noon
'' _ Though -- or , rather , because -- VANDERHOFFEN was a child of the French Revolution , and inherited his social , political and religious -- or , rather , anti-religious -- views from the French writers of the eighteenth century , England was not ready for him and the unshackled individualism for which he at first contended . Recognizing this fact , he turned to an order of writing begotten of the deepest popular needs and addressed to the best intelligence of the great middle classes of the community . _ '' Now emperors bide their times ' rebuff I would not be a king -- enough Of woe it is to love ; The paths of power are steep and rough , And tempests reign above . I would not climb the imperial throne ; 'T is built on ice which fortune 's sun Thaws in the height of noon . Then farewell , kings , that squeak ` Ha ' done ! ' To time 's full-throated tune . PAUL VANDERHOFFEN .