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XXI
THE CRUCIFIX.
O thou, of temper captious, and of soulToo dull, save outward things to comprehend;
Whom that small wooden crucifix doth offend;
And water in its pine or beechen bowl;
By which, when bells for Ave Mary toll,
The peasant on these hills doth lowly bend;
Praying good angels will his house defend;
While o'er his sleeping head the planets roll.
Why railest at such ordinance? for thus
Did Augustine, and venerable Bede,
And saints whose names above doth Peter know.
Not as of binding force it comes to us;
But, when the emblem ye abjure, take heed,
Lest ye forget the inner meaning so.
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