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Read more poems by William Butler Yeats: William Butler Yeats Poems at Poetry X.

They hold their public meetings where
Our most renowned patriots stand,
One among the birds of the air,
A stumpier on either hand;
And all the popular statesmen say
That purity built up the State
And after kept it from decay;
And let all base ambition be,
For intellect would make us proud
And pride bring in impurity:
The three old rascals laugh aloud.

Added: 2 Mar 2002 | Last Read: 12 Sep 2026 3:51 AM | Viewed: 4893 times

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