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For that ’tis wounds them to the quick,

Excites their anger, and doth prick

Them on to vengeance.

If they heard

Their condemnation through the word

Of holy Scripture, I’ll engage

’Twould rouse them into furious rage.

For mad are they in their despite,

With bitter wrath and venom dight.

And well I ken that should I bring

Before you the most trifling thing,

How close soe’er your court may be,

These men would know it presently.

But among good men none would take

To heart whatever words I spake

As touching them; for if one took

My words in evil part, ’twould look

As though his life must mingled be

With Falsehood and Hypocrisy,

Who gave me life and nourriture.

A fair performance to be sure.

Cried Love, their work was on a level

With that of nurturing the devil.

But howsoe’er that be, straightway

’Tis needful thou before us lay.

Without a lie, where thou dost dwell,

And also thou at full may’st tell

Thy way of life with nimble tongue;

The mischief wrought since thou wert young

Discover, nor thy evil work,

Now thou art with us, seek to shirk.