And what is Penance with her knotted thong;
Mortification with the shirt of hair,
Wan cheek, and knees indurated with prayer,
Vigils, and fastings rigorous as long,
If cloistered Avarice scruple not to wrong
The pious, humble, useful Secular,
And robs the People of his daily care,
Scorning their wants because her arm is strong?
Inversion strange! that to a Monk, who lives
For self, and struggles with himself alone,
The amplest share of heavenly favour gives;
And hath allotted, in the world's esteem,
To such a station higher than to him
Who on the good of others builds his own!
Design, coding, and editing: Copyright © 1997-2004 by James M. Garrett. All rights reserved.