ST. PHILIP NERI AND THE YOUTH.
Saint
Philip Neri, as old Readings say,
Met a young Stranger in Rome's Streets one Day;
And, being ever courteously inclin'd
To give young Folks a sober Turn of Mind,
He fell into Discourse with him; and thus
The Dialogue they held comes down to us.—
St.
“Tell me what brings you, gentle Youth, to Rome?”
Y.
“To make myself a Scholar, Sir, I come.”
St.
“And, when you are come, what do you intend?”
Y.
“To be a Priest, I hope, Sir, in the End.”
St.
“Suppose it so,—what have you next in view?”
Y.
“That I may get to be a Canon, too.”
St.
“Well; and how then?”
Y.
“Why then, for aught I know,
I may be made a Bishop.”
St.
“Be it so;—
What then?”
Y.
“Why, Cardinal's a high degree,
And yet my Lot it possibly may be.”
St.
“Suppose it was,—what then?”
Y.
“Why, who can say
But I've a Chance for being Pope one Day?”
St.
“Well, having worn the Mitre, and red Hat,
And triple Crown,—what follows after that?”
Y.
“Nay, there is Nothing further, to be sure,
Upon this Earth, that Wishing can procure.
When I've enjoy'd a Dignity so high
As long as God shall please, then—I must die.”
St.
“What! ‘Must’ you die, fond Youth, and, at the best,
But wish and hope, and ‘may be’ all the rest?
Take my Advice: whatever may betide,
For that which must be first of all provide;
Then think of that which may be; and indeed,
When well-prepar'd, who knows what may succeed,
But you may be, as you are pleas'd to hope,
Priest, Canon, Bishop, Cardinal, and Pope?”
