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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON BISHOP ATTERBURY'S BURYING THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM: 1720 by MATTHEW PRIOR

First Line: I HAVE NO HOPES,' THE DUKE HE SAYS, AND DIES
Last Line: AND WHO CAN SAY, THE REVEREND PRELATE LIES?
Subject(s): CLERGY; DEATH; PRIESTS; RABBIS; MINISTERS; BISHOPS; DEAD, THE;

'I HAVE no hopes,' the duke he says, and dies;
'In sure and certain hopes,' the prelate cries:
Of these two learned peers, I pr'ythee, say, man,
Who is the lying knave, the priest or layman?
The duke he stands an infidel confessed,
'He's our dear brother,' quoth the lordly priest.
The duke, though knave, still 'brother dear,' he cries;
And who can say, the reverend prelate lies?



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