Page:An Index of Prohibited Books (1840).djvu/226

, who, I find in his ''App. Sac.'' thus notices him, Lucensis, et Episcopus Argolicensis Lecturam super Canone, de Consecratione Dist 3 De aqua benedicta. An edition was published of this book Wiliorbani 1594, 8vo. A copy is in the British Museum. The Dedication, dated Padua, 1554, at the beginning has the words, sed cordialissimè sum gavisus, cùm nuper vidissem catalogum et libros vestros. The place, Padua, connects with the date of the Exemplum Literarum and the Bishop addressed.

I can make the present trifle useful, by adding, at the suggestion of another friend, to the purport of the note ending p. 107, a passage of the breve of Benedict XIV. prefixed to his Index, and constantly repeated to the last — atque ab omnibus, et singulis personis, ubicunque locorum existentibus, inviolabiliter, et inconcusse observari prœcipimus, et mandamus sub pœnis, &c.

In fugam vacui, I add the valuable and pertinent lines of Cowper in his Expostulation, suppressed by amiable feelings, but honestly restored by Southey. The British nation is addressed: —

Hast thou admitted with a blind fond trust, The lie that burn'd thy fathers' bones to dust, That first adjudged them heretics, then sent Their souls to heaven, and cursed them as they went? The lie that scripture strips of its disguise, And execrates above all other lies; The lie that claps a lock on mercy's plan, And gives the key to yon infirm old man, Who once ensconced in Apostolic Chair, is deified, and sits omniscient there; The lie that knows no kindred, owns no friend But him that makes its progress his chief end, That having spilt much blood makes that a boast, And canonizes him that sheds the most. Away with charity that soothes a lie And thrusts the truth with scorn and anger by! Shame on the candour and the gracious smile Bestowed on them that light the martyr's pile, While insolent disdain in frowns expressed, Attends the tenets that endured the test! Grant them the rights of men, and while they cease To vex the peace of others grant them peace; But trusting bigots, whose false zeal has made Treachery their duty, thou art self-betrayed.

We might almost imagine Cowper were now living, and had written the above in these bright days of liberal bigotry.