VIII. BLUECOAT BOY

So went our boys when EDWARD SIXTH, the King,

Chartered CHRIST'S HOSPITAL, and died. And so

Full fifteen generations in a string

Of heirs to his bequest have had to go.

Thus CAMDEN showed, and BARNES, and STILLING-FLEET,

And RICHARDSON, that bade our LOVELACE be;

The little ELIA thus in NEWGATE STREET;

Thus to his GENEVIEVE young S. T. C.

With thousands else that, wandering up and down,

Quaint, privileged, liked and reputed well,

Made the great School a part of LONDON TOWN

Patent as PAUL'S and vital as BOW BELL:

The old School nearing exile, day by day,

To certain clay-lands somewhere HORSHAM way.