On The Irish Bishops.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDCCDDCCEEFFCC GGHHIJCCCCCCDDKKFFLL CCMMNNCCNNCOPPCCQQPP PPPP| Old Latimer preaching did fairly describe | A |
| A bishop who ruled all the rest of his tribe | A |
| And who is this bishop and where does he dwell | B |
| Why truly 'tis Satan Archbishop of Hell | B |
| And He was a primate and He wore a mitre | C |
| Surrounded with jewels of sulphur and nitre | C |
| How nearly this bishop our bishops resembles | D |
| But he has the odds who believes and who trembles | D |
| Could you see his grim grace for a pound to a penny | C |
| You'd swear it must be the baboon of Kilkenny | C |
| Poor Satan will think the comparison odious | D |
| I wish I could find him out one more commodious | D |
| But this I am sure the most reverend old dragon | C |
| Has got on the bench many bishops suffragan | C |
| And all men believe he resides there incog | E |
| To give them by turns an invisible jog | E |
| Our bishops puft up with wealth and with pride | F |
| To hell on the backs of the clergy would ride | F |
| They mounted and labour'd with whip and with spur | C |
| In vain for the devil a parson would stir | C |
| So the commons unhors'd them and this was their doom | G |
| On their crosiers to ride like a witch on a broom | G |
| Though they gallop'd so fast on the road you may find 'em | H |
| And have left us but three out of twenty behind 'em | H |
| Lord Bolton's good grace Lord Carr and Lord Howard | I |
| In spite of the devil would still be untoward | J |
| They came of good kindred and could not endure | C |
| Their former companions should beg at their door | C |
| When Christ was betray'd to Pilate the pretor | C |
| Of a dozen apostles but one proved a traitor | C |
| One traitor alone and faithful eleven | C |
| But we can afford you six traitors in seven | C |
| What a clutter with clippings dividings and cleavings | D |
| And the clergy forsooth must take up with their leavings | D |
| If making divisions was all their intent | K |
| They've done it we thank them but not as they meant | K |
| And so may such bishops for ever divide | F |
| That no honest heathen would be on their side | F |
| How should we rejoice if like Judas the first | L |
| Those splitters of parsons in sunder should burst | L |
| Now hear an allusion A mitre you know | C |
| Is divided above but united below | C |
| If this you consider our emblem is right | M |
| The bishops divide but the clergy unite | M |
| Should the bottom be split our bishops would dread | N |
| That the mitre would never stick fast on their head | N |
| And yet they have learnt the chief art of a sovereign | C |
| As Machiavel taught them divide and ye govern | C |
| But courage my lords though it cannot be said | N |
| That one cloven tongue ever sat on your head | N |
| I'll hold you a groat and I wish I could see't | C |
| If your stockings were off you could show cloven feet | O |
| But hold cry the bishops and give us fair play | P |
| Before you condemn us hear what we can say | P |
| What truer affections could ever be shown | C |
| Than saving your souls by damning our own | C |
| And have we not practised all methods to gain you | Q |
| With the tithe of the tithe of the tithe to maintain you | Q |
| Provided a fund for building you spittals | P |
| You are only to live four years without victuals | P |
| Content my good lords but let us change hands | P |
| First take you our tithes and give us your lands | P |
| So God bless the Church and three of our mitres | P |
| And God bless the Commons for biting the biters | P |
Jonathan Swift
(1)
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On The Irish Bishops.[1] is a poem by Jonathan Swift. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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