Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/208

128 A creature of amphibious nature, On land a beast, a fish in water: That always preys on grace or sin; A sheep without, a wolf within. This fierce inquisitor has chief Dominion over men's belief And manners; can pronounce a saint Idolatrous, or ignorant, When superciliously he sifts, Through coarsest bolter, others' gifts. For all men live and judge amiss, Whose talents jump not just with his. He'll lay on gifts with hand, and place On dullest noddle light and grace. The manufacture of the kirk. Whose pastors are but th' handiwork Of his mechanic paws, instilling Divinity in them by feeling. From whence they start up chosen vessels, Made by contact, as men get measles. So cardinals, they say, do grope At th' other end the new-made pope. Hold, hold, quoth Hudibras, soft fire, They say, does make sweet malt. Good Squire, Festina lente, not too fast; For haste, the proverb says, makes waste. The quirks and cavils thou dost make Are false, and built upon mistake: And I shall bring you, with your pack Of fallacies, t' Elenchi back; And put your arguments in mood And figure to be understood. I'll force you by right ratiocination To leave your vitilitigation.