_Par._ He said no more, 'T is probable, than the precious folk I leave Said fiftyfold more roughly. Welladay, 'T is true! poor Paracelsus is exposed At last; a most egregious quack he proves: And those he overreached must spit their hate On one who, utterly beneath contempt, Could yet deceive their topping wits. You heard Bare truth; and at my bidding you come here To speed me on my enterprise, as once Your lavish wishes sped me, my own friend! _Fest._ What is your purpose, Aureole? _Par._ Oh, for purpose, There is no lack of precedents in a case Like mine; at least, if not precisely mine, The case of men cast off by those they sought To benefit. _Fest._ They really cast you off? I only heard a vague tale of some priest, Cured by your skill, who wrangled at your claim, Knowing his life's worth best; and how the judge The matter was referred to saw no cause To interfere, nor you to hide your full Contempt of him; nor he, again, to smother His wrath thereat, which raised so fierce a flame That Basel soon was made no place for you. _Par._ The affair of Liechtenfels? the shallowest fable, The last and silliest outrage--mere pretence! I knew it, I foretold it from the first, How soon the stupid wonder you mistook For genuine loyalty--a cheering promise Of better things to come--would pall and pass; And every word comes true. Saul is among The prophets! Just so long as I was pleased To play off the mere antics of my art, Fantastic gambols leading to no end, I got huge praise: but one can ne'er keep down Our foolish nature's weakness. There they flocked, Poor devils, jostling, swearing and perspiring. Till the walls rang again; and all for me! I had a kindness for them, which was right; But then I stopped not till I tacked to that A trust in them and a respect--a sort Of sympathy for them; I must needs begin To teach them, not amaze them, "to impart The spirit which should instigate the search Of truth," just what you bade me! I spoke out. Forthwith a mighty squadron, in disgust, Filed off--"the sifted chaff of the sack," I said, Redoubling my endeavors to secure The rest. When lo! one man had tarried so long Only to ascertain if I supported This tenet of his, or that; another loved To hear impartially before he judged, And having heard, now judged; this bland disciple Passed for my dupe, but all along, it seems, Spied error where his neighbors marvelled most; That fiery doctor who had hailed me friend, Did it because my by-paths, once proved wrong And beaconed properly, would commend again The good old ways our sires jogged safely o'er, Though not their squeamish sons; the other worthy Discovered divers verses of St. John,