History & Politics
Against Pius Quintus, that excommunicated Queene Elizabeth
From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 4
ARe Kings your Foster-Fathers, Queens your nurses,
Oh Roman Church? Then why did Pius Quintus
With Basan bulls (not like one pius intus)
Lay on our sacred Prince vnhallowed curses?
It is not health of soules, but wealth of purses
You seek, by such your hell-denouncing threats,
Oppugning with your chaire, our Princes seats,
Disturbing our sweet peace; and that which worse is
You suck out blood, and bite your Nurses teats.
Learne, learne, to ask your milk, for if you snatch it,
The nurse must send your babes pap with a hatchet
Codex Note
Book 4, Epigram 63
Cite this poem
MLA
Harington, John. “Against Pius Quintus, that excommunicated Queene Elizabeth.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/231/.
Chicago
Harington, John. “Against Pius Quintus, that excommunicated Queene Elizabeth.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/231/.
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