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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 2: SATIRE: 5. ON SIMONY by JOSEPH HALL

First Line: SAW'ST THOU EVER SIQUIS PATCH'D ON PAULS CHURCH DOOR
Last Line: FOR THIS THY BASE AND SERUILE SYMONIE.
Subject(s): CHURCHES; DEATH; CATHEDRALS; DEAD, THE;

Saw'st thou euer @3Siquis@1 patch'd on @3Pauls@1 Church dore,
To seeke some vacant Vicarage before?
Who wants a Churchman, that can seruice sey,
Read fast, and faire, his monthly Homiley?
And wed, and bury, and make Christen-soules?
Come to the leftside Alley of Saint @3Poules.@1
Thou seruile Foole: why could'st thou not repaire
To buy a Benefice at Steeple-Faire?
There moughtest thou for but a slender price,
Aduouson thee with some fat benefice:
Or if thee list not wait for dead mens shoo'n,
Nor pray ech-morn th'Incumbents daies were doone:
A thousand Patrons thither ready bring,
Their new-falne Churches to the Chaffering,
Stake three yeares @3Stipend:@1 no man asketh more:
Go take possession of the Church-porch-doore:
And ring the bels: lucke stroken in thy fist:
The Parsonage is thine, or ere thou wist.
Saint @3Fooles@1 of @3Gotam@1 mought thy parish bee,
For this thy base and seruile @3Symonie.@1



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