For as of vagabonds we say,
That they are ne'er beside their way:
"Whate'er men speak by this new light,
Still they are sure to be i' th' right.
'Tis a dark-lanthorn of the spirit, 505
Which none see by but those that bear it:
A light that falls down from on high,[1]
For spiritual trades to cozen by:
An ignis fatuus, that bewitches,
And leads men into pools and ditches,[2] 510
To make them dip themselves, and sound
For Christendom in dirty pond;
To dive, like wild-fowl, for salvation,
And fish to catch regeneration.
This light inspires, and plays upon 515
The nose of saint, like bagpipe drone,
And speaks through hollow empty soul,
As through a trunk, or whisp'ring hole,
Such language as no mortal ear
But spiritual eaves-droppers can hear. 520
So Phœbus, or some friendly muse,
Into small poets song infuse;[3]
Which they at second-hand rehearse,
Thro' reed or bag-pipe, verse for verse.
Thus Ralph became infallible, 525
As three or four legg'd oracle,
The ancient cup, or modern chair;[4]
Spoke truth point blank, though unaware.
- ↑ A burlesque parallel between traders in spiritual gifts, and traders who show their goods to advantage by means of sky-lights.
- ↑ An allusion to the Anabaptists, or Dippers. There were two sorts of Anabaptists, one called the Old Men or Aspersi, because they were only sprinkled; the other called New Men or Immersi, because they were overwhelmed in their rebaptization. See Mercurius Rusticus, No. 3.
- ↑ Poetry and Enthusiasm are closely allied: a Poet is an Enthusiast in jest; an Enthusiast a Poet in earnest.
- ↑ Alluding to Joseph's divining-cup, Gen. xliv. 5; the Pope's infallible chair; and the tripos, or three-legged stool of the priestess of Apollo at
nuine Remains, seems preferable to "enlightened stuff," and is a good allusion. As a lamp just expiring with a faint light, for want of oil, emits flashes at intervals; so the tailor's shallow discourse, like the extempore preaching of his brethren, was lengthened out with hems and coughs, with stops and pauses, for want of matter.
