In vain endeavours to exterminate, Whom Obloquy pursues with hideous bark*: XV. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V. "WHAT beast in wilderness or cultured field "The lively beauty of the leopard shows? "Go forth, great King! claim what thy birth bestows; Conquer the Gallic lily which thy foes “Dare to usurp ;-thou hast a sword to wield, "And Heaven will crown the right."-The mitred Sire Thus spake-and lo! a Fleet, for Gaul addrest, Ploughs her bold course across the wondering seas; For, sooth to say, ambition, in the breast Of youthful heroes, is no sullen fire, But one that leaps to meet the fanning breeze. * See Note. XVI. WARS OF YORK AND LANCASTER. THUS is the storm abated by the craft The Church, whose power hath recently been checked, So the shaft Of victory mounts high, and blood is quaffed XVII. WICLIFFE. ONCE more the Church is seized with sudden fear, And at her call is Wicliffe disinhumed: Yea, his dry bones to ashes are consumed And flung into the brook that travels near; Forthwith, that ancient Voice which Streams can hear "Of Severn, Severn to the narrow seas, "By truth, shall spread, throughout the world dispersed." XVIII. CORRUPTIONS OF THE HIGHER CLERGY. "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, "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 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; Wan cheek, and knees indúrated with prayer, If cloistered Avarice scruple not to wrong And rob the people of his daily care, Scorning that world whose blindness makes her strong? ΧΧ. MONASTIC VOLUPTUOUSNESS. YET more,-round many a Convent's blazing fire Pours out his choicest beverage high and higher To stay the precious waste. Through every brain Of its grave echoes, swells a choral strain, XXI. DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES. THREATS Come which no submission may assuage, The tapers shall be quenched, the belfries mute, To stoop her head before these desperate shocks— |