Evil-Tongue.
Evil-Tongue pentitent
’Fore God, perhaps ’tis true,
False-Seeming, slave am I to you
And Abstinence, I own for wise;
As seem ye of one mind, advise
Me straightly; what to do were best?
False-Seeming.
First shall you be by me confessed
Of crimes wherein you have misspent
Your life, as humble penitent;
I of the Order am full priest,
And of confessors mightiest13020
Throughout the whole vast universe,
Wielding God’s power to bless and curse.
No paltry curate am I, bound
By oaths to tread the churches round,
But, by our Lady, far more care
Have I how souls beneath me fare
Than those poor caitiff parish priests
Who spend their days ’twixt fasts and feasts;
Their powers are nought compared to mine.
No priest or prelate, I opine,13030
Is half so learnèd or well read
As I, poor sinners to bestead.
A doctorate of divinity
Long years since was conferred on me.
By great and small am I allowed
Worthy ’fore all to hold the proud
Distinction to be counted first
Among confessors. If you thirst
