The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore Collected by Himself. In Ten Volumes |
 | I, II. |
 | III, IV. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| V. |
| VI, VII. |
| VIII, IX. |
| X. |
 | The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore |  |
251
RELIGION AND TRADE.
“Sir Robert Peel believed it was necessary to originate all respecting
religion and trade in a Committee of the House.”
—Church Extension, May 22, 1830.
Say, who was the wag, indecorously witty,
Who first, in a statute, this libel convey'd;
And thus slily referr'd to the self-same committee,
As matters congenial, Religion and Trade?
Who first, in a statute, this libel convey'd;
And thus slily referr'd to the self-same committee,
As matters congenial, Religion and Trade?
Oh surely, my Ph---llp---ts, 'twas thou did'st the deed;
For none but thyself, or some pluralist brother,
Accustom'd to mix up the craft with the creed,
Could bring such a pair thus to twin with each other.
For none but thyself, or some pluralist brother,
Accustom'd to mix up the craft with the creed,
Could bring such a pair thus to twin with each other.
And yet, when one thinks of times present and gone,
One is forc'd to confess, on maturer reflection,
That 'tisn't in the eyes of committees alone
That the shrine and the shop seem to have some connection.
One is forc'd to confess, on maturer reflection,
That 'tisn't in the eyes of committees alone
That the shrine and the shop seem to have some connection.
252
Not to mention those monarchs of Asia's fair land,
Whose civil list all is in “god-money” paid;
And where the whole people, by royal command,
Buy their gods at the government mart, ready made ;—
Whose civil list all is in “god-money” paid;
And where the whole people, by royal command,
Buy their gods at the government mart, ready made ;—
There was also (as mention'd, in rhyme and in prose, is)
Gold heap'd, throughout Egypt, on every shrine,
To make rings for right reverend crocodiles' noses—
Just such as, my Ph---llp---ts, would look well in thine.
Gold heap'd, throughout Egypt, on every shrine,
To make rings for right reverend crocodiles' noses—
Just such as, my Ph---llp---ts, would look well in thine.
But one needn't fly off, in this erudite mood;
And 'tis clear, without going to regions so sunny,
That priests love to do the least possible good,
For the largest most possible quantum of money.
And 'tis clear, without going to regions so sunny,
That priests love to do the least possible good,
For the largest most possible quantum of money.
“Of him,” saith the text, “unto whom much is given,
“Of him much, in turn, will be also required:”—
“By me,” quoth the sleek and obese man of heaven—
“Give as much as you will—more will still be desir'd.”
“Of him much, in turn, will be also required:”—
253
“Give as much as you will—more will still be desir'd.”
More money! more churches!—oh Nimrod, had'st thou
'Stead of Tower-extension, some shorter way gone—
Had'st thou known by what methods we mount to heav'n now,
And tried Church-extension, the feat had been done!
'Stead of Tower-extension, some shorter way gone—
Had'st thou known by what methods we mount to heav'n now,
And tried Church-extension, the feat had been done!
| The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore | |