"Woe to you, Prelates! rioting in ease "And cumbrous wealth--the shame of your estate; "You, on whose progress dazzling trains await "Of pompous horses; whom vain titles please; "Who will be served by others on their knees, 5 "Yet will yourselves to God no service pay; "Pastors who neither take nor point the way "To Heaven; for, either lost in vanities "Ye have no skill to teach, or if ye know "And speak the word ----" Alas! of fearful things 'Tis the most fearful when the people's eye 11 Abuse hath cleared from vain imaginings; And taught the general voice to prophesy Of Justice armed, and Pride to be laid low. XIX ABUSE OF MONASTIC POWER And what is Penance with her knotted thong; Mortification with the shirt of hair, Wan cheek, and knees indúrated with prayer, Vigils, and fastings rigorous as long; If cloistered Avarice scruple not to wrong 5 The pious, humble, useful Secular,[160] And rob[161] the people of his daily care, Scorning that world whose blindness makes her strong? Inversion strange! that, unto One who lives[162] For self, and struggles with himself alone, 10 The amplest share of heavenly favour gives; That to a Monk allots, both in the esteem Of God and man, place higher than to him[163] Who on the good of others builds his own! FOOTNOTES: [160] The _secular_ clergy are the priests of the Roman church, who belong to no special religious order, but have the charge of parishes, and so live in the world (_seculum_). The _regular_ clergy are the monks belonging to one or other of the monastic orders, and are subject to its rules (_regulæ_).--ED. [161] 1827. And robs ... 1822. [162] 1827. Scorning their wants because her arm is strong? Inversion strange! that to a Monk, who lives 1822. [163] 1845. And hath allotted, in the world's esteem, To such a higher station than to him 1822. That to a Monk allots, in the esteem Of God and Man, place higher than to him 1827. XX MONASTIC VOLUPTUOUSNESS Yet more,--round many a Convent's blazing fire Unhallowed threads of revelry are spun; There Venus sits disguisèd like a Nun,-- While Bacchus, clothed in semblance of a Friar, Pours out his choicest beverage high and higher 5 Sparkling, until it cannot choose but run Over the bowl, whose silver lip hath won An instant kiss of masterful desire-- To stay the precious waste. Through every brain The domination of the sprightly juice 10 Spreads high conceits to madding Fancy dear,[164] Till the arched roof, with resolute abuse Of its grave echoes, swells a choral strain, Whose votive burthen is--"OUR KINGDOM 'S HERE!"[165] FOOTNOTES: [164] 1832.