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Disguised pilgrims False-Seeming eyed he o’er right well,
Yet nought could he his falseness tell,
For wondrously was he disguised,
Nor lightly might be recognised;12790
And whosoe’er the knave had known
Before this garb were o’er him thrown,
Had sworn by God the Father he
The same one were who formerly
Bold Robin, in the dance, had been,
And now as Jacobin is seen.
But then, deny it whoso can,
Each Jacobin’s an honest man.
That holy order great disgrace
Would suffer, if therein found place12800
A charlatan. And Carmelites,
And Cordeliers and holy wights
Of other orders, whether they be
Big-bellied churls or lean, pardee,
As wolves, not one, where’er he wone,
But for a saint by dress is known,
But ne’er we seeming should permit
To o’erride sense or govern it.
If you such subtlety possess
As lightly shatters sophistries,12810
Whate’er the argument appear
Upon the face of it, look near
And closely for some fallacy
Lest you thereby deceived be.

When now the pilgrims twain were come
Where Evil-Tongue had made his home,
Their harness fain were they to flit
From off them and beside him sit.