Blessing on Pythagoras

Blessed be lie who taught us to abstain
From flesh of animal, and bean as bad,
But stated days appointed wherein fish,
Marine or fluvial, scaly or smooth-skin'd.
And pallet eggs, and certain mild legumes
Which rise not up rebellious like the bean,
Were unprohibited. Be blessed he
Who fearless walked upon his golden thigh
Over the sea from Egypt's holy land
Until at length he reacht our Italy,
Pythagoras.

We stil keep his commands,
Save only those which rigidly forbid
Bloodshed, of beast not only, but of man:
This the most righteous pray the Gods to grant.

I do confess, and would repent, my sins,
But harder is repentance than confession,
For bovine I have eaten, nor abstained
From porcine, and would rather shed such blood
Than blood of fellow man.

"Thou art perverse,
The righteous say, and deem this abstinence
Capricious.

"Why not slay him if thou slay
Creatures more innocent?"

Such argument
Baffles reply; therefor I, hastening home.
Lay napkin upon knee and carve my beef.