowsy, and lame
Of their intelligence.