Religion

Of a Preacher that sings Placebo

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 2

Religion

A Smooth-tong'd Preacher that did much affect
To be reputed of the purest sect.
Vnto these times great praises did afford,
That brought, he said, the sunne-shine of the Word.
The sunne-shine of the Word, this he extold,
The sunne-shine of the Word, this still he told.
But I that well obseru'd what slender fruits
Haue growne of all their preaching and disputes,
Pray God they bring vs not, when all is done,
Out of Gods blessing, into this warme sunne.
For sure, as some of them haue vs'd the matter,
Their sunne-shine is but moone-shine in the water.

✦ ✦ ✦

Book 2, Epigram 56

MLA

Harington, John. “Of a Preacher that sings Placebo.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/111/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Of a Preacher that sings Placebo.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/111/.

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