BOOK THE NINTH.
341
Fat swoln, and legs whose monstrous size disgraced
The human form divine, their caterer,
Hight Gluttony, set forth the smoaking feast. 510
And by his side came on a brother form,
With firey cheek of purple hue, and red
And scurfey-white, mix'd motley: his gross bulk,
Like some huge hogshead shapen'd, as applied.
Him had antiquity with mystic rites 515
Ador'd, to him the sons of Greece, and thine
Imperial Rome! on many an altar pour'd
The victim blood, with godlike titles graced;
Bacchus, or Dionusus, son of Jove,
Deem'd falsely, for from Folly's ideot form 520
He sprung, what time Madness, with furious hand,
Seiz'd on the laughing female. At one birth
She brought the brethren, menial here, above
Reigning with sway supreme; and oft they hold
High revels. Mid the monastery's gloom, 525
Thy palace Gluttony! and oft to thee
The sacrifice is spread, when the grave voice
The human form divine, their caterer,
Hight Gluttony, set forth the smoaking feast. 510
And by his side came on a brother form,
With firey cheek of purple hue, and red
And scurfey-white, mix'd motley: his gross bulk,
Like some huge hogshead shapen'd, as applied.
Him had antiquity with mystic rites 515
Ador'd, to him the sons of Greece, and thine
Imperial Rome! on many an altar pour'd
The victim blood, with godlike titles graced;
Bacchus, or Dionusus, son of Jove,
Deem'd falsely, for from Folly's ideot form 520
He sprung, what time Madness, with furious hand,
Seiz'd on the laughing female. At one birth
She brought the brethren, menial here, above
Reigning with sway supreme; and oft they hold
High revels. Mid the monastery's gloom, 525
Thy palace Gluttony! and oft to thee
The sacrifice is spread, when the grave voice
Episcopal
