The Banned Lecture

FIRST FRIEND. Dost surmise What struck me at first blush; Our Beghards, Waldenses, Jeronimites, Hussites—does one show his head, Spout Heresynow ? Not a priest in his senses Deigns answer mere speech, but piles faggots instead, Refines as by fire, and, him silenced, all’s said. Whereas if in future I pen an opuscule Defing retort, as of old when rash tongues Were easy to tame—straight some knave of the Hussite School Prints answer forsooth ! Stop invisible lungs ? The barrel of blasphemy broached once, who brings ? SECOND FRIEND. Does my sermon, next Easter, meet fitting acceptance ? Each captions disputive boy has his quirk. “ An cuique credendum sit ? ” Well the Church kept “ ans ” In order till Fust set his engine at work ! What trash will come flying from Jew, Moor and Turk. When, goosequill, thy reign o’er the world is abolished ? Goose—ominous name ! With a goose woe began : Quoth Huss—which means “ goose ” in his idiom un- polished— “ Ye burn now a Goose: there succeeds mea Swan Ye shall find quench your fire ! ” Fust. I forsee such a man. (Browning.)