I've grown a goitre by dwelling in this den As cats from stagnant streams in Lombardy, Or in what other land they hap to be Which drives the belly close beneath the chin:

We met with several crétins or idiots, all of whom had goitres in a greater or less degree.

This goitre of egotism is so frequent among notable persons, that we must infer some strong necessity in Nature which it subserves,such as we see in the sexual attraction.