Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/211

Rh

’Fore God, perhaps ’tis true,

False-Seeming, slave am I to you

And Abstinence, I own for wise;

As seem ye of one mind, advise

Me straightly; what to do were best?

First shall you be by me confessed

Of crimes wherein you have misspent

Your life, as humble penitent;

I of the Order am full priest,

And of confessors mightiest

Throughout the whole vast universe,

Wielding God’s power to bless and curse.

No paltry curate am I, bound

By oaths to tread the churches round,

But, by our Lady, far more care

Have I how souls beneath me fare

Than those poor caitiff parish priests

Who spend their days ’twixt fasts and feasts;

Their powers are nought compared to mine.

No priest or prelate, I opine,

Is half so learnèd or well read

As I, poor sinners to bestead.

A doctorate of divinity

Long years since was conferred on me.

By great and small am I allowed

Worthy ’fore all to hold the proud

Distinction to be counted first

Among confessors. If you thirst