Because you have thrown off your prelate lord, And with stiff vows renounced his liturgy, To seize the widowed whore Plurality From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred, Dare ye for this adjure the civil sword To force our consciences that Christ set free, And ride us with a classic hierarchy Taught ye by mere A. S. and Rutherford? Men whose life, learning, faith and pure intent Would have been held in high esteem with Paul Must now be named and printed heretics By shallow Edwards and Scotch what d'ye call: But we do hope to find out all your tricks, Your plots and packings worse than those of Trent, That so the Parliament May with their wholesome and preventive shears Clip your phylacteries, though balk your ears, And succor our just fears When they shall read this clearly in your charge New presbyter is but old priest writ large. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO FUNERALS: 1. by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE SHRUBBERY, WRITTEN IN A TIME OF AFFLICTION by WILLIAM COWPER MORAL ESSAYS: EPISTLE 4. TO RICHARD BOYLE, EARL BURLINGTON by ALEXANDER POPE THE SENSITIVE PLANT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY LILIES: 10. SOUL-PAIN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) PSALM 31. IN TE DOMINE by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE IN VINCULIS; SONNETS WRITTEN IN AN IRISH PRISON: CONDEMNED by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |