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But think ye not I would defame
Religion, or its votaries blame,
For nought it matters what they wear
By way of habit, I will spare
All faithful ones, but fain confess
I do not love them ne’ertheless.

Monks good and bad I speak of worthless monks and nuns,
Felonious and malicious ones,
Who care alone for holy dress,
And clothe their hearts with wickedness.
Good cloisterers are with pity fraught
And kindliness, and harbour nought11520
Of evil, far from them is pride,
And love they humbly to abide
In peace. If I with these should stay,
My cue it were false cards to play.
Their habits well could I assume,
But ’neath them should but fret and fume,
And sooner hang would than forego
My ends, whate’er my outward show.

I live with rascals puffed with pride,
From out whose hearts, ’twould seem, hath died11530
All virtue; schemers, whose desire
Before all else is to acquire
Honour and wrath, and therefore set
Themselves to plot how they may get
Great folks’ acquaintance; men who make
Themselves bare paupers for the sake
Of Christ, and yet good meat and drink

Will pasture on, and love the chink