Samuel Butler

What makes all doctrines plain and clear?--
About two hundred pounds a year.
And that which was read more

What makes all doctrines plain and clear?--
About two hundred pounds a year.
And that which was prov'd true before
Prove false again? Two hundred more.

Beside, he was a shrewd philosopher,
And had read ev'ry text and gloss over
Whate'er the crabbed'st read more

Beside, he was a shrewd philosopher,
And had read ev'ry text and gloss over
Whate'er the crabbed'st author hath,
He understood b' implicit faith.

This hairy meteor did announce
The fall of sceptres and of crowns.

This hairy meteor did announce
The fall of sceptres and of crowns.

God cannot alter the past, though historians can.

God cannot alter the past, though historians can.

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
read more

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
They shall be suffer'd to espouse.