Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/76

 38 Readings in European History Danger from the Turks. Selfish policy of the European princes. Till he drink of Christian blood full deep. First plucked the wicked Saracen's hand At Jerusalem and the Holy Land ; The Turk next tore so much away To count it o'er were no child's play. Then rose in arms, town after town, And paid no heed to kaiser or crown. Last, the princes plucked the goose together, For each of them must have a feather. Small wonder is it, I declare, If soon the Empire 's stripped and bare. Ye princes, see the engulfing wave In which ye too, perchance, may bathe ; For if the Empire goes to wreck Methinks ye '11 not stay long on deck. Attend and mark me, who have ears ; Its course our ship full wildly steers ; If Christ no more our pilot be, Ne'er shall we ride this storm-tossed sea. Come, princes ! Ye, by God's decree, Are placed above the rest, to be Their heads and leaders ; — if, indeed, Instead of leading, you don't mislead. Do what becomes your rank and station To check this great abomination, Lest sun and moon refuse us light And we be lost in ruin's night. Small heed ye pay, but ere I 'm done I promise ye that many a one Who for my words now has no care Shall yet, through me, a fool's cap wear. Unsuitable Every one is anxious to make his son a priest so that persons made <■ v i v • 1 .• priests. ^ e ma y " e ^P support his relatives : 'Tis not the peasant's pious heart, Nor wish to save his better part,