ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS
XIX. ABUSE OF MONASTIC POWER
ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS
AND what is Penance with her knotted thong; Mortification with the shirt of hair, Wan cheek, and knees indurated with prayer, Vigils, and fastings rigorous as long; If cloistered Avarice scruple not to wrong The pious, humble, useful Secular, And rob the people of his daily care, Scorning that world whose blindness makes her strong? Inversion strange! that, unto One who lives 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 Who on the good of others builds his own!