Of speech, they by my works may see
My heart, unless they blinded be.
For those who do not as they say
Deceive you howsoever they
Array them, or whatever state
Of life they keep, or small or great,
Cleric or layman, squire or dame,
Lady or quean, ’tis aye the same.
The Author.
When thus far had Fair-Seeming spoken
His pattering by the God was broken,11580
Who cried aloud: (to stay his speech,
Which seemed but vice and fraud to teach)
The God of Love.
Where dwells religion?
Who art thou, shameless imp of hell ?
How dar’st thou of such miscreants tell?
Deem’st thou religion we may find
Where vows no monks nor friars bind?
False-Seeming.
Most surely, sire! it needeth not
A man with sin his life should blot,
And lose his soul in hell-fire’s flare
Because he mundane clothes doth wear;11590
That were a sentence hard indeed.
Well may, beneath gay-tinted weed,
Holy religion thrive. We’ve seen
A troop of holy saints, I ween,
