Page:Passions 2.pdf/129

Sel. Patience, good Thane! I meant to speak thy praise.

Eth. My praise, say'st thou?

Sel.Thy praise. I would have said,
"That he who in the field so oft hath fought,
So bravely fought, and still in the honour'd cause,
Should hold unhallow'd league with damned sprites,
I never will believe." Yet much I grieve
That thou, with bold intrusive forwardness,
Hast enter'd into that which holy men
Hold sacred for themselves;
And that thou hast, with little prudence too,
Entrapp'd my brother with this wicked lore,
Altho' methinks thou did'st not mean him harm.

Eth. I thank thee, Selred; listen now to me,
And thou shalt hear a plain and simple tale,
As true as it is artless.
These cunning priests full loudly blast my fame,
Because that I, with diligence and cost,
Have got myself instructed how to read
Our sacred scriptures, which, they would maintain,
No eye profane may dare to violate.
If I am wrong they have themselves to blame.
It was their hard extortions first impell'd me
To search that precious book, from which they draw
Their right, as they pretend, to lord it thus.
But what think'st thou, my Selred, read I there?
Of one sent down from heav'n in sov'reign pomp,
To give into the hands of leagued priests