And in the cynic orgies boldly joined;
    His ribald jests had flowers and thorns combined—­
    A frank fair list including life and death,
For fun, not fraud.  It shames him to be found
    Less vile than those who cannot bear to see
    Their sink of filth laid open to the ground: 
Wherefore they shut our mouths, our books impound,
    Garble with lies each sentence that may be
    Cited to prove their foul hypocrisy.

XXXVI.

AGAINST HYPOCRITES.

Gli affetti di Pluton.

Deep in their hearts they hide the lusts of Hell: 
    Christ’s name is written on their brow, that those
    Who only view the husk, may not suppose
    What guile and malice harbour in the shell. 
O God!  O Wisdom!  Holy Fervour!  Well
    Of strength invincible to strike Thy foes! 
    Give me the force—­my spirit burns and glows—­
    To strip those idols and to break their spell! 
The zeal I bear unto Thy name benign,
    The love I feel for truth sincere and pure,
    When such men triumph, make me rend my hair. 
How long shall folk this infamy endure—­
    That he should be held sacred, he divine,
    Who strips e’en corpses in the graveyard bare?

XXXVII.

ON THE LORD’S PRAYER.

No.  I.

Vilissima progenie.

Ye vile offscourings! with unblushing face
    Dare ye claim sonship to our heavenly Sire,
    Who serve brute vices, crouching in the mire
    To hounds and conies, beasts that ape our race? 
Such truckling is called virtue by the base
    Hucksters of sophistry, the priest and friar,—­
    Gilt claws of tyrant brutes,—­who lie for hire,
    Preaching that God delights in this disgrace. 
Look well, ye brainless folk!  Do fathers hold
    Their children slaves to serfs?  Do sheep obey
    The witless ram?  Why make a beast your king? 
If there are no archangels, let your fold
    Be governed by the sense of all:  why stray
    From men to worship every filthy thing?

XXXVIII.

ON THE LORD’S PRAYER.

No. 2.

Dov’ e la liberta.

Where are the freedom and high feats that spring
    From fatherhood so fair as Deity? 
    Fleas are no sons of men, although they be
    Flesh-born:  brave thoughts and deeds this honour bring. 
If princes great or small seek anything
    Adverse to good and God’s authority,
    Which of you dares refuse?  Nay, who is he
    That doth not cringe to do their pleasuring? 
So then with soul and blood in verity
    You serve base gold, vices, and worthless men—­
    God with lip-service only and with lies,
Sunk in the slough of dire idolatry: 
    If Ignorance begat these errors, then
    To Reason turn for sonship and be wise!