Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SCENE FROM A PLAY CALLED 'MATRICULATION', by THOMAS MOORE Poet's Biography First Line: There, my lad, lie the articles Last Line: Were made, not for men to believe, but to sign. Alternate Author Name(s): Little, Thomas Subject(s): Oxford, England; Plays & Playwrights | ||||||||
[Boy discovered at a table, with the Thirty-Nine Articles before him.Enter the Rt. Rev. Doctor Pillpots.] DOCTOR P.: THERE, My lad, lie, the Articles[Boy begins to count them]just thirty-nine No occasion to countyou've now only to sign. At Cambridge, where folks are less High-church than we, The whole Nine-and-Thirty are lumped into Three. Let's run o'er the items;there's Justification, Predestination, and Supererogation, Not forgetting Salvation and Creed Athanasian, Till we reach, at last, Queen Bess's Ratification. That's sufficientnow, signhaving read quite enough, You "believe in the full and true meaning thereof,"[Boy stares] Oh, a mere form of words, to make things smooth and brief, A commodious and short make-believe of belief, Which our Church has drawn up, in a form thus articular, To keep out, in general, all who're particular. But what's the boy doing? what! reading all through, And my luncheon fast cooling!this never will do. BOY [poring over the Articles]: Here are points whichpray, Doctor, what's "Grace of Congruity?" DOCTOR P. [sharply]: You'll find out, young sir, when you've more ingenuity. At present, by signing, you pledge yourself merely, Whate'er it may be, to believe it sincerely. Both in dining and signing we take the same plan First, swallow all down, then digestas we can. BOY [still reading]: I've to gulp, I see, St. Athanasius's Creed, Which, I'm told, is a very tough morsel indeed; As he damns DOCTOR P. [aside]: Ay, and so would I, willingly, too, All confounded particular young boobies, like you. This comes of Reforming! all's o'er with our land, When people won't stand what they can't understand; Nor perceive that our ever-revered Thirty-Nine Were made, not for men to believe, but to sign. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 1. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 2. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL YOUR SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL TO AN ARTIST, TO TAKE HEART by LOUISE BOGAN THE SAVING WAY by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE FOX WHO WATCHED FOR THE MIDNIGHT SUN by NORMAN DUBIE YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE SAY by JAMES GALVIN A CANADIAN BOAT SONG; WRITTEN ON THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE by THOMAS MOORE |
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