midnight
Homer 's heroes did so , Why not such as we ? What are sheets and servants ? Superfluity . Pray for wives and children Safe in slumber curled , Then to chat till midnight O'er this babbling world . Of the workmen 's college , Of the price of grain , Of the tree of knowledge , Of the chance of rain ; If Sir A. goes Romeward , If Miss B. sings true , If the fleet comes homeward , If the mare will do , -- Anything and everything -- Up there in the sky Angels understand us , And no '' _ saints _ '' are by . Down , and bathe at day-dawn , Tramp from lake to lake , Washing brain and heart clean Every step we take . Leave to Robert Browning Beggars , fleas , and vines ; Leave to mournful Ruskin Popish Apennines , Dirty Stones of Venice And his Gas-lamps Seven ; We 've the stones of Snowdon And the lamps of heaven .