Ye bigot spires, ye Tory towers,
⁠That crown the watery lea,
Where grateful science still adores
⁠The aristocracy:
A happy usher once I strayed
Beneath your lofty elm trees' shade,
⁠With mind untouched by guilt or woe:
But mad ambition made me stray
Beyond the round of work and play
⁠Wherein we ought to go.

My office was to teach the young
⁠Idea how to shoot:
But, ah! I joined with eager tongue
⁠Political dispute:
I ventured humbly to suggest
That all things were not for the best
⁠Among the Irish peasantry:
And finding all the world abuse
My simple unpretending views,
⁠I thought I'd go and see.

I boldly left the College bounds:
⁠Across the sea I went,