Canto i
LE LUTRIN.
3
Sexton assisted, terrify'd the People
Who durst dispute the Title to his Steeple.
Instruct me Muse, for thou canst tell, what Thirst
Of sweet Revenge, thô Dire, engaged first
Religious Souls to break the Sacred Tye
Of blessed Peace and heaven-born Amitie,
To make old Friends new Rivals; can there rest
Such bitter Gall in a Religious Breast?
And thou Great Heroe, whose wise conduct stifled
The growing Schisme which else thy Church had rifled,
With favour influence my Advent'rous Verse,
Nor dare to laugh, whilest I thy Acts rehearse.
In melting Pleasures of Fraternal Peace
An ancient Abbey long had dwelt at ease,
Whose Scarlet Prebends blear'd poor Mortals eyes,
Whose Ermines, Winters Frost, and Snow defies;
Basking in fat, and Wealth, themselves they Bless
In sweet Repose of Sacred Idleness:
Thus Stretcht at length on downy Featherbeds,
To chaunt their Matines ne're lift up their Heads,
But before Dinner wak'd; for they could smell
The Kitchin Steams, though Deaf to th' Prayer-bell;
When Eyes and Ears Nights leaden Key composes,
Kind Sleep yet open left their subtle Noses;
These alwaies Eat in Person, but did praise
Their God by Proxie, in Harmonious Layes,
Pawning the Chanters, and Poor Singing-boyes
Condemn'd to those inferiour Drudgeries.
When Discord dappled o're with thousand Crimes,
The Villanies of our Debauched times
Quitting the humble Seat of Parish Churches,
On a Magnificent Cathedral Perches,
The hideous clang of her hate-bearing wing
Peace trembled: whilst the Fiend arm'd with her Sting
Who durst dispute the Title to his Steeple.
Instruct me Muse, for thou canst tell, what Thirst
Of sweet Revenge, thô Dire, engaged first
Religious Souls to break the Sacred Tye
Of blessed Peace and heaven-born Amitie,
To make old Friends new Rivals; can there rest
Such bitter Gall in a Religious Breast?
And thou Great Heroe, whose wise conduct stifled
The growing Schisme which else thy Church had rifled,
With favour influence my Advent'rous Verse,
Nor dare to laugh, whilest I thy Acts rehearse.
In melting Pleasures of Fraternal Peace
An ancient Abbey long had dwelt at ease,
Whose Scarlet Prebends blear'd poor Mortals eyes,
Whose Ermines, Winters Frost, and Snow defies;
Basking in fat, and Wealth, themselves they Bless
In sweet Repose of Sacred Idleness:
Thus Stretcht at length on downy Featherbeds,
To chaunt their Matines ne're lift up their Heads,
But before Dinner wak'd; for they could smell
The Kitchin Steams, though Deaf to th' Prayer-bell;
When Eyes and Ears Nights leaden Key composes,
Kind Sleep yet open left their subtle Noses;
These alwaies Eat in Person, but did praise
Their God by Proxie, in Harmonious Layes,
Pawning the Chanters, and Poor Singing-boyes
Condemn'd to those inferiour Drudgeries.
When Discord dappled o're with thousand Crimes,
The Villanies of our Debauched times
Quitting the humble Seat of Parish Churches,
On a Magnificent Cathedral Perches,
The hideous clang of her hate-bearing wing
Peace trembled: whilst the Fiend arm'd with her Sting
Allight-
