True Diffidence

My boy, you may take it from me, That of all the afflictions accurst With which a man's saddled And hampered and addled, A diffident nature's the worst. Though clever as clever can be - A Crichton of early romance - You must stir it and stump it, And blow your own trumpet, Or, trust me, you haven't a chance. Now take, for example, MY case: I've a bright intellectual brain - In all London city There's no one so witty - I've thought so again and again. I've a highly intelligent face - My features cannot be denied - But, whatever I try, sir, I fail in - and why, sir? I'm modesty personified! As a poet, I'm tender and quaint - I've passion and fervour and grace - From Ovid and Horace To Swinburne and Morris, They all of them take a back place. Then I sing and I play and I paint; Though none are accomplished as I, To say so were treason: You ask me the reason? I'm diffident, modest, and shy!