 | Voices from the Lakes, and Other Poems |  |
296
SONNET. CASAUBON.
The age was superstitious, light, and vain;The court was loose, voluptuous and base;
All men were struggling in the fight for place;
Even the priests thought “godliness was gain,”
Nor deemed it ill their hands with bribes to stain;
Their only aim to be first in the chase
For riches, and to head the eager race;
To be outstripped,—this was their greatest pain.
Casaubon only from such sin was clear,
Nor ever from the right did turn aside,
Looking to God, owning no other fear,
His own convictious caring not to hide,
No, rather would he boldly march to death,
Than, truckling for applause, betray his faith.
| Voices from the Lakes, and Other Poems | |