Social Commentaries

Against Paulus an Atheist

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

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

Social Commentaries

LEwd Lalus, led by Sadduces infection,
Doth not beleeue the bodies resurrection:
And holds them all in scorne, and deepe derision,
That tell of Saints or Angels apparision;
And sweares, such things are fables all, and fancies
Of Lunatiques or Fooles, possest with franzies.
I haue (said he) trauail'd both neere and farre,
By sea, by land, in time of peace and warre.
Yet neuer met I sprite, or ghost, or elfe,
Or ought (as is the phrase) worse then my selfe.
Well, Paulus, this, I now beleeue indeede,
For who in all, or part, denies his Creede;
Went he to sea, land, hell, I would agree,
A Fiend worse then himselfe, shall neuer see.

✦ ✦ ✦

Book 2, Epigram 26

MLA

Harington, John. “Against Paulus an Atheist.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/88/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Against Paulus an Atheist.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/88/.

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