Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 36.djvu/59

Rh  I answered frankly, I must own, To me taste's laws are little known, To favor you that God inclines, He to your hands the keys consigns; You are his vicar here deputed, And o'er his Church pope constituted. In furious fret all Rome may rage, And rave at this my honest page; But there's a difference very plain, 'Twixt you and Rome's pope, I'll maintain; For Sorbonne's doctors all aver God's vicar upon earth may err: But when I hear you reason strong, I think you can't be in the wrong; So just your reasoning, wit so bright, You seem infallible outright.

"Ah," replied he, "at Rome infallibility is confined to things which men do not comprehend: in the Temple of Taste, it concerns what all think they understand. You must positively come with me." But, continued I, if you carry me with you, I will make it my public boast.

 I shall be importuned I'm sure, To write a volume on this tour: Voltaire's account shall be at best, But a short narrative in jest. But town and court will, without fail, Loudly at the relation rail; The court will murmur, and the town Will, as a fibber, run me down; As one who talks with serious air Of places, when he ne'er was there,