they have not recourse to the stale untruths concerning their own services, nor to the nauseous calumnies concerning ours. With regard to this slight statement of mine, I have yielded to the importance of those from whence it springs. And let it spring, forsooth! I speak seriously--and let them know that they will always find me most tranquilly reposing under that shadow which their greater light has cast around me! EPIGRAMMATA SACRA. I. _Pharisaeus et Publicanus._ Luc. xviii. 14-19. En duo templum adeunt, diversis mentibus ambo. Ille procul trepido lumine signat humum: It gravis hic, et in alta ferox penetralia tendit. Plus habet hic templi; plus habet ille Dei. Ἄνδρες, ἰδοὺ, ἑτέροισι νόοις, δύω ἱρὸν ἐσῆλθον. Τηλόθεν ὀῤῥωδεῖ κεῖνος ὁ φρικαλέος· Ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ὡς σοβαρὸς νηοῦ μυχὸν ἐγγὺς ἱκάνει· Πλεῖον ὁ μὲν νηοῦ, πλεῖον ὁ δ' εἶχε Θεοῦ. _Two went up into the Temple to pray._ Two went to pray! O, rather say, One went to brag, th' other to pray. One stands up close, and treads on high, Where th' other dares not send his eye. One neerer to God's altar trod; The other to the altar's God. CR. ANOTHER VERSION. Two men unto the Temple went to pray. That, with a downcast look, stood far away; This, near the altar, himself highly bore: This of the Temple, that of God hath more. B. II. _In asinum Christi vectorem._ Matt. xxi. 7. Ille[43] suum didicit quondam objurgare magistrum: Et quid ni discas tu celebrare tuum? Mirum non minus est, te jam potuisse tacere, Illum quam fuerat tum potuisse loqui. _Upon the asse that bore our Saviour._ Hath only Anger an omnipotence In eloquence? Within the lips of Love and Joy doth dwell No miracle? Why else had Balaam's asse a tongue to chide His master's pride, And thou, heaven-burthen'd beast, hast ne're a word To praise thy Lord? That he should find a tongue and vocal thunder Was a great wonder; But O, methinkes, 'tis a farre greater one That thou find'st none. CR. MORE CLOSELY. The ass of old had power to chide its wilful lord; And hast not thou the power to speak one praiseful word? Not less a marvel, sure, this silence is in thee Than that the ass of old to speak had liberty. G. III. _Dominus apud suos vilis._ Luc. iv. 28-29. En consanguinei! patriis en exul in oris Christus! et haud alibi tam peregrinus erat. Qui socio demum pendebat sanguine latro, O consanguineus quam fuit ille magis! _The Lord 'despised and rejected' by His own people._